THE LIFE OF CHRIST Following the bloodline FROM PSALMS TO 400 SILENT YEARS

THE LIFE OF CHRIST

We have made our way down to the divided kingdom.. Both the north and the southern kingdom had prophets that warned them about the direction they were going . In those prophecies many times were what we call near and far .. they were going to be fulfilled right away and long reaching , some looked forward to Jesus first coming some to the second coming. There is a lot of these we can pick from, we are seeing some of these in the book of Jeremiah that we are studying on Wednesday night. Lets scan a couple of these..

JESUS quoted from 24 books in the O.T. We move to the days of two kingdoms.. North and south.. each had their share of prophets. ( talk about the divided kingdom )

TWO ISAIAHS ? no Jesus set that straight The Book of Isaiah does just that. In fact, because of this, many so-called Bible scholars believe there were actually two Isaiahsone who wrote in the days of King Uzziah and a second one who showed up hundreds of years later. In fact, some have even suggested there was a third Isaiah who showed up after the time of Christ and wrote the Messianic prophecies. However, John quotes directly from Isaiah 6 and 53, attributing both to one Isaiah John 12:3840 (NKJV) 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: 40 He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them. This means that either John was deceived or a singular Isaiah wrote everything in prophetic anticipation of Jesus Christ. In Isaiah there are many Messianic Prophecies (Only exceeded by the Psalms!) From Isaiah Deity, eternity, preexistence, creatorship, omnipotence, omnipresence: 40:12-18; 51;13 Incarnation: 9:6; 7:14 Youth in Nazareth: 7:15; 9:1-2; 11:1; 53:2 Anointed as Servant of the Lord: 11:2 Chosen; delighted in: 42:1 Mild manner: 42:2 Ministering kindness: 42:3; (Matthew 12:18-20) Obedience: 50:5 2

Message: 61:1,2 Miracles: 35:5-6 Sufferings: 50:6; 52:14 Gathering to exultation: 52:13-15 Rejection by Israel: 53:1-3 Shame, struck, bruised: 53:4-6 Vicarious death: 53:8 Burial: 53:9 Resurrection: 53:10 Ascension: 52:13 Spiritual progeny: 53:10 High Priestly ministry: 53:12 Future glory: 59:20; 63:1-6; 66:15-19 (Not mentioned as a servant after Chapter 53) Here is an example of the prophecies on the major and minor prophets.. Isaiah 9 We are in the middle of a prophecy that was given around 734 BC. Addressed to King Ahaz of the southern kingdom of Judah, it began in Isaiah 7. Two kings had joined together to oppose Ahaz, Pekah of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and Rezin from the kingdom of Syria (or Aram). God had been promising Ahaz that He would take care of these kings. He also warned of the Assyrians who would not only be used to deal with the other two kings, but also bring destruction through the land. In the coming hard times, people would be looking for answers. But theyll be looking in the wrong places. Rather than asking their God for direction, theyll be seeking those who claim to contact the dead, those who speak to demons (Is. 8:19). The result would be a darkness on the land. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such

(Isa 9:1 NLT) Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will soon be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The first light affliction on Zebulun and Naphtali happened with Tiglathpileser came against these areas in the north and took some of them captive. (2Ki. 15:29)

in Galilee of the nations. Or, "Galilee of the Gentiles". The area of the Galilee to the north wasnt looked upon with great admiration. The Jews in the south looked at Galilee with contempt and disgust. Yet Isaiah goes on to say -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

God, it seems just never gives up! He continues to pursue, even when weve turned our backs upon Him, even when weve gone into captivity, God continues to pursue. They now, sitting in this darkness, God brought to them a glorious light. people who were walking in darkness, The hath seen a great light. We know that, that light is this child that was to be born. The sign of the virgin that would conceive, and bear a child, is the great light that is promised. They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, this land had now been forsaken, it was empty. The villages were destroyed, and the land was desolate. The land of Zebulun, and Naphtali. The Lord declares...

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light This is talking about Jesus. He would bring glory to the land in the north. He would be the great light in a dark place. Jesus main ministry took place in the north, in the Galilee. TURN TO MATT. 4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

so that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, This is the fifth of the ten fulfillment quotations used by Matthew. It explains why Jesus spent His time in despised Galilee. BEFORE WE BEGAN LETS GET FAMILIAR WITH ISRAEL ITSELF

This is the Land of the bible, from the Journeys of Paul to the life of Jesus

True Israel in the US

Size of Israel Verses California - you could fit the entire nation of Israel between Salt lake and Ceader city which is only 250 mile away Israel is one of the tiniest nations on the face of the earth... only about 8,000 sq. miles, 2 times the size of Rhode Island and only slightly larger than the Canary Islands!. It is only 260 miles at its longest, has a 112-mile coastline, 60 miles at its widest, and between 3 and 9 miles at its narrowest! A very high-powered rifle could launch a projectile right across the country! This is particularly frightening when one considers that 65% of Israel's population is within this 9 mile wide section (Tel Aviv area). Yet Arab propagandists call Israel "expansionist" and the "aggressor" against all Arab peoples. For those unfamiliar with the Arab interpretation of "aggressor," it means one who dares fight back against Arab aggression!! So even though Israel may have fought only defensive wars, the mere fact that she resisted total destruction is viewed as an "act of aggression." That's a case of wacky logic but, unfortunately, Israel doesn't have the luxury of picking her enemies!

a. 3 miles wide here b. Golan Heights c. Sea of Galilee d. Jordan River... Sea of Galilee to Dead Sea e. 1967 "Green Line"... the 1949 armistice lines separating Israel from its heartland of Judea-Samaria when Jordanian forces illegally annexed it. After the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, Israel regained that land... at which time the world began referring to Judea and Samaria as the "West Bank" in order to try to erase any Jewish connection to this historically Jewish land! f. 9 miles wide here g. Tel Aviv h. Jerusalem i. Dead Sea j. Gaza Strip: 5 miles x 25 miles

The surrounding 22 Arab countries are 640 times larger than tiny Israel yet they expect Israel to turn over all the West Bank, Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and half of Jerusalem... territory they lost after they started the 1967 war! Unlike Islam's Koran, which commands Muslims to force the entire planet to submit to literal control by Islam, the Jewish Torah promises the children of Israel a modest and reasonable allotment of land. Israel is a democratic nation 1/19th the size of California, surrounded by 22 hostile Arab/Islamic dictatorships with 640 times her size, 60 times her population and ALL the oil. How dare Arab propagandists call Israel "expansionist!" And how dare anyone believe them! How can Israel, which occupies one-sixth of one percent of the lands called Arab, be responsible for the political dissatisfaction of 22 Arab countries? How can the 13 million Jews in the world (almost 5 million fewer than they were in 1939!) be blamed for the problems of the 300 million Arabs, who have brotherly ties to 1.4 billion Muslims worldwide? Israel is an oasis of Western Democracy and Judeo/Christian morality in the middle of an otherwise totalitarian Arab/Muslim Middle East. For over 55 years since she became a nation in 1948, Israel has sought peaceful coexistence with neighbors dedicated to her destruction. Thus far only Egypt and Jordan have formalized a peace treaty. In reality, these two peace treaties are are questionable. 8

Ok NOW LETS TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROPHECY.. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15 land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the The Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1- LAND OF ZEBULUN AND NAPHTALI KNOW AS later Upper and Lower Galilee

The tribe of Israel had specific land grants by God - notice where zepulun and Naphtail are. East or the sea of Galilee.. 2- BY THE WAY OF THE SEA

This way of the sea was a famous road called Via Maria, it ran from Damascus to Egypt

This would have been a great place to be a tax collector.. it was on the main interstate of the day .. every person that went by could be taxed.. 3- BEYOND THE JORDAN This was the common designation for Galilee with its large Gentile population. Both Beyond the Jordan and Galilee of the gentiles goes together. This was seen as a gentile area. Even tho there were Jewish 'settlements' that is what they would have called them today. All around the lake of sea of Galilee was divided between Jews and gentiles. Beyond Jordan, a somewhat puzzling phrase here, but still best understood as Perea, which, along with Galilee, formed the border area of Israel. This region, more exposed to 10

foreign influences than Judea, had a mixed population, and the spiritual state of the people was usually low. The coming of the light of Christ into such an area of spiritual darkness had been foretold by the prophet, and his prediction was now fulfilled1 beyond the Jordan, i.e., Perea, which lies at the extreme east, while along the way of the sea lies at the extreme west.2 4- GALILEE OF THE GENTILES

Galilee of the Gentiles, is not Galilee as such but the northern stretch of Palestine beyond Naphtali. All this territory Jesus covered during his ministry, radiating out from Capernaum as the general center.3 Galilee, the region of northern Palestine, came under the Assyrians in 722 BC. Many of the inhabitants were exiled to Nineveh, and pagan foreigners were brought in to settle in the land. The region experienced more foreign influence than Judea, and its inhabitants intermarried with the pagans. The prophet Isaiah referred to it as gelil haggoyim Galilee of the Gentiles (Is 8:23) precisely because of pagan elements. The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali refer to the area west of Lake Galilee where the descendants of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali settled. Galilee was part of the kingdom of Herod the Great and part of the tetrarchy of Herod Antipas. Prior to his public ministry, Jesus lived in Nazareth in Lower Galilee. He devoted the first portion of His ministry in the northwest bank of the Sea of Galilee: Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. It is not strange, then, that the reaction of many Jews in Jerusalem was, Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? (John 7:41). The idea of a Galilean
1

Pfeiffer, C. F., & Harrison, E. F. (1962). The Wycliffe Bible commentary : New Testament. Chicago: Moody Press. 2 Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Matthew's Gospel (165). Minneapolis, MN.: Augsburg Publishing House. 3 Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Matthew's Gospel (165). Minneapolis, MN.: Augsburg Publishing House. 11

Messiah seemed ludicrous. When Nicodemus tried to convince the Pharisees that Jesus should be given a fair hearing, They answered and said to him, You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee (vv. 5152).
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------------------Galilee is a Sea and and in early times a district. Galil in Hebrew, means "a circle" and the district originally applied to 20 cities in Solomon's Time. The Lake of Genesareth or Gennesaret, the sea of Kinnereth, the Sea of Tiberius and the Sea of Galilee are all the same. The sea of Galilee is located in what was northern Palestine during the first century. It is about 13 and a half miles long by seven and a half miles wide and in places would reach to a depth of 160 feet. The Sea of Galilee is actually an inland lake 69 feet below sea level, fed primarily by the Jordan river. The low altitude contributes to the almost tropical weather. The hills around Galilee slope down to the waters edge except in the North West where there was a fertile plain. In the first century, the area included all the northern part of Palestine lying west of the Jordan and north of Samaria. Divided into upper and lower, the former lying north of the territory of the tribe of Zebulan, and abounding in mountains; the latter being more level and fertile, and very populous. What was called the Galilee of the Gentiles is supposed to be Upper Galilee. Josephus told of 240 cities and villages, least of which around 15,000 residents. Altogether including the small towns, there were about 440. Josephus mentions Tiberias, Sepphoris, and Gabara, as the principal cities, though Capernaum and Nazareth are more frequently mentioned in the gospels. Everywhere in Josephus' descriptions, as in the gospels, we hear of an eager, energetic people and a land never "destitute of men, of courage or of a large population". The area rivalled Egypt in grains and cereals, wine, oil and fruit. The setting of the lake and its shores were beautiful in those days, and here were situated the summer homes of wealthy Jews, Herodians, and Romans. Wildflowers are loveliest in Galilee and grow beyond the shoreline of pebbles and shells. Green hills would rise high around most of the lake. About the lake the land is so fruitful that all sorts of trees can grow upon it. It is exceptionally fertile for growing crops and the temper of the air is so well mixed that it agrees very well with "different sorts" especially walnuts, palm trees, fig trees and olives. Particularly lovely is that portion of the lakeside, which is watered from a most fertile fountain, which the people of the country call Capharnaum. The lake abounded with freshwater fish. Palestine and especially Galilee was filled with the sick and suffering and with those pathological types, dumb, epileptics, and the semi-insane were numerous. Galilee was on the road to everywhere. Many roads crossed Galilee from the Decapolis to the coast, constant trade fisherman and Greek exporters, the very coins everywhere thrust Greek upon the Jews of Galilee. There were so many Gentiles that it was contemptuously called "Galilee of the Gentiles." Hiram called the area disgusting, thus the destiny of Galilee was to be despised with its mixed population and strange accent, populated with Phoenicians, Arabs, Greeks. Galilee was a traditional hotbed of dissent. Judeans tended to look down on their agricultural northern neighbors, as though they were a little more rustic and not as knowledgeable as those who lived closer to Jerusalem. The Galileans were accounted

MacArthur, J. (1989). Matthew. Chicago: Moody Press. 12

brae and industrious; though other Jews affected to consider them as not only stupid and 5 unpolished, but also seditious, and therefore proper objects of contempt.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, It probably refers to the Jewish people (this term in Greek laos is used elsewhere in Matthew only for Israel) living in conditions of frustration and despair among the pagan Gentileswho are the first to be privileged to see the fulfillment of Gods promises. The word great is emphasized in Greek. and to the ones sitting in the land and in the shadow of death, Note the description of this area. a light dawned to them. Galilee, so often looked down upon both in political fortunes and in the eyes of the official Jewish religion, was in fact destined to play a crucial role in the unfolding of Gods plan of salvation. Again we have Matthews emphasis on outsiders in the purposes of God. Matthew continued to show how all of Jesus life, even his travel, followed Gods plans and fulfilled Scripture. Some Jewish readers may have wondered why Jesus ministry was not focused in Jerusalemwouldnt the promised Messiah begin by speaking in the temple itself? However, Matthew explained that Jesus move to the region of Galilee where Capernaum was located fulfilled [that] which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 9:12. Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would be a Light to the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali.6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------We can walk through most every book on the major and minor prophets and hit radical prophecies about coming of Messiah. Look down to Verse 6 of this same chapter (9) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Luke 1:31-34 (NKJV) 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His
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Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew. Life application Bible commentary (Page 65). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers. 13

http://latter-rain.com/ltrain/galilee.htm ( accessed 1/27/10)

name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. 34 Then Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I do not know a man? unto us a son is given The Deliverer would be a Son. Gods only begotten Son. \ and his name shall be called In the Bible, a persons name often was a reflection, if not prophetically, of who that person was or would be. They were often a persons character traits. Wonderful Wonderful pele' wonder, marvel; The word comes from pala' to be marvellous, be wonderful, be surpassing, be extraordinary; to be beyond one's power, be difficult to do; to do an extraordinary or hard or difficult thing Do you face difficult things in your life? There is one who is Wonderful, able to do impossible things. There is nothing too difficult for Him. (Jer 32:17 KJV) Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: As we looked at in our last study.. Judges 13:8-18 Then Manoah prayed to the LORD, and said, my Lord, please let the Man of God O whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born. 9 And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field; but Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 Then the woman ran in haste and told her husband, and said to him, Look, the Man who came to me the other day has just now appeared to me! 11 So Manoah arose and followed his wife. When he came to the Man, he said to Him, A You the Man who re 12 spoke to this woman? And He said, am. Manoah said, I Now let Your words come to pass! What will be the boys rule of life, and his work? 13 So the Angel of the LORD said to Manoah, all that I said to the woman let her be careful. 14 She may not eat Of anything that comes from the vine, nor may she drink wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean. All that I commanded her let her observe. 15 Then Manoah said to the Angel of the LORD, Please let us detain You, and we will prepare a young goat for You. 16 And the Angel of the LORD said to Manoah, Though you detain Me, I will not eat your 14
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food. But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the LORD. (For Manoah did not know He was the Angel of the LORD.) 17 Then Manoah said to the Angel of the LORD, What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You? 18 And the Angel of the LORD said to him, Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful? Could this be a precarnate Jesus Probably..

Counsellor I know that some of the modern translations pair this with Wonderful, but I like how the King James separates it. He is Wonderful. Hes also a great Counsellor. Counsellor ya`ats to advise, consult, give counsel, purpose, devise, plan. In contrast, keep in mind that the people got into trouble in the first place because they were looking for advice from people who contacted the dead instead of contacting their God (Isa 8:19). Unlike dead people, God is a GREAT Counselor and He never gives bad advice. Prov 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. {6} In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The mighty God There were some of the Jews who would look at verse 6, and say that it was fulfilled by Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz. Hezekiah may have been wonderful, he may have been a good counsellor, but he certainly wasnt the Mighty God. Jesus, on the other hand, is the Mighty God. (Titus 2:11-13 KJV) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, {12} Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; {13} Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

JESUS IS GOD The everlasting Father 15

This title gets some of us a little confused. How could Jesus be the "Father" when we know Him as the "Son"? Its simple. Its not hard for a person to be both a father and a son. I am. We know of Jesus as the Son, and that refers to His position in the Trinity. But He is also a Father in that we have been born again through Him. The father of eternity is how chuck missler says this could be translated.

The Prince of Peace Peace shalowm completeness, soundness, peace When Jesus returns, He will set up His kingdom on earth, and there will be no more war. But this also refers to the peace with God that we can experience right now in our hearts. Paul writes, (Rom 5:1 NLT) Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it When Messiah comes back, He will be a descendant of David, in the line of the kings of Judah. Jesus was able to trace His lineage back to David both through his "step-father" Joseph (Mat. 1), as well as His mother Mary (Luke 3).

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Gods fervent love for His Son and for His people will bring all this to pass. This is just like what the Queen of Sheba said regarding Solomon: 1 Kings 10:9 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice. 16

THERE ARE so many other places we can go with this. There are so many prophecies, we will hit them along the way in our study.. but I want to finish with one more place...

MALACHI....

The book was written between 450-400 BC. Its been about 100 years since the Jews returned to the land from Babylon. The second temple has been rebuilt. The walls of Jerusalem have been rebuilt. A sense of apathy has set in among the people. Is it all worth it? Is it worth following the Lord?
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Malachi 3 Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming, Says the LORD of hosts. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------My messenger could this be John the Baptist? (Isa 40:3 NKJV) The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. (Mat 11:10 NKJV) "For this is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.' the Messenger of the covenant it seems that this is the Lord ( Lord, whom you the seek ), or, Jesus Christ. He is the messenger of the New Covenant. (Jer 31:31-34 NKJV) "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; {32} "not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. {33} "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. {34} "No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Luke 22:20 NKJV) Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

SUDDENLY COME TO HIS TEMPLE JERUSALEM The population of Palestine in Jesus' day was approximately 500,000 to 600,000 (about that of Vermont, Boston, or Jerusalem today). About 18,000 of these residents were clergy, priests and Levites. Jerusalem was a city of some 55,000, (about the size of Wheaton, Illinois, today) but during major feasts, could swell to 180,000.7
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http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/1998/issue59/59h002.html 18

Looking at Jerusalem today, this is standing on the mount of olives, we will get very familiar with this real-estate before this series is done.

This is what it would have looked like in Jesus day

VIDEO

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( we talked through the video as it played) there is really on need to go to in-depth here we will have many opportunities to do that was we go thought this study. this is just to start getting familiar with the land of the bible

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? But For He is like a refiners fire And like launderers soap. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------the day of His coming ultimately this is talking about the Second Coming of Jesus. But it could also refer to the of visitation, when a person dies and they find themselves time in Gods presence to be judged. (1 Pet 2:11-12 NKJV) Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, {12} having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. (Heb 9:27 NKJV) And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(1 Pet 1:6-7 NKJV) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, {7} that the genuineness of your faith, being 20

much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Our trials work to remove the impurities in our lives. There is also the idea that when we have our eyes on Jesus, his second coming there is a purifying action that takes place.

1 John 3:13 (NKJV) 1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Malachi 4:56 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

send you Elijah The Jews set an empty place setting at the table during Passover. The place is for Elijah in case he shows up.
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There was a sense in which this has been fulfilled through John the Baptist.
(Luke 1:17 NKJV) "He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Mat 17:11-13 NKJV) Jesus answered and said to them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. {12} "But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands." {13} Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

But there is a sense in which this has not yet been fulfilled.
(Rev 11:3-13 NKJV) "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." {4} These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. {5} And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. {6} These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. {7} When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. {8} And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. {9} Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-ahalf days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. {10} And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. {11} Now after the threeand-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. {12} And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. {13} In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. 22

Who are these witnesses? I believe they could very likely two be Moses and Elijah. Its interesting that Malachi mentions Moses (vs. 4) and then in the next breath mentions Elijah (vs. 5). Elijah had the ability to command fire to fall from heaven or make the rain stop falling (Rev. 11:5,6) Moses had the ability to bring miraculous plagues like turning water into blood (Rev. 11:6)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This will be part of the ministry of Elijah when he comes back, a restoration of families. Im not sure we have to wait for Elijah to work on our families. Its something that God cares about. How can a heart be turned? What if Im not all that excited about my kids? Id start with prayer. I find that the people I pray for each day are people that I grow more and more in love with. I find it interesting that the turning starts with the fathers. Sometimes we can think that a father raising his children simply needs to be tough, to be a disciplinarian. But God also desires the heart.
(Luke 15:20 NKJV) "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And then 400 years , next time, 400 years what happened, we need a history lesson.. however we need to pause this right here and come back to this..

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