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-- The Bible study is dedicated in the name of Jesus, Christ, God, Son, and Savior

The Bible study is dedicated in the name of Jesus, Christ, God, Son, and Savior. May the Lord Jesus Christ be honored by our devotions, our study and in our fellowship. May all the people be blessed and grow in the grace and knowledge of the love and presence of God our creator and our savior. - Amen!

Introduction: With the Bible's Book of Judges the history books of the Bible will continue and surprisingly we will continue to learn more about mankind and about ourselves then we will about God - It isn't until the Prophets that we really start to learn intimately about who God is and what He desires

We are making progress through the Bible however at this point in the Bible we still have not yet had the opportunity to find much about out who God is as a person through getting to know God's heart and God's soul. It will not be until we get past the history books and into the messages of the Prophets that we will really begin to enter into the heart and soul of God and begin to become more personally and intimately acquainted with who God is as a person and what His nature is. All of the books of the Bible cover Theology and Doctrine however the history books of the Bible cover much more about human relationships, human behavior and human government than then they do in providing insight into God. - Note: It is amazing and even startling how little 'relationship' and situational type of information is provided in the Bible's New Testament and that is because much of the relationships, situations and examples for the Christian Church have already been experienced and documented in the Bible's Old Testament. Much of what we are going to look at in these next O.T. books are going to be timeless situations and relationships that being timeless actually mirror the situations, events and relationships of our own life and therefore have a tremendous message of value and importance for us even today.

The book of Judges: The Old Testament book of Judges tells the story of what could be called the 'Dark Ages' of the chosen people - When the book opens, the 12 tribes of Israel are on the edge of national success - Under Moses and his successor Joshua, they have been liberated from slavery and have begun to occupy and settle in their Promised Land - But something goes terribly wrong - By the time the book closes, central leadership has broken down and the tribes are at each other's throats - The people are oppressed on every side by enemies and in danger of national extinction - This book contains some of the most gruesome stories in the Bible - episodes of idolatry, theft, rape, murder and civil war - What went wrong? Let's take a closer look

Although anarchy existed in Israel during much of the period of the judges, the story shows that God was still working out his purpose with them. The entire story is a monument to God's patience, love and mercy. Time after time, the people became trapped in a downward spiral toward moral degeneracy, and the refrain, 'The Israelites once again did evil in the sight of the Lord', recurs like a monotonous litany throughout the book. Yet, every time the Israelites repented, God forgave them and sent a deliverer (or 'judge' - hence the name of the book). The central section of the book (chapters 3:7-16:31) tells us of six judges God raised up to deliver his people from their enemies. These stories - with their pattern of Israel's sin, sorrow, repentance and restoration - illustrate what is often called the 'cycle of sin'. At first glance, the stories all seem to follow the same theme. But there are subtle and important differences. These small divergences are important, like when a musician plays variations on a theme. First we hear what could be called the 'base' theme. Then it is played again, with a few variations. As the variations are developed, the base theme recedes further and further into the background, and may even be no longer recognizable to the untrained ear. But the trained listener can appreciate what is happening. The chronicler of Judges uses much the same technique, and we need to read carefully to appreciate the lesson. These are not just stories - they are a variation of a theme. ... Jesus Christ breaks the cycle of sin: Old Testament scholar Arthur Cundall identifies the central message of the book of Judges: "The period of the judges' is a faithful witness to the fact of man's frailty and to his need not of a merely temporal deliverer, but of an eternal Saviour who can effect a perfect redemption." Cundall's comment could also apply to the history of the modern world. We live in a society that is supposedly so much more sophisticated and enlightened than that of ancient Israel. And yet much of our behavior has been just as barbaric and faithless as that of the Israelites. Our society, just like theirs, continues to be "a faithful witness to the fact of man's frailty and of his need for an eternal Saviour." The good news of the gospel is that there is an eternal Savior who has already broken the cycle of sin by offering a perfect redemption for the whole world. He is the God-man, Jesus Christ. And the basic message of the Old Testament book of Judges - that sin leads to slavery while repentance leads to redemption - provides a fitting background for the New Testament teaching: because Jesus died for our sins, God grants us repentance and delivers us from spiritual slavery.

Background - The book of Judges - "Our English word 'judge' fails to bring out the breadth of meaning encompassed in the Hebrew term shophet (from the verb shaphat, to 'judge,' 'justify,' or 'deliver') - The book may be divided into three parts: introduction, which deals with Israel's failure to conquer Canaan completely, first from a military and then from a religious perspective - the main body of the book, consisting largely of the adventures of the individual judges a conclusion, which sets the stage for the transition to monarchy by painting a picture of moral decline and political dissolution in a time when 'there was no king in Israel and every man did as he pleased' - The stories of the judges are thus framed by an introduction that looks back to the book of Joshua and a conclusion that looks forward to the books of Samuel and Kings

J. Cheryl Exum writes: "The book may be divided into three parts: a double introduction, which deals with Israel's failure to conquer Canaan completely, first from a military and then from a religious perspective (1:1-3:6); the main body of the book, consisting largely of the adventures of the individual judges (3:7-16:31); and a double conclusion (chaps. 17-21), which sets the stage for the transition to monarchy by painting a picture of moral decline and political dissolution in a time when 'there was no king in Israel and every man did as he pleased' (21:25). The stories of the judges are thus framed by an introduction that looks back to the book of Joshua and a conclusion that looks forward to the books of Samuel and Kings." (Harper's Bible Commentary, p. 245). ... Jay G. Williams writes: "Clearly one of the main points of the author is that almost from the beginning Israel fell into sin and therefore was subjected to historical punishment by Yahweh at the hands of her enemies. Only when Yahweh raised up a new hero to lead the people was Israel revived once more. As the story proceeds, however, the cycle becomes more and more disastrous for Israel. The last of the judges, Samson, is simply a great buffoon who kills a few Philistines but who does not lead Israel in battle at all. The story moves, then, from a glorification of the heroes to a call for a new and better way of organizing Israel politically and militarily. That is to say, Judges points forward to the books of Samuel and the rise of the kingship. The book ends with two rather gruesome stories (17:1-18:31 and 19:1-21:25) wihch illustrate graphically the corrupt condition of religion and justice under the judges." (Understanding the Old Testament, p. 159).

Judges 1-2 - A historical interim book covering the death of Joshua until the period of the Kings of Israel - about 300 to 400 years of Jewish history are covered - Thirteen Judges are chronicled during thirteen alternating periods of Spiritual revival in Israel followed by periods of backsliding that led to oppression and defeat at the hands of their enemies

'Judges 1:14-15 And it came to pass, when she [Achsah his daughter] came to him (Caleb), that she moved him [her husband] to ask of her father [for] a field: and she lighted from off her ass (donkey) [the Jews were not to own horses only a donkey (Exodus 20:17)]; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou? And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether [lower] springs.' - With the new book in the Bible and a new era in Israel Calab [one of the two successful spies (Numbers 13:30), Joshua was the other one] now becomes the ever present type of Jesus Christ in the Bible. His devout daughter Achsah sought out her father's presence and asked him for a blessing for herself and for her family. Caleb had already generously given her a large portion of land and now she requested from him some additional land that contained some valuable springs of water and as a type of Jesus Caleb then gave to her two separate life sustaining springs of water to go with her land a total gift of more than double what she had asked for and had hoped to receive from him. As a faithful type of Jesus Christ the generosity of calab was to match the genorousity of Jesus Christ. - 'Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ' - '2 Peter 1:3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness [springs of water], through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:' - 'James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth [ridicule] not; and it shall be given him.' - 'James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness [no deciet], neither shadow of turning.'

Judges 3-5 - The sagas and adventures of Israel continue as lessons and examples for us in our times - Deborah a Prophetess was the 4th Judge of Israel - As a prophetess Deborah called on Barak to go conquer King Sisera - Barak would not go to the battle without Deborah and together they oversaw the defeat of the Canaanite King Sisera -- 'Judges 4:4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.'

'Judges 4:11-12 Now Heber [and his wife Jael] the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.' - 'Judges 4:14-24 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left. Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.' - Battling our old bossy self: King Sisera is a picture of our old sin nature before we become a Christian. Prior to Christianity our sin nature reigns supreme in our body whatever our sin nature desires we endeavor to do what pleases it. If our sin nature wanted food we fed it, a movie we saw it, drink we drank it and music we listened to it all in league of satisfying our selves. After Heber had broken away [became a Christian] from the area controlled by King Sisera Heber still attempted to befriend Sisera and informed Sisera of the army already on the move to attack his forces. Sisera defeated [by the cross of Jesus] came into the very tent [personal presance] of Heber and his wife Jael seeking shelter. Sisera though defeated was as bossy and as arrogant as ever and Heber and Jael wisely did not try to challenge Sisera directly instead Jael put the old tyrant to sleep with some milk [the pure milk of the Bible] then taking a nail [from the cross of Jesus] she put the nail through the head [authority] of King Sisera pinning him to the ground in death where he belonged then Heber and Jael having victory of their old ruler were now free to live their new life of freedom [in Jesus Christ].

Judges 6-8 - Gideon becomes the 5th Judge of Israel - The Midianites put the Nation of Israel into deep poverty by plundering their possessions - Gideon placed a fleece before the Lord for confirmation of God's call on his life - Gideon defeats the Minianites with God's small army of 300 men - 'Judges 6:36-40 36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.' {Note: A fleece is considered a wrong thing to do for at least two reasons 1. it puts God to the test 2. we walk step by step with God not project by project. Also Note: Gideon's fleece is conceded prophecy in that the dew 'presence of God' was upon the wool 'Israel' then the next day the Church Age the dew 'presence of God' was manifested around Israel but not on Israel.}

'Judges 6:25-32 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove [of trees] that is by it: And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, *because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built. And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing. Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it. *And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: *if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar. Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.' - Gideon at night had cut down an alter used to sacrifice to Baal and sacrificed an offering to God on a new alter. The next day the people came out and wanted to put Gideon to death for destroying Baal's alter. Gideon's father Joash told the crowd that if Baal was a god then Baal could deal with Gideon without the assistance of people. How true it is also in our day that we do not need to do the justice of God for God. God is perfectly capable of decieidng how and when he wants to deal with each individaul on this planet. Likewise if Allah or any other deity is god then men do not need to perforem justice on behalf of Allah. It is something that actually disqualifies Allah from being a true God in that Alllah does not preform on his own behalf but instead enlists men to administer human justice according to human emotions. Truely nothing is more erratic than Islamic justice it just depends on an individual's status and standing at any given moment within a community as to what any penalty might or might not be. Islamic justice has little or nothing to do with divine guidance but is more a misplaced vengance of individual men.

Judges 9-10 - After Gideon's major victory over the Midianites Gidion asked his fellow soildgers for a money offering from their spoils - Gideon took the money he made from the battle and made his own 'ephod' a Preistly orniment of gold and gemstones that is only to be warn by the High Preist - After instituting his own form of Government and even making his own form of religion he takes many wives and has 71 sons - Abimelech his 71st son from an unpopular concubine decided he wanted to rule after his father Gideon (Jerubbaal) and in order to accomplish his rule he killed 69 of his brothers only the littlest one named Jotham was able to hide from Abimelech -- 'Judges 9:53-57 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull. Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place. Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren [Jotham origionaly fled to the city of Beer but he seems to have been eventually killed as well]: And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham [given at mount Gerizim] the son of Jerubbaal (Gideon).'

Judges 9:6-21 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem. And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the *Olive Tree [Holy Spirit] said unto them, Should I leave My fatness [goodness], wherewith by Me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? And the trees said to the *Fig Tree [man's religious works], Come thou, and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said the trees unto the *Vine [Jesus Christ], Come thou, and reign over us. And the Vine said unto them, Should I leave My Wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said all the trees unto the *bramble [curse bearing thorn bush], Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble [Abimelech] said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the Cedars of Lebanon. Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands; (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;) If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech. And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. - Here we have an interesting Parable given by Jotham and it includes the Olive Tree [Holy Spirit] "wherewith by Me they honour God and man" and the Vine [Jesus Christ] "which cheereth God and man" and the Fig Tree [mans religious works] "Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit" a bramble [thorn and thistle bush] and Cedar Trees of Lebanon all in the same Parable. Notice how only the Olive Tree and the Vine please both God and man, very interesting even in the confusion that reigned in the days of Judges, the days before the Kings and before the vast teachings of the Prophets yet some still had a good understanding of the nature of God and of the Parables of God.

Judges 11-12 - Jephthah the ninth Judge of Israel - Jephthah offers a vow to God and sanctifies [burnt offering] his daughter to God in a living sacrifice much the same way that Hannah sanctified her son Samuel [1 Samuel 1:11] to the Lord in a similar vow to God - {when they offered themselves or a child to God in a burnt offering it was only their hair that was burned in a ceremony it wasn't a human sacrifice of any kind though it's often portrayed as such but remember it's strictly forbidden for Jews and Christians to take an innocent life and human sacrifice is a complete, forbidden, unacceptable, abomination to the living God} - *The vow of Jephthah being listed in the New Testament [Hebrews 11:32] as an example of our faith confirms that it was a sanctification by faith not a human sacrifice by fire - It has been about 300 years since Israel left Egypt and began to dwell again in the lands outside of Egypt and in and around Canaan -- 'Judges 1:26 While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? why therefore did ye [Moab] not recover them within that time?' {Moab never actually had the land that Israel was on but they wanted to claim it anyhow.}

Jephthah's Vow: Judges 11:30-40 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands. And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back. And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon. And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows. And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel, That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year. - The promise of sanctification that Jephthah made and kept even though it was a very difficult promise for him and his daughter to keep is commented on in Hebrews 11 the 'Hall of Faith' had Jephthah committed a human sacrifice the Bible would have immediately and repeatedly condemned it as it would be unacceptable to God. *The vow of Jephthah being listed in the New Testament as an example of our faith confirms that it was a sanctification by faith not a human sacrifice by fire. "that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man." That "and she knew no man" is in reference to how she lived out the rest of her life and also "the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah" to comfort her because she was without a child all acts and responses to a living person not a deceased person. {Note: Apparently Josephus seems to have thought it might have been a human sacrifice however Josephus reported on the common view and the common view is often wrong. The Apostle Paul was certainly aware that it was a vow of consecration.} - 'Hebrews 11:32-35 And what shall I more say [about Faith]? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae [sanctified his daughter to God]; of David also, and Samuel [sanctified his life to God through a vow his mother Hannah made, similar to the vow of Jephthae], and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again [Faith in God is about people receiving Life not taking life!]: ...'

Judges 13-16 - The Great Sampson, Judges 13:7 "a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death" - Sampson repeatedly placed his desires above that of his parents, his family, his neighbors, his Nation and ultimately above the desires of God - 'Judges 14:3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my [Jewish] people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.'

'Judges 16:28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.' - Note: Sampson was a Nazarite set apart to God every day of his life this included his ups and downs and it included his captivity and blindness at the hands of the Philistines. Also Note: Sampson is a child of God in the Bible that also committed suicide and ended his own life. Suicide is not the preferred desire of God however the message of the Bible, given in this case through Sampson, is that our sins, our predicaments and even our own suicidal death is something that will be overcome by the goodness and life of God. After death [Romans 14:11-13] every knee will bow before the King of the Universe Jesus Christ and how we die is just not as important as how we bow. - There are many forms of suicide including unsafe sex, drugs, alcohol, reckless behavior and actually anything that is separate and apart from the life of Jesus Christ is a form of human suicide.

Judges 17-18 - Now we are at the point where a man named Micah stole one thousand one hundred silver shekels from his mother - Micah hearing his mother curse the missing shekels returned them to her - she explained that the money was to be used to make a molten god - Micah received 200 of the cursed shekels and had a molten image made along with and ephod and other religious relics - After consecrating one of his own sons to be his priest Micah hired a Levite Priest from Bethlehem - The Tribe of Dan unable to conquer their allotted inheritance relocated to the northernmost part of Israel - Members of the Tribe of Dan while relocating took by force and confiscated all of Micah's false gods, religious items and even his Levitical Priest and brought them north with them where they installed his Preist and worshiped his false images -- 'Judges 17:6 In those days there was no King in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.'

'Judges 18:13-26 And they [Tribe of Dan] passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah. Then answered the five men that went to spy out the [North] country of Laish [later renamed Dan], and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do. And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him. And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate. And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war. And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye? And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel? And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people. So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them. And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan. And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company? And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee? And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household. And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.' - As Micah found out having your own False Religion is a though business there is a lot of competition and not a lot of rules or protections. Anyhow it's always best to have a God that can't be stolen or taken away. Jesus Christ saw to it that His Kingdom would be positioned above mankind and in Spirit located in the safety of human hearts, souls and minds where it will be safe from being squandered and safe from removal by anyone who passes bye or any other form of malcontent.

Ten Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead - 'Judges 17:10 And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals' (Mp3)

Description: Paris Reidhead preaches what could be called one of the most influential sermons of the 20th century. The real point of this sermon is an indictment of individuals and organizations practising humanism behind a mask of Christianity! "This sermon should be preached on a regular basis in every church in America!"

Judges 19-21 - Concluding the Book of Judges [with an earlier event] brings us to one of the most gruesome events recorded in the Bible - The horrid event and the out of control aftermath is actually a depiction of Church gossip, infighting and divisions -- 'Judges 19:30 And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.'

Judges 20:20-48 20 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah. And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men. And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day. And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him. And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day. And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword. Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days [not all the events are in cronilogical order], saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand. ... And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them. Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them. Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising. And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour. And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them. So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour. But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months. And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to. - The aftermath of a needless event that very nearly wiped out one Tribe [Benjamin] from Israel and cost the Nation of Israel dearly for generations to come when instead of helping each other they chose instead to fight each other. In this event as in all gossip events it's important to note that there were no innocent parties. The Levitical Priest was just as much out of bounds and at fault as anyone else if not more though he broadcast his story to all of Israel of course leaving out his own indiscretions and lack of judgment. The one sided version of events led to an instant retribution from all of Israel directed at the one seemingly guilty Tribe of Benjamin. Israel itself suffered great loss and was badly wounded in the battles that followed and discovered the hard way the strange truth that people will fight against their own kind perhaps even more ruthlessly than they will fight against an outside enemy.

Ruth 1 - The Book of Ruth - Redemption through the Kinsman [close relative] Redeemer -- 'Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:'

'Ruth 1:19-22 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi (Pleasant), call me Mara (Mary, bitter): for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.' - Ruth returned back to Bethlehem from her stay in Moab. At her return she was destitute her husband had sold the family land to go to Moab where he died and her two sons also died. In Israel the land does not belong to the people but to God so they can redeem is back from another person if the redemption requirements are met. Redemption is the practice of returning a lost possession or opportunity to the original owner. There is a strict legal system in place for the redemption process. 1. Only a near relative can redeem back property [land] for the original owner. 2. If a stranger returned the land it would be a gift not a redemption as the stranger would have to pay the current market price including being taken advantage of with a higher unreasonable price while the redeemer would pay only the correct original redemption price. 3. The Redeemer has to be a close relative, financially able and personally willing to perform the redemption. The redemption was not required to be preformed it was up to the individual involved to make the decision himself.

Ruth 2-3 - Naomi and Ruth encounter Boaz a close relative near Kinsman Redeemer -- 'Ruth 2:4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem , and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.' [Later King Solomon would name one of the two Temple pillars 'Boaz' after his forefather Boaz, 1 Kings 7:21]

'Ruth 3:15-18 Also he (Boaz) said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six [six represent incomplete , seven represents - completeness, rest] measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city. And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law. Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest [the seventh measure], until he have finished the thing [redemption] this day.' - The Biblical redemption process requires that the redeemer be a close relative otherwise it is not a return [redemption] but is just an outright transaction. Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of All Mankind and this is possible because 1. We are originally created in the Spiritual image of God (Jesus) so we are actually closely related to Jesus spiritually. In fact we are each more closely related to God spiritually than to anyone else even physically. 2. Jesus kept intact His close relationship [Kinsman Redeemer] status with all mankind in that Jesus was born of a Virgin without an earthly father. If Jesus had a earthly father besides Mary then Jesus would only be a Kinsman Redeemer to his close relatives. However Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and His Father is in Heaven who is our original Father when He created Adam and Eve in 'our' image [Genesis 1:26] therefore Jesus the Son of God is the eligible Kinsman redeemer for all of the direct descendants of Adam and Eve.

Ruth 4 - It turns out the Law of Moses although in the image of God and to some giving the appearance of the ability of redemption it cannot give life [raise up seed] and therefore cannot redeem -- 'Ruth 4:14-17 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a Kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he [Kinsman Redeemer] shall be unto thee *a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.'

'Ruth 4:1-13 Then went Boaz up to the gate [of Bethlehem], and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman [a closer relative, kinsman redeemer to Naomi] of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. And he took ten [ten number of difficulty a, a difficult task is taking place] men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. *If thou wilt redeem it [back to the family], redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee {this unnamed first in line redeemer is a type of the laws of Moses}; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, *to raise up the name of the dead {the law can own land but the law cannot give life or raise up life} upon his inheritance. And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself {the laws of Moses cannot give life}, lest I mar mine own inheritance {cease to be the law and become something else}: redeem thou my right to thyself {in grace and love}; for I {the law} cannot redeem it. Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he {the law} drew off his shoe {When John the Baptist [Mark 1:7] said he was unworthy to unloose the sandel of Jesus this is what he was talking about, John was unable to redeem only Jesus is the Redeemer}. And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. *Moreover Ruth the Moabitess [Gentile Bride], the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine House like Rachel and like Leah [wives of Jacob], which two [and thier two maides] did build the House of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman. So Boaz [son of Rehab form the battle Jericho] took Ruth [a Gentile], and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son [Obed, he is the Grandfather of King David].' - The Law although in the image of God is unable to give life therefore doing what the Law was unable to do God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to redeem mankind and the world [system] back to Himself. - 'Galatians 4:4-5 4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.'

!!!Highly Recommended - Ruth: Chuck Missler Commentaries (Online Audio)

Mr. Missler is the chairman of Koinonia House (K-House), a non-profit organization which is dedicated to the development and distribution of materials for encouraging and facilitating serious study of the Bible as the inerrant Word of God. K-House was founded by Chuck and Nancy Missler, and moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in 1992. K-House now reaches tens of thousands through its monthly newsletter, radio shows, cassette tapes, and conferences. More than eight million study tapes have been distributed in the U.S. and in over 35 countries around the world.

KHouse.org: Ruth - The Romance of Redemption by Chuck Missler - (MP3 Download $9.95)

What does this famous love story from the Old Testament have to do with the Feast of Pentecost? What critical element in Messianic genealogy is found in the Book of Ruth? The law shut out this Gentile Moabitess but grace took her in. Discover God's love for Israel, the Church and yourself through this beautiful love story of redemption. This key book of Bible prophecy highlights the role of the Goel, the kinsman-redeemer. Find out why the Book of Ruth is an essential study to understand the Book of Revelation! This briefing pack comes with: - two mp3 audio files - one notes file in pdf format - total file size equals 55 MB.

Introduction: The Books of Samuel and Kings enter a new phase in Israel - The anointed Shepherds (Kings) of Israel now oversee the flock of the Nation of Israel - The first three anointed Kings of Israel [Trilogy of Israeli Kings] are actually going to be Biblical types - King Saul (asked for - by the people) is in part a type of Satan - King David (beloved of God) is in part a type of Jesus Christ - King Solomon (peaceable and deceiving) is in part a type of the coming Antichrist

Jesus compares Himself to the Shepherds of Israel: 'John 10:7-18 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers [i.e. King Saul - a type of Satan]: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd [i.e. King David - a type of Jesus]: the good shepherd giveth His Life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling [i.e King Solomon - a type of the Antichrist], and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.' - Note: King David is going to be a King of Israel much like Sampson was a Judge of Israel. King David is also going to fail in many ways and actually David is going to break all or almost all of the 10 Commandments of God. Ultimately in determining the godliness of a person it is based on their trust in the living God and in their relationship with God. King David trusted God completely with his life and as a result he had a devotional and a prayer life dedicated to God that was second to none. [King David wrote most of the Book of Psalms] - Also Note: The Kings of Israel are actual people and as actual people only certain events and aspects of their life have been recorded as examples for us in the Bible in order to help give us a prophetic [Kingdom of God], spiritual and future understanding while we are still in our restricted physical realm. Though King Solomon is in part a Biblical type of the Kingdom of Antichrist, King Solomon was not and is not the Antichrist himself and in fact for much of the start of King Solomon's career he is in some ways a type of Jesus and this is what is intriguing as King Solomon in type morphs from being a type of Jesus Christ into a type of the Antichrist. King Solomon as a real person though is very probably in Heaven however as a real person his entrance into Heaven is based solely on his relationship with God and not on his accomplishments, his titles or even his birthright as King.

bible.org: Introduction to 1 Samuel - One might conclude from reading the Book of Judges that the problem was the absence of a king in Israel: "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" [Judges 21:25] - In 1 Samuel, Israel will get her king - Saul, Israel's first king, will be the kind of king the people want, and prove to be the king Israel deserves - David, Israel's second king, will replace Saul - He is God's kind of king, a man after God's heart - While the people and events of 1 Samuel are from long ago and from far away, the struggles these men and women faced are the same as ours today, as we seek to live in a fallen world in a way that is pleasing to God

We are not ready for the Book of 1 Samuel until after we have read the Book of Judges. These days of the judges were dark days for the nation Israel. God had delivered the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt. Due to their unbelief, the first generation of Israelites failed to enter the promised land. The second generation entered Canaan, and under the leadership of Joshua, did reasonably well. But after the death of Joshua, things began to fall apart. Israel went through repetitive cycles of blessing and discipline, the result of their obedience or rebellion. When Israel disobeyed, God gave the nation over to an oppressive enemy. When the Israelites repented and cried out to God, He sent a "judge" to deliver them. When that judge died, the people of Israel returned to their sin. The cycle seemed to be endless. - One might conclude from reading the Book of Judges that the problem was the absence of a king in Israel: "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). In 1 Samuel, Israel will get her king. Saul, Israel's first king, will be the kind of king the people want, and prove to be the king Israel deserves. David, Israel's second king, will replace Saul. He is God's kind of king, a man after God's heart. 1 Samuel tells the story of fascinating people like Hannah and Samuel, like Saul and David. There is never a dull moment in this masterfully well written history. The book closes with the death of Saul, and thus the end of David's flight from the hand of Saul, who seeks to kill him as an enemy. - While the people and events of 1 Samuel are from long ago and from far away, the struggles these men and women faced are the same as ours today, as we seek to live in a fallen world in a way that is pleasing to God. There are many ways in which we can identify with these ancient Israelites, and many lessons we can learn from their successes and failures. As we embark on our study, let us do so with a sense of expectation, praying that God may change us and work in our lives as He did in the lives of these men and women of old. May God use this book to make us men and women after His heart. ~ by Bob Deffinbaugh

Introduction to First Samuel: First Samuel brings us out of the anarchy and moral decline of the period of the Judges and into the period of Israel's kings - The pivotal character in this transition is the prophet and judge Samuel, who anoints Israel's first two kings, Saul and David. The history of First Samuel unfolds largely through the lives of these three men: a mighty prophet [Samuel], the promising but tragic life of Israel's first king Saul, and his faithful successor [King] David

What follows is initial success marred by repeated fear and disobedience on [King] Saul's part until he finally is removed in judgment and the young godly leader David is established as king. Saul failed God in several ways: 1. His presumption at God's altar (1 Samuel 13:11-13). 2. His cruelty to his son Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:44). 3. His disobedience in the matter of Amalek (1 Samuel 15:23). 4. His jealousy and hatred of David (1 Samuel 18:29). 5. His sinful appeal to the witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28:7). ... Embedded in Saul's tragic story is the story of a brave young soldier in Saul's army. From humble beginnings as a shepherd, David rises to prominence as a warrior and a leader. Despite Saul's jealous attempts to kill him, David survives and thrives, and after years of testing, becomes Israel's king and establishes a new monarchy. Of the tribe of Judah, he will establish a throne upon which eventually one of his descendants, Jesus, will reign as Messiah forever. Though he had his faults, David was "a man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14) who sought God in prayer and wrote many Psalms we still read today. They endure as examples of a transparently God-absorbed man seeking the Lord amidst the pressures and trials of life. In them and in David's life we can see the reward of a life spent in passionate pursuit of God. ~ by Dr. Jeff Wubbenhorst

1 Samuel 1-2 - The Book of the Prophet Samuel - The establishment of God's Prophets and Kings in the Nation of Israel - '1 Samuel 1:3 And this man [Elkanah and his wife Hannah] went up out of his city [Ramah] yearly to worship and to sacrifice [at the Tabernacle] unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh [the Temple in Jerusalem had not yet been built]. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the [Levitical] Priests of the LORD, were there.'

1 Samuel 1:26-2:11 And she [Hannah] said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord [Eli the High Preist], I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. For this child [Samuel] I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of Him: Therefore also I have lent him [Samuel] to the LORD; as long as he liveth [consecration, burnt offering vow] he shall be lent to the LORD [the same consecration vow Jephthah made with God Judges 11:31]. And he [Eli] worshipped the LORD there. And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none Holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, *and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars [stabilization] of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world [stable] upon them. He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall He thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and He shall give strength unto His King (Jesus), and exalt the horn of His anointed. And Elkanah [and Hannah] went to Ramah to his house. And the child [Samuel] did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest. - Hanna vowed and consecrated her son Samuel to the service of God for his entire life. Samuel is from the tribe of Ephraim not a Levite and is ineligible to serve God as a priest however he does serve God as a Prophet. The three offices of God; Priest, Prophet and King are not allowed to be combined into one human man because they are only combined into one office in Jesus Christ. In coming verses we will see the distinctions of the three Godly offices and also the disastrous results when King Saul who was already counted among the Prophets takes upon himself the office of Priest and performs a sacrifice.

1 Samuel 3-5 - Hannah receives an answer to her prayer and gives birth to her first son Samuel whom she had promised to dedicate to the service of God - As a small child Samuel is dedicated at the Tabernacle and remains to help minister in the Tabernacle at Shiloh - While a child and ministering in the Tabernacle as he took a nap one day God talked to the little Samuel - God made Samuel a Prophet for the Nation of Israel -- '1 Samuel 3:4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he [Samuel] answered, Here am I.' ... And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.'

'1 Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before [in the presence of] Eli [the High Priest].' - A main lesson in the books of Samuel and Kings is the distribution of the three offices of God. The offices of Priest, Prophet and King were to be divided among there Tribes [Priests - Tribe of Levi; Kings - Tribe of Judah] and among the people. The offices of Prophet, Priest and King are only allowed to combine in the one person Jesus Christ. - A Priest could be a prophet though it was unlikely and when God did communicate with the High Priest it was often not as a Prophet but through the Thummim and Urim stones or the stones on His breastplate but usually not speaking directly like to a prophet. Some of the of the Kings were both Prophets and Kings but were not to take on the third office of Priest or particularly High Priest. When King David offered sacrifices to God it was on behalf of the Nation of Israel not on behalf of himself as Saul did. King David was also careful to wear a linen ephod not a gold ephod like the High Priest would wear and certainly King David had the Priests do the actual sacrifices. When King David built an Alter on the site of the future Temple and offered a sacrifice to God [2 Samuel 24:25] it is probable that David had the Priests offer the actual sacrifices [as he had the Priests move the Ark in 2nd Samuel 6:1-18] though King David is a type of Jesus and as the type of a King, Prophet and Priest for Jesus he might have been led by God to offer a sacrifice as well because it was on the correct location of the new Temple Mount and not some random location chosen by David but a place designated by God. - Samuel was ministering to God under Eli in that Samuel was probably not a Levite Priest but he was a firstborn male that was not redeemed but was consecrated to God by his mother Hannah so he was eligible to minister in some capacity with the Levitical Priesthood. [Samuel wore only a linen ephod like King David would later wear.] - Note: Samuel was probably from the Tribe of Ephraim and not of the Priestly Tribe of Levi. If Samuel was of the Tribe of Levi then his mother Hannah would not have had to dedicate him to the service of the Lord because he would already have been dedicated to the service of God through a Levitical heritage. Samuel's father's family is listed as worshipers not Priests. Samuel's father Elkanah has two wives if he was a Levitical Priest he probably could only have one wife and possibly a concubine [Judges 19:1]. - There is an Elkanah and a Samuel listed in 1 Chronicles in the Levitical family line of Kohath the son of Levi however it does not appear to be the same family as listed in 1 Samuel. '1 Samuel 1:1-3 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah [Samuel's father], the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, *an Ephrathite [Tribe of Ephraim]: And he had *two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. And this man went up out of his city yearly to *worship and to sacrifice [as a citizen] unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh.' - '1 Chronicles 6:22-28 The sons of Kohath [Levitical Priestly line, Kohath was a son of Levi]; Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son, Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. And the sons of Elkanah; Amasai, and Ahimoth. As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophai [Zuph?] his son, and Nahath [Tohu?] his son, Eliab [Elihu?] his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son. And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni [Joel?], and Abiah.' - Though some of the names are similar and some of the names are the same its possibly not the same family. It seems more likely that these are two different families and that Samuel the Prophet was of the Tribe of Ephraim and he did some ministry to the Lord as a firstborn unredeemed male and that Samuel and two of his sons functioned as Judges in Israel though Samuel officiated in two offices of God it's important to note that he did not serve in the third office or capacity as a King in Israel. It doesn't make a big difference whether or not Samuel was from the Tribe of Levi or not because he was not a King but just keep in mind that Israel had strict procedures and policies that they followed to the letter of the law and Samuel does not match the Levitical Priesthood to the letter but his main office was that of a true Prophet and he does fit that office and serve God to the letter of the law.

1 Samuel 6-8 - The Philistines are defeating the Children of Israel in battle - The Ark of the Covenant is improperly brought up to the battle in an attempt to encourage the Israelites - The battle is lost and the Philistines capture the Ark of the Covenant - Samuel has grown older and the Children of Israel do not want his sons to continue to be a Judge over them - The Nation of Israel asks for a King to be more like the other nations -- '1 Samuel 8:1-4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a King to judge us like all the nations.'

1 Samuel 8:6-22 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the [wordly] manner of the king that shall reign over them. And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that 'asked' [the name Saul means asked for] of him a king. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; *and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; *That we also may be like all the nations; and *that our king may judge us, and *go out before us, and *fight our battles. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city. - The Nation of Israel asks Samuel and God for their own King to reign over them and God will grant their request. Note: With the coming human King now leading and reigning over Israel it will end an era that began in Egypt when God led them out of Egypt and into the Promise Land of Israel. With God no longer their visible leader it will end the era of the 'Seer' and Samuel will be their first modern 'Prophet' for the Nation of Israel. When Israel had God as their King they had Seers because God was in their midst and could be seen now with a man as their King they return to the era of the Prophets.

1 Samuel 9-11 - Saul a young man from the Tribe of Benjamin is selected to be the first anointed King over Israel -- '1 Samuel 9:21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore [why] then speakest thou so to me?' {Saul new that Israel had requested a King from Samuel but Saul also knew that he was from the wrong Tribe in Israel. The Kings for Israel were supposed to come only from the Tribe of Judah [Genesis 49:10] just as the Levitical Priests of Israel are to come only from the Tribe of Levi and the family of Aaron [Exodus 28:1] and Saul is from the Tribe of Benjamin.}

'1 Samuel 10:1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon [Saul] his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because *the LORD hath anointed thee *to be Captain [King] over his *inheritance?' [The inheritance of God is both the Nation of Israel and the Gentiles, Jesus being the firstborn gets the double inheritance (Jews and Gentiles) for His firstborn double portion inheritance.]- Saul has been anointed into one of the offices of God as King and soon Saul will gain his second office of God as a Prophet. Later Saul will disobey God and he will take upon himself a third office of God when Saul himself builds his own alter and offers a burnt offering sacrifice to God, making himself a Priest to God and possibly in this case by building a sacrifice alter accidently making himself a High Priest to God. Saul unknowingly or knowingly in taking on all three offices of God in being a King, Prophet and Priest Saul has declared himself to be the coming Messiah (Christ). The results are that Saul is immediacy rebuked by Samuel and Saul is stripped of his two offices of King and Prophet. - '1 Samuel 10:10-16 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him [Saul]; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, *he [Saul] prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? *Therefore it became a proverb [a well known saying], Is Saul also among the prophets? And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place. And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses [donkeys]: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel. And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. *But of the matter of the Kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.'

1 Samuel 12-14 - Saul is anointed as King though not everyone accepted him as their King until Saul was able to provide a great victory [expanding his Kingdom] at the hands of God for the Nation -- '1 Samuel 11:14-15 Then said Samuel to the people [after the victory], Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom [of Saul] there. And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.' {Saul though anointed and appointed King over Israel does not become a King in the eyes of the people until he delivers a great victory over their enemies. The King needing a great victory is similar to the High Priest needing to enter successfully into the Holy of Holies inner room with the Atonement blood and return alive to show that he is indeed chosen and acceptable to God and likewise the Prophet can prophecy however until his prophecies come to pass and are shown to be true the people will not accept him as a prophet appointed from God.}

'1 Samuel 13:9-14 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? ... I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: *the LORD hath sought him a man after his own [spiritual] heart, and the LORD hath commanded him [David] to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.' - Saul's Kingdom is a purely physical kingdom and not the spiritual Kingdom that God had in mind with Judah. - Saul had a personal issue in that he knew that in being from the Tribe of Benjamin and not from the Tribe of Judah that he was from the wrong Tribe in Israel to be the permanent King of Israel. Saul suspected that his kingdom reign was only temporary until God could raise up a King from the Tribe of Judah. Saul was partially correct when Judah unknowingly slept with his daughter-in-law it was an act of a curse [Deuteronomy 23:2] that kept his family from being King over Israel for 10 generations. Jesse the father of King David was the tenth generation and his sons were among the first of the Tribe of Judah to be eligible to serve as King of Israel without the curse. David was of the eleventh generation from Judah and he was also the eight son of Jesse, David was a new type of leader not the physical leaders as his seven brothers were and as Saul was but King David was a Spiritual King of Israel, the King that God had intended to shepherd His inheritance Israel. Saul suspected that his kingdom was only temporary and it was Saul's desire to gain, seize, build and hold his physical Kingdom over Israel at any cost and his irrational intentions cost him his kingdom. The main point about Saul is that he had a suspension that his kingdom would end however Saul never one time asked God what God's intentions were in having a Benjamite King over Israel. Saul just went with his opportunity from God and then tried to take from God the kingdom that Saul wanted. After wrongly sacrificing and losing his kingdom Samuel told Saul that God would have given him and his family a kingdom over Israel forever has Saul obeyed God. Saul could have been a physical King over Israel and in two generations after Solomon the Nation of Israel split into two Nations and had two Kings anyhow but Saul sought to establish his kingdom his way among God's people and therefore Saul came to a ruinous end and Saul is one of the main Biblical examples of the personality, attributes and actions of Satan.

1 Samuel 15-16 - Saul is removed in principal from being in authority over God's people - Saul begins to make rash decisions as he picks and chooses the institutes of God that he wants to follow and interprets the few instructions of God according to his own desires at that moment - In effect Saul has exalted himself to the point where his commands are now equal to and even superior to God's words and God's intentions - '1 Samuel 14:37 And [after Saul already made his descision] Saul [then] asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But He (God) answered him (Saul) not that day.' {Saul blamed everyone including his son Jonathan for God not responding to him but Saul never even presumed for one second that he was actually at fault and the reason that God was silent towards him was because of his own sins.}

Samuel anoints David as the new [spiritual] King of Israel: '1 Samuel 16:1-14 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite [Tribe of Judah]: for I have provided me a King among his sons. And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. And it came to pass, when they were come, that he [physically] looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his [physical] countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: *for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, *but the LORD looketh on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Again, Jesse made 'seven' of his sons to pass before Samuel. *And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest [eight son, spiritual son], and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his [seven] brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.' - Now at the appointed time after the ten generation curse from Judah and Tamar has passed David of the Tribe of Judah and of the eleventh generation is anointed to be King over all of Israel and to establish the throne of Judah that will eventually seat the Messiah Jesus Christ. Note: King David will later find out that the Messiah is to come as a descendant of his and therefore Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea [the same hometown of King David] to the house and Tribe of Judah.

Reigning in Life Series - King David Part 1 of 2 [page 7] (Mp3s)

Brief Sermon Overview: Using Romans 5:17 as the foundation verse. "For if by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness, reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.' Pastor Kevin Gould applies this verse to the lives of the Godly Kings of Israel and examines them, in order to find out what we can learn and so fulfill the wonderful promise of Romans 5:17 for ourselves. The series starts with King David and in this first message, the passage in 1 Chronicles 28 is used, to show how David looks back on his life and testifies to God's faithfulness in choosing him.

Is it the Palace of King David? - Of all the personalities in the Bible, have you ever wondered whose name other than Jesus is mentioned most often? - King David - His name is found both in the very first verse of the New Testament (Matt 1:1), and at the end of the Bible, in the very last chapter of the Book of Revelation 22:16 (Photos)

King David brought God's tabernacle from the wilderness to its final home in Jerusalem. He expanded the city, which showed very little growth in the thousand years prior to his arrival, and made it the spiritual and economic capital of the world of his time. The book of 2 Samuel 5:9 states that, after he conquered Jerusalem, King David made it his capital. "David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward." (NIV) At the same time, the Phoenician King Hiram of Tyre offered to build him a palace fit for an emperor. 2 Samuel 5:11, 1 Chronicles 14:1. ... It was in this same palace that, "David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful... [and her name was] Bathsheba..." 2 Samuel 11:2, (NIV) "For decades," says Leon, "and despite much effort by scholars and archaeologists, the location of King David 's palace has remained a mystery." ... Later, as the Bible records, King Solomon built his own palace, known as the "upper king's house" (Nehemiah 3:25) which was located farther to the north and closer to the site of the Temple. However, King David's palace, now referred to as the "lower king's house," continued to serve the kings of Israel and Judea for many generations to follow. "There is no question that King David's palace was a magnificent and impressive structure," says Leon. "But much more of his home remains buried under generations of rubble." "Only by continuing to excavate will we be able to truly understand the extent and grandeur of King David's royal house," says Dr. Mazar. "After all," added the archaeologist, "finding his royal residence opens a new window of understanding into the life of a man who has affected the world more than any other king in the history of mankind."

Aish.com: The world of archeology is rocked by evidence of King David's palace unearthed in Jerusalem - Dr. Eilat Mazar, world authority on Jerusalem's past, has taken King David out of the pages of the Bible and put him back into living history - Some biblical scholars gave up looking for the palace because, according to Mazar, they were looking in the wrong place - But Mazar always suspected that the palace was outside the original city, and cites the Bible to prove it - The Bible says that David heard about it and "descended to the fortress," (2-Samuel 5:17), implying that he went down from his palace, which was higher up on the mountain than the citadel/city

Mazar's latest excavation in the City of David, in the southern shadow of the Temple Mount, has shaken up the archaeological world. For lying undisturbed for over 3,000 years is a massive building which Mazar believes is King David's palace. For Mazar, 48, one of the world's leading authorities on the archaeology of ancient Jerusalem and head archaeologist of the Shalem Center Institute of Archaeology, the discovery was the culmination of years of effort and solid speculation. From the time she was a teenager, she had her nose in archaeology literature, and worked closely with her grandfather, renowned archaeologist Benjamin Mazar, who conducted the southern wall excavations next to the Western Wall. She holds a doctorate in archaeology from Hebrew University, is author of The Complete Guide to the Temple Mount Excavations, and in the 1970s and '80s worked on the digs supervised by Yigal Shilo in the City of David. The significant discoveries made then, including a huge wall called the "stepped-stone structure" -- which Shilo believed was a retaining wall for David's royal palace or part of the Jebusite fortress he conquered -- ignited Mazar to continue to look for the prize: David's palace itself. Some biblical scholars gave up looking for the palace because, according to Mazar, they were looking in the wrong place. Scholars searched for remains of the palace within the walls of the ancient Jebusite city that David conquered and called Ir David (City of David). This city, while heavily fortified with both natural and man-made boundaries, was also very small, just nine acres in size. When no evidence of such a majestic palace as the Bible describes was found there, the next step was to claim that David's monarchy never really existed. But Mazar always suspected that the palace was outside the original city, and cites the Bible to prove it. When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed, they went on the attack to apprehend him. This occurred after he conquered the Fortress of Zion, which was the actual nucleus of the city, and built his palace. The Bible says that David heard about it and "descended to the fortress," (2-Samuel 5:17), implying that he went down from his palace, which was higher up on the mountain than the citadel/city. Mazar told Aish.com: "I always asked myself: Down from where? It must have been from his palace on top of the hill, outside the original Jebusite city." Mazar says she was confident in her assessment of where the palace would be. What she discovered was a section of massive wall running about 100 feet from west to east along the length of the excavation (underneath what until this summer was the Ir David Visitors Center), and ending with a right-angle corner that turns south and implies a very large building.

King David of Israel a docudrama series [in production] - The first episodes focus on David's life as a young boy taking care of his father's sheep - We witness the powers God bestows upon him via Samuel - We see David's victories like his slaying of a lion and at age sixteen and his downing of Goliath in combat - The series ends with the words of Jesus: "I am the Root of David, the Bright Morning Star. ... Behold, I am coming soon" (Revelation 22:16-21)

The story begins with God commanding the prophet Samuel to seek out David, the son of Jesse. Once found, David is anointed by God through Samuel to be the future King of Israel. From here the episodes follow David's genealogy and his difficult journey to the Kingship of Israel, which ultimately leads to his most famous descendants, Mary, Joseph and Jesus Christ. David's faults are revealed: his infidelity with Bathsheba, his responsibility in the death of her husband, for which he repents later and humbles himself before God. His son, Amnon, goes unpunished for raping his stepsister. David's other son, Absalom, receives a mild punishment of a two year banishment for the avenge-murder of his half brother Amnon. ... God's word comes to David through Nathan the prophet, for the punishment for his sin. David repents his sin. He and Bathsheba lose their firstborn son. When she gives birth to her second son, Solomon, God sends Nathan to David again, saying that Solomon would be the next heir to the throne of Israel. ... Adonijah is the fourth son of David and heir-apparent to the throne. But, Bathsheba preferred Soloman, the younger brother as the heir. As David lay dying Adonijah proclaims himself king. But the prophet Nathan and Bathsheba induced David to give orders that Solomon should at once be proclaimed and admitted to the throne. Adonijah fled and later received pardon for his conduct from Solomon. Shortly afterwards Adonijah made a second attempt to gain the throne, but was seized and put to death. [King Solomon inherits his father's throne] ... The last Episode focuses on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The series ends with the words of Jesus: "I am the Root of David, the Bright Morning Star. Behold, I am coming soon".

1 Samuel 17-18 - A young David answers Goliath's challenge and defeats the Philistine Giant who was covered head to toe with brass [sin] in a winner take all battle - The Philistines rather than live up to their side of Goliath's winner take all wager they fled - David and Saul's son Jonathan become friends - David marries Saul's daughter Michal - Saul becomes even more jealous of David and tries repeatedly to kill him -- '1 Samuel 18:5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, *and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.'

'1 Samuel 18:1-4 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.' - Jonathan the oldest son of King Saul is one of the great men of God in the Bible. King Saul wanted his son Jonathan to fight against David in an attempt to continue the family royal dynasty a dynasty that was already declared ended by God. Jonathan didn't quite understand his future role in the plans of God however Jonathan respected God enough to defer his life and his royal status as prince to the desires and wishes of God even over his own father's desires and ambitions to the point that Jonathan befriended David and helped him along in his young career and life.

1 Samuel 19-21 - The crisis around King Saul with his desire to kill to maintain his fragile kingdom status has gotten to the point where David has to flee -- '1 Samuel 20:41-42 And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they [brotherly] kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.'

David flees from King Saul going all the way to enemy territory in Gath: Once in Gath David feels it necessary to pretend to be insane in order to preserve his life - '1 Samuel 21:10 And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?' - Departing the congregation and going among nonbelievers for protection as David did is a picture of backsliding and our backsliding is a picture of insanity among the people of the world as they wonder why an heir to the throne, a future King in Israel would leave his people and act so ridiculously among the unsaved.

1 Samuel 22-24 - David continues to flee from the wrath of Saul - David locates Saul asleep in a cave yet David spared his life because Saul at one time had been anointed by God -- '1 Samuel 24:15-17 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me [David] and thee [Saul], and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. *And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.'

King Saul as a full type of Satan commands the murder of the Priests of God: '1 Samuel 22:13-21 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more. *And the king [Saul] said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, *Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. *But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword. And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests.' - King Saul in complete, open and irrational defiance of God and of everything that is good, descent and honest commanded the murder of 85 innocent, peaceful men of God and the death of all the women and children that accompanied them. The men of God put up no resistance to Saul and his evil servant Doeg and Saul no doubt considered it a valiant and justified action and possible assured himself that he was blessed by God to have such a victory over a band of innocent, helpless Priests of God.

1 Samuel 25-26 - The great Samuel the Prophet dies - After Samuel's death David begins more and more to take events into his own hands and more often in a violent way - A Jewish woman named Abigail met and ministered to David assuring him and reminded him that God's plans towards David were for good and not for evil and that David as a servant and man of God was better than the conduct he was displaying -- '1 Samuel 25:32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.'

Abigail a Jewish woman says the "sinner's prayer" and David as a type of Jesus Christ takes her to be his wife: '1 Samuel 25:12-44 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings. And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff. But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal. And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them. Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good. So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, *and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, *I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid. Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial [demons], even Nabal [foolish]: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send. *Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. ***I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days. Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling. And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel; That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid. And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. *So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person. And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died. And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. *And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee to take thee to him to wife. *And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels [five wise virgins of Matthew 25:1-13] of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. David [as a type of Christ] also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives. But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to [another man] Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.' - The name Nabal means 'foolish' and as Abigail is married to Nabal he is considered to be a type of the old self, the world or even a type of Satan that she is married to and desperately seeking to escape from and to salvage what is left of her precious valuable life. In God's servant David (beloved) a type of Jesus Christ Abigail seeks his forgiveness and begins her new life as she is accepted by him and becomes another bride of the true King.

Lessons from the Story of Abigail - Parts 1 and 2 (Mp3s)

Brief Sermon Overview: This is part 1 of 2 concerning the story of David, Nabal, & Abigail. Six practical lessons are observed. Nine more in Part 2.

1 Samuel 27-29 - In the darkest hours before the dawn of David's eventual kingdom reign - David went back to enemy territory and so completely joined the enemy that he very nearly disqualified himself from being King over Israel - Had God not intervened and kept David from going to war against Israel then David would have invalidated his presence on the throne of Israel -- '1 Samuel 29:6-15 Then Achish [king of Gath] called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me [an enemy of Israel] in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords [Philistine kings] favour thee not. Wherefore now return, and go in peace [back to Gath], that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines. And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the [Israelis] enemies of my lord [Achish] the king? And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding {saved from his ultimate stupidity by God} the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle [against Israel]. Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart. So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel [to fight Israel].'

Saul seeks a Witch in Endor to communicate with the departed Prophet Samuel: '1 Samuel 28:4-20 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. *And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not [Saul had killed 85 Preists], neither by dreams nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, *and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him [Samuel the prophet] up [from the grave], whom I shall name unto thee. And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land {not because Saul was good but because evil destroys everything even other evil}: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. And when the woman saw Samuel [God temporarily returned the actual Samuel from Paradise], she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods {spirit beings?} ascending out of the earth. And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up {in appearance so she could recognize him as Samuel}; and he is covered with a mantle [of a Prophet - Samuel is about to Prophesy from the grave]. *And Saul perceived [without seeing Samuel] that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. *And Samuel said [spoke audibly] to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. *Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. [Samuel gives his Prophecy] Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow [the next day] shalt thou and thy sons be with me [in the afterlife, whether Saul is saved or unsaved is unknown]: the LORD also shall deliver the host [army] of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.' - God showing that He has complete authority in communicating with mankind and that He has complete ability over life and death He brings Samuel himself up from the grave to confront the requests of Saul. God would not talk to Saul and to show that it was not an oversight God sent Samuel from the afterlife to confront Saul and to show that there would be no mistake that it was the real Samuel God then had Samuel prophesy of the next day's events. The Witch of Endor knew immediately that she had seen the real spirit realm and Saul knowing well the voice of Samuel also knew he was in contact with the real afterlife realm something that seldom happens because God has fixed a separation between the two realms and they not to be crossed [Luke 16:26] in an individual status but God allows it in a Biblical proportion [knowledge for everyone] status i.e. Saul and later in the events of Revelation with the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11:3-12 who have also returned from the afterlife as Samuel did briefly to confront Saul.

The Witch of Endor, a Familiar Spirit, and the State of the Dead - When discussing the state of the dead, that the dead are really dead and not in heaven, hell, or purgatory, the case of the Witch of Endor may be presented as proof that people don't really die, that they continue in some conscious state even after death. So let's examine what happened regarding King Saul and the Witch of Endor

Note that Saul did not actually see anything himself, he had to ask the witch who is was that she saw. So based on what the witch said, Saul presumed it was Samuel who he was communicating with, that Samuel had been summoned from the grave to speak with him, since the witch said she could see Samuel coming up from out of the earth not down from heaven [Note: There was no access to heaven for humans before the cross of Jesus Christ so Samuel could only come up from Paridise not down from heaven]. King Saul was putting his trust completely in a spirit medium, a witch, a necromancer, against the expressed will of God. So the following conversation was not between Saul and Samuel, but between Saul and a witch with a familiar demonic spirit: ... Conclusion: King Saul was looking for help from the witch of Endor, to contact someone in the grave, a dead Samuel, so that he could know from God how he could gain a victory over the Philistines. But God was not talking to Saul any more. By knowing what the Bible teaches about the state of the dead, and the circumstances regarding Saul's relationship with God at the time, we can be quite certain that it was not actually Samuel raised from the dead speaking to him, but a fallen angel, a demonic spirit. That Saul even attempted this s�ance with a spirit medium witch was an abomination, a further rebellion against God, and Saul paid for his rebellion with his life. {Note: By all Biblical accounts it was the real Samuel who returned briefly in spirit form from the afterlife in Paradise to rebuke Saul and to give a last accurate Prophecy concerning the unlikely events of the next day the last day of Saul's life and the beginning of the prophesied and planned Kingdom of King David. - Also Note: The Bible is about the spiritual realm to the point that all of our accurate understanding and insight into the afterlife and into the spiritual realm is delivered to us only through the pages of the Holy Bible.}

1 Samuel 30-31 - David and his men return from their treason with the Philistines to find that in their absence their families have been conquered and taken off into captivity by the Amlalekites - David repents and at this point goes all in with his life for God on God's side and for Israel the people of God -- '1 Samuel 30:4-8 Then David and the people [men of his army] that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. ... David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. ... And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And He (God) answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.'

Saul's prophesied death occurs: '1 Samuel 31:1-6 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchi-shua, Saul's sons. And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.' - '*2 Samuel 1:5-10 And David said unto the young [Amalekite] man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance {he was probably looting the battlefield} upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. And when he looked behind him, he [Saul] saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. And he said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord [David].' - '1 Samuel 31:8-13 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.' - Even after multiple battle wounds and falling on his own sword and appearing to be dead to those around him but Saul being full of demons did not immediately die. It was not until after Saul was attacked again by an Amalekite [2 Samuel 1:8] and possibly even only ultimately after being beheaded by the Philistines that it was confirmed that Saul was dead. At this point in Saul's life having disobeyed God on numerous occasions and then ordering the murder of the innocent Priests of God and God having completely removed His protection from Saul, Saul was clearly demon possessed and being demon possessed the demons do not readily want to give up the body they inhabit and as in Saul's case he was demonically driven in life and probably demonically driven for a short time after his death at least for a few hours and into the next day after his life.

NationalGeographic: Blackbeard Pirate Terror at Sea - Merchant crews often surrendered without a fight the moment they saw Blackbeard's flag - BLACKBEARD WAS BRITISH, probably born before 1690 his real name was thought to be Edward Teach - As Teach's power and reputation as the most frightening of pirates grew, so did his beard and hair - Now calling himself Blackbeard, he braided his beard and tied the braids with black ribbons - He stuffed burning rope under his hat to make himself look more ferocious and menacing he scared everyone

In the fall of 1718 Blackbeard returned from sea to his favorite hideaway off Ocracoke Island [North Carolina]. He hosted a huge, wild pirate get-together with dancing, drinking, and bonfires. Other famous pirates sailed in for the days-long event. News of the pirate bash reached Alexander Spotswood, the governor of Virginia. He decided that the time had come to stop Blackbeard once and for all. He spent the next several weeks planning Blackbeard's capture. SPOTSWOOD SENT TWO SLOOPS, small swift ships, commanded by Lieutenant Robert Maynard of the Royal Navy to Ocracoke. Seeing the navy's sails, Blackbeard and his pirates knew they were trapped. Only sandbars lay between them and the navy. By morning, the tide would rise, the sloops would glide over the submerged sandbars, and the attack on the pirate ship would begin. All through the night Maynard's men prepared for the next day's fighting. Muffled laughter and swearing from the pirate ship echoed across the water. Blackbeard didn't seem worried about the upcoming battle. His pirates, however, were nervous. They stockpiled ammunition on deck and soaked blankets in water in preparation for putting out fires. They spread sand on the decks to soak up blood once the fighting started. Thinking it likely they would all die, one pirate asked Blackbeard whether Blackbeard's wife knew where he had buried his treasure. Blackbeard bellowed that nobody but he "...and the devil knew where it was, and the longest liver shall take it." ... Pistol in one hand, cutlass in the other, Blackbeard came face-to-face with Maynard. They both fired pistols. Blackbeard missed. Maynard hit his mark. Shot, Blackbeard still managed to swing his cutlass and snap off Maynard's sword blade. Maynard drew back. Blackbeard raised his arm for a finishing blow. Just in time, a navy seaman came up from behind Blackbeard and slashed his throat. AS A WARNING TO OTHER PIRATES, Blackbeard's head was cut off and suspended from the bow of Maynard's sloop. Maynard searched for Blackbeard's treasure but found only supplies and letters. When Blackbeard died, the secret of his treasure died, too-if indeed he ever had one.

Edward Teach, better known as "Blackbeard," is perhaps the best known non-fictional pirate even though he was not the most successful - He is remembered mainly because of his image that he himself helped to create - [First lieutenant] Maynard later commented that Blackbeard fell with at least five gun shot wounds and at least 20 sword wounds

Today Edward Teach, better known as "Blackbeard," is perhaps the best known non-fictional pirate even though he was not the most successful. He is remembered mainly because of his image that he himself helped to create. Teach's life story is basically only known within the few years before his death when he was a pirate. His previous origins are unknown but it is believed that he was born in Bristol around 1680. His true identity is not entirely known either, but "Edward Teach" is recognized as being his standard name. Other forms of his last name were commonly cited in letters of the day - "Thatch," "Tach," "Tash," and even "Drummond" to list a few. It is believed that he was a well educated man since he could read/write and papers were found on him after his death. It is reasonable to believe that he wished to keep his true identity secret to protect his relatives at home, so "Edward Teach" may have been just an alias. ... Soon citizens and neighbouring Virginia Governor Alexander Spotswood feared the large gathering of pirates and rumors began to spread that a planned pirate haven would be set up. Spotswood began to organize a military force to rid Blackbeard. HMS Pearl and HMS Lyme were selected for the task but their captains informed the governor that their large ships would not be able to navigate the waters. Spotswood then offered up his own money to lease two sloops for the specific job, Ranger and Jane, which would be crewed by the warship men. First lieutenant Robert Maynard of HMS Pearl was selected to lead the two ships for the hunt while Captain Brand of HMS Lyme would lead ground forces. -- The two [British Navy] sloops set out for Blackbeard's hideout at Ocracoke Island [North Carolina] and arrived on late November 21, 1718. The next morning, the battle began. The two leased sloops were unarmed so they had to fight only with small guns and swords, but Blackbeard's sloop Adventure had 9 guns so he was able to fire at the approaching sloops. At their approach, Adventure set sail and fired at the sloops but there was very little wind so there was not much speed in the chase so oars were needed. Ranger was essentially knocked out from a lethal broadside shot from Adventure so Maynard moved in alone with Jane. Jane managed to damage Adventure enough, and Maynard ordered most of his crew below decks to bluff Blackbeard into thinking the crew was killed. His bluff worked, when the two ships were alongside one another Blackbeard and several of his crew boarded Jane. At this time, Maynard's armed and waiting crew belowdeck surfaced and a raging hand-to-hand battle ensued. Soon Maynard and Blackbeard were fighting each other in duel of naval officer versus pirate - a fight between good and evil. After Blackbeard wounded Maynard's fingers with a cutlass blow, Maynard moved back and shot him but had little effect in stopping Blackbeard. Several other Jane crewmen fought with Blackbeard after this before he was eventually overcome by his numerous wounds. (It has also been stated that Blackbeard was decapitated by a sword blow to the back of the head during the fighting rather than getting his head removed after his death.) Maynard later commented that Blackbeard fell with at least five gun shot wounds and at least 20 sword wounds. Blackbeard's severed head was hung from Maynard's sloop's bowsprit as a trophy and also to prove that the legendary Blackbeard the pirate was indeed dead.

Blackbeard's Ghost (Demon) - [First lieutenant] Maynard seemed to think that the only way to ensure that Blackbeard was dead was to remove his head - They hung the head from the bowsprit and threw the pirate's body overboard - As the body [of Blackbeard] hit the water, the head hanging from the bowsprit shouted: "Come on Edward [Edward Teach - Blackbeard's name]" and the headless body swam [flailed about] three times [completely] around the ship before sinking to the bottom {Blackbeard was demon possessed and being possessed he had additional human strength and powers and those demonic powers then continued on momentarily after Edward Teach was dead. Piracy is Satanism the two are synonymous there were no nice pirates in order to become a pirate a person was required to renounce Jesus Christ and to join Satan. The Skull and bones flags of the pirates all represented their perceived victory of Satan over Jesus Christ on the cross. The flag of pirates are the claims of an un-resurrected Jesus Christ.}

Maynard seemed to think that the only way to ensure that Blackbeard was dead was to remove his head. They hung the head from the bowsprit and threw the pirate's body overboard. As the body hit the water, the head hanging from the bowsprit shouted: "Come on Edward" and the headless body swam three times around the ship before sinking to the bottom. From that day to this, Blackbeard's ghost has haunted Teach's Hole, forever searching for his missing head. Sometimes, the headless ghost floats on the surface of the water, or swims around and around and around Teach's Hole, glowing just underneath the water. Sometimes, folks see a strange light coming from the shore on the Pamlico Sound side of Ocracoke Island and know that it is "Teach's light". On night's that the ghost light appears, if the wind is blowing inland, you can still hear Blackbeard's ghost (demon) tramping up and down and roaring: 'Where's my head?'

John Newton - (Satanic) [Pirate] Captain of a slaveship, but in 1743, while on the way to visit some friends, he was captured and pressed into [British] naval service - Sailing back to England in 1748 aboard the merchant ship, he experienced a spiritual conversion in the Greyhound, which was hauling a load of beeswax and dyer's wood - The ship encountered a severe storm off the coast of Donegal and almost sank - Newton awoke in the middle of the night and finally called out to God as the ship filled with water - It was this experience which he later marked as the beginnings of his conversion to evangelical Christianity [his mother's fundamental Christianity, more conservative than the common Church of England] - In 1767 William Cowper, the poet, moved to Olney - He worshipped in the church, and collaborated with Newton on producing a volume of hymns [including] "Faith's Review and Expectation" which came to be known by its opening phrase "Amazing Grace"

Early life: John Newton was born in Wapping, London, in 1725, the son of John Newton Sr., a shipmaster in the Mediterranean service, and Elizabeth Newton (n�e Seatclife), a Nonconformist Christian. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was six. Newton spent two years at boarding school, and at the age of eleven he went to sea with his father and sailed with him on a total of six voyages until the elder Newton retired in 1742. Newton's father had planned for him to take up a position as a slave master at a sugar plantation in Jamaica. He did become a Captain of a slaveship, but in 1743, while on the way to visit some friends, he was captured and pressed into naval service, and became a midshipman aboard the HMS Harwich. After attempting to desert upon learning of an extended voyage, Newton was returned to the Harwich for punishment. The captain, who detested traitors and deserters, was determined to make an example of Newton for the rest of the crew. Thus, in the presence of 350 members of the crew, the eighteen year old midshipman was stripped to the waist, tied to the grating, and received a flogging of ninety-six lashes, and was reduced to the rank of a common seaman. Following that disgrace and humiliation, Newton initially contemplated suicide, but he recovered, both physically and mentally, and, at his own request, he was placed in service on a slave ship bound for West Africa called the "Pegasus", which carried goods to Africa, and traded them for slaves to be shipped to England and other countries. After negotiating with a slave merchant named Amos Clowe, Newton's deliberate mischief against the crew eventually got him discharged. Amos took him to the coast of Sierra Leone. He became the servant of the merchant's wife, an African duchess called Princess Peye who abused him along with other of her slaves. It was this period that Newton later remembered as the time he was "once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in West Africa." Thankfully, early in 1748 he was rescued by a sea captain who had been asked by Newton's father to search for him on his next voyage. He initially turned down the offer, but agreed to come upon hearing of an inheritance of which he was to gather from(this was later shown to have been made up so as to convince Newton to return home). With this sudden news, Newton began the journey home. ... Spiritual conversion: Sailing back to England in 1748 aboard the merchant ship, he experienced a spiritual conversion in the Greyhound, which was hauling a load of beeswax and dyer's wood. The ship encountered a severe storm off the coast of Donegal and almost sank. Newton awoke in the middle of the night and finally called out to God as the ship filled with water. It was this experience which he later marked as the beginnings of his conversion to evangelical Christianity. As the ship sailed home, Newton began to read the Bible and other religious literature. By the time he reached Britain, he had accepted the doctrines of Evangelical Christianity. The date was May 10, 1748, an anniversary he marked for the rest of his life. From that point on, he avoided profanity, gambling, and drinking. Although he continued to work in the slave trade, he had a considerable amount of gained sympathy for the slaves. He later said that his true conversion did not happen until some time later: "I cannot consider myself to have been a believer in the full sense of the word, until a considerable time afterwards." Newton returned to Liverpool, England and, partly due to the influence of Joseph Manesty, a friend of his father's, obtained a position as first mate aboard a slave trading vessel, the Brownlow, bound for the West Indies via the coast of Guinea. During the first leg of this voyage, while in west Africa (1748-49), Newton acknowledged the inadequacy of his spiritual life. While he was sick with a fever, he professed his full belief in Christ and asked God to take control of his destiny. He later said that this experience was his true conversion and the turning point in his spiritual life. He claimed it was the first time he felt totally at peace with the Almighty God. Still, he did not renounce the slave trade until later in his life. After his return to England in 1750, he made three further voyages as captain of the slave-trading ships Duke of Argyle (1750) and the African (1752-53 and 1753-54). He only gave up seafaring and his active slave-trading activities in 1754, after suffering a severe stroke, but continued to invest his savings in Manesty's slaving operations." ... Writer and Hymnist: In 1767 William Cowper, the poet, moved to Olney. He worshipped in the church, and collaborated with Newton on producing a volume of hymns, which was eventually published as Olney Hymns in 1779. This work was to have a great influence on English hymnology. The volume included Newton's well-known hymns "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken", "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds!", "Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare", "Approach, My Soul, the Mercy-seat", and "Faith's Review and Expectation" which came to be known by its opening phrase, "Amazing Grace". Many of Newton's (as well as Cowper's) hymns are preserved in the Sacred Harp [a cappella (without instruments) songbook].

2 Samuel 1-2 - Saul and three of his four sons including Jonathan are killed in battle - After hearing of the death of Saul and of loss of his good friend Jonathan and knowing he was next in line to be the King of Israel David inquired of God what he should do next - God instructed David to go live in Hebron -- '2 Samuel 2:1 And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.' {Hebron is where Abraham lived for much of his time while he was in the Promise Land [Genesis 13:18]. It was while living in Hebron that Abraham rescued his nephew Lot and after the battle met with Melchizedek.}

David is instituted as the King of Judah but not yet all of Israel: '2 Samuel 2:4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.' - Abner the leader of Saul's army [it was probably Abner that gave the account of the death of Saul, three of his three sons and of his armor bearer on Mt. Gilboa at the end of 1 Samuel] set Saul's remaining son Ish-bosheth as a competing king over Israel. '2 Samuel 2:8-10 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. Ish-bosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.' - A long drawn out war prevailed between the House of Saul and the House of David. '2 Samuel 3:1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.' Later Abner would have a falling out with Ish-bosheth and leave that camp to join David's side. Joab the general of David's army killed Abner and later Ish-bosheth was assassinated by two Captains of his own army. King David is then installed to be the second King over all of Israel. - '2 Samuel 5:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.'

2 Samuel 3-5 - David becomes the second of only three men who will rule as an anointed King over an undivided Nation of Israel - King David captures the city of Jebus from the Jebusites and renames the city Jerusalem - Jerusalem becomes the City of David -- '2 Samuel 5:7-10 Nevertheless David took the strong hold [Jebus] of Zion: the same is [Jerusalem] the City of David. ... So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.'

Hiram king of Tyre: '2 Samuel 5:11-13 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house. And David perceived that the LORD had established him King over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for His people Israel's sake. And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.' - Hiram king of Tyre was a real person and Tyre was a real Nation that gets a lot of mention throughout the Prophets of the Bible. Throughout the history of the Bible outsiders namely Gentiles have seized upon the events recorded in the Bible and have created an entire cottage industry of alternate versions and events that are just old fashioned fables. Particularly now with the much later Gnostic Gospels and in all the counterfeit Aramaic writings these baseless alternate versions of events are literally being passed off as reality and as a truer reality than what is recorded in the Bible. The Christian Church has to be very diligent that we do not replace the recorded events of the Bible with modern perceptions of what the events might have been or could have been but that we keep the pure message of the Holy Bible a mesage that is able to save our Soul unto eternal Salvation [Acts 20:32, 2 Timothy 3:15].

'Massive' ancient [Jebus] wall uncovered in Jerusalem - An archaeological dig in Jerusalem has turned up a 3,700-year-old wall that is the largest and oldest of its kind found in the region, experts say - Standing 8 meters (26 feet) high, the wall of huge cut stones is a marvel to archaeologists - it was found inside the City of David, an archaeological excavation site outside the Old City of East Jerusalem on a slope of the Silwan Valley - The wall is believed to have been built by the Canaanites, an ancient pagan people [Jebusites] who the Bible says inhabited Jerusalem (Photo)

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- An archaeological dig in Jerusalem has turned up a 3,700-year-old wall that is the largest and oldest of its kind found in the region, experts say. Standing 8 meters (26 feet) high, the wall of huge cut stones is a marvel to archaeologists. "To build straight walls up 8 meters ... I don't know how to do it today without mechanical equipment," said the excavation's director, Ronny Reich. "I don't think that any engineer today without electrical power could do it." Archaeologist Eli Shukron of the Israel Antiquities Authority added, "You see all the big boulders -- all the boulders are 4 to 5 tons." The discovered section is 24 meters (79 feet) long. "However, it is thought the fortification is much longer because it continues west beyond the part that was exposed," the Israel Antiquities Authority said in a news release. It was found inside the City of David, an archaeological excavation site outside the Old City of East Jerusalem on a slope of the Silwan Valley. The wall is believed to have been built by the Canaanites, an ancient pagan people who the Bible says inhabited Jerusalem and other parts of the Middle East before the advent of monotheism. ... Such walls were used primarily to defend against marauding desert nomads looking to rob the city, said Reich, a professor at the University of Haifa. "We are dealing with a gigantic fortification, from the standpoint of the structure's dimensions, the thickness of its walls and the size of the stones that were incorporated in its construction," the joint statement said.

The [Freemasonry] Legend of Hiram, King of Tyre - Hiram, King of Tyre, was the son of Abibal, and the contemporary of both [King] David and [King] Solomon

Hiram, King of Tyre, was the son of Abibal, and the contemporary of both David and Solomon. In the beginning of the former's reign, he sent messengers to him, and King Hiram provided the Hebrew king with "cedars, carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house." Nearly forty years afterward, when Solomon ascended the throne, and began to prepare for the building of the Temple, he sent to the old friend of his father for the same kind of assistance. ... The connection of the King of Tyre with King Solomon in the construction of the Temple has given him a great importance in the legendary history of Freemasonry. The tradition is that King Hiram had been Grand Master of all Masons, but when the Temple was finished, King Hiram came to survey it before its consecration, and to commune with Solomon about wisdom and art. On finding that the Great Architect Of The Universe had inspired Solomon above all mortal men, King Hiram very readily yielded the pre-eminence to Solomon Jedediah, the "beloved of God." - King Hiram reigned over the Tyrians for thirty-four years. He permitted Solomon's ships to participate in the profitable trade of the Mediterranean, and Jewish sailors, under the instructions of Tyrian mariners, were taught how to bring from India the gold necessary to enrich their people and to beautify the Temple of their king. Tradition says that King Hiram gave his daughter in marriage to King Solomon.

Messianic Prophecy: the Masonic Messiah - Although the Cult of Freemasonry eschews a coming Messiah to bring about the Freemasonic World Empire it does have a Christ-like figure: it is the mythical figure of Hiram Abiff [there is a Hiram mentioned in 1 Kings 7:13-14 but there is no Hiram Abiff mentioned in the Bible] - Thus, within this counterfeit trinity we find that the offices of Solomon (wisdom) counterfeits the Holy Ghost and Hiram, king of Tyre (strength) counterfeits the Father - And, consequently, Hiram Abiff, the widow's son (beauty) is the Freemasonic symbol of the Son, of Christ - He is the standard of true Freemasonry and all Freemasons are instructed to pattern after him and so humble Abiff came to represent Christ thus. Put differently: Hiram Abiff is the Masonic Christ

Although the Cult of Freemasonry eschews a coming Messiah to bring about the Freemasonic World Empire it does have a Christ-like figure: it is the mythical figure of Hiram Abiff. Although the god of Freemasonry is Lucifer, who they euphemistically call the Grand Architect of the Universe, he is routinely symbolised by three persons. Luciferianism is an ancient religion set up as an opposition to the Will of God. Luciferianism is a counterfeit religion and consequently it is constructed upon counterfeit doctrines and symbols. Thus, within Freemasonry, a false, counterfeit Luciferian religion, there is a trinity that counterfeits the Holy Trinity. A counterfeit, three in one godhead, a false triune God that apes the Christian concept of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This Freemasonic trinity is comprised of three men mentioned in the Old Testament but are themselves merely pegs on which are hooked very ancient archetypes. Symbolically, the structure of Freemasonry is supported by three symbolic pillars: wisdom, strength and beauty, which represents the Freemasonic trinity of Solomon (wisdom) Hiram, king of Tyre (strength) and Hiram Abiff, the widow's son (beauty). Upon this trinity, the architects of Freemasonry built a cunning and elaborate counterfeit of God's divinity and God's plan of salvation. -- Thus, within this counterfeit trinity we find that the offices of Solomon (wisdom) counterfeits the Holy Ghost and Hiram, king of Tyre (strength) counterfeits the Father. And, consequently, Hiram Abiff, the widow's son (beauty) is the Freemasonic symbol of the Son, of Christ. He is the standard of true Freemasonry and all Freemasons are instructed to pattern after him and so humble Abiff came to represent Christ thus. Put differently: Hiram Abiff is the Masonic Christ. In the Freemasonic mythos, the story of the building of Solomon's Temple, in which the figure of Hiram Abiff has a central role, is pre-eminent. Here, Hiram Abiff is the Master Mason charged with building the Temple according to the rules and dictates of Ancient Wisdom. However, he was killed by fellow masons because he would not tell them the "Master's Word," which was the most important secret of Masonry and held by only three masons at that time: Hiram Abiff, King Solomon and Hiram of Tyre. And, because Hiram Abiff had sworn a solemn oath to the others to keep this "Master's Word," safe and secret he lost his life rather than violate his compact with Solomon and Hiram of Tyre. For, this "Master's Word," once revealed would have not only destroyed the foundation of Masonry but also the plan of its supposed founders. Consequently, Freemasons are instructed that their Craft and its ancient ambition was preserved by the faithfulness of Hiram Abiff, who chose death rather than the violate his oath. Thus, during the Freemasonic ritual of the Legend of the Third Degree, the candidate portrays Hiram Abiff, the Grand Master at the building of Solomon's Temple who dies protecting his oath. A symbolic death and rebirth ritual at whose conclusion, King Solomon, played by the Worshipful Master, says: ... Moreover, at the heart of these Luciferian Doctrines is the Serpent's promise: "Ye shall be as gods." (Gen. 3:5). A sacrilege rendered as the belief that Salvation is entirely in the hands of the individual whose latent potential is the Divinity Within, the God Within; that Man is the god-in-the-making: that man is his own Messiah. Moreover, to help in this apotheosis, Freemasonry offers its adherents the Freemasonic Ideal who is Hiram Abiff so that by duplication the "worthy brother" too can ascend to deity. And so, in this respect Hiram Abiff is the Freemasonic mediator, even as Christ is the Christian mediator. That is: just as Christ suffered for the Sins of the World in order to complete the Father's Plan, then, Hiram Abiff is the perfect Freemason who willingly died to save his Craft and future Freemasons from physical and spiritual destruction and so allow the Great Architect to complete his plan. That is: Hiram Abiff is the Freemasonic "Christ."

2 Samuel 6 - The Ark of the Covent (Old Covenant) with the presence of God comes to its final destination, the Holy City of Jerusalem -- '2 Samuel 6:2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the Ark of God, whose Name is called by the Name of the LORD of hosts that *dwelleth between the cherubims.'

The Ark of the Covent with the presence of God comes to Jerusalem: '2 Samuel 6:6-22 And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the Ark of God, and took hold of it [to steady the Ark]; for the oxen shook it [the Ark was to be carried by levites not carted on an ox cart as the Philistines had don]. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error [the Kingdom of God does not need steadying or the assistance from any person]; and there he died by the Ark of God. And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach [gash] upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day. And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, *How shall the Ark of the LORD come to me [the way God prescribed in the Bible not on an ox cart as the Philistines had done]? So David would not remove the Ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the Ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obed-edom, and all his household. And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed- edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the Ark of God. So David went and brought up the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness. And it was so, that when they [Levitical Preists] that bare the Ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. *So David and all the house of Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with shouting [rejoicing], and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the Ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the Ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle [the Tabernacle was relocated from Shiloh to Jerusalem, later the Temple would be built by Solomon] that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house. Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, *who uncovered himself {David removed the restrictions of the Law [Levitical system] and entered a new dimension [Melchizedek system where everyone is the same and equal before God] to worship God} to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.' - The Ark of the Covenant with the presence of God arriving in the Holy City of God at Jerusalem is one of the greatest moments in human history and King David did not miss the significance of the moment in having the presence of the Holy God now permanently in their midst. King David had removed his royal apparel and worshiped God while wearing a linen ephod and finally David removed the ephod and worshiped the True and Holy God of Israel as just one simple person unrestricted in his worship and rejoicing in the presence of the Holy God.

FreeCDTracts.com: Sermon Jams Vol. 1 #9 Freedom - Multi Realm Freedom Living - Breaking away from the Grid of this world to Living in God's Spiritual Realm (Mp3)

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2 Samuel 7 - King David receives the promise from God that his throne will be the Throne that the Messiah will reign from and that the Messiah will be a physical descendant of King David -- '2 Samuel 7:12-16 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou [King David] shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed [Jesus Christ] after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels [Solomon and later Jesus via his descendant Mary], and I will establish His Kingdom. He (Jesus) shall build an house for My Name, and I will stablish the throne of His Kingdom for ever. I will be His Father, and He (Jesus) shall be My Son. If he [Solomon] commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But My mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established [in Jesus] for ever.'

King David's response to the promises of God: '2 Samuel 7:18-29 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant. For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them. Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, either is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God. And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said. And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee. For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.'

2 Samuel 8-10 - King David establishes Jonathan's son Mephibosheth to accompany him at his table forever -- '2 Samuel 9:1 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?' - '2 Samuel 9:7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.'

'2 Samuel 9:3-8 And the King said, Is there not yet any of the House of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the King, Jonathan hath yet a son, *which is lame on his feet. And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! 7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he bowed himself, and said, *What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?' - Mephibosheth was unable to grasp the concept of the 'birthright'. The status of sitting at the King's table was not being bestowed upon Mephibosheth based on who he was it was being bestowed upon him solely based on who his father was and the promises and covenants regarding the father. Our Christian birthright and our right to sit at the Table and feast and fellowship with God is based solely on who our Father [Isaiah 9:6, Hebrews 12:9] is and with our Father being Jesus Christ we are entitled by His reputation, His promises and His abilities not ours to take a 'birthright' seat at the table with God. -- Note: We each become children of the birthright of Jesus Christ with our own individual faith by receiving the 'born again' Resurrection Spirit of Jesus Christ [John 20:22] by the Spirit [breath] baptism of Jesus Christ at the moment when we each individually acknowledge the 'new birth' resurrection life and eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ when Jesus then breathes {even today, this very moment} His Spirit [breath] into us individually as we individually become His new Child of God. Jesus said in John 3:3 "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man [individual] be born again [by the Spirit breath of God], he cannot see the Kingdom of God." ... 'Colossians 1:27 ... [the Resurrected Jesus] Christ in you, the hope of glory'. -- Also Note: Where the resurrection Feast of First Fruits and the individual Spirit baptism by Jesus [John 20:22] is a more specific Feast Day the Feast of Pentecost is a more general Feast Day. Pentecost could not possibly be the start of the Christian Church as the Resurrection Day of Jesus is already the start of the Christian Church and Pentecost has broad implications extending out far beyond the Church and into the Tribulation period when the Church era will have already ended. Pentacost also has regards to the giving of the Holy Spirit the Nation of Israel and evidentially including to all mankind in a prophetic way but not in a 'born again' way as the 'born again' internal Spirit is only available from the resurrection 'breath' of Jesus and is only given (breathed) on those who have Faith in Jesus, His Cross and His Resurrection and who desire to be in His eternal Kingdom. 'Acts 2:16-21 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel [Joel 2:28-32]; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit *upon all flesh [God is not withholding Himself from a relationship with mankind]: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: *And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever [Jew, Gentile, Martyred Saint of Revelation, 144,000 Wittiness of Revelation] shall [respond to the relationship with God] call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

The 4 Personality Types - Sanguine {King David} (Prima Donna) [active, entertaining, likes being involved and in large crowds of people, tend to look on the bright side of events], Melancholies {King Solomon, David's son} (Serious Professionals) [Responsible, attention to fine detail, contemplate life, follow or at least know all the rules and expect others to follow them, like being alone, tend to look on the dark side of events] -- Choleric {King Saul} (Hard reliable workers) [Managers and bosses, if you don't work you don't deserve a break, a lot of ability and a lot of potential though like Saul the potential can be very good or very bad], Phlegmatic {Jonathan, Saul's son} (Easy going) [Laid back, go along with the flow, often friends of friends and supporters of others] {Sanguines often marry their opposite in Melancholies and have Sanguine and Melancholy children. Cholerics often marry their opposite in Phlegmatics and have Choleric and Phlegmatic children and no-one understands anyone!}

The 4 personality types: God could have made us all Sanguines. We could have lots of fun but accomplish little. He could have made us all Melancholies. We would have been organized and charted but not very cheerful. He could have made us all Cholerics. We would have been set to lead, but impatient that no one would follow! He could have made us all Phlegmatics. We would have had a peaceful world but not much enthusiasm for life. We need each temperament for the total function of the body. Each part should do its work to unify the action and produce harmonious results. The Gift of Encouraging Words ~ Florence Littauer

!!!Highly Recommended: Florence Littauer - Understanding Your Temperament - Parts 1-4 (Mp3s)

Florence Littauer gives you valuable insight for appreciating your one-of-a-kind, God-given personality. She includes a Personality Profile test that reveals how your unique blend of traits affects your emotions, work performance, and relationships. {Note: the Mp3 "161 Silver Boxes" by Florence Littauer is the telling of a very tragic and sad event in the Littauer family. Only listen to it if you are ready to handle one of life's tragedies. The Littauer family is a very talented, wonderful and amazing family and has lived the advise they give to others. The very talented Florence Littauer has now also gone home to be with the Lord.}

Personality Plus, 2nd Edition by Florence Littauer (Book)

In Personality Plus, Florence Littauer gives you valuable insight for appreciating your one-of-a-kind, God-given personality. She includes a Personality Profile test that reveals how your unique blend of traits affects your emotions, work performance, and relationships. Through humorous anecdotes and straightforward counsel, Personality Plus guides you to improve upon your strengths and correct your weaknesses. ... Customer Reviews: February 19, 2008 The information in this book saved my life, my marriage and helped me raise my kids. As a Christian there are behaviors we all know are not right, but figuring out how to control or change those behaviors is another story. By understanding our "built-in" personality, we can understand why we do what we do and what we can and cannot change about ourselves. If you could only have one book on the subject of personalities - this would be the one! ... August 08, 2004 This book is a wonderful tool for anyone seeking to understand their strengths & weaknesses, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of those they share their life with. This book could very well save damaged relationships. I would have given it a 5, except that the profile is on several pages, and the definitions for it are in the back of the book, and there's no handy resource to make taking the "test" easier....I guess I just revealed my personality type with that statement!! =)

Self Help books by Florence Littauer, Fred Littauer and Marita Littauer (Books)

Wired That Way: The Comprehensive Personality Plan - Do you have trouble getting along with certain family members, friends or work associates? Why are people wired so differently? Learn how understanding your own personality type can help you turn terminated relationships into germinated, growing relationships! Once you understand your personality type and how you're wired, you will be ready to discover how to maximize your strengths while minimizing your weaknesses. Then, you'll learn how to quickly pick up cues about the personality of others from their body language. Your life will be enriched as you grow deeper in your faith, and quickly improve seemingly incompatible relationships with friends, family and coworkers! By Marita Littauer

The Five Love Languages [Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Gifts (giving and receiving), Acts of Service, and Physical Touch] by Gary Chapman {These are tips on how your emotional relationship reservoir is filled or emptied. If you need quality time and someone is instead giving quality acts of service or works no matter how wonderful it is still a personality mismatch and might not add enough to the relationship to keep it growing or even going. These fixes are really easy because anyone can make these adjustments. People just need to identify their 'Love Language' and point it out to their family and friends. For instance bringing flowers for some is not as good a gift as cleaning out a closet, or as good as a touch for some or encouraging words for others and we need to at times provide the other person with their 'Love language' emotional filling regardless of what our preference is.} (Books)

Product Description: Dr. Gary Chapman, Christian marriage counselor and author of The Five Love Languages, helps married couples deal with their unmet needs for love. Because a husband and wife often have different communication styles, it is common for a spouse to not feel or recognize the love given to them. In his bestselling book, The Five Love Languages, Dr. Chapman identifies and explains five unique communication methods - Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. Then he encourages couples to learn how to speak love in their spouse's primary love language, not their own. Love is something you do for someone else, not yourself. Begin today. Includes a study guide; paperback.

Boundaries ... in Marriage, with Kids, with Teens, in Dating, 5 Volumes {The Boundaries material is more for troubled relationships where boundaries, limits and barriers have to be installed in relationships to maintain an individual's own safety and identity.} (Books)

Boundaries, Boundaries in Marriage, Boundaries with Kids, Boundaries with Teens: When to Say Yes and How to Say No, Boundaries in Dating. By Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend.

2 Samuel 11-12 - King David at a time when he was supposed to be in battle with his troops stayed home and ended up having an affair with Bath-sheba another man's wife -- '2 Samuel 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.'

The birth of King Solomon: '2 Samuel 12:24-25 24 And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife [after the loss of thier first child], and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he [King David] called his name Solomon [Peaceable]: and the LORD loved him. And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah [loved of the Lord], because of the LORD.' - King Solomon becomes the third and final man to rule as King over an undivided Israel. King David will request to replace the Tabernacle with a Temple for God built by himself however God will not permit King David to build His House the Temple because King David as a soldier has shed his fellow human's blood. The building of the Temple of God in Jerusalem becomes the privilege of King Solomon. The 1st Jerusalem Temple will come to be known as Solomon's Temple, the 2nd Temple is known as Herod's Temple and the coming 3rd Temple in Jerusalem will be the Antichrist's Temple. King Solomon once enthroned after many more intrigues will reign as King of Israel for the rest of his life. The descendants of King Solomon will sit upon the throne until eventually they are so evil that God cuts of Solomon's line from ever sitting on the throne of Israel again. Joseph the sep father of Jesus was a descendant of Solomon and therefore Joseph was unable to be a restored King in Israel however Mary was a descendant of Nathan one of Solomon's brothers [not the prophet Nathan] therefore Jesus via Mary back through Nathan to his father King David is eligible to sit on the Throne of King David as the King for Israel. - Note: The coming Antichrist will most likely be a descendant of Solomon [via a Satanic bloodline - Satan is also keeping track of key genealogies in order to challenge the word of God] and therefore as a descendant of Solomon will be ineligible to sit on the throne of Israel but the Antichrist isn't exactly going to be one for following rules, especially the Biblical rules of God.

2 Samuel 13-14 - King David was told by God via the Prophet Nathan that as a result of his affair and conduct with Bath-sheba and her husband Uriah that King David's own household would be in constant turmoil -- '2 Samuel 12:9-11 Wherefore hast thou despised the Commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? thou hast killed Uriah [the husband of Bath-sheba] the Hittite with the sword [through a plan], and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him [in battle] with the sword of the children of Ammon. *Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised Me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house ...'

Turmoil in the House of David: 2 Samuel 13:1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon [their � brother] the son of David loved her. 2 Samuel 13:12-21 And she [Tamar] answered him [Amnon], Nay (No), my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly. And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the King; for he will not withhold me from thee. Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her. *Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; *so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her. Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her. And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying. And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy [�] brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house. But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth [King David knew Absalom would kill Amnon and he did]. - Amnon desired Tamar more than anything mainly because she had status as a daughter of the King. Amnon as a son of the King thought that it was a part of his birthright to be with her however it was a severe act of sin and as sin it quickly destroyed the relationships of the people involved even bringing about an untimely and early end to the life of Amnon.

2 Samuel 15-16 - King David's oldest son Absalom and David's counselor Ahithophel [a prophecy of Judas] conspired from Hebron to take away the Kingdom from David -- '2 Samuel 15:10-12 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.'

King David and his royal court are forced to flee from Jerusalem: '2 Samuel 15:13-16 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint. And the king went forth, and all his household after him.' - With the usurper Absalom attempting to overthrow the Kingdom of David the Kingdom has to go outside the city. The Kingdom of Jesus Christ has those who desire to overthrow it and therefore the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is currently outside the city [Hebrews 13:13-14] outside of this current worldly corrupt structure and system. If we are to meet and fellowship with Jesus Christ we are to do it outside the human ream and inside the Holy Spirit realm. With the Second Coming of Jesus Christ the Kingdom of Jesus Christ will once again be established in Jerusalem, in this world.

BATH-SHEBA - Ahithophel's granddaughter[?] - if indeed Eliam was the son of the famous Ahithophel, the Bible would not have failed to mention the fact - It is also difficult to believe that Ahithophel, if he was the grandfather of Bath-Sheba, would have taken part in such an action which would undoubtedly have endangered the position of his granddaughter and her son in the royal court

BATH-SHEBA, wife of David and mother of Solomon. Bath-Sheba was originally the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David's warriors. During the war against Rabbath-Ammon (II Sam. 11), David saw Bath-Sheba and ordered her brought to his palace. When David knew that she was pregnant by him, he attempted to return Uriah to his house (see II Sam. 11:6-13). Failing to do so, he sought and found a pretext to have Uriah killed in battle (11:14-27); he then married Bath-Sheba. The prophet Nathan rebuked David for this act (12:1-12), but subsequently took Bath-Sheba's side and supported the enthronement of her son Solomon (I Kings 1:8ff.). She later agreed to present to Solomon Adonijah's request for David's concubine Abishag. In addition to Solomon {Joseph the stepfather of Jesus is a descendant of Solomon}, Bath-Sheba gave birth to at least three other sons, Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan {Mary the mother of Jesus is a descendant of Nathan} (I Chron. 3:5). It seems that her first son, who died soon after his birth because of the sin of his father, is included in this list (II Sam. 12:13ff.). -- According to II Samuel 11:3, Bath-Sheba was the daughter of Eliam, and according to I Chronicles 3:5, she was the daughter of Ammiel, who the rabbis of the Talmud (Sanh. 69b) identify with Eliam son of *Ahithophel the Gilonite (II Sam. 23:34); hence the opinion of early commentators (Kimi and Levi b. Gershom) and several recent scholars that the opposition of Ahithophel to David during the revolt of Absalom stemmed from his wish to avenge Uriah's death. Others believe that these opinions are unacceptable, because, if indeed Eliam was the son of the famous Ahithophel, the Bible would not have failed to mention the fact. It is also difficult to believe that Ahithophel, if he was the grandfather of Bath-Sheba, would have taken part in such an action which would undoubtedly have endangered the position of his granddaughter and her son in the royal court. On the other hand, there is reason to suppose that Bath-Sheba was of a family that existed in Jerusalem before its conquest by David.

THE MAN [ABSALOM, later in Barabbas and finally the Antichrist] OF SIN AND HIS ACCOMPLICE [AHITHOPHEL, later in Judas and finally the (false prophet) of the Corporation religion structure] - {Prophetic Precursor} ABSALOM (usurper) & AHITHOPHEL (betrayer) - {First Coming} [Barabbas {probably a descendant of King Solomon} (usurper) & Judas (betrayer)] - {Second Coming} Antichrist 'Government' (usurper) & Corporation Church Christianity 'Religion' (betrayer) {Corporation (government, business) Christianity is a betrayer to Jesus Christ: We are all called to attend, fellowship and belong to a Christian Church however let's keep in mind that Jesus Christ is the head of His Church and not some man behind a pulpit. Let us endeavor to have Jesus Christ as the head and the authority in our own life while we work within an ever increasingly corrupt corporation church system. We are in the Church not of the worldly system of men but in the Godly system of Jesus. Men are setting up their own corporation church kingdoms and are excluding Jesus from His own Church. The corporation church system praises men and the men openly seek the praise of the people instead of seeking for the people to praise Jesus. The Corporation system knows the doctrines of the local, state and federal tax codes much more thoroughly than they know the doctrines and precepts of the Bible. The corporation church system preaches a watered down self centered message and sells it only for a price and if they do publish a Bible it is also for a price and usually it is of a known corrupted version (i.e. NIV, NKJV) because there is a contract that can be signed and more money can be made from a corrupt corporation version than can be made with just the pure intention of preserving and passing along an uncorrupt version of the Word of God. -- 'Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add thou not unto His words [manipulate not the Words of God], lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.'}

ABSALOM (usurper) & AHITHOPHEL (betrayer): Absalom, felt that his father was unjust and unfit [past his age] to be king. He began to speak evil of his father and stole the hearts of the people, ultimately turning them against David. When the time was ripe, Absalom went to Hebron, where his friends proclaimed him king of Israel (2 Sam. 15:10). In this conspiracy, Absalom sent for Ahithophel, who was David's counselor and friend (Psalm 41:9). Ahithophel came from Giloh, a town in the mountains of Judah (2 Samuel 15:12). Like Absalom, he was a Judahite and *a prophetic type of Judas in the New Testament. David refused to fight against Absalom and his men over the throne. Instead, he meekly left Jerusalem, knowing that God would establish His throne. In this, he showed the attitude of Jesus Christ, who also refused to fight for His throne rights, even though He was the rightful Heir to the throne. 2 Samuel 15:30, 31 says, 30 And David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went, and his head was covered and he walked barefoot. Then all the people who were with him each covered his head and went up weeping as they went. This is the same path Jesus took when He bore the cross to the place of crucifixion. Can we not see in David a prophetic pattern of the crucifixion? 31 Now someone told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "O LORD, I pray, make the counsel of Ahithophel foolishness." This is a Hebrew play on words. Ahithophel's name means "my brother is foolish." I believe his name is prophetic of Judas' attitude toward Jesus, his "brother." Judas disagreed with Jesus' refusal to use violence to take His rightful place as King. *It has long been believed that Judas betrayed Jesus in order to attempt to force Him into using violence to take the Kingdom by force, rather than by winning the hearts of the people by love. Ahithophel's name seems to support this view. Quoting from The Interlinear Bible, 2 Samuel 15:32 says, 32 It happened as David had come to the top [Heb. Rosh, "head"], there where he bowed [Heb. shachah, "bow or worship"] to God. The Hebrew word translated "summit" above is rosh, which means "head." For example, Rosh Hashana is the head of the year, that is, the first day of the year, marked by the Feast of Trumpets. John 19:17 says Jesus was crucified at the place of the skull (Greek: kranion, from which we get our word "cranial"). Even as David walked up to the summit, or "head" of the Mount of Olives, so also did Jesus carry His cross to the same place where David worshiped God. This was the ancient location of the sacrificial altar where the red heifers were burned "outside the camp," whose ashes were used to purify people as they came to worship at the temple. Jesus, of course, fulfilled this burnt offering, as He did all the offerings. He was crucified outside the camp (Heb. 13:11-13), ... The story of Absalom's usurping the throne and David's path to the top of the mount of Olives shows that the story of Absalom's rebellion and Ahithophel's betrayal is a prophetic pattern of Jesus' crucifixion and Judas' betrayal. ... SANHEDRIN HIGH PRIESTS (corporate usurpers) & JUDAS (betrayer): In Matthew 21 Jesus told a parable of the Kingdom, in which He described the Jewish leaders of the day plotting to usurp the Messiah's throne. The vine-growers, or farmers, in God's vineyard had been given authority over the vineyard in order to render to the Owner (God) the fruits in their seasons. When the Owner of the vineyard sent servants to collect the fruits, the farmers beat them, stoned them, and sometimes killed them (Matt. 21:35, 36). Finally He sent His Son, thinking they would surely reverence His Son. But verse 38 says, 38 But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, "This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and seize his inheritance." 39 And they took him, and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Even as Absalom knew that his father was the king, and for that reason he usurped the throne, so also did the chief priests know that Jesus was the Heir. They killed Him because they knew who He was. It was a deliberate revolt and rebellion to seize His inheritance. ... Acts 1:20 quotes David's writings about Ahithophel and applies them to Judas. It says, 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, "Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no man dwell in it;" [Psalm 69:25] and, "His office let another man take" [Psalm 109:8]. Psalms 69 and 109 are prophetic about Judas and the chief priests. These are too lengthy to quote here, but many of these verses were later quoted in the New Testament, applicable either to the priests or to Judas.

2 Samuel 17-19 - Ahithophel's counsel to Absalom in how to take over the Kingdom is ignored by Absalom so Ahithophel like the future Judas goes out and commits suicide - David's oldest son Absalom is killed by the opportunistic Joab ending the usurper rebellion of Absalom - The Kingdom of David returns from exile to once again reign from Jerusalem -- '2 Samuel 17:23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.' - 'Matthew 27:5 And he [Judas] cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.'

Ziba's betrayal of Mephiboseth succeeds in part because of Mephiboseth's lack of active participation in the Kingdom of David: '2 Samuel 9:1-3 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake? And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son [Mephiboseth], which is lame on his feet.' - '2 Samuel 16:3-4 3 And the King [David] said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba [lying] said unto the King, Behold, he [Mephiboseth] abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, Today shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father [Saul, Jonathan]. Then said the King to Ziba, Behold, thine are all [his posessions] that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.' - '2 Samuel 19:24-30 24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and [in mourning] had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace. And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the [returning] King [David], that the King said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me [into exile], Mephibosheth? And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant [Ziba] deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the King; because thy servant is lame. *And he hath slandered [Mephibosheth] thy servant unto my lord the King; but my lord the King is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes. For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the King? *And the King said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. And Mephibosheth said unto the King, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.' - Mephibosheth's servant Ziba is a slanderer and slanders Mephibosheth's reputation to King David in order to gain Mephibosheth's possessions. When King David returns to Jerusalem he then hears Mephibosheth's weak version of the events. While King David was in exile the best Mephibosheth could do was make himself unclean and unsightly to himself and to everyone around him. Being unclean and unsightly did nothing to help during the circumstances. Mephibosheth as a part of the King's Court needed to find a way to get out of the city and to be with the King while in exile. Of course King David couldn't tell whose side Mephibosheth was on because in actuality Mephibosheth didn't take any side he just maintained in his own predicament day after day and passed on every opportunity he had to be a part of and actively involved in the Kingdom of David.

2 Samuel 20-21 - Joab continues to manipulate every situation in order to secure and promote his status within the Kingdom of David - Joab deceitfully kills Amasa a cousin of David's and a fellow military leader of Joab's -- '2 Samuel 20:9-10 9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he [Joab] smote him [Amasa] therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his [Amasa's] brother pursued after [the rebellious] Sheba the son of Bichri.'

A wise woman of the city of Abel saves herself and her city from destruction: A rebellious man [Sheba] had taken refuge in the city of Abel and Joab and his army began to attack the city. One wise woman asked Joab what he intended to do and the woman wondered why the General of Israel would destroy a whole city of Israel and all the people in it. Joab replied that he was actually after just one man and realizing his foolishness Joab stated that they could just give him only the outlaw and the city would not be destroyed. '2 Samuel 20:15-22 And they came and besieged him [Sheba] in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down. *Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee. And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel [wisdom] at Abel: and so they ended the matter. I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD? And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the King, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. *Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.' - This is an example of how one very wise woman was able to save herself and her entire city from certain destruction. Later on we learn how a not so wise people in Israel are able to literally save themselves eternally and the entire future generations of the Nation of Israel by their one decision. - 'Matthew 27:24-26 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. *Then answered all the people [of Israel], and said, *His blood be on us, *and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.' - Another example of how Israel and all of their descendants have the blood of Jesus Christ covering them but Pilate washed the blood of Jesus from his hands. It is completely impossibly to associate the blood of Jesus Christ with anything other than the blessings of eternal life. The blood of Jesus is life! The Nation of Israel is covered by the life giving blood of Jesus Christ just as Jesus intended and planned for them to be from the very beginning. It's not exactly given for the Nation of Israel to understand the blessings of the blood covering of Jesus Christ at this moment however it is given for the Christian Church to understand the significance of the blood covering of the Nation of Israel including all of their descendants.

2 Samuel 22-23 - Late in King david's life he recounts the Blessings from God in his life -- '2 Samuel 22:47-51 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my Rock; and exalted be the God of the Rock of my Salvation. It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto Thy Name. He is the tower of Salvation for His King: and sheweth mercy to His anointed, unto David, and to his seed [descendants] for evermore [eternity].'

King David reflects on his eternal salvation in God: '2 Samuel 22:31-37 31 As for God, *His way is perfect [Melchizedek]; the word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler [personal shield] to all them that trust in Him. For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a Rock, save our God? God is my strength and power: and *He maketh my way perfect [Melchizedek]. He maketh my feet like hinds feet: and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.' - 'Psalms 110 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at My right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. *The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, *Thou art a Priest for ever after *the order of Melchizedek. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, He shall fill the places with the dead bodies; He shall wound the heads over many countries. He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall He lift up [be alert] the head.' - King David was a psalmist, a prophet, a king, a warrior and an intimate participant in the Levitical system of laws, ordinances, covenants and sacrifices yet King David having had it all and having seen it all only desired an intimate one to one fellowship with God. A spiritual fellowship that cannot be attained by any means of human status and is not found in any religious system but is only available in the intimate fellowship provided by the mercy and grace of God and given one to one in a personal intimate relationship with the Holy God.

2 Samuel 24 - King David purchases the Temple Mount area the future sight of all the Temples [Solomon's, Herod's, Antichrist's] of Jerusalem -- '2 Samuel 24:24-25 And the King [David] said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.'

God deals with Israel as a Nation of one people not as a nation of individuals: '2 Samuel 24:1-21 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. ... So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men. And when the Angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented Him of the evil, and said to the Angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the Angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the Angel {suspended between Heaven and earth above the Temple Mount} that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? *let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me [spare the people], and against my father's house. And Gad [a Prophet] came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear [build] an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite. And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded. And Araunah looked, and saw the King and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the King on his face upon the ground. And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the King come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.' - As we will further see in the building of the Temple and the dedication prayer of Solomon [1 Kings 8:22-54] that God deals with the Nation of Israel more as one group of people and not so much as individuals as with the Gentiles. - King David is a type of Jesus Christ and as a type of Jesus he is a good shepherd [John 10:7-18] willing to give his life in order to save the people from the plague of death. Had King Saul [a type of Satan] been presented with the same predicament Saul would no doubt have asked God to spare his own life and would have cared not if all the people died. King Solomon [a type of the Antichrist] would no doubt have asked God to spare himself as the King but would have scattered the people (flock) by telling them it's every person for themselves.

1 Kings 1 - King David has become too old to sit on his royal throne - Adonijah attempts to set himself upon his father David's throne - King David declares to Bath-sheba that he will pass along the Kingdom to their son Solomon -- '1 Kings 1:29-30 And the King [David] sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.'

Solomon is anointed to be the 3rd and final King over a united Israel: '1 Kings 1:32-39 And King David said, Call me Zadok the [High] Priest, and Nathan the Prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the King. The King also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: And *let Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet anoint him there King over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save King Solomon. Then ye shall come up after him, *that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be King in my stead: and *I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the King, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the King say so too. As the LORD hath been with my lord the King, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David. So Zadok the Priest, and Nathan the Prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon King David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the Tabernacle [the Temple has not yet been built], and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save King Solomon.' - The three offices of God; King, Priest and Prophet are all three still in existence and functioning separately in Israel during the reign of King Solomon.

JewishVirtualLibrary.org: Solomon - The biblical King Solomon was known for his wisdom, his wealth and his writings. He became ruler in approximately 967 B.C. - Solomon's downfall came in his old age he had taken many foreign wives, whom he allowed to worship other gods - Solomon died in Jerusalem after 40 years as ruler of Israel - He was buried in the City of David [Jerusalem] - His son, Rehoboam succeeded him as king - Under Rehobaum's rule, Solomon's empire was lost and his kingdom was divided into two parts [Israel (Northern ten Tribes) - Judah (Southern two Tribes, Judah and Benjamin)]

The biblical King Solomon was known for his wisdom, his wealth and his writings. He became ruler in approximately 967 B.C.E. and his kingdom extended from the Euphrates River in the north to Egypt in the south. His crowning achievement was the building of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Almost all knowledge of him is derived from the biblical books of Kings I and Chronicles II. Solomon was the son of King David and Bathsheba. Solomon was not the oldest son of David, but David promised Bathsheba that Solomon would be the next king. When David's elder son Adonijah declared himself king, David ordered his servants to bring Solomon to the Gihon spring where the priest anointed him while David was still alive. Solomon inherited a considerable empire from his father. At first Solomon was faced with opposition. Two of David's closest advisors, Joab son of Zeruiah and the priest Abiathar, sided with Adonijah. When Adonijah came to Solomon and requested the king's servant as a wife, Solomon saw that this was a veiled threat to take over his kingdom and sent a messenger to kill Adonijah. He banished Abiathar to the city of Anathoth. Solomon then followed his father's last instructions in which David had ordered him to kill both Joab and one of his father's enemies, Shimei son of Gera. Solomon thus overcame the last potential threats to his kingdom. He then appointed his friends to key military, governmental and religious posts. -- Solomon accumulated enormous wealth. He controlled the entire region west of the Euphrates and had peace on his borders. Kings I states that he owned 12,000 horses with horsemen and 1,400 chariots. Remains of stalls for 450 horses have in fact been found in Megiddo. Solomon strengthened his kingdom through marital alliances. Kings I records that he had 700 wives and 300 concubines, although some regard this number as an exaggeration.2 He had a large share in the trade between northern and southern countries. He established Israelite colonies around his province to look after military, administrative and commercial matters. The empire was divided into twelve districts, with Judah constituting its own political unit and enjoying certain privileges. ... Solomon was also renowned for his other building projects in which he used slave labor from the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. He spent 13 years building his own palace, and also built a city wall, a citadel called the Millo, a palace for the daughter of Pharaoh (who was one of his wives) and facilities for foreign traders. He erected cities for chariots and horsemen and created storage cities. He extended Jerusalem to the north and fortified cities near the mountains of Judah and Jerusalem. Solomon's downfall came in his old age. He had taken many foreign wives, whom he allowed to worship other gods. He even built shrines for the sacrifices of his foreign wives. Within Solomon's kingdom, he placed heavy taxation on the people, who became bitter. He also had the people work as soldiers, chief officers and commanders of his chariots and cavalry. He granted special privileges to the tribes of Judah and this alienated the northern tribes. The prophet Ahijah of Shiloh prophesied that Jeroboam son of Nebat would become king over ten of the 12 tribes, instead of one of Solomon's sons. Outside Solomon's kingdom, Hadad, of the royal family of Edom, rose up as an adversary of Israel. Rezon son of Eliada, ruler of Aram also fought Solomon, and created tension between the two kingdoms that was to last even after Solomon's reign ended.

1 Kings 2-3 - King David hands the Kingdom to his son Solomon - Instructions are given to Solomon by David in how to be a strong King and how to rule wisely - King Solomon is told to put the deceitful opportunist Joab to death and not to let him enter into the new Kingdom age - '1 Kings 2:10-12 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David [Jerusalem]. And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.'

King Solomon begins to reign: '1 Kings 3:1-3 And Solomon made affinity [a relationship] with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about. Only the people [still] sacrificed in high places, because there was no House [Temple] built unto the Name of the LORD, until those days. And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he [wrongly] sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.' - It was wordly wise to negotiate with Egypt but spiritually it was a big mistake for Solomon to make to invite Egypt back into the affairs of Israel and it will be a costly mistake for Israel. When Israel departed from Egypt and was 'baptized' unto Moses in the Red Sea the same baptism that "saved" the Nation of Israel also "destroyed" the perusing Egyptian army. The 'baptism' is in part to cut us off from our past and from any enemy that is perusing us and once we are baptized in the Holy Spirit and by water [in part to show the spirit realm that we are now clean and separated from the demonic realm] the enemy cannot return to us with the freedom it once had or as it would desire to do however like Solomon we can still return to those old enemies, those old habits, emotions, addictions and those old demons and invite them right back into our life again though we should Know that once baptized we are now separated from the past life of bondage in Egypt and we do have authority over the enemy to return the enemy to Egypt while we continue to live spiritually apart in our new home the eternal, heavenly Jerusalem. -- God gives Solomon earthly, wordly wisdom but not godly, heavenly discernment. '1 Kings 3:7-15 7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant King instead of David my father: and I [Solomon] am but a little child [in knowledge]: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. *Give therefore thy servant an [wordly] understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the Kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.'

1 Kings 4-6 - King Solomon begins construction on a seven year project in the building of the 1st Jerusalem Temple - King Hiram of Tyre sends his servants to help and provides timber from Lebanon for the Temple -- '1 Kings 6:1 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year [480] after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.' - 'John 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto Him (Jesus), What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these [Messiah] things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy This Temple, and in three days I will [Resurrection] raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this [stone] Temple [2nd Temple, Herod's Temple] in building [in Jerusalem], and wilt thou rear it up in three days? *But He spake of the Temple of His body. When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in His Name, when they saw the miracles which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because he knew all men [mankind], And needed not that any should testify of man: for He knew what [deceit] was in man.'

The Temple of God is built in Jerusalem: '1 Kings 6:7 And the House (Temple), when it was in building, was built of stone *made ready before it was brought thither [to the Temple Mount]: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the House (Temple), while it was in building.' - Peter quotes this well known fact that one of the requirements to building the Temple in Jerusalem required that the granite stones had to be quarried away from the Temple site and that the stones had to be chiseled into their proper dimensions before leaving the stone quarry because there was to be no hammering, chiseling or shaping of the stones once at the actual Temple site. Peter [whose name means rock] refers to his fellow Christians as 'living stones' meaning that the true Temple is in Heaven and that while we are here on earth in this quarry the shaping and molding process is taking place however when we get into heaven [the Temple Mount] there are no sharp tools for the shaping of people in heaven so when we leave the earth we are already to have been completely shaped to fit into the Kingdom of God in Heaven. - '1 Peter 2:1-6 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word (Bible), that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, *as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, *Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an Holy Priesthood (Melchizedek), to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture [Isaiah 28:16], Behold, I lay in Sion (Zion) a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.'

!!!Highly Recommended: The Way of Agape (Love) and Be Ye Transformed [life change] by Nancy Missler - based on the architecture of the Temple in the Bible (Mp3's)

Here are the messages from our 2009 catalog, available exclusively for free download.

1 Kings 7-8 - King Solomon built the Temple for God in seven years however he spent thirteen years in building his own house -- '1 Kings 7:1 But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.'

King Solomon dedicates the Temple: '1 Kings 8:27-28 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this House (Temple) that I have builded? Yet have Thou respect unto the prayer of Thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day:' Solomon is asking God to accept the Temple and for God's visible presence to dwell there in the Temple and God does. - '1 Kings 8:52-61 That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee. For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD. And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.' - '2 Chronicles 7:1-4 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying [a second prayer], the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.'

1 Kings 9-11 - The Queen of Sheba visits Jerusalem, the Temple and King Solomon - Later King Solomon the third and final Trilogy of Anointed Kings over a united Israel turns his attention and affections from God and becomes a type of the coming NWO Antichrist -- '1 Kings 10:14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six [666] talents of gold.'

King Solomon deals deceitfully with others in becoming a type of Antichrist: '1 Kings 9:10-14 And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the House (Temple) of the LORD, and the King's house, now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire, that then King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not. And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul ["Cabul" as meaning, in Phoenician, "what does not please" - wiki.com] unto this day. And Hiram sent to the King [Solomon] sixscore talents of gold.' - Here King Solomon represents the conduct of the coming Antichrist a complete ruler who will rule at the expense of others of everyone in fact. There will not be any winners in the Antichrist system it will quickly become a completely broken useless system where all the wealth, treasure and authority is in the hands of a single person [possessed by Satan] and everyone else will be like King Hiram receiving 'Cabul' and paying an enormous price for it.

Ethiopian Christianity - King Solomon & the Queen of Sheba - Ethiopian Christians tell this story about Solomon and the Queen of Sheba - Their version holds that the Queen of Sheba was an Ethiopian sovereign named Makeda (Magda) and that she returned from her celebrated journey to the court of Solomon in Jerusalem [pregnant] bearing the king's son, David, who became the first king of Ethioipia, ruling as Menelik I. Makeda's tale is told in an ancient Ethiopian book, the Kebra Negast, or Glory of Kings, from which this is taken

Ethiopians claim that they have possession of the orginal biblical Ark of the Covenant, taken from the Temple in Jerusalem, just as the Babylonian army invaded Judah and took the Jews into captivity for seventy years. See II Kings 25 for the Biblical account of the fall of Jerusalem. While there is no way to verify the truth of their claim, particularly since only the Keeper of the Ark is permitted to actually see it, it is not inherently historically implausible. The Ethiopians make as good a case for possessing the Ark as anyone else could, and are virtually the only people who do claim to have it. Most historicans and biblical scholars assume that the Ark was taken by the Babylonians as plunder, along with the rest of the Temple treasure. This is certainly as likely to be the cases as is the claim that it is in the Church of St Mary Zion in Axum. However, two factors lend credibility to the possibility that the Ethiopians are speaking the truth. First, the Ark of the Covenant was the greatest of all of the treasures in the Temple. If the priests were to attempt to escape Jerusalem with only one treasure, the Ark is the most likely candidate. Second, if the priests did make off with the Ark of the Covenant, they would have taken it west towards Egypt. Those (including Isaiah [*Jeremiah]) who escaped Judah after the Babylonian captivity went to Egypt, Egypt was Judah's political ally, and the Babylonians came from the east. If the priests took the Ark to Egypt, they would probably take it up the Nile River as the safest part of Egypt, and this comports with the Ethiopian claim that it was kept along the Upper Nile for many years, before being conveyed to Ethiopia. The strongest modern argument supporting Ethiopia's claim has been presented in Graham Hancock's book, The Sign and the Seal. While this page does not fully support Hancock's argument, neither does it find the case he makes entirely without merit.

The Queen of Sheba - A foreign queen from a distant land with strange gods, she converted to [Judiasm] Solomon and his God - An outsider with an insider's understanding - This is the woman who Jesus later claimed would rise up to condemn unbelievers - 'The Queen of the South will appear at the Judgement when this generation is on trial' -- 'Matthew 12:42 The queen of the south [Sheba] shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold [Jesus], a greater than Solomon is here.'

We learn only a little about her from the Bible, but it is what happens to the story in the telling that is most fascinating. 1 Kings 10 describes her visit to Solomon. She came to 'test him with hard questions' - she wanted to know whether he was really as wise as they said he was. So, the Bible is interested in her because of her mind. She was a wise woman, a Carol Vorderman or a Joan Bakewell. But posterity has remembered her for the rich gifts she brought with her, spices, gold and precious stones, gifts that lend her a kind of oriental exoticism. The text says that she was 'breathless' before Solomon's wisdom and admitted that his God must be the greatest. We are told that Solomon gave her all that she desired. Later readers have assumed that her desires were erotic rather than intellectual and that she was breathless with passion rather than with hard thinking, but its hard to tell. I suppose that whoever has ears to hear will hear it their own way. But whether it was mind or body or both, Sheba is seduced by Solomon. Though almost his equal in money and brains, she gave in and adored him. A foreign queen from a distant land with strange gods, she converted to Solomon and his god. An outsider with an insider's understanding. This is the woman who Jesus later claimed would rise up to condemn unbelievers. ... Sheba might have been a match for Solomon and the Bible text almost has it so. But tradition has made him her conqueror and so inspired and validated many other victories of Europe over the orient, of man over women, of 'Truth' over error. But Jesus promised that Sheba would have her day, that she would rise up in judgement. We still live in a world in which the old conquerors are still at work, a world marred by racism, sexism, imperialism, and terrifying will to power. And, as Jesus promised, the Queen of Sheba still rises in judgement. In Britain today you are more likely to suffer harrassment and violence and less likely to find work, if you are black. Just a few miles from here is a detention centre where 120 mostly black men are held without trial, for undetermined periods of time, subject to racist abuse, and many in desperate fear. And the Queen of Sheba rises in judgement. Many black Christians coming to this country feel excluded from 'white' churches and os they set up their own. And the Queen of Sheba rises in judgement. - The people of Israel left Egypt, fleeing from oppression and racism, from a land where foreigners could only be slaves. Joseph had even put it in his will that his bones were to be repatriated. But the Kingdom of God, the place of our dreams, must be one in which no one ever needs to flee, in which the whole earth could be home to any man or woman, in which Sheba and Solomon could be eath other's match, whether in wits or in love. In Christ there is no East or West. In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek. All are one in Christ. Until earth and heaven are made new, Sheba will still rise in judgement. Until she and all her sisters can be black and comely, until all wisdoms will be recognised, until any Jew could rest his bones in Egypt, until any human being could hold the hand of another in honest and co-equal love, the queen of the south will rise in judgement.

Freemasonry: The Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon - Upon reading the title of this paper, you may well wonder, "what on earth has the Queen of Sheba got to do with Freemasonry?" - The Board of Installed Masters is a ceremony, not a degree, so I will plead "not guilty" of divulging any secrets when I tell you that during this ceremony the VOSL is opened at I Kings 10 - Nonetheless, I hope it has given you some insight into the life and times of King Solomon, our first [Freemason] Grand Master

Who was the Queen of Sheba? I don't want to spoil my story, but before going any further, I should tell you that no archaeological evidence has ever been unearthed or uncovered that suggests or supports that the Queen of Sheba ever visited King Solomon. There are, however, records of the ancient country of Sheba, which date from 715 BCE. Sheba was sometimes called Saba, meaning "Host of Heaven," and "peace," and is thought to be what is now the country of Yemen in the South West corner of Arabia where the Red Sea meets the Indian Ocean. The people who lived in Sheba were called Sabaeans [? not sure]. The Sabaeans have been described as a tall and commanding people, both woolly-haired and straight-haired. Semitic in origin, they are believed to have been descendants of the land of Cush in the Bible. The Sabaean people inhabited most of NW and SW Arabia, some 483,000 square miles of mountains, valley and deserts. Some historians claim that Ethiopia, on the western end of the Red Sea, was also part of Sheba's territory. The Sebaeans conquered all of the other South Arabian countries at the start of the Christian era. Sheba was a wealthy country, rich in gold and other precious stones, as well as incense and exotic spices sought by neighboring kingdoms. From ancient times, perfumes and spices were popular commodities in the near East, and the spice trade was a particularly active one. From both the Bible and other classical sources it appears that the valuable plants from which the coveted aromatic resins, incense, spices, and medicinal potions were produced, were grown mainly in the kingdoms of southern Arabia. From this area, major land and sea trade routes branched out to all the great trading centers of the ancient world. The Sabaeans were both extensive traders and bandits and engaged in the slave trade. Sheba engaged in a lucrative caravan trade. By 1000 BCE, camels frequently traveled the 1400 miles up the "Incense Road" and along the Red Sea to Israel. The spices of Sheba were highly prized. Frankincense, an offering to the gods, was heaped on funeral pyres, and given as an antidote for poison, and as a cure for chest pains, hemorrhoids and paralysis. Myrrh, an ingredient in fragrant oils and cosmetics, was used in preparing bodies for burial, for healing ear, eye and nose ailments, and inducing menstruation. Other Sabaean spices were saffron, cummin, aloes and galbanum. The capital of Sheba was the city of Ma'rib. Nearby was a great dam, which may have been as high as 60 feet, which provided enough water to make Sheba an agricultural nation, as well as a land of beautiful gardens. It was a fertile oasis in the desert. There is evidence that this dam burst, and the devastation caused by the ensuing flood, coupled with the loss of water for agriculture, may have led to the demise of several Sabaean cities which no longer exist today. Because of its isolation, Sheba was secure from military invasion for at least 500 years, and was independent and at peace with its neighbors during the 11th and 10th century BC History reveals that at least five kings preceded the Queen of Sheba. Yet Arabian documents portray all of Arabia as matriarchal and ruled by queens for over 1000 years. In Ethiopia, the Kebra Negast refers to a law established in Sheba that only a woman could reign, and that she must be a virgin queen. Rule by queens was not unusual in prehistoric times. Women played a large role in government, especially in the Near East where there is evidence of their prominence in economics, the family, and religion. According to Ethiopian legend, the Queen of Sheba was born in 1020 BCE in Ophir, and educated in Ethiopia. Her mother was Queen Ismenie. Sheba was known to be beautiful, intelligent, understanding, resourceful, and adventurous. A gracious queen, she had a melodious voice and was an eloquent speaker. Excelling in public relations and international diplomacy, she was a also competent ruler. The historian Josephus said of her, "she was inquisitive into philosophy and on that and on other accounts also was to be admired." Since Sheba was a center of astronomical wisdom and the ruling monarch was the chief astronomer/ astrologer, religious life involved worship of the Sun and Moon. Shams was the Sun god. The earliest known Arabian temple was at Ma'rib, the capital of Sheba, and was called Mahram Bilqus, "precincts of the Queen of Sheba." In Arab lore, this queen was named Bilqus or Balkis; in Ethiopia, Makeda (also Magda, Maqda and Makera), meaning "Greatness" or "Great One." Others say Maqda is a short form of Magadhi, and that Magadhi was a long-gone tribal language in which there were sixty-three different ways to say each word. All that can be ascertained now is that it stands for the letter "M" -that's what Maqda means. Years later, the historian Josephus, referred to her as Nikaulis, Queen of Ethiopia and Egypt. ... The Origin of the Ethiopian Monarchy-Sheba and her son Menyelek: The Bible says nothing about a marriage between Solomon and Sheba, but states simply that she returned to her own land. However, the Abyssinians (the country now known as Ethiopia) have adopted some of the Arab tales and trace the lineage of their royal house to the Queen of Sheba. The Ethiopians claim that their rulers are descended from Menilek, son of King Solomon and Queen of Sheba, thus giving rise to the imperial title "Lion of Judah." The Kebra Negast is regarded as the final authority on the early history of Ethiopia, and its origin in the Solomonic lines of kings, which "descends without interruption from the dynasty of Menelik I, son of Queen of Ethiopia, Queen of Sheba and King Solomon of Jerusalem." This idea exists in the folk lore of many Jewish, Moslem and Christian countries. *The relationship between Ethiopia, Lion of Judah, and Israel is apparent in Ethiopia's national emblem, the six pointed star [actually a five pointed star], which corresponds to the Shield (Seal) of David on Israel's flag Here is the tale of how Solomon's son became the King of Ethiopia ...

Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - Examining a photo of the Iranian president holding aloft his identity card during the nation's [June] 2008 elections, the newspaper discovered Ahmadinejad's original family name - prior to their conversion to Islam - was Sabourjian, a Jewish name meaning "cloth weaver" - According to a London Telegraph report, his ferocity may be overcompensation ... for his own Jewish roots {Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is probably a CIA, Illuminati, Freemason, Satanic, UN-NWO plant however they only plant people particularly in 3rd World governments that they can also take down relatively easily. Ahmadinejad probably has several self-destruct mechanisms one of them being Jewish that the NWO can activate at their convince to eventually bring in another more advance NWO mole into that position. Ahmadinejad's anger is real unlike an Alex Jones type of NWO plant [Alex Jones is extremely likely a Bohemian Grove member and probably one of the red robed (human sacrificing) priests] who is actually an insider a part of the system and is working from the outside [as a pretend outsider] to bring in the very NWO system that he is pretending to oppose while at the same time Ahmadinejad is an outsider trying desperately to earn his way inside to be a part of a NWO system that ultimately (doubly) opposes him [the NWO system opposes all the people affiliated with Abraham including Jews, Muslims and Christians]. A third type of very common NWO plant would be the Fox News type - Rupert Murdoch, Bill O'Reilly, Genn Beck - type of person who thinks they are a NWO insider acting as an outsider however they are just an outsider being used and later discarded by the system.}

Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has exasperated the world with incensed condemnations of Israel and his insistence that the Holocaust is a hoax, but could there be another reason behind his seeming hatred for the Jews? According to a London Telegraph report, his ferocity may be overcompensation � for his own Jewish roots. Examining a photo of the Iranian president holding aloft his identity card during the nation's 2008 elections, the newspaper discovered Ahmadinejad's original family name - prior to their conversion to Islam - was Sabourjian, a Jewish name meaning "cloth weaver." Ahmadinejad has not denied that his name was changed when his family moved to Tehran in the 1950s, but he has also never confirmed what that original name was. A note on his identification papers, when magnified from the photo, however, suggests the man from Aradan, Iran, carried a common Jewish name from the region of his birth. "Sabourjian," the Telegraph reports, is even on the list of reserved names for Iranian Jews compiled by Iran's Ministry of the Interior. ... Ahmadinejad, the fourth of seven children to a man who worked as an ironworker, grocer, barber and blacksmith, moved with his family to Tehran was he was a small child. Reportedly, the family moved to seek better economic fortunes, but also took on the new, Islamic name. A 2007 Congressional Research Service report lists the Iranian president's original family name as "Saborjhian," linking the name to the Farsi "sabor," meaning "thread painter." Some biographers, including Joel C. Rosenberg, list Ahmadinejad's original family name as "Sabaghian," meaning "dye-master" in Persian. But the Telegraph reports the name on his papers is "Sabourjian" and cites a London-based expert on Iranian Jewry, who says the "jian" ending is specifically Jewish. "He has changed his name for religious reasons, or at least his parents had," said the newspaper's source. "Sabourjian is well known Jewish name in Iran." If Ahmadinejad is of Jewish ancestry, he has done much to distance himself from his heritage. In a 2006 speech aired on the Iranian News Channel, Ahmadinejad listed alleged crimes by Israel against Palestinians while the crowd chanted, "Death to Israel! Death to Israel!"

THE MYSTERIES OF THE KABBALAH AND FREEMASONRY (The Key of Solomon) - The Hebrew alphabet has 32 letters - The Kabbalists argue that there are 32 paths of widsom, which lead to knowledge about God - It is interesting to note that the Babylonia version of the Talmud has 32 tractates - Again, the number 32 is a significant feature in both the Kabbalah and Freemasonry - The Kabbalists contend that the soul is comprised of three levels. The Nefresh deals with all of the instincts and bodily desires. The Ruah concerns itself with morality and ethical conduct. The Neshama is the highest level of the soul and is related to the divine spirit of man. These gradations of the soul can be compared to the first three degress of Freemasonry

At the heart of Freemasonry and its masonic precepts is the encouragement and inculcation of values whech can "Make good men better." Faith, hope and charity and values such as fortitude, prudence, temperance and justice are the cornerstones of masonic conduct and comprise many of the fundamental precepts of Freemasonry (see attached illustration at the end of this file from Gershom G. Scholem's book, On the Kabbalah and its Symbolism. Wisdom, strength, and beauty are the foundations of the masonic lodge, and in fact, beauty, with which the freemason is taught to adorn all important undertakings, is at the very center of the Sefiroth. Furthermore, the Sefiroth of strength is found on the left-hand side of all the Sefiroths, which corresponds to the placement of one of the pillars in the masonic lodge. According to Ponce, there are three pillars in the Sefiroth. The pillar on the right is the pillar of mercy, which can be masonically related to the value of charity. The pillar on the left side is the pillar of judgement, which can be related masonically to the concept of establishment. The middle pillar provides a balance between the left and right pillars. The middle pillar also represents the Creator of the universe. The fellowcraft freemason stands between these two pillars and is at the center. Symbolically, the fellowcraft freemason dramatizes President Kennedy's statement that "God's work here on earth must surely be done by man." - Ponce recounts that the earliest forms of Kabbaiistic literature dealt with the mystery of the Merkabah. The Merkabah was the throne chariot of God. One could reach the Merkabah by passing through a series of heavenly halls. Those who sought to reach the Merkabah had to possess secret words to gain admission into each heavenly hall. The freemason is required to know certain words which facilitate his entrance into the lodge. Moreover, certain words denote which degree is being conducted by the lodge. The Kabbaiists believe that the transmission of the name of God from master to pupil is part of the rites of initiation. The newly-raised brother also receives a word in a certain manner, which is never used in normal conversation. Masonically, the ability of a freemason to recite the word and reproduce it as it was given to him are the identifying characteristics of a Master Mason. The Kabbalists study Sefer Yetshirah, or the Book of Creation. Again, the information in this book could only be communicated by the master to his disciple by word of mouth, study may explain the origin of the masonic practice of the "Mouth to ear" instruction. All of the masonic oaths or obligaitons impose a requirement that the freemason should hold the work of Freemasonry to be inviolate. Furthermore, the act of creation of the world is particularly pronounced in the first degree of Freemasonry. The Kabbalists believe that air, water, and fire were used to create the world. The Hebrew letter, Mem, belongs to the class of Mutes, according to Ponce. These letters do not have any sound in their production. The letter, Mem, is associated with water, and since the fish is the chief occupant of water, it is silent as well. The newly-raised freemason is instructed about a particular word which is whispered to another brother. This "muted" word begins with the letter, "M" which corresponds with the letter, Mem. The Kabbalists also believe that the earth was created from water, which is related to the dirt of Hiram's burial site. Therefore, the word used in raising a Freemason has the characteristic of being earthlike. Other letters in the Hebrew alphabet represent the five human senses, which are emphasized in the fellowcraft degree. - The Hebrew alphabet has 32 letters, which also serve as numbers. Some Kabbalists manipulate words and numbers for explaining much about the universe and the works of God. The number 32 denotes the number of degrees in the Scottish Rite. The Hebrew letters Yod, Heh, and Vav are an important symbol in the Royal Arch degree. Hebraically, these letters form the name of God and this is also a magnificent centerpiece of the Royal Arch degree. There is no question that the Kabbalistic En-Sof and the masonic manipulation of these letters are conceptually related. The Kabbalists argue that there are 32 paths of widsom, which lead to knowledge about God. It is interesting to note that the Babylonia version of the Talmud has 32 tractates. Again, the number 32 is a significant feature in both the Kabbalah and Freemasonry. Charles Ponce describes a magic circle that King Solomon created so as to protect himself from evil svirits. Within this circle one finds the Greek letter, Tau, which has been masonically represented as a combination the words "Temple, Hirosalmis" (Templum Hierosolymae or Temple of Jerusalem). Furthermore, the points of the compass in the circle correspond directly with the officers' places in the masonic lodge. The Kabbalists contend that the soul is comprised of three levels. The Nefresh deals with all of the instincts and bodily desires. The Ruah concerns itself with morality and ethical conduct. The Neshama is the highest level of the soul and is related to the divine spirit of man. These gradations of the soul can be compared to the first three degress of Freemasonry. The first degree relates to youth and so the Nefresh or bodily desires are paramount. The second degree in Freemasonry is identified as a freemason coming to full maturity, so that ethical conduct and control over one's desires is accentuated. The third degree represents old age and the fullness of maturity, which is also represented by the highest level of the soul, the Neshama, or in the case of Freemasonry, the Master Mason. Death awaits the Master Mason, but his soul is raised to divine heights. The Kabbalists warn us that reaching the level of the Neshama was only awarded to some and not guaranteed to all. Therefore, as is true with the third degree in Freemasonry, the level of Master Mason is only reached when a man proves himself worthy of that esteemed title. - In conclusion, this study has contended that there is a relationship between certain themes of the Kabbalah with the lectures and degrees of Freemasonry. This should come as no surprise. Freemasons are taught both the universality of God and of brotherly love. Therefore, any religious belief or practice can be found within the parameters of Freemasonry. The imagination of man allows him to approach the unknowable and create structures and practices that assist him in gaining faith in the Glorious Supreme Architect of the Universe [Satan].

1 Kings 12-13 - King Solomon passes away and is buried in Jerusalem - Solomon's son Rehoboam is seated on the throne of David - Within days the ten northern Tribes of Israel succeed from Judah and install their own king and initiate their own priesthood -- '1 Kings 11:41-43 And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the Acts of Solomon? And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city [Jerusalem] of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.' [The 'Acts of Solomon' was apparently a secular chronicle that has been lost to history.]

God divided the Nation of Israel into two kingdoms: '1 Kings 12:1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.' - '1 Kings 12:12-24 So Jeroboam [Rehoboam's spokesman] and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. And the king [Rehoboam] answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father [Solomon] made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that He might perform His saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam [a man from the Northern tribe of Ephriam] the son of Nebat. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse [King David]: to your tents, O Israel [ten Northern Tribes]: now see to thine own house, David [Judah]. So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam {now the Southern King} reigned over them. Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam {now the Northern King} was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel [ten Northern Tribes], to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the *House of Judah and *Benjamin, *and to the remnant of the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from Me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.'

Non-Christian Source: NWO Occultism - The myths of King Solomon who used the demon "Asmodeus" to build the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, clearly a metaphor for helping him create his power base, is illustrative of this - However, this alliance ultimately led to the destruction of the Temple, as King Solomon reneged on the deal with his demons - This popular tale amongst occultists, indeed it is the cornerstone of Freemasonry, clearly contains the moral "always pay your dues to the devil" or your temple will come crashing down {Note: The devil has no part and nothing is due him in regards to the Temple of Solomon or in the actual real human Temple that the Temple of Solomon represents. In true Judeo/Christianity the person is the Temple of God not an agenda or a human domain. The true Temple of God is for God and is built by God without (human) hands. Humans are built by God in the water of the human womb by and for the Holy God to have a living, intimate, spiritual relationship [His Spirit and His Words (the Holy Bible) are intended to be within us] with His creation. Occult practices are to assign other concepts and human values particularly physical blessings to the heavenly, eternal, spiritual and divine blessings and attributes of the Holy God established and displayed in Christianity.}

Occultism today includes a broad mix of activities from many traditions. The fundamental difference between Occult pursuits and Spiritual pursuits is that the occultist seeks to gain control over the powers of the Universe, while the pursuer of Spirituality seeks the passive role of alignment with the powers of the Universe. Occultism is basically derived from Shamanism, but as modern societies developed from tribal societies, a split occurred between Religion and Magic. In Europe's Middle Ages, Magic was pursued through Alchemy, and mixed practices and beliefs from the pagan Wiccan religion of the ancient Celts, with the Christian Gnostic concepts that saw a popular revival in the 12th Century. The Wiccan nature cults included sacrificial rituals of animals and humans, and sexual fertility rites designed to harmonize communities with the sometimes brutal forces of Nature. Many Gods were worshiped for their individual powers, including the horned and hoofed "Pan", and the Father of the Celtic Gods "Cernunnos", who standing proud with his huge erection, can still be seen today on the hillside of Cerne Abbas in Dorset, England, towering 100 feet over a Roman Catholic monastery. - Christian Gnosticism with its stories of the mystical powers attained by Christ, was embraced as a fulfillment of ancient myth and prophesy, and Christ as a high-priest who achieved God-like powers, was a natural figure to include in their pantheon. Thus, the ancient Celtic Gods of Europe began to merge with the Christian Gods. Satan and Pan were recognized for their similarities, not only in their physical form, but also in their personal traits. As the Satan of Gnostic Christianity had such unified and great power in the Universe, as "king and creator of this world", he was a fabulous addition to the supernatural array of Gods. The ancient nature cults, particularly the Gauls, used the conjuring of spirits, a practice derived from Shamanism, as part of their communication with the Gods. According to St. Augustine's "The City of God", the spirits were used for seeking advice and favor, and were divided into "demons called Deuses, and the ancestors". Demons were hard to control, but could be convinced to do the will of an individual on the material plane if he or she followed certain principles. The Christian Gnostic Satan became an obvious demon figure for worship, as he would be a powerful ally. According to the traditions of the Nature cults, it would be natural to offer sacrifice in return for favors, or have sexual ritual in order to connect with a chosen spirit or demon, as is seen to this day in the indigenous/Hindu beliefs and practices of islands such as Sumatra or Java. -- In Europe's Middle Ages, the confusion arising from a clash of mythic and cultural symbolism had obvious moral and ethical implications. Ultimately, the question of whether a person was a "Satanist" would come down to what they were asking the demon to do for them, and what they were prepared to do in return. Of course, this all depends on one's personal beliefs, ethics, morality, and standing within the social order. While a peasant was accused of selling his soul to Satan to ensure a good harvest, a King who embarked in a Faustian deuce or pact with the Devil, was merely entering into another business arrangement. The myths of King Solomon who used the demon "Asmodeus" to build the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, clearly a metaphor for helping him create his power base, is illustrative of this. However, this alliance ultimately led to the destruction of the Temple, as King Solomon reneged on the deal with his demons. This popular tale amongst occultists, indeed it is the cornerstone of Freemasonry, clearly contains the moral "always pay your dues to the devil", or your temple will come crashing down... such is the dichotomy within institutions of Western power and Judeo-Christianity. The Inquisition of the Roman Catholic Church designed to root out "Satanism" claimed millions of victims from the peasant and indigenous classes, obliterating what remained of the Pagan nature cults, while "Satanic" practices continued amongst the circles of the power elite within their occult and alchemical secret societies, growing ever more morally and ethically inverted. -- The Grail/Dragon aristocratic bloodlines, also known as the Rex Deus fraternity, were evidently the Kings of Satan. Adolf Hitler and his inner circle of Nazis called the Holocaust "The greatest and most powerful dance of death of all time". Perhaps the real difference between a shamanically informed Pagan ritual, and a Satanic ritual, lies in the consent of any party. A victim by definition is the unconsenting prey of the predator, and any such ritual intends to, and will only, create Darkness. "The old beliefs will be brought back to honor again. The whole secret knowledge of nature, of the divine, of the demonic. We will wash off the Christian veneer. I want to see in the eyes of youth the gleam of the beast..." said Rosicrucian front-man Adolf Hitler. Although the Nazis have often been labeled neo-Pagan, their rituals of death were as far from Pagan ritual, and as close to Satanism, as the human race has ever been.

BBC: King Solomon's Tablet Of Stone (part 1 of 5) - Looking at the stone, several linguists said 'fake' [Aramaic and Phoenician scripts] - Some of the Hebrew, they claimed, was not ancient - The authorities presented their conclusions - They announced that the stone tablet, and the James Ossuary, were elaborate fakes - But who was producing these fakes and how? - When the police took Oded Golan into custody and searched his apartment they discovered a workshop with a range of tools, materials, and half finished 'antiquities'. This was evidence for an operation of a scale far greater than they had suspected - Dozens of these items have now been examined by Dr Goren, and all have been revealed to be forgeries - Some archaeologists have now concluded that everything that came to market in the last 20 years without clear provenance should be considered a fake (YouTube)

"The authenticity of many Holy Land artefacts is thrown into doubt" In 2001, a clandestine meeting of leading Israeli archaeologists are shown a remarkable artefact. It's a stone tablet, apparently from 1,000BC. The writing on its face describes repairs to the temple of King Solomon. It is the first archaeological evidence ever found of this legendary building. The relic caused a sensation. But this was only just the start. For authentification, the tablet was taken to the Geological Survey of Israel. Here, after a battery of tests, including radiocarbon dating, scientists officially pronounced the stone to be genuine. The tests even revealed microscopic particles of gold in the outer layer of stone. These were apparently the result of the tablet surviving the fire which, according to the bible, destroyed the temple when the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem in 586BC. The stone tablet was offered for sale to the Israel Museum, home to many of Israel's greatest treasures. Rumours suggested the asking price was as high as $10 million. But the museum needed to know where the stone had come from. Even its owner was a mystery. To make matters more complex, the stone itself had disappeared again. The Israeli Antiquities Authority wanted answers. A nine month search for the mysterious stranger who had first appeared with the stone eventually led them to a private detective who had been hired by a well known antiquities collector, Oded Golan.Golan insisted he too was just a front man for another collector. But the authorities were suspicious. He was known to be the owner of the James Ossuary, another extraordinary artefact which had appeared a couple of years earlier. This was a burial box with an inscription linking it to Jesus' brother. The authorities raided Golan's apartment and recovered both the ossuary and the elusive stone. It was time to establish once and for all if both were genuine. So they set up a committee of linguists and scientists to examine them. Looking at the stone, several linguists said 'fake'. Some of the Hebrew, they claimed, was not ancient. Other experts claimed that so little is known of ancient Hebrew that it's impossible to be sure. The committee turned to geology. Dr Yuval Goren, a geo-archaeologist and head of the Archaeological Institute at Tel-Aviv University, soon found evidence that a team of sophisticated forgers had led the earlier experts astray. The patina on the stone had in fact been manufactured artificially. The charcoal particles which produced the convincing radiocarbon date had been added by hand The gold fragments hinting at an ancient fire were a clever final addition. The authorities presented their conclusions. They announced that the stone tablet, and the James Ossuary, were elaborate fakes. But who was producing these fakes and how? Dr Goren decided to piece together how the stone tablet had been made. He tracked the origin of the stone itself - apparently a building block taken from a Crusader castle. It was even possible to work out how the fake patina had been manufactured and the ingredients used. What was clear was the team of forgers included experts in a range of disciplines. When the police took Oded Golan into custody and searched his apartment they discovered a workshop with a range of tools, materials, and half finished 'antiquities'. This was evidence for an operation of a scale far greater than they had suspected. Investigators have established that collectors around the world have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for artefacts that came through Oded Golan's associates. Dozens of these items have now been examined by Dr Goren, and all have been revealed to be forgeries. Police now suspect that artefacts made by the same team of forgers have found their way into leading museums around the world. Some archaeologists have now concluded that everything that came to market in the last 20 years without clear provenance should be considered a fake. Many of these objects, like the stone tablet which started the investigation, were cynically playing on the desire of many of the collectors to see the bible confirmed as history. For those in search of the temple of Solomon - their goal is as far away as ever.

A stone tablet could be a relic of King Solomon's temple or a clever forgery - "I believe it is a fake" He noted, among other flaws, that some of the letter shapes were more typical of the seventh century B.C. Aramaic and Phoenician scripts than of Hebrew - the inscription has too many "anomalies" to be authentic - The text appears to be a "mishmash" of usages and words lifted from several of these ancient texts, in addition to the Bible

The most startling discovery, though, was that the patina contained tiny globules of pure gold. The researchers speculated that when the First Temple was set ablaze by the Babylonians in 587 B.C., as the biblical account holds, the gilding on the walls melted and settled on the ground as tiny particles, which later became embedded in the tablet. The GSI team didn't state definitively that the tablet was authentic, but Shimon Ilani, one of the researchers, told the Jerusalem Post, "If this is the work of a forger, I would have to shake his hand." The owner's representatives also showed the tablet to Joseph Naveh, an epigrapher at Hebrew University, who had a different reaction: "It is not just that I have serious doubts about its authenticity, but I believe it is a fake." He noted, among other flaws, that some of the letter shapes were more typical of the seventh century B.C. Aramaic and Phoenician scripts than of Hebrew in the ninth century B.C., when the tablet would have been carved. Other experts in ancient Semitic inscriptions have jumped in, pointing out what they see as damning errors in the usage of certain words. In an upcoming issue of Israel Exploration Journal, epigrapher Frank Moore Cross argues that the forgers reveal themselves by mistakenly using the Hebrew verbal noun bdq, which today means "the repair of." The forgers, he says, apparently did not know that in ancient times, the word had almost the opposite meaning--a "fissure." Thus, line 10 of the inscription refers to creating fissures--a suspect usage in an inscription that's all about repair work.

1 Kings 14-16 - Israel begins to quickly transition from a period of Kings ruling over an undivided Nation to a period of a divided Nation being providentially guided by the hand of God through various kings and prophets -- '1 Kings 14:15-16 For the LORD shall smite Israel [Northern Tribes], as a reed is shaken in the water, and He shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river [to Assyria], because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger. And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.' {Note: Israel the Ten Northern Tribes are going to be defeated and taken into captivity by the powerful nation of Assyria because the Northern Tribes sought power they were taken captive by another power. Later the Southern Tribe of Judah will also be defeated and taken into captivity but by the nation of Babylon (Iraq) because Judah sought mysticism they were brought into captivity by mysticism (Babylon).}

Each King continues to become more wicked: '1 Kings 16:30-34 And Ahab [King of Northern Israel] the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife *Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; *and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build [a new city of] Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun [Joshua 6:26].' - Hiel committed the human sacrifice of his oldest son in a ceremony dedicated to laying the foundation of the City of Jericho and then committed a second human sacrifice of his youngest son in a ceremony dedicated to setting up the gates at the entry of the city. This is a time when Israel is seriously off course of what God intended for His Children living in His Promise Land.

1 Kings 17-18 - The third and final Godly office the office of Prophets begins to enter into preeminence - The era in Israel of Elijah the Prophet begins -- '1 Kings 17:1-2 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab [King of Northern Israel], As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.' {The drought will end up lasting for three years and a half years. Luke 4:25, James 5:17}

God hears and answers Elijah's prayers: '1 Kings 18:20-24 So [King] Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the [false] prophets [of Baal] together unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them [false prophets] choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: *And call ye on the name of your gods, *and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let Him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.' - '1 Kings 18:29-39 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.' - The prayers of the false prophets are unanswered by God but the prayers of His people are both heard and answered as God shows forth His strength for His Children. Later in the Book of Revelation the Antichrist will eventually finally be able to call his own fire down from above as God has given to the Antichrist more power and authority over the earth. - 'Revelation 13:11-18 And I beheld another beast [after the Antichrist beast of the sea arises] coming up out of the earth; and he [beast of the earth, false prophet] had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he [false prophet] exerciseth all the power of the first beast [Antichrist] before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that *he [false prophet] maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six [666].'

bible.org: The Man Elijah - Elijah is the Hebrew Eliyahu that means "My God is Yahweh" - Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead - He is called "Elijah, the Tishbite" six times - "Tishbe" means "captivity" - This suggests the title was significant [and] could have stood as a warning of eventual captivity if Israel refused to repent and [return] turn to the Lord

Elijah's Description and Locality: Elijah is called "the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead." He is so called because he was likely from a town called Tishbe in upper Galilee known to us from the Apocryphal book of Tobit 1:2. One source says that "Tishbe" means "captivity." It certainly is a derivative of shabah, meaning "to take captive." In view of God's warnings in Deuteronomy 28:15-37, this could have stood as a warning of eventual captivity if Israel refused to repent and turn to the Lord. He is called "Elijah, the Tishbite" six times and was well known by this title (cf. 1 Kgs. 17:1; 21:17, 28; 2 Kgs. 1:3, 8; 9:36). This suggests the title was significant. Scholars debate the exact location of Tishbe. If Tishbe is a town, then he was born in Tishbe, but became an inhabitant of Gilead, perhaps by choice. We are not told why, but since "the settlers of Gilead" really means "the sojourners of Gilead," it may declare something about Elijah's character and relationship to God. The name Gilead means "a rocky region" and refers to a mountainous area east of the Jordan that was comparatively uninhabited. It was an area well adapted for spending time alone with God. The phrase is certainly suggestive of his lifestyle as a sojourner, as one whose focus was on the things of God. ... Application and Conclusion: We are living in a time when the foundations are being systematically destroyed. We see the decadent results of a nation that has turned away from the moral absolutes of the Word and our Christian heritage. In its place we have turned to the relativism of secular humanism with its evolutionary foundation. Many have opted for a New Age philosophy. As a result, we live in a time that is growing in hostility to the true God and to those who want to follow the God of the Bible. ... Like the 7,000 of Elijah's day who were hiding in caves to escape persecution, we tend to crawl off into the cave of our "business as usual" routine, or into our particular strategy by which we seek to become narcotized to the problems. Then, out of our minds and mouths flow a river of typical human excuses--enough excuses to lose our nation. Elijah is God's commentary against the excuses and fears that so often paralyze us. As we have seen, He had none of the so-called advantages of the world. So, what made him tick? What made him such a powerful tool for the Lord? What gave him his courage, and how can we tap in on what he had so God can use us in the way and to the degree He desires?

1 Kings 19-20 - After the great victory at Mt. Carmel over the false prophets of Baal - Elijah then begins to have some doubts, fears and insecurities - eventually Elijah flees all the way back to Mt. Horeb [Mt. Sinai] -- '1 Kings 19:4 But he [Elijah] himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.' {Often in the Bible the call of the believer is a request to God to end their life. At times it just seems that getting on to Heaven is a better option than remaining here on earth and laboring against seemingly all odds to do the will and accomplish the works of God. However God then reorients the believer into more of a present earthly Kingdom and eternal perspective it provides helping to take away the anxiety and insecurity that this world so often has to offer. Also Note: The much more dangerous request of the non-believer is a selfish request to simply be left alone from God that they might live completely in their own sins and not have any affiliation whatsoever with the Kingdom of God.}

Elijah flees from Israel all the way back to Mt. Sinai where he hears the voice of God: '1 Kings 19:5-16 And as he [Elijah] lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an Angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake (bread) baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the Angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb [Mt. Siani] the Mount of God. And he came thither *unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, *the word of the LORD came to him, and He (God) said unto him, What doest thou here [in Arabia], Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And He said, Go forth, and stand upon the Mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and *after the fire [God spoke in] a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering [to go back] in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here [back at the cave - there is work to be done in Israel], Elijah? And he [having not learned much] said [again], I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And the LORD said unto him, Go [back to Israel], return [there is work to do] on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, *anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and **Elisha [the Prophet to replace Elijah] the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.' - Just as Moses and the people of Israel had previously met God at Mt. Sinai, Elijah would also have an encounter with God at Mt. Sinai where he would hear the 'still small voice' of God and receive the correction and encouragement to go forward that the voice of God offers. - Also Note: After his Damascus road conversion to Christianity and fleeing from Damascus the Apostle Paul then spent three years in Arabia [Galatians 1:17] in the area and region of Mt. Sinai himself learning from God and then back to Damascus before he eventually returned to Jerusalem and met with Peter and James and others of the early Church Apostles and Elders. - The Biblical Mt. Sinai is in Median [Saudi Arabia] 'outside of Egypt' [Exodus 16:1] while the traditional Mt. Sinai is still located in Egypt on the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt.

Mountain Of Fire - The Search For Mount Sinai part 4 of 5 - Mt. Sinai and The cave of Elijah {Note: At 1 minute and 30 seconds in this segment of the video the broken and burnt rocks might be from Elijah's experience with God [1 Kings 19:12] while the burnt top of the Mountain itself is from the experience of Moses and the Nation of Israel [Exodus 19:18].} (YouTube)

Bob Cornuke from BASE Institute has been called a modern day Indiana Jones. This video is a clip from Bob's video about the The Search For Mount Sinai. -- {Note: The Apostle Paul is writing about Mt. Sinai from both common knowledge of the day and his experiential knowledge having been to Mt. Sinai himself. After his Damascus road experience and departing Damascus the Apostle Paul went to Saudi Arabia and stayed in Saudi Arabia for about three years. Earlier the Prophet Elijah [1 Kings 19:8] had also gone to Arabia [Mt. Sinai also called Mt. Horeb] and stayed for a short time in the cave on Mt. Sinai (video part 4 of 5).} 'Galatians 1:17 Neither went I [Apostle Paul] up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; *but I went into Arabia [for about three years], and returned again unto Damascus.' - 'Galatians 4:25 mount Sinai in Arabia ...'

1 Kings 21-22 - King Ahab desires the Vineyard of his neighbor, Naboth - Naboth will not sell his vineyard because it is his inheritance from his forefathers - Jezebel the wife of Ahab plots to kill Naboth and take his vineyard - False charges are brought up against Naboth and he is convicted in the courts of King Ahab and stoned to death -- '1 Kings 21:11-15 11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. They proclaimed a fast [acting under the cover of religion], and [deceive Naboth with false acclamation] set Naboth on high among the people. And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial [then] witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead. And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.'

The Northern and Southern kingdoms of Israel try to briefly reunite: 1 Kings 22:40-44 So Ahab [King of Northern Israel] slept [died] with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead. And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa [King of Southern Israel] began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places. And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. - The continued amount of deceit especially from the Northern kingdom and the distrust between the two kingdoms made reuniting difficult even impossible even after the two kingdoms had been joined together in marriage. - 1 Kings 22:48-49 48 Jehoshaphat made ships of [from] Tharshish [Europe - Spain, England, France] to go to Ophir [Southeast Asia] for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber [a port in the Red Sea]. Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not. - Now several generations after the great Kingdom of Solomon King Jehoshaphat of Judah still has a formidable empire in that he obtains ships from Europe intending to send them to Southeast Asia with merchandise to trade for gold to bring back to Israel however his ships are damaged and unable to make the voyage as the kingdom of David and Solomon continues to diminish in earthly stature but grow in spiritual stature with the coming of the Prophets in Israel.

CLARKE'S COMMENTARY - 1 KINGS 22 - A lying spirit in the mouths of Ahab's prophets persuades [King] Ahab to go up against Ramoth - this prophecy of the king's [false] prophets is couched in the same ambiguous terms by which the false prophets in the heathen world endeavoured to maintain their credit, while they deluded their votaries (devout adherents)

It is worthy of remark that this prophecy of the king's prophets is couched in the same ambiguous terms by which the false prophets in the heathen world endeavoured to maintain their credit, while they deluded their votaries. The reader will observe that the word it is not in the original: The Lord will deliver IT into the hand of the king; and the words are so artfully constructed that they may be interpreted for or against; so that, be the event whatever it might, the juggling prophet could save his credit by saying he meant what had happened. Thus then the prophecy might have been understood: The Lord will deliver (Ramoth-gilead) into the king's (Ahab's) hand; or, The Lord will deliver (Israel) into the king's hand; i.e., into the hand of the king of Syria. And Micaiah repeats these words of uncertainty in order to ridicule them and expose their fallacy. - The following oracles among the heathens were of this same dubious nature, in order that the priests' credit might be saved, let the event turn out as it might. Thus the Delphic oracle spoke to Croesus words which are capable of a double meaning, and which he understood to his own destruction:- Croesus, Halym penetrans, magnam subvertet opum vim, Which says, in effect:- "If you march against Cyrus, he will either overthrow you, or you will overthrow him." He trusted in the latter, the former took place. He was deluded, and yet the oracle maintained its credit. So in the following:- Aio te, AEacida, Romanos vincere posse Ibis redibis nunquam in bello peribis. - Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, understood by this that he should conquer the Romans, against whom he was then making war; but the oracle could be thus translated: "The Romans shall overcome thee." He trusted in the former, made unsuccessful war, and was overcome; and yet the juggling priest saved his credit. The latter line is capable of two opposite meanings:- "Thou shalt go, thou shalt return, thou shalt never perish in war." Or, "Thou shalt go, thou shalt never return, thou shalt perish in war." When prophecies and oracles were not delivered in this dubious way, they were generally couched in such intricate and dark terms that the assistance of the oracle was necessary to explain the oracle, and then it was ignotum per ignotius, a dark saying paraphrased by one yet more obscure.

King Solomon's Gold Mines Mount Ophir Gunung Ledang Malacca Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Peninsula Almug (Algum) Tree Red Sandalwood First Temple Pillars I Kings 10 Ancient Transoceanic Voyages Phoenician Navigators

In I Kings 10 of the Old Testament in the Bible, King Solomon sent ships to Ophir for the finest gold and almug wood (for the Temple's pillars). The ships sailed from the Red Sea and headed east, to the Malaysian Peninsula, where the gold mountain there, east of the town of Malacca, which is just down the coast from Kuala Lumpur, was named Ophir, now known as Gunung Ledang, where are ancient mineshafts like honeycombs, from which huge amounts of gold were extracted by methods now unknown to the natives, nor to the Chinese who have also exploited the region through the centuries. And corroborative of this, that the mines of Ophir were across the vast Indian Ocean, is that also in I Kings 10, the almug (algum) tree, now known as red sandalwood, which grows only in southeast Asia, was sought by Solomon's fleet to construct the pillars of the First Temple; but how could they have navigated safely there and back, when it is commonly considered that such voyages were impossible because they could not accurately chart their course across a vast ocean? - Read article #2 at http://IceAgeCivilizations.com, to understand how they accurately measured time by the stars, with a simple mechanical instrument, and so could measure direction and distance, commonly thought to have been impossible before the invention of Harrison's chronometer in the 1850's. You can see that the evidence is solid that Malaysia is the location of Ophir, and now you can know how the ancients actually did navigate the globe in ancient times, exploiting the minerals which were available, such as in the ancient mysteriously complex mines of Mount Ophir, so check it out, and read further in the other categories to see how science and archaeology corroborate the Bible.

2 Kings 1-2 - Elijah ends his ministry and is taken in a whirlwind into heaven - Elisha takes up the mantle (covering) and begins to be the next Prophet in Israel -- '2 Kings 2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan'

Elijah is translated into heaven: ' 2 Kings 2:1-15 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.' - Note: Elijah is 'translated' meaning that he receives his spiritual heavenly body and this occurred in the sight of Elisha so it could be recorded in the Bible for our benefit of knowing that there is a spiritual body to replace our physical body once we die to accompany our spirit and our soul for eternity in heaven. Though Elijah was translated and brought up into heaven in appearance with his death occurring before the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ that Elijah would not have remained in heaven but would have to remain in Paradise along with Abraham and all the other Saints of the Old Testament until the cross and resurrection of Jesus when the way into heaven was made available to those who believe in God.

Kings of Israel and Judah (Chart)

From time to time I write, and rewrite, short studies based on my understanding of the Bible. These thoughts are not the last word on a subject, but often just working papers that are incomplete or sketchy. You are welcome to quote from, or use, these essays--but please reference the source. Your email is most welcome. The Library is where most everything is located.

Kings of Israel and Judah - Info on each King

Below is a list of the rulers of Israel and Judah. Israel became a divided kingdom in about 929 BC. The northern part continued to be called Israel. The southern part was called Judah. Kings Saul, David and Solomon ruled over Israel before it became a divided kingdom.

2 Kings 3-5 - Elijah [14 miracles] has ended his ministry and Elisha [28 miracles] begins his ministry having requested and received a double portion of the Spirit of God - '2 Kings 4:31-35 The child is not awaked. And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. And he went up, and lay upon [covered] the child [completely], and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child [God completely covers our death]; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes [being covered in death the life of Jesus takes over and gives our lifeless body a new life].'

Elisha demonstrates repeatedly that the Kingdom of God is to be life, it is to be appropriated as a blessing to ourselves and it is also to be shared with others: '2 Kings 4:5-7 5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels (jars) [of her neighbors] to her; and she poured out [her one jar of oil into all the other jars]. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel [jar]. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.' - '2 Kings 4:42-45 And there came a man from Baal-shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn [grain] in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat. And his servitor said, What, should I set this [food for twenty] before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave [leftovers] thereof. So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left [leftovers] thereof, according to the word of the LORD.'

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources: The Mircales of the Prophets Elijah and Elisha - Elijah [14] miracles and "A Double Portion of Thy Spirit" for Elisha [28] miracles

Immediately prior to the time Elijah was caught up to heaven in the whirlwind, his younger understudy Elisha requested a double portion of Elijah's spirit (2 Kings 2:9). Elijah being under the inspiration of God then replied that Elisha's request would be granted provided that the younger prophet were with him at the time he was taken away. The scriptures then record that this condition was fulfilled. After reading of the spectacular career of Elijah, it is difficult to believe that any man could have a double portion of his spirit, yet it came to pass that exactly twice as many miracles were done in the ministry of Elisha as in that of Elijah. The miracles in the careers of these two men of God may be summarized thus: Miracles in the Career of Elijah: 1. Causing the rain the cease for 3 1/2 years (1 Kings 17:1). 2. Being fed by the ravens (1 Kings 17:4). 3. Miracle of the barrel of meal and cruse of oil (1 Kings 17:14). 4. Resurrection of the widow's son (1 Kings 17:22). 5. Calling of fire from heaven on the altar (1 Kings 18:38). 6. Causing it to rain (1 Kings 18:45). 7. Prophecy that Ahab's sons would all be destroyed (1 Kings 21:22). 8. Prophecy that Jezebel would be eaten by dogs (1 Kings 21:23). 9. Prophecy that Ahaziah would die of his illness (2 Kings 1:4). 10. Calling fire from heaven upon the first 50 soldiers (2 Kings 2:10). 11. Calling fire from heaven upon the second 50 soldiers (2 Kings 2:12). 12. Parting of the Jordan (2 Kings 2:8). 13. Prophecy that Elisha should have a double portion of his spirit (2 Kings 2:10). 14. Being caught up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). -- Miracles in the Career of Elisha: 1. Parting of the Jordan (2 Kings 2:14). 2. Healing of the waters (2 Kings 2:21). 3. Curse of the she bears (2 Kings 2:24). 4. Filling of the valley with water (2 Kings 3:17). 5. Deception of the Moabites with the valley of blood (2 Kings 3:22). 6. Miracle of the vessels of oil (2 Kings 4:4). 7. Prophecy that the Shunammite woman would have a son (2 Kings 4:16). 8. Resurrection of the Shunammite's son (2 Kings 4:34). 9. Healing of the gourds (2 Kings 4:41). 10. Miracle of the bread (2 Kings 4:43). 11. Healing of Naaman (2 Kings 5:14). 12. Perception of Gehazi's transgression (2 Kings 5:26). 13. Cursing Gehazi with leprosy (2 Kings 5:27). 14. Floating of the axe head (2 Kings 6:6). 15. Prophecy of the Syrian battle plans (2 Kings 6:9). 16. Vision of the chariots (2 Kings 6:17). 17. Smiting the Syrian army with blindness (2 Kings 6:18). 18. Restoring the sight of the Syrian army (2 Kings 6:20). 19. Prophecy of the end of the great famine (2 Kings 7:1). 20. Prophecy that the scoffing nobleman would see, but not partake of, the abundance (2 Kings 7:2). 21. Deception of the Syrians with the sound of chariots (2 Kings 7:6). 22. Prophecy of the seven-year famine (2 Kings 8:1). 23. Prophecy of Benhadad's untimely death (2 Kings 8:10). 24. Prophecy of Hazael's cruelty to Israel (2 Kings 8:12). 25. Prophecy that Jehu would smite the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:7). 26. Prophecy that Joash would smite the Syrians at Aphek (2 Kings 13:17). 27. Prophecy that Joash would smite Syria thrice but not consume it (2 Kings 13:19). 28. Resurrection of the man touched by his bones (2 Kings 13:21).

2 Kings 6-7 - As a type of Jesus Christ the ministry of Elisha continues to benefit and bless both Jews and Gentiles as Elisha assists Jehoram the King of Judah in their victory over Moab and Elisha assists the Syrian General Naaman in being cured of leprosy -- '2 Kings 5:15 And he [Naaman] returned to the man [Elisha] of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all earth, but in Israel ...'

God prefers to overcome evil by His goodness: '2 Kings 6:8-23 Then the King of Syria warred [went to war] against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. ... And when they [Syrians] came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And He smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. *And the King of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father [Elisha], shall I smite them? shall I smite them? And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? *set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands [Army] of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.' -- 'Romans 12: 1-21 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ... Let love be without dissimulation [a form of deception in which one conceals the truth - wiki.com]. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in Spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of Saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend [agree, participate] to men of low estate [status]. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written [Deuteronomy 32:35], Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore [Proverbs 25:21-22] if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals [attention getting events] of fire on his head [Acts 2:3]. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.' Note: 'coals of fire on his head' is a way saying, 'getting someone's attention'. Coals of fire can refer to either a blessing [2 Samuel 14:7] or a curse [Song of Solomon 8:6]. It is up to the individual who God has gotten the attention of 'coals heaped upon their head' whether they want to follow in the ways of God and be blessed or continue to stray away from God and be cursed.

2 Kings 8-9 - The political intrigue and assassinations continue unabated however the results from all of the effort is almost of no effect - Desiring to be the ruler in Northern Israel the man Jehu kills Ahaziah [the son of Ahab and Jezebel] - Jehu then has the servants of Jezebel throw her from an upper window - Jehu then had the seventy descendants of Ahab beheaded -- '2 Kings 9:6-8 And he [a minor unamed prophet] arose, and went into the house; and he [not Elisha] poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over [Northern] Israel. And thou shalt smite the House of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish ...'

Jehu kills all the competition: '2 Kings 10:28-36 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin. In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel; From Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan. Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead. And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.' - Jehu took it upon himself to execute his judgment upon others however being obsessed with the conduct of others he is never able to bring his own conduct into submission unto the will of God.

Overcoming Jezebel, Athaliah, And Belial (Baal) In The Heavenlies [Complete Without (*with) Pictures] - We need to realize how these things work in the spirit so that we can pray more effectively for those under the stronghold of an Ahab and Jezebel spirit - 165 pages (PDF)

Our Ministry: Our main focus is the restoration of the Bride of Y'shua [Jesus]. This takes place in all three levels of man ... the spirit, soul and body.

2 Kings 10-11 - Jehoran the King of Southern Israel (Judah) married Athaliah the daughter of King Ahab and Jezebel of Northern Israel - After Jehoran [eight year reign] died of natural causes her son Ahaziah was King of Judah for one year and was visiting his mother-in-law Jezebel when she was killed at Jehu's command - Jehu then killed the fleeing King of Judah Ahaziah - After the loss of her husband and her son Athaliah made herself the Queen of Judah and reigned for six years -- '2 Kings 11:1 And when Athaliah [the daughter of King Ahab and Jezebel] the mother of [King] Ahaziah saw that her son [Ahaziah] was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal [and made herself Queen of Judah].'

Queen Athaliah purges all of the royal seed of Judah except for one [Joash]: '2 Kings 11:1-4 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. But Jehosheba [Athaliah's daughter], the daughter of king Joram [Jehoran], sister of [King] Ahaziah, took Joash the [infant] son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the King's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And [Queen] Athaliah did reign over the land. And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king's son.' - Joash became the King of Israel and reigned for forty years from seven years old until his death at 47 years old. Joash repaired and rebuilt much of King Solomon's Temple but then later took much of the wealth and gold from the Temple and from his royal house in Jerusalem and gave it to Hazael the king of Syria in order to keep Syria from attacking Jerusalem.

2 Kings 12-13 - During the reign of Joash the Prophet Elisha passes away -- '2 Kings 13:14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash [Jehoash] the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof [your time of death has come].'

The period of the Kings of Israel begins to wind down: '2 Kings 14:23-29 23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah [then] Jeroboam [II] the son of Joash [Jehoash] king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam [I] the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. He [Jeroboam II] restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, *according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant *Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath-hepher. For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash. Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam [II], and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Jeroboam [II] slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.' - As the period of Kings begins to diminish the third office of God the office of Prophets begins to come to the forefront in both Judah and in Northern Israel. Jonah the Prophet begins to prophesy in Northern Israel and later Jonah is sent by God to Assyria to call the Gentile nation of Assyria to repentance to God. A call the nation of Assyria heard, accepted and answered. Jonah would be among the first prophets of Israel and Judah to have his ministry recorded in his own scroll the book of Jonah.

2 Kings 14-15 - Zachariah the son of Jeroboam II is the fourth and final descendant of Jehu to reign in Northern Israel -- '2 Kings 15:11-12 And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. This was the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the *fourth generation. And so it came to pass.' - Jehu had tried to make a worldly distinction between good and evil and therefore God gave him four more generations to rule over Northern Israel. The number of four Biblically represents the physical world, the four directions (N,S,E,W), the four winds, the four rivers of the Garden of Eden [Genesis 2:10]. Jehu in making worldly decisions regarding others and in executing others was neglecting the Divine mercy and providence of the Holy God. While Jehu had removed the possibility of witnessing and of a godly repentance of the people he was removing a Biblical option from his decision making process and having removed the eternal Biblical options his earthly royal lineage was doomed to last for only four generations.

Both Israel and Judah are being diminished as nations but strengthened as a people: '2 Kings 15:32-38 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah ing of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign. Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done. Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. *He built the higher gate of the House (Temple) of the LORD. Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? *In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah. And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.' - While the nations and governments of Israel and Judah are being attacked and weakened in standing and status among the other nations of the world a remnant of Jewish people and their Jewish customs are taking hold and increasing in the lives of certain individuals throughout Israel and in particular in Judah. It is this faithful remnant of Israel and Judah that will keep the Nation of Israel and the customs of Israel intact in order to deliver the promises of God given through Abraham to all of mankind.

2 Kings 16-17 - Azariah (Uzziah) begins to reign in Judah - Isaiah the prophet begins his amazing, extended ministry firmly implementing the 1st early period of documented (scroll) prophets - Assyria asserts its strength in Israel - While King Ahaz reigned in Judah King Hoshea reigned in Northern Israel - Assyria attacked Hoshea and Northern Israel and after finding out that Hoshea sent letters to Egypt asking for their assistance Assyria brought to an end the Northern Kingdom of Israel taking into captivity the Ten Tribes from Samaria and bringing foreign non-Jews to live in the land of Jewish land of Samaria {Samaria would remain a Jewish and non-Jewish mix of people even until the days of Jesus} -- '2 Kings 17:24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.'

The tragedy of Northern Israel falling away into captivity: '2 Kings 17:1-14 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over [Northern] Israel nine years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him. Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents. And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison. Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger: For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep My Commandments and My Statutes, according to all the Law [Laws of Moses] which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, *that did not believe in the LORD their God.'- Later in Judah through the prophet Jeremiah [Jeremiah 2:33 9:5,14 28:16] we will find out that the actual moment of the Nations of Israel being defeated and taken into captivity was brought about when Israel and Judah each separately began to do more than disobey God they each actually begin to teach other nations and other people how to disobey God to a further extent. With the disobedience and particularly the teaching of others how to disobey and sin against God that the Nations ceased to exist and were taken into captivity and their religion and society were only sustained by a small remnant of faithful worshipers to God.

Ancient Documents: Ancient History - Assyrian and Babylonian texts [Ancient texts mentioning Israel]

Assyrian and Babylonian texts. Ancient History, Archaeology and Biblical Studies. The primary purpose of this site is to provide on-line text documents from archaeologists and ancient writers, and some tools for Bible study. Everything is provided in an HTML format which has internal reference markers. These internal markers are not visible when simply reading the text, but they allow HTML search tools to index information available here. A simple search program is provided here. http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/

2 Kings 18-19 - During the reign of King Hezekiah the nation of Assyria having defeated Northern Israel now attacks Judah - Isaiah the Prophet declares that God will protect Jerusalem and that the people of God will prevail -- '2 Kings 19:31-32 For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this. Therefore [it not being in the plans of God to let Assyria attack Jerusalem] thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.'

God saves Jerusalem through answered prayer: '2 Kings 19:14-20 14 And Hezekiah received the [evil, surrender] letter [from Assyria] of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even *Thou *alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth. LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib [from Assyria], which hath sent him to reproach the living God. Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the [other] nations and their lands, And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them. Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, *that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even *Thou only. Then Isaiah [the Prophet] the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah [King of Judah], saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That [deliverance] which thou hast prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.' - God saved Jerusalem from the certain destruction of the invading Assyrian army. Had God not stepped in Jerusalem would have been defeated but not in accordance to the instructive plans of God but according to the destructive plans of Satan. The promises of God, to King David to preserve his family and his throne, combined with the prayers and requests for salvation by Isaiah and Hezekiah resulted in God moving on their behalf and saving them and the city of Jerusalem from certain destruction.

2 Kings 20-21 - King Hezekiah gets sick and asks Isaiah to pray for God to extend his life - God extends the life of Hezekiah and Hezekiah's son Manasseh is born - Manasseh turns out to be the worst of all the Kings of Judah -- '2 Kings 20:4-5 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell [King] Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.'

King Manasseh brings Judah to an evil point of no return: '2 Kings 21:1-9 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzi-bah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And *he built altars in the House (Temple) of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put My Name. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the House of the LORD. *And he made his son pass through the fire, *and observed (occult) times, and used (occult) enchantments, *and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger. And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the House (Temple), of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this House, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all Tribes of Israel, will I put My name for ever: Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; *only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them. But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.' - Manasseh instead of taking the Nation forward into the glorious era with the coming of the Messiah Jesus Christ he instead used his authority to bring the Nation down to such a low, corrupt and unusable place that God will then first have to end the era of the Kings in Israel and send Israel/Judah into captivity in Babylon before the Nation can return to a place of usability in receiving the Messiah Jesus Christ into their midst.

2 Kings 22-23 - King Josiah the grandson of Manasseh begins to reign as a child at eight years old then at 26 years old during some repair work on the Temple a Bible Scroll was found in the Temple and brought to Josiah and read aloud to him - Josiah was then able to institute some reforms from the Laws of Moses and prolong their time before going into captivity in Babylon -- '2 Kings 22:11-13 And it came to pass, when the king [Josiah] had heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying, Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this [O.T. Bible] book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.'

Egypt conquers briefly Jerusalem: 2 Kings 23:33-37 33 And [Egyptian] Pharaoh nechoh put him [Jehoahaz] in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute [tax] of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold. And Pharaoh-nechoh made Eliakim (Jehoiakim) the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there. And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land [Promise Land], of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaoh-nechoh. Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done. - Where Assyria failed to conquer Jerusalem the nation of Egypt actually briefly conquered Jerusalem and then a short time later the Nation of Babylon (Iraq) will conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple and the city and take many of the people into captivity. Assyria being unable to control Jerusalem and receive taxation from Jerusalem will not be among the Seven Kingdoms of the earth while Egypt, Babylon (Iraq), Persia (Iran) and much later Greece and Rome will all be counted among the Seven Kingdoms of the World. The Kingdoms started with the ancient Nimrod and his kingdom tower of Babel and concluding with the coming Antichrist Kingdom [Revelation 17:10].

2 Kings 24-25 - King Jeconiah (Coniah) the son of Jehoiakim becomes the King of Judah - At this point Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel are some of the 'middle period' Prophets and prophesy during the Babylonian captivity - Jeconiah and his descendants are cut off permanently [Jeremiah 22:30] from the throne of King David - Jerusalem is surrounded by Babylon and Jeconiah and others are taken captive to Babylon - With Jeconiah's descendants unable to sit on the throne of Jerusalem his uncle Mattaniah's name is changed to Zedekiah and Zedekiah will briefly represent Israel before he rebels against Babylon and Babylon will now return and destroy the Temple and Jerusalem while taking Zedekiah into captivity to Babylon -- '2 Kings 25:7 And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.' {As often the circumstances with God are that after the darkest of hours, the Nation of Israel has been carried away into captivity, but God will once again restore what was once ruined. Israel will be reunited back in the Promise Land and have one of their finest hours in bringing the Messiah Jesus Christ into the world for the Redemption and Salvation of all mankind. Further in the future the Nation of Israel will have its greatest moment as a people and a Nation when they collectively welcome the Lord Jesus Christ at His Second Coming.}

The destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem: 2 Kings 25:1-12 And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about. And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain. And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him. So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon. And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem: And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire. And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about. Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carry away. But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.' - Note: With Jerusalem in ruins and the Temple of Solomon destroyed and no King in Israel then the Throne of King David will have to be restored and re-instituted. King Jeconiah who was cut off from the throne is a descendant of King David via King Solomon and though Jeconiah's descendants are cut off from sitting on the Throne of David the other descendants of King Solomon would consider themselves eligible to sit on the Throne of David. Jesus is a descendant of King David through His mother Mary from her forefather Nathan a son of King David and a younger brother of Solomon. God in keeping things clear and evident for us has Jesus come from King David through his son Nathan so the right of Jesus to restore and sit on the Throne of King David is undisputed but the Antichrist by all likelihood will arise from the disputed lineage of King Solomon.

The current plan for the 'blog Bible Study' is to complete the study in 10 segments

The current plan for the 'blog Bible Study' is to complete the study in 10 segments:

1. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua

2. Matthew, James, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews

3. Judges, Ruth, 1st Samuel, 2nd Samuel, 1st Kings, 2nd Kings

4. Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum {Early period Prophets - Assyrian activity, attack on Jerusalem thwarted}

5. Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Obadiah, Daniel, Ezekiel {Middle period Prophets - destruction of Jerusalem, Solomon's Temple destroyed and the Babylonian captivity}

6. Luke, Acts, 1st Corinthians, 2nd Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1st Thessalonians, 2nd Thessalonians

7. Mark, 1st Timothy, 2nd Timothy, Titus, Philemon, 1st Peter, 2nd Peter

8. Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations

9. 1st Chronicles, 2nd Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, Joel, Malachi {Later period Prophets - The return from Babylon, awaiting the coming Messiah}

10. John, 1st John, 2nd John, 3rd John, Jude, Revelation

KJV 1611 Holy Bible - Red Letter Edition {A Free PDF KJV Bible} (PDF)

The King James Version (KJV) 1611 with the Words of Jesus Formatted in Red is a complete Bible containing both the Old and the New Testaments.

Basic Christian Theology: Answers to Bible Questions (132 Topics)

A Complete handy Reference - Study Guide/Tutorial. It covers 132 Christian Subjects and Topics from Adoption - Yahweh in an easy to read and understand format. An extensive resource, unparalleled in convenience and ease of use yet advanced in topic research.

BlueLetterBible.org: Audio & Video Commentaries - Chuck Missler (Online Audio)

InstaVerse the Bible at your Fingertips - just point your mouse at a verse reference, and the [Bible] text pops up in your preferred translation! - Note: The KJV Bible is free other Bible Versions require a purchase.

Do you visit Christian web sites or receive daily devotional emails? Ever want to look up a scripture fast? InstaVerse� by WORDsearch will let you instantly see the actual Bible text for scripture references like John 3:16 - just point your mouse at it, and the text pops up in your preferred translation! The best part is that InstaVerse with the KJV Bible is FREE!

!!!The Word Bible Study Software - One of the very best Bible study software programs available, commercial or otherwise - Although the price tag for The Word is free, do not be fooled into thinking that its price tag reflects its feature list (software)

Find out what you can do with The Word: In the Beginning was the Word Bible software (The Word) was created in order to be a valuable, everyday tool for every Christian that wishes to read and study the Bible, the Word of God. We believe that In the Beginning was the Word Bible Software is one of the very best Bible study software programs available, commercial or otherwise. The Word is comparable to and in many cases, if not most, better than its commercial counterparts. Although the price tag for The Word is free, do not be fooled into thinking that its price tag reflects its feature list. ... The Word is designed to be a tool for everyday use, always running in the background and ready to respond whenever you need to look-up a verse, read the Bible, or study a passage or theme of the Bible in depth. It's quick to load, easy to customize and intuitive to use. We feel that its value and quality cannot be fully presented through a feature list, so we urge you to try it out. Each little detail has been carefully contemplated, designed and implemented with many options and customizations. This is exactly what makes people stick with The Word, once they give it a try. That's the best way to make up your mind too!

Bible Study & Prayer - There are few things more important to Christian life than prayer - Prayer is our method of communication with Jesus our Lord and Creator (16 Short Text Studies)

There are few things more important to Christian life than prayer. Prayer is our method of communication with our Lord and Creator. And yet far too few understand prayer or have taken any time to study it. As I prepared this study, I was impressed more and more about how prayer is centered on relationships. Just like in any other relationship, if we don't communicate, the relationship is strained. When we don't communicate with God, our relationship with Him is strained. This study is based on Andrew Murray's classic, "With Christ in the School of Prayer." Several quotes are taken from there and are noted throughout the text. The studies do not cover every chapter in the book but instead give a highlight of the overall theme Murray writes about. The chapter on the Prayer of Corporate Repentance is my own addition and is not based upon the book.

How to Study the Bible - Start with Prayer!

Probably one of the most common reasons why Christians don't study the Bible is based on this complaint, "I just don't understand it!" Before you start each study session, begin by praying and asking God to open your spiritual understanding. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (NIV) So, as you pray, realize that the words you are studying are inspired by God. Psalm 119:130 tells us, "The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." (NIV).

How to Mark Your Bible - for EFFECTIVE Bible Study! By far the most useful method is [notes and use of] a color scheme {Using different color pens to put categorized () around Bible verses for easier and quicker future references.}

Underscoring: It is often wise to underscore or underline key words or phrases that you want to stand out in order to find them quickly. I use two colored fine-line pens for my underscoring, black for generally important verses and red for very important verses. Do not overdo this by underlining every time a new thought strikes you or the time will come when you will have more underlined than non-underlined and this can lead to a confusing hodgepodge. ... COLOR TOPIC(S) TO REMEMBER COLOR - TOPIC: Light Blue - Prayer - Think of prayers going up into a BLUE sky. Dark Blue - Healing/Sickness - Think of BLUE cross or a dark BLUE wound. Orange - Resurrection - Sons of God RISING (remember: SUNRISE). Red - Sabbath and Holy Days - Stop, Rest, Relax, (Think of a STOP light). Pink - Marriage/Divorce - Think of PINK, fluffy clouds of marriage. Light Green - Millennium/God's Kingdom - When earth will be GREEN & beautiful. Dark Green - Man's Mortality - Man's days are like GRASS - Psalm 103:15. Black/Gray - Satan/Demons (spiritual warfare) - EVIL, Darkness, Blackness. Purple - Promises to Israel and Heirs - Purple color of ROYALTY. Yellow/Gold - Law and Commandments - GOLDEN rule; Law worth more than GOLD. Brown - Repentance/Baptism - Picture AUTUMN LEAVES falling, dying of old self. {Feel free to use any colors in any way, in any combination and also not to use any color codes at all.}

walmart.com: Pigma Micron Pen Set - [Possible Pens for writing notes, marking and underling in Bibles] - See also the Pilot G2 Gel-ink Pens [only in black ink but with blue refills available] for writing notes in a notebook or on a notepad [the G2 pens are excellent for regular writing and notes but they use way too much ink to write in a Bible] {Another option in note taking is to write notes on a computer word program or some type of notes program or even make voice recordings. I'm going to write notes in a 'composition' paper notepad and then at a later time I might type them into a computer -- though I'll also put most of my notes - comments [hopefully the better ones] on the RSS new/info feed as well.} (Color Pen Set - $15.88)

SAKURA-Pigma Micron Pens #05.45mm. Heritage Collection (1 each): Sepia, Royal Blue, Burgundy, Hunter Green, Blue/Black, Fresh Green. A fine point drawing and writing pen offering a waterproof quick drying pigment ink. Micron pens will not clog or dry out. Ink will not feather or bleed through even the thinnest papers and is smear proof once dry. The pigment in the ink remains colorful and will not spread when applied. It is fade proof against sunlight or UV light; and is permanent and washable on cotton fabrics. Archival Quality. Acid Free. Imported.

KJV (Hebrew-Greek) Key Word Study Bible - A Bible Recommendation for Studying Through the Bible along with the C-3000 Mp3s - The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible is a complete English Bible text for cross-reference study to the original languages from which the Bible was translated (KJV Bible - $29.99)

The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible combines essential tools for Hebrew and Greek with translations that accurately and clear. An easy-to-use style plus the benefits of the Strong's Dictionary numbering system makes this study Bible one for every student of God's Word, no matter what age. The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible is a complete English Bible text for cross-reference study to the original languages from which the Bible was translated. Key Features: Book Introductions - Footnotes on Key Passages - Red Letter Edition - System of Study - Key Words in the English Text Identified by James Strong's Numbering System - Codes in the New Testament Text Identify Grammatical Structure of Key Greek Words - Notations Explain the Significance of the Grammatical Codes - Hebrew and Greek Word Studies - Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries - Center-column Reference System - Concordance.

NLT Jesus Bible, Softcover - A Bible Recommendation for Studying Through the Bible along with the C-3000 Mp3s {Note: The C-3000 Through the Bible Mp3s are taught from the KJV Bible, since the teachings are KJV some people might want to follow with a different translation. It's always important to have a KJV in the Bible Study if the teacher is not using a KJV make sure you have one. The NLT (New Living Translation) is a good alternate translation I would defiantly avoid the NIV and NKJV versions. -- NLT is available at most bookstores and WalMart.} (NLT Bible - $14.99)

The Jesus Bible shows that the real Jesus -- as described throughout all of Scripture -- is alive today and relevant to everyday life. Through The Jesus Bible, you will meet the Savior and experience his ability to break through all boundaries, all preconceived ideas, and all stereotypes. Special Features: 500 unexpected notes show how we can find Jesus in unexpected situations - 100 Real Expressions devotionals that are tied to Bible characters, and are based on stories from real teens - 600 X-Focus call-outs highlight key Scripture verses and passages that address God's plan of salvation through Christ - 24 Explicit Answers show key sayings of Jesus spread throughout the Bible - 200 Xtraordinary, But True articles in the OT highlight unusual stories of people and prophets and show their relevance to today - New Living Translation - 9 point text - Two-column layout - Softcover.

Basic Christian - Monthly Memo: Fall 2009: Bible Study, Prayer, Devotions and Fellowship

Monthly Memo: Fall 2009: Bible Study, Prayer, Devotions and Fellowship - 1. The Basic Christian info/news feed is probably going to transition this fall from the conspiracy, headline news events of the day into a more Bible, Christian doctrine and current Christian seminar-events centered info/news feed. 2. I'm thankful for the patience that everyone had while we covered so many difficult topics in such a short period of time. I always try to maintain a focus that people are looking at the material and I defiantly try to spread the material out not putting too much of a burden on people at any one time. When Basic Christian started as a discussion forum it was basically all interaction all the time but now without a forum the website has little or no interaction though I still keep in mind the interaction of the past forum and do try not to overload everyone. 3. The Summer 2009 links to other websites and particularly to the Podcast Shows have been some of the best links that the Basic Christian website has been able to provide and I'm very grateful to all of the Podcast ministries for providing such a great and challenging time of Christian growth for everyone involved. 4. There are more Mp3s and now Video downloads available via Basic Christian. Some of the material tends towards conspiracy topics and some of it is a bit on the fire and brimstone side and it isn't necessarily what I would normally provide however these are materials that are increasingly being removed from the internet and becoming harder to locate so they are the files being provided in order to give others an additional chance to obtain them. In other words Hill Song videos are not disappearing from the internet but the conspiracy, hidden news materials and mature preaching topics are harder to locate and obtain so therefore those are the materials that are being provided. -- Thanks again to everyone for sticking it out through so much material and through so much unplanned controversy. I personally look forward to spending much more time in Bible study, in personal prayer time, in devotions and in fellowship this fall and into next spring. I'm really looking forward to [Edit: Studying through the Bible in the past it has] changed my life for the better so I'm very much looking forward to spending some daily [Edit: in Bible study, devotions, prayer, fellowship and Christian service]. All the very best! God Bless you, David Anson Brown.

How Can I Download (Youtube) Videos? - Download online videos with SaveVid.com [Enter Video URL:] (Utility)

Savevid.com is a tool which gives you the ability to download videos from streaming video sites. You can download videos from Youtube, Google Videos, Metacafe, Spike and more in FLV, AVI, MOV, MPG or WMV formats.

Basic Christian: Downloadable - Recommended Resources (Video Downloads)

Each Mp3 or Video offers important information, encouragement or teaches an important Biblical concept.

Basic Christian: Downloadable - Recommended Resources (Mp3 Downloads)

Each Mp3 or Video offers important information, encouragement or teaches an important Biblical concept.

Free Downloads: (PDF - MP3) from BasicChristian.org

It is our Commitment to provide a Varity of FREE and useful Downloads. It is also our Commitment to provide them in a convenient way without pop-up advertisements, redirects and other annoying interferences between you and the information you are seeking. We also encourage everyone to have a safety offline backup version of the Basic Christian material.