To: The Family of God, “people being made temples of His spirit” God’s Church 8/31/18, God’s 6th month, Elul 20, 5778 until sunset. It’s worth our attention; “Joseph was Israel’s only one of twelve son’s God revealed Himself to.” He was set apart for God’s purpose before the foundation of the world. The twelve gates of “coming New Jerusalem” are named for the 12 tribes of Israel. God the Father and God the Son’ ways, characteristics and attributes don’t change. The Hebrews writer shares.

(Heb 13:7-9; “Remember your leaders, who spoke God’s message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith. (8) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings. For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals, which have never benefited those who participated in them.”)

(Gen 41:25-32; “Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Both dreams of Pharaoh have the same meaning. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good cows represent seven years, and the seven good heads of grain represent seven years. Both dreams have the same meaning. The seven lean, bad-looking cows that came up after them represent seven years, as do the seven empty heads of grain burned with the east wind. They represent seven years of famine. This is just what I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the whole land of Egypt. But seven years of famine will occur after them, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will devastate the land. The previous abundance of the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows, for the famine will be very severe. The dream was repeated to Pharaoh because the matter has been decreed by God, and God will make it happen soon.”)

Many things are about to come on this and a future generation, that are “decreed by God.” Study Matthew 24: & corresponding scriptures, such as Daniel 12:. May we be gifted with perseverance to stay true, “overcome our sin nature and Satan’s deceptions to the end.”

Believers IN Jesus” are gifted to understand the hold Satan has on unbelievers. Believers are blessed with knowing faith regarding God’s promises and “love times holy to Him.” When presented with truth, “hostile unbelievers scoff and ignore.” (Through gifted knowing faith, “followers of Jesus believe IN His return, the resurrections, Satan’s fate and peace on earth.”) (Jesus promises judgment, a second death to hostiles and New Jerusalem’s coming down with God the Father.) Followers of Jesus’ prayer focus is on “His kingdom’s soon coming, “His will being done and that we’re led from evil and the false way.” It’s indicated that before Jesus’ return, supernatural miracles will be done through His followers. (See Revelations 11:)

Understand too “Satan does miracles.” Jesus revealed to John that Satan is on the ready to give power to demonic rulers and do deceiving miracles. All allowed by God for His ultimate purpose.

(Rev 13:1-9; “Then I “John” saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast “ the one in whom Satan gives power” that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon “Satan” gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule. One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement; they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?” The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months. So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God – to blaspheme both His name and His dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven. (7) The beast was permitted to go to war against the Saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has NOT been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed. If anyone has an ear, he had better listen!”) Those to whom God reveals Himself will be able to persevere. Those belonging to Jesus.

Healings Jesus did and those through His apostles were instantaneous. God also created our bodies with natural healing mechanisms. Healing mechanisms by use of drugs, chemical and surgery aren’t what’s considered. Such can aid the body in healing itself. (When Jesus did miracles & those through His apostles, “they were instant and usually He gave advance knowing faith.)

The Lord God Jesus revealed Himself to Joseph and “he was given to understand that he was His instrument.” After God revealed Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph gave Pharaoh advice and God gave Pharaoh the mind to trust Joseph.

(Genesis 41:33-39; “So now Pharaoh should look for a wise and discerning man and give him authority over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh should do this – he should appoint officials throughout the land to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should gather all the excess food during these good years that are coming. By Pharaoh’s authority they should store up grain so the cities will have food, and they should preserve it. (36) This food should be held in storage for the land in preparation for the seven years of famine that will occur throughout the land of Egypt. In this way the land will survive the famine.” (37) This advice made sense to Pharaoh and all his officials. So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find a man like Joseph, one in whom the Spirit of God is present?” So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has enabled you to know all this, there is no one as wise and discerning as you are!”) Had God not been intervening, “officials of Pharaoh’s would have been jealous and would have accused Joseph of looking out for himself.” None of them were believers IN Joseph’s God.

(Gen 41:40-44; “You will oversee my household, and all my people will submit to your commands. Only I, the king, will be greater than you. “See here,” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I place you in authority over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his own hand and put it on Joseph’s. He clothed him with fine linen clothes and put a gold chain around his neck. Pharaoh had him ride in the chariot used by his second-in-command, and they cried out before him, “Kneel down!” So he placed him over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your permission no one will move his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.”)

Ultimate authority with loving concern is what’s needed to rule fleshly minded people “for their own good.” Same with rearing children! In this latter age “parents are hindered by erroneous concepts and government interference.” Fleshly nature yields to “what’s appealing and self serving. It’s why “democracies left to themselves always fail.” God sustains some beyond what would be their natural fall. Some are probably being sustained now.

(Gen 41:45-49; “Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah. He also gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, “priest of the city of On” to be his wife. “So Joseph took charge of all the land of Egypt.” Now Joseph was 30 years old when he began serving Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph was commissioned by Pharaoh and was in charge of all the land of Egypt. During the seven years of abundance the land produced large, bountiful harvests. Joseph collected all the excess food in the land of Egypt during the seven years and stored it in the cities. In every city he put the food gathered from the fields around it. Joseph stored up a vast amount of grain, like the sand of the sea, until he stopped measuring it because it was impossible to measure.”)

Nothing is impossible with God. Pharaoh too “was being used by God for His purpose.” God also allows Satan to use rulers and clergy types for His purpose.” They deceive all, “whose names aren’t written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Remember “the deceived don’t know they are.”

(Gen 41:50-57; “Two sons were born to Joseph before the famine came. Asenath, daughter of Potiphera “priest of On,” was their mother. Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “Certainly God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s house.” (“The name “Manasseh” is a participle, suggesting the meaning “he who brings about forgetfulness.” A particular Hebrew verb may have been used to provide a closer sound play with the name. The giving of this Hebrew name to his son shows that Joseph retained his heritage and faith; and it shows that a brighter future was in store for him.)

Joseph named the second child Ephraim, saying, “Certainly God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” (The name “Ephraim” means “to bear fruit.” The theme of fruitfulness is connected with this line of the family from Rachel (30:2) on down (see Gen 49:22, Deut 33:13-17, and Hosea 13:15). But there is some difficulty with the name “Ephraim” itself. It appears to be dual in meaning “double fruitfulness.” Many, however, simply connect the name to the territory of Ephraim and interpret it to be “fertile land” In this account it refers to Joseph’s God-given fruitfulness. (Later we’ll see that the special blessings given to the Patriarchs “are passed to these two sons.”

(Gen 41:53-57; The seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end. Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. There was famine in all the other lands, but throughout the land of Egypt there was food. When all the land of Egypt experienced the famine, the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh said to all the people of Egypt, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.” (56) While the famine was over all the earth, (Or “over the entire land”; “over all the face of the earth.” The disjunctive clause is circumstantial-temporal to the next clause.) Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians. The famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt. People from every country came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain because the famine was severe throughout the earth.”)

God blessed Egypt through Joseph, and “God was in the process of teaching Joseph, his brothers and Jacob.”

(Genesis 42:1-2; “When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you looking at each other?” He then said, “Look, I hear that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy grain for us so that we may live and not die.”) In the interim Jacob must have given aid to and released his servants as food supplies ran out. Only 70, “Jacob’s immediate family” went to Egypt.

To: The Family of God, “people being made temples of His spirit” God’s Church  8/29/18, God’s 6th month, Elul 18, 5778 until sunset.

      Christian denominations, Moslem, Hinduism and the rest are built on traditions. Accept practices from ancient pagan cultures: “attempt to apply them to a mixture of Judaism and Jesus’ teaching.” Like Cain, the many assume “surely God will be pleased with my efforts.” Like Eve, believing Satan’s words; “surely you won’t die, for God knows you’ll be divine.” (Review Gen 3:) Beliefs that don’t fit Jesus’ words: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” are in Satan’s camp. To believe IN God, “we must know Jesus’ identity - divinity - Supremacy.” Jesus revealed and Paul shared.

      (Colossians 1:15-20;  He ’Jesus’ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created BY Him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through Him and for Him. He Himself is before all things and all things are held together ’sustained’ in Him. He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that He Himself may become first in all things. For God ’the Father’ was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in the Son and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross – through Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”) Seeing - knowing Jesus is to see - know the Father.

      Powerful Satan, palming himself off as an angel of light; “can give out imaginary revelations.” Jesus’ apostle Paul reveals the characteristics of Satan and his followers, explaining: (2Cor 11:13-15; “For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises Himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions.”)

      The, “only believe” Christian denominations’ doctrine has invaded modern thinking. Not specifically defining “belief in.” Seemingly, they accept a “belief that” a god exist doctrine.

       Jesus taught through His apostle Paul; “His church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.” In other words, “Jesus, His apostles, prophets and Christians are on the same foundation. (The history of Jacob “Israel,” Jesus’ prophetic Words through His prophets and Apostles are God‘s truth for all ages.) Teachings through His apostles are His follow ups and true worship.

       (Jesus’ manner of dealing with Abraham, Isaac Israel and His Apostles all for our examples, learning and practice.) Speaking to the non-Israelites Christians, God the Father put in His church; Paul writes.

       (Ephesians 2:11-12; “Therefore remember that formerly you, ‘Gentiles’ who are called “un-circumcision” by the so-called “circumcision” that is performed on the body by human hands – that you were “formally” at that time without the Messiah, alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”) Remember the meaning of the word, “Israel” is, “God fights.” Citizenship with Israel means, “citizens God fights for.” Followers of Jesus are a people covenanted to a oneness with God through the blood of Christ.”

      (Eph 2:13; “But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”) God the Father calls, gives understanding regarding why Jesus shed His blood and gives us to Jesus for training. Therefore all Christians are “brought near” by God the Father’s call.

      (Eph 2:14-22; “For Jesus is our peace, the One who made both groups (converted Israelites and non-Israelites) by“a spiritual” birth, into one and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility, when Jesus nullified in His flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man “people” out of two, thus making peace, and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed. (for Believers IN). (17) And Jesus came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, “Israelites” so that through Jesus we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you (“non-Israelites”) are no longer foreigners and non-citizens, but you are fellow citizens with the Saints and members of God’s household, because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. (21) In Jesus the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”)

      Spiritual and physical Israelites are a scattered people today. God’s church is not an organization of men, “but God’s people in whom His spirit dwells.”

      (1Cor 3:16-17; “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If someone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, which is what you are.”) As such followers of Jesus are compelled to turn from pagan tradition, “designed by the deceiver Satan to honor imagined gods and turn to practices approved by God. (Such God inspired turning is repentance.)

       In parable form Jesus gives the example of a landowner, “representing God” and His sending tenants, “representing called people” to take care of His property and people.

      (Matt 21:33-46; “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey. When the harvest time was near, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his portion of the crop. But the tenants seized his slaves, “the called.?“ beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he “God” sent other slaves, more than the first, and they treated them the same way. Finally he “God” sent his son “Jesus” to them, saying, ‘They will respect My son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and get his inheritance!’ So they seized him, “Jesus” threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. (40) Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They “those leasing, the Pharisees & Sadducees” said to him, “Jesus” “He will utterly destroy those evil men! Then he will lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his portion at the harvest.” (42) Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? For this reason I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you “who leased, Israelites by birth” given to a people who will produce its fruit. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.” (45) When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they realized that He was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest Him, but they were afraid of the crowds, because the crowds regarded Jesus as a prophet.”)

      Today’s various organized religions represent those tenant’s, along with Zodiac “moon and star” worship that was big when Joseph got to Egypt. The Pharaohs used many demonic led magicians and star gazers to advise about all sorts of things. In our so called advanced societies, many leaders and so called educated do the same, “using the horoscope and advice from organized religions.” Some even calling themselves Christian!

      Remember Joseph said, “doesn’t interpretations belong to God.?” Few realize the degree in which Satan attempts to mimic God, manifesting himself as an angel of light in order to cause people to follow his and their own “seem right” ways.

      Jesus’ apostles and we today, have to contend with demonic led clergy types. (Review 2Corinthians 11:12-15) God sent Joseph to Egypt for His purpose, and Joseph found himself surrounded by paganism. God interpreted the baker and cupbearer’s dreams through Joseph.

      (Gen 40:20; “On the third day it was Pharaoh’s birthday, so he gave a feast for all his servants. He “lifted up” the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker in the midst of his servants. He restored the chief cupbearer to his former position so that he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand, but the chief baker he impaled, just as Joseph had predicted. But the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph – he forgot him.”)

      Two years would pass with Joseph in jail and serving the jail keeper. Joseph was in training, learning to be submissive to authority while maintaining faith in God. Joseph was on God’s potters wheel, “as some of us may be.” May we each learn to wait on God’s promises.

      (Gen 41:1-7; “At the end of two full years Pharaoh had a dream. As he was standing by the Nile, seven fine-looking, fat cows were coming up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the reeds. Then seven bad-looking, thin cows were coming up after them from the Nile, and they stood beside the other cows at the edge of the river. The bad-looking, thin cows ate the seven fine-looking, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. (5) Then he fell asleep again and had a second dream: There were seven heads of grain growing on one stalk, healthy and good. Then seven heads of grain, thin and burned by the east wind, were sprouting up after them. The thin heads swallowed up the seven healthy and full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up and realized it was a dream.”)

      (41:8-13; “In the morning he was troubled, so he called for all the diviner-priests of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I recall my failures. Pharaoh was enraged with his servants, and he put me in prison in the house of the captain of the guards – me and the chief baker. We each had a dream one night; each of us had a dream with its own meaning. Now a young man, a Hebrew, a servant of the captain of the guards, was with us there. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted the meaning of each of our respective dreams for us. It happened just as he had said to us – Pharaoh restored me to my office, but he impaled the baker.”)

       (41:14-16; “Then Pharaoh summoned Joseph. So they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; he shaved himself, changed his clothes, and came before Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard about you, that you can interpret dreams.” (16) Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “It is not within my power, but God will speak concerning the welfare of Pharaoh.”) The confident manner in which Joseph seems to have spoken, indicates that God had revealed, “knowing faith” to him. (knowing faith about such things is, “supernatural revealing.”)

       It’s faith like given to Peter and John. (Acts 2:3-10; “Seeing a lame man at the temple court asking for money, Peter and John said to him, “Look at us!” So the lame man paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!” Then Peter took hold of him by the right hand and raised him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. He jumped up, stood and began walking around, and he entered the temple courts with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the man who used to sit and ask for donations at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with astonishment and amazement at what had happened to him.”)

       At that moment in time, Peter and John were gifted with, “knowing faith.” God revealed what He would do through them and they acted on that revelation. Likewise with Joseph, “God revealed Pharaoh’s dream; “the interpretation belonging to God was gifted.” Peter and John, like Joseph understood that the miracle belonged to God.

To: The Family of God, “people being made temples of His spirit” God’s Church  8/27/18, God’s 6th month, Elul 16, 5778 until sunset.

      The Lord God Jesus’ love, characteristics and attributes are revealed through His calling and communing with the Patriarchs. He calls whom He chooses and allows the rest to go the way that seems right to their inherited nature. Many and perhaps most “during the Patriarchs’ time” knew God existed and even tried to do right. These were sometimes warned when their intent was to harm one of God’s chosen. Recall God selected Jacob over Esau and shared it with ‘Rebekah’ their mother, saying; “Two nations are in your womb and two peoples will be separated from within you. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” (Gen 25:23)

      Jesus’ apostles were given to understand; Paul wrote, (Rom 9:10-13; Not only that, but when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our ancestor Isaac – even before they were born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose in election would stand, not by works but by His calling) it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger,” just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”) The prophecy looked forward; “Esau the older never served Jacob but their descendents have and will.

      (Gen 35-23-29; “Jacob had twelve sons: The sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, as well as Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. (24) The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. (25) The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, were Dan and Naphtali. (26) The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan Aram. (27) So Jacob came back to his father Isaac in Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. Isaac lived to be 180 years old. Then Isaac breathed his last and joined his ancestors. He died an old man who had lived a full life. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him.”)

       Isaac’s eye sight was failing and he seemed feeble back when Jacob went to Labon and married his two daughters. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s writings may have been available to Moses.

       Genesis chapter 36 is about Esau’s family, he is the father of the Edomites. Known as Edom. Much later the people of Edom would not let the Israelites pass through their lands and the Israelites turned away.

      (Gen 37:1-4; “But Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, in the land of Canaan. This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, his seventeen-year-old son, was taking care of the flocks with his brothers. Now he was a youngster working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father. (3) Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons because he was a son born to him late in life, and he made a special tunic for him. When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated Joseph and were not able to speak to him kindly.”)

      God never said His chosen were without error. Obviously Israel should have helped his other sons overcome their jealous. His demonstrating his love of Joseph, over and above didn‘t help. Likewise Joseph shouldn’t have taunted his brothers with his dreams. God allowed their fleshly nature be exposed for our learning.

      (Gen 37:5-8; “Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him even more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: (7) There we were, binding sheaves of grain in the middle of the field. Suddenly my sheaf rose up and stood upright and your sheaves surrounded my sheaf and bowed down to it!” Then his brothers asked him, “Do you really think you will rule over us or have dominion over us?” They hated him even more because of his dream and because of what he said.”) Likely a smart mouth kid, God had chosen Joseph from the foundation of the world and God would shape him. Remember the Potter’s wheel example.?

       (Gen 37:9-11; “Then Joseph had another dream, and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said. “I had another dream. The sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” When he told his father and his brothers, his father rebuked him, saying, “What is this dream that you had? Will I, your mother, and your brothers really come and bow down to you?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what Joseph said.”)

       Israel is likely remembering his own dreams. (See Genesis 28:12) Israel is somewhat spiritually discerning, he’s considering the implications of Joseph’s dream.

      (Gen 37:12-20; “When his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem, Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I will send you to them.” “I’m ready,” Joseph replied. So Jacob said to him, “Go now and check on the welfare of your brothers and of the flocks, and bring me word.” So Jacob sent him from the valley of Hebron. “When Joseph reached Shechem, a man found him wandering in the field, so the man asked him, “What are you looking for?” He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Please tell me where they are grazing their flocks.” The man said, “They left this area, for I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan. (18) Now Joseph’s brothers saw him from a distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this master of dreams! Come now, let’s kill him, throw him into one of the cisterns, and then say that a wild animal ate him. Then we’ll see how his dreams turn out!”) Not only is our fleshly nature weak, we’re self serving and that can turns to jealously, revenge and hypocrisy, when it aids our purpose or cause. (Study James 4:)

      (Gen 37:21-28; “When Reuben heard this, he rescued Joseph from their hands, saying, “Let’s not take his life!” Reuben continued, “Don’t shed blood! Throw him into this cistern that is here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” (Reuben said this so he could rescue Joseph from them and take him back to his father.) (23) When Joseph reached his brothers, they stripped him of his tunic, the special tunic that he wore. Then they took him and threw him into the cistern. (Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.) When they sat down to eat their food, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelite (remember Ishmael is Abraham’s son by Hagar) coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let’s not lay a hand on him, for after all, he is our brother, our own flesh.” His brothers agreed. So when the Midianite merchants passed by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. The Ishmaelites then took Joseph to Egypt.”) Joseph was a called and destined servant. Served as a deliver of his family. We’ll meet Joseph one day.

      Jesus said; “many will come in My name and deceive many.” Satan uses many divisionary tactics to accomplish his deceptions. A major deception is “zodiac worship.” Leading many to practices the worshiping of Canaanite deities, Baal, Aries and others, using Jesus’ name. Basically this primitive worship of imaginary gods are the foundation of the Roman calendar. Setting the first month’s beginning in proximity to the winter equinox. This ploy of deceiving men “led by Satan” deceives many people. All revolving around pagan sun worship: some from 17^th century occult writings depicting Baal, “sometimes written Baell (French)” representing one of the imaginary seven princes of what they thought of as hell. The Phoenicians, Canaanites and Egyptians were worshiping these imaginary gods during Jacob and Joseph’s day. (Depicted as a man or a bull, the demonic god Baal, was traditionally thought to appear in the form of a man, cat, toad or some combinations thereof. The foundation for these “causes unbelievers to see themselves with personalities based on the zodiac.” Example: “people born between March 21 and April 19 are thought of as Aries’ and see themselves: “as leaders of the pack, first in line to get things going.” Believing Aries’ prefers to initiate rather than compete and have personal magnetism. Sadly many that look to these “abominable to Jesus practices” call themselves Christian.

      Joseph was a dreamer and God gave revelations to him through dreams. He was the only one of his brothers; “God revealed Himself prior to them all going to Egypt.” Genesis chapter 38 is about Judah marrying a Canaanite woman, and other sons married outside the family of Terah.

      (Gen 39:1-6; “Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, an Egyptian named Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard, purchased him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there. (2) The Lord was with Joseph. He was successful and lived in the household of his Egyptian master. His master observed that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything he was doing successful.”)

      Consider Joseph’s attitude; “what would yours have been in a similar circumstance?” Joseph believed IN because God revealed Himself. He lovingly followed God’s Way. When we’re believers IN, “God molds us for His service.” Joseph’ attitude was one like Jesus’ apostle Paul expressed regarding himself.

      (Phil 4:11-13; “I have learned to be content in any circumstance. I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. I am able to do all things through the One who strengthens me.”) We should pray for a gifted attitude like Joseph‘s.

      (Gen 39:4-6; “So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar appointed Joseph overseer of his household and put him in charge of everything he owned. From the time Potiphar appointed him over his household and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s household for Joseph’s sake. The blessing of the Lord was on everything that he had, both in his house and in his fields. So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; he gave no thought to anything except the food he ate.”) Egyptians had superior attitudes toward others.

      (Gen 39:7-10; “Now Joseph was well built and good-looking. Soon after these things, his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Have sex with me.” But he refused, saying to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not give any thought to his household with me here, and everything that he owns he has put into my care. There is no one greater in this household than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?”

Even though she continued to speak to Joseph day after day, he did not respond to her invitation to have sex with her.”)

      God gifted Joseph with this mindset. All sin is against God. As a loving parent, God tells us what is right, wrong, good and evil in His View, “the only view that matters.” Jesus’ apostle John was very blunt about sin. The key word is, “practice.”

      (1John 3:4-5; “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness. And you know that Jesus was revealed to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.”)

       When Jesus is reveled to our minds “as manifested to be in the holy scriptures” our desire is to be at one with Him. As noted, the key word in John’s text is practice. Much controversy exist among professing Christians on this subject. Jesus said, “all have sinned.” All are born in sin “because all people inherit the nature of Adam.” When God calls and we’re converted, “we stop practicing lawlessness.” That doesn’t mean, we make no mistakes, nor ever break one of God’s commandments. It does mean, “we work at not practicing hostility toward God’s Way. Live as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who stopped practicing lawlessness against God.

      (1John 3:6-10; “Everyone who resides in Jesus does not “practice” sin; everyone who “practices” sins has neither seen Jesus nor known Him.”) When He’s revealed “we lovingly practice obedience.” No one knows Jesus, except those to whom God the Father reveals Him.

To: The Family of God, “people being made temples of His spirit” God’s Church  8/25/18, God’s 6th month, Elul 14, 5778 until sunset.

      From Cain, Abel to Jacob, the called did blood sacrifices: looking forward to the Lord God Jesus’ sacrifice for remission of sin. (Heb 11:4; “By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings.”) (Gen 31:54; “Jacob took an oath by the God whom his father Isaac feared. Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat the meal. They ate the meal and spent the night on the mountain.”) Each lovingly; respectfully sacrificed to the God of Creation, “who revealed Himself to them.” Loving God was their attribute.

       (Our Lord’s brother shared knowledge of Enoch’s preaching: “about the ungodly proclaiming themselves to be righteous.” (Jude 1:12-16; “These men are dangerous reefs at your love feasts, feasting without reverence, feeding only themselves. They are waterless clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit – twice dead, uprooted; wild sea waves, spewing out the foam of their shame; wayward stars for whom the utter depths of eternal darkness have been reserved.” (A second death awaits the likes of these deceivers: see Rev 21:8)

      (Jude 1:14-16; “Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam, even prophesied of them, saying, “Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of His holy Ones, to execute judgment on all, and to convict every person of all their thoroughly ungodly deeds that they have committed, and of all the harsh words that ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” These people are grumblers and fault-finders who go wherever their desires lead them, and they give bombastic speeches, enchanting folks for their own gain.”) (This describes 99 percent of those proclaiming Jesus as Lord and teaching “an only believe doctrine.”

      A majority teach “a salvation of choice” saying, “publicly confessing that Jesus is Lord” saves.

      Through gifted knowing faith, “God’s chosen are spirit led to wait on His revelation” - gifted spiritual insight. Revealing; “Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.” The Patriarchs, Moses, David, Jesus’ apostles, all gifted with ‘Jesus’’ faith, “know Jesus’ followers will rule on earth with Him and bring peace.”

       No matter the country, or community “Believers IN are surrounded by unbelievers, as was Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, “scoffers at the idea of a resurrection of the dead and Jesus’ kingdom coming.” Unbelievers are enslaved to Satan’s lies, “doing useless practices that consume quality living.” As Jesus commanded, “we’re to symphonize with and be patient with unbelievers” while we work at overcoming to the end.

      Satan sold Eve and Adam on the idea of “taking from the forbidden tree of life.” Satan’s followers still sell people on “attempting to take salvation on their terms.” Jesus revealed and His apostle John recorded.

      Rev 2:7; “The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.’

      Rev 2:11; “The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will in no way be harmed by the second death.’

      Rev 2:17; “The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give him some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand except the one who receives it.’

      Rev 2:25-29; “However, hold on to what you have until I come. And to the one who conquers and who continues in My deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations-he will rule them with an iron rod and like clay jars he will break them to pieces, just as I have received the right to rule from My Father – and I will give him the morning star. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

      Rev 3:5-6; “The one who conquers will be dressed like them in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will declare his name before My Father and before His angels. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

      Rev 3:11-13; “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown. The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never depart from it. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God (New Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name as well. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

      Rev 3:19-22; “All those I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent! Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with Me. I will grant the one who conquers permission to sit with Me on My throne, just as I too conquered and sat down with My Father on His throne. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

      Hopefully we understand why Satan said, “God Lied” in response to Eve quoting God; (Gen 3:3-5; Concerning the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the orchard, God said; ‘You must not eat from it, and you must not touch it, or else you will die.’ (4) The serpent said to the woman, “Surely you will not die, for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like divine beings who know good and evil.”)

       Jesus warned through Peter; (1Peter 5:8; “Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.”)

      The Sovereign ruler of this universe is in total control. We called “created in His image” are gifted with a degree of His spiritual sovereignty, “the mind recognizing Him as Creator” and our loving parent.” People who “aren’t called” look to themselves, other people and imaginary gods. Number one problem is Satan, number two is our inherited from Adam nature which desire to be divine. That is, “decide for self what’s right, wrong, good and evil.  Adam and Eve disobeyed their Creator, “preferring to take.” rather than trust their Creator. So, we each inherited a hostile nature, like Adam; “exercising a personal sovereignty of hostility toward God’s rule, “not willingly submissive.” Natural fleshly choices are made from an aggrandizing inherited nature. Hindered even more by Satan manifesting himself as an angel of light. (For the time, God is allowing Satan and his followers to deceive the whole world. Make imaginary gods for themselves etc. Exercising “personal self serving sovereignty” that seems right. When God revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to us “He gives submissive minds and a  love of His Way.”

       God’s chosen people look forward to Jesus’ coming, “recognizing that through Him is eternal life.” This good news was planned from the beginning, “that His chosen understand the mystery of eternal life.” That mystery? (Gifted to His chosen, who’re spirit led to be Believers IN Jesus.) Jesus’ apostle Paul explains.

      (1Cor 15:20-23; “But now ’Creator’ Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, “Adam” the resurrection of the dead also came through a man.“Jesus” For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to Him.”)

      (1Cor 15:1-11; “Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel “good news” that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received – that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, “Simon Peter” then to the twelve “apostles.” Then Jesus appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether then it was I or they, this is the way we preach and this is the way you believed.”)

       A belief IN, “is the love of God” believing IN as He’s manifested to be in the holy scriptures. (His love is a gifted dimension beyond our inherited fleshy feelings; “it’s a love of God and concern for others.” We’re created with various degrees of self serving love, creativity and emotion “not instinct as animals” but in God’s image and likeness. (When God reveals Himself to our minds - ‘intellect’ we’re gifted with various dimensions of understanding, transforming us to the likeness of Jesus spiritually.) It’s a gifted desire to be at one spiritually with Jesus. Share likes and dislikes with Jesus, as was gifted to Abraham. Isaac and Jacob.

      (Matt 22:34-40; “Now when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they assembled together. And one of them, an expert in religious law, asked Him a question to test Him: “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”)

       Jacob didn’t love God because Isaac loved Him. When Jacob left home for fear of Esau, “his idea of God was from his own fleshly imagination.” Likewise, “we, before God revealed Himself” had various imaginations. Jacob was given to know and love God, “after His revealing Himself!” We can’t know God through the mind of another!

      In Genesis 35, we have the account of Rachel’s death. Rachel’s first born was Joseph and she died giving birth to Benjamin. A marker for Rachel’s grave was still there when Moses wrote.

      God revealed Himself to only one of Jacob’s sons. The others tried to be good sons and walk in the way of their father, “but with varying degrees of self serving love.” Similarly, we to whom God is revealed, likely find that “other family members aren’t given to understand spiritual truths.”

      (Genesis 35:21-22; “Then Israel traveled on and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder. While Israel was living in that land, Reuben had sexual relations with Bilhah, his father’s concubine and Israel heard about it.”)

      The flesh is weak, “people to whom God isn’t revealed “need God’s law as a guardian, for their own good.” We to whom God is revealed need to reflect on the goodness and holiness of God’s law and teach it to others. If we’re imputed with the love of God, “we love what He loves, hate what He hate and have compassion toward unbelievers.

To: The Family of God, “people being made temples of His spirit” God’s Church  8/24/18, God’s 6th month, Elul 13, 5778 until sunset.

     : God’s is the Way of love and righteousness. His laws, oracles, “Sabbaths particular” foreshadow peace on earth, saving His chosen and judgment “all for our good.” God’s loving Way was revealed to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and each Believers IN “through gifted faith.” As believers IN they and we individually “don’t need written commandments.” Because we have the love of God “spread abroad to our being.” Paul explained: (“And hope does not disappoint, because “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:5-6.) The right time for us was when He revealed His love and that He loved us first. The Patriarchs believed and all believers IN Jesus have knowing faith that “the Lord God “Jesus” is the way, truth and life. Speaking to all His apostles Jesus specifically said to doubting Thomas.

      (John 14:5–7; Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where You are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you have known Me, you will know My Father too. And from now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”)

       We don’t have record of the Patriarchs teaching their families God’s laws, except by example. To each called “God revealed Himself.” They each were gifted with revelation, “knowing faith” that God was Creator, Sustainer, the Resurrection, way, truth and life: “that He set the seventh day Sabbath aside for them. Each called person is individually set aside for God’s purpose, gifted with revealed understanding that He is Creator, Sustainer and One who blesses whom He chooses.”

       Believing IN God “as He manifest Himself to be” is righteousness. (God the Father reveals Himself through God the Son, “Jesus.” and that becomes believing IN faith.) Knowing God the Son’s, “ultimate sacrifice when believed IN remits by grace our lawlessness - sins.” The same Lord God “Jesus” who communed with Jacob, taught His twelve apostles and on the Last Great Day, ending The Feast of Tabernacles witnessed to the world.

      (John 7:37-39; “On the last day of the feast, “of Tabernacles - the greatest day” Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me, and let the one who believes IN Me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’” (Now Jesus said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed IN Him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”)

       Examples of the Patriarchs, Moses and the Israelites lives, “looked forward to this age, since Jesus ascension, “when His spirit and eternal life would be gifted. Paul understood and taught the called.

      (Romans 15:5-13; “Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God’s glory. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth to confirm the promises made to the fathers, (Isaac, Jacob and Abraham) and thus the Gentiles glorify God for His mercy. As it is written, “Because of this I will confess You among the Gentiles, and I will sing praises to Your name.” (Quote from Psalms 18:40) And again it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” (Quote from Deut 32:43) And again, “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him.” (Quote from Psalms 117:1) And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, and the one who rises to rule over the Gentiles, in Him will the Gentiles hope.” (Quote from Isaiah 11:10) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you BELIEVE IN Him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.) Take time to digest the gifted understanding in this text!

       Though a chosen people” hard hearted Israelites Jesus delivered through Moses, “as a whole” were not gifted with Believing IN faith. Of the original total, “only Caleb and Joshua were permitted to cross the Jordan. ” But they will yet be resurrected and worship Him. (See Ezekiel 37 Why? (Review John 7:37-39)

      These Israelites needed a guardian, “laws and commandments as do all fleshy minded people.”

       God’s New Covenant is with Believing IN Jesus people. Not Israelites by descent nor unbelievers. People called to be Believers IN Jesus “are as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in that the love of God is imputed to the mind.” Recipients of the Holy Spirit; “called out for God’s purpose people” don’t need the law of love written. Don’t need to be told “don’t commit adultery” physical or spiritual. During the apostles day and now, “New Covenant churches of God “ are a Believing IN people. (We’re confronted by those wanting to make merchandise of us.) Jesus’ apostle Paul confronted the converted Galatians about their allowing the uncalled “Pharisee type” teachers wanting to take them backward.

      (Gal 3:1-3; “You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified! (for the remission of your sins - lawlessness) The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing IN what you heard? Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort?”)

      Don’t misunderstand; “do memorize the ten commandments” teach them; the love of God imputed to our minds doesn’t annul the law that’s written in our hearts.

      (Galatians 3:4-8; “Have you suffered so many things for nothing? – if indeed it was for nothing. Does God then give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing IN what you heard? Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, so then, understand that those who believe “IN” are the sons of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.”) ALL the nations will yet be blessed in Abraham when Jesus returns.

      (Gal 3:9-14; “So then those who believe “IN” are blessed along with Abraham the believer. For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.” Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith. But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by “believing IN God” faith.”)

       Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did not conjure up their belief in God! No methodology of man’s individual views! No individual went out and led them to God. God chose them before the foundation of the world and set them aside “sanctified them” for His purpose. Believing Galatians and each called individual believer IN, are set aside “sanctified” heirs with Abraham. “Spiritual Israelites” a people in whom God fights for. Review the meaning of the word, “Israel.”

      (Gen 35:9-15; “God appeared to Jacob again after he returned from Paddan Aram and blessed him. God said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but your name will no longer be called Jacob; Israel will be your name.” So God named him Israel. Then God said to him, “I am the sovereign God. Be fruitful and multiply! A nation – even a company of nations – will descend from you; kings will be among your descendants! The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you. To your descendants I will also give this land.” Then God went up from the place where He spoke with him. So Jacob set up a sacred stone pillar in the place where God spoke with him. He poured out a drink offering on it, and then he poured oil on it. Jacob named the place where God spoke with him Bethel.”) Bethel will be a special place in coming years. The Psalmist loved God’s Ways and had the mind to wait on God as we should. The Patriarchs too were delivered. We must be delivered to His gifted revelations.

      (Psalms 119:123-128; “My eyes grow tired as I wait for Your deliverance, for Your reliable promise to be fulfilled. Show Your servant Your loyal love! Teach me Your statutes! I am Your servant. Give me insight, so that I can understand Your rules. It is time for the Lord to act – they break Your law! For this reason I love your commands more than gold, even purest gold. For this reason I carefully follow all your precepts. I hate all deceitful actions.) The Psalmist was not boasting. He loved what God loved and hated likewise.

      (Romans 3:27-31; “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of ’gifted’ faith! For we consider that a person is declared righteous by “believing IN” faith apart from the works of the law. (as was Abraham) Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is He not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too! Since God is One, He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.”) The only bad thing about law is, “people thinking doing the law is a methodology to salvation.” That’s worshiping the law as an idol. Keeping God’s Sabbaths is not the route to being saved! The Pharisees had that problem.

       At Bethel God blessed Jacob with all the blessings He had blessed Abraham and Isaac with. After worshiping God at Bethel Israel went toward Bethlehem. Remember this is the place of Jesus’ birth.

      (Gen 35:16-20; “They traveled on from Bethel, and when Ephrath was still some distance away, Rachel went into labor – and her labor was hard. When her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for you are having another son.” With her dying breath, she named him Ben-Oni. But his father called him Benjamin instead. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Jacob set up a marker over her grave; it is the Marker of Rachel’s Grave to this day.”)

       The Patriarch’s example of marking graves is likely best for Believers IN - Christians. We will see later in this text that Jacob ask that his bones be carried from Egypt, to the place of Abraham’s burial. It’s likely, Jacob knew God’s prophetic words to Abraham about his descendents being in bondage 430 yea

To: The Family of God, “people being made temples of His spirit” God’s Church  8/23/18, God’s 6th month, Elul 12, 5778 until sunset.

      The nature we each inherited from Adam is hostile to the idea of total submission to our Creator. That hostility includes “individual rational to ourselves’ mentality.” Individually we have a divisionary ‘it seems to me’ rational on most everything. It’s hostile to “oneness with God.” To make us at one with Himself: “God the Father reveals our hostility, gives a desire to change “repent” then miraculously replaces hostility with a belief IN Himself mentality. The inherited from Adam nature is replaced with Jesus’ nature. Jesus referred to the change as being, “born from above.” It’s the spirit of reliance on Him for what’s right, wrong, good and evil in His view.

       It’s evident that God called Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, selecting and setting them aside for His purpose. For our example “God’s characteristics and manner of choosing for His purpose is revealed.” Changing Jacob’s name to “Israel” revealing it’s meaning is gifted spiritual knowledge, for  Believers IN Jesus. The word “Jew” is synonymous with “Israelite” and “Christian” in scripture. The by word for the tribe of Judah became “Jew.” Addressing two of His churches “Smyrna and Philadelphia” Jesus revealed the following.

      (Rev 2:9‘ “I also know the slander against you by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”) To His church “Philadelphia” Jesus is more explicative.

      (Rev 3:7-9; “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open: ‘I know your deeds. (Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut.) I know that you have little strength, but you have obeyed My Word and have not denied My name. Listen! I am going to make those people from the synagogue of Satan – who say they are Jews yet are not, but are lying – Look, I will make them come and bow down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.”) As always it is incumbent on us to study the whole content of these scriptures.

      It’s evident that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were spirit led to live separate from the unbelieving people surrounding them. They were not embarrassed at being different. They displayed no vanity, nor did they boast about their being chosen individuals. Again, these Patriarchs are example for Christ like living. Followers of Jesus in every age have been spirit led to separate from the world at large.

       (2Cor 6:16-17; “What mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the All-Powerful Lord.” (Quoting from Leviticus 26:12. Similar to Jeremiah 32:38. Ezekiel 37:27 and Isaiah 52:11) Jesus too, promises to do some separating.

      (Matt 25:31-34; “When the Son of Man comes in His glory and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before Him, and He will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the king will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”) ALL God’s chosen will be there!

      Unbelievers Abraham lived among made gods of their imagination, “but knew it was wrong to take another’s wife.” After the ruler took Sarah into his home, and realized she was Abraham’s wife, he became fearful and returned her. Later a similar replay happened with Isaac. The powerful among these unbelievers customarily took choice women for their own. This created a fear in Abraham and Isaac, regarding their wives. The ways of unbelievers were the same when Jacob moved among them.

       (Gen 34:1-7; “Now Dinah, Leah’s daughter whom she bore to Jacob, went to meet the young women of the land. When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, who ruled that area, saw her, he grabbed her, forced himself on her, and sexually assaulted her. (3) Then he became very attached to Dinah. He fell in love with the young woman and spoke romantically to her. Shechem said to his father Hamor, “Acquire this young girl as my wife.

      When Jacob heard that Shechem had violated his daughter Dinah, his sons were with the livestock in the field. So Jacob remained silent until they came in. Then Shechem’s father Hamor went to speak with Jacob about Dinah. Now Jacob’s sons had come in from the field when they heard the news. They were offended and very angry because Shechem had disgraced Israel by sexually assaulting Jacob’s daughter, a crime that should not be committed.”)

       By this time, Jacob’s family are calling themselves Israelites. God led the Israelites to believe in a marriage commitment before sex. A custom not practiced by unbelievers then or now.

      (Gen 34:8-10; “But Hamor made this appeal to them: “My son Shechem is in love with your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife. Intermarry with us. Let us marry your daughters and take our daughters as wives for yourselves. You may live among us and the land will be open to you. Live in it, travel freely in it, and acquire property in it.”)  Seemed logical to the fleshly mind, but Jacob was gifted with a spiritual outlook. Remember all these things are written for our learning. (see Romans 15:4)

      (Gen 34:11-17; “Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and brothers, “Let me find favor in your sight and whatever you require of me I’ll give. You can make the bride price and the gift I must bring very expensive and I’ll give whatever you ask of me. Just give me the young woman as my wife!” Jacob’s sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully when they spoke because Shechem had violated their sister Dinah. (14) They said to them, “We cannot give our sister to a man who is not circumcised, for it would be a disgrace to us. We will give you our consent on this one condition: You must become like us by circumcising all your males. Then we will give you our daughters to marry, and we will take your daughters as wives for ourselves, and we will live among you and become one people. (17) But if you do not agree to our terms by being circumcised, then we will take our sister and depart.”) Jacob knew a casual cutting back of foreskin, was a token commitment, not a spiritual commitment to God.

      (Gen 34:18-23; “Their offer pleased Hamor and his son Shechem. The young man did not delay in doing what they asked because he wanted Jacob’s daughter Dinah badly. (Now he was more important than anyone in his father’s household.) So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, “These men are at peace with us. So let them live in the land and travel freely in it, for the land is wide enough for them. We will take their daughters for wives, and we will give them our daughters to marry. Only on this one condition will these men consent to live with us and become one people: They demand that every male among us be circumcised just as they are circumcised. If we do so, will not their livestock, their property, and all their animals become ours? So let’s consent to their demand, so they will live among us.”) Remember God has made Jacob and family very rich, both groups are deceiving.

      (Gen 34:24-29; “All the men who assembled at the city gate agreed with Hamor and his son Shechem. Every male who assembled at the city gate was circumcised. In three days, when they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and went to the unsuspecting city and slaughtered every male. They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword, took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and left. Jacob’s sons killed them and looted the city because their sister had been violated. They took their flocks, herds, and donkeys, as well as everything in the city and in the surrounding fields. They captured as plunder all their wealth, all their little ones, and their wives, including everything in the houses.”)

      Gen 34:30-31; “Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought ruin on me by making me a foul odor among the inhabitants of the land – among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I am few in number; they will join forces against me and attack me, and both I and my family will be destroyed!” But Simeon and Levi replied, “Should he treat our sister like a common prostitute?”)

      (Gen 35:1-3; “Then God said to Jacob, “Go up at once to Bethel and live there. Make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have among you. Purify yourselves and change your clothes. Let us go up at once to Bethel. Then I will make an altar there to God, who responded to me in my time of distress and has been with me wherever I went.”)

       Israelites had already accumulated idolatrous figurine gods, “likely resulting from when Rachel took her father “Laban’s.” Additionally the unbelievers around them used these idols. Now Jacob is spirit led to command that these be gotten rid of.

      (Gen 35:4-5; “So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods that were in their possession and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob buried them under the oak near Shechem and they started on their journey. The surrounding cities were afraid of God, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.”) God put fear in the people of the surrounding cities, just as He had put fear in the ruler’s mind that took Sarah in his home.

      (Gen 35:6-8; “Jacob and all those who were with him arrived at Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. He built an altar there and named the place El Bethel “God of Bethel” because there God had revealed Himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother. (Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under the oak below Bethel; thus it was named Oak of Weeping.)

      Jacob knew God because God revealed Himself. (Believers IN, “Followers of Jesus” only know God, when He’s revealed. Seemingly, God spoke more to Jacob than to any other Patriarch. (Jacob - “Israel” represents the called of God.  Remember, the word “Israel” means, “God fights” or “God fights for.” Followers of Jesus are spiritual Israelites.

To: The Family of God, “people being made temples of His spirit” God’s Church  8/21/18, God’s 6th month, Elul 10, 5778 until sunset.

       All procreated people since Adam have inherited Adam’s “hostile toward God sin nature.” It’s the inherited desire to do “as seems right to the flesh.” Only the called to whom God reveals Himself; “have the gifted desire to be at one with Him.” They desire the spiritual mind likeness of Christ Jesus, “who never desired to usurp His Father’s will.” Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were not hostile, “but gifted with an obedient to the Lord God desire.” Jesus’ apostle Paul explained this Believer IN gifted attitude.

      Philippians 2:1-11; “Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. (4) Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.

      You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, (6) who though He existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled Himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross! (9) As a result God exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth – and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”) When gifted to believe IN as did Abraham and Jesus’ apostles, “Jesus calls us friend.”

      (John 16:1-4; “I have told you, “followers of Me” all these things so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue, yet a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is offering service to God. They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me. But I have told you these things so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them.”) People killing others who disagree with them are self serving and demonic.

      Followers of Jesus need to understand; “things people mimic, immerse themselves in, look up to, entertain themselves with and practice are in fact their gods.” Understand: “not all professing Christians are followers of Jesus.” (People’s worship include figurines, denominations, individuals, buildings and places set aside for worship, things looked up to for guidance, books etc. and even an unbeliever’s own intellect often becomes their god.) Such idolatrous ways and practices that seem right “are the result of our inherited from Adam nature.” These things take people’s minds away from “seeking truth about creation, considering world conditions, what the prophets and Jesus said about this latter age. Causing the many to build their spiritual house on sandy soil.

      No family, cult or nation can stand long if divided. The USA and most countries are divided beyond repair “unless God supernaturally intervenes.” Most will be caught off guard when Satan’s divisionary ways culminate into chaos. God had His prophet Jeremiah write a condemnation of divisionary, practices designed to worship Baal and other gods.

      (Jeremiah 19:5; “They have built places here for worship of the god Baal so that they could sacrifice their children as burnt offerings to him in the fire. Such sacrifices are something I never commanded them to make!”)

      A question to entertain? “where did such practices and reasoning originate?” From Satan‘s lie; saying, “people are born to live forever someplace; that immortality is inherited for the good and bad!” (Thus, “if a child is born immortal, “sacrificing merely sends the child to another place.”) The point? ALL major religions hold to some form of this “immortality at birth” doctrine. From Satan’s lie comes the foundation of a, “heaven - hell doctrine.” Both branches of Catholicism, Protestantism, Moslems, Hindus and other, teach the same foundational lie. Satan doesn’t want us knowing the history of these cult doctrines. (See Gen 3:)

      The so called, Universal Church, ‘Catholic’ began for the purpose of separating gentiles from the Judo-Christianity doctrine. Inventing a pagan Jesus who condoned abominations He Himself spoke against through the prophets. They invited and often forcing people to join their movement. (True to Satan’s characteristics, he soon caused division between Western Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox Catholicism.) Protestantism as we know it in the west, “sprang from the Roman branch.” The Roman church is weakened by Protestantism and people being taught to read the scriptures for themselves. The Eastern Orthodox Catholics have been successful with their hold on Eastern nations; “the Russia, Romania, Serbia block particularly have worked to keep divided Protestants out.” Eastern Priest marry and these countries have been more successful at keeping homosexual activity at bay. (Remember Sodom and Gomorra?)

      God purposely had Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lead their families and servants away from the unbelievers they lived among. (Thus, Isaac didn’t want Jacob to take a wife from the unbelieving pagans.) The New Covenant principle is; “Believers IN - Christians should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. (See 2Cor 6:14) LIKEWISE, Jesus’ apostle Paul was led to teach Christians to separate from those who were not followers of Jesus. Study the following.

      (2Corinthians 6:14-18; “Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness? And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we “Christians - Believers IN - followers of Jesus” are the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters,” says the All-Powerful Lord.”)

       It’s incumbent on “Believers IN - Christians” who aren’t able to find congregations of like minded people, “to remain separate and wait on God’s revelations. (In the Psalmist day, music was set to the following worship.)

       (Psalm 46: “God is our strong refuge; He is truly our helper in times of trouble. For this reason we do not fear when the earth shakes, and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea, when its waves crash and foam, and the mountains shake before the surging sea. (Selah) The river’s channels bring joy to the city of God, the special, holy dwelling place of the Sovereign One. God lives within it, it cannot be moved. God rescues it at the break of dawn. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms are overthrown. God gives a shout, the earth dissolves. The Lord who commands armies is on our side! The God of Jacob is our protector! (Selah) Come! Witness the exploits of the Lord, who brings devastation to the earth! He brings an end to wars throughout the earth; He shatters the bow and breaks the spear; He burns the shields with fire. He says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God! (the King James version reads, “be still and know I am God”)I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!” The Lord who commands armies is on our side! The God of Jacob is our Protector! (Selah)

      Jacob, whose name God changed to ‘Israel’ was exalted because of promises to Isaac and Abraham. Their spiritual heirs are followers of Jesus. (Again see Galatians 3:29)

      Now the same deceiving Jacob that ask his brother Esau to give away his birthright in exchange for food and deceived Isaac in order to steal Esau’s blessing, “met God and received an attitude adjustment. Esau too, was given a forgiving mindset toward Jacob.

      (Gen 33:1-7; “Jacob looked up and saw that Esau was coming along with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two female servants. He put the servants and their children in front, with Leah and her children behind them, and Rachel and Joseph behind them. But Jacob himself went on ahead of them and bowed toward the ground seven times as he approached his brother. (4) But Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, hugged his neck, and kissed him. Then they both wept. When Esau looked up and saw the women and the children, he asked, “Who are these people with you?” Jacob replied, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” The female servants came forward with their children and bowed down. Then Leah came forward with her children and they bowed down. Finally Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed down.”) All in God’s plan.

      (Gen 33:8-14; “Esau then asked, “What did you intend by sending all these herds to meet me?” Jacob replied, “To find favor in your sight, my lord.” But Esau said, “I have plenty, my brother. Keep what belongs to you.” “No, please take them,” Jacob said. “If I have found favor in your sight, accept my gift from my hand. Now that I have seen your face and you have accepted me, it is as if I have seen the face of God. Please take my present that was brought to you, for God has been generous to me and I have all I need.” When Jacob urged him, he took it. (12) Then Esau said, “Let’s be on our way! I will go in front of you.” But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are young, and that I have to look after the sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven too hard for even a single day, all the animals will die. Let my lord go on ahead of his servant. I will travel more slowly, at the pace of the herds and the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”)

      (Gen 33:15-17; “So Esau said, “Let me leave some of my men with you.” “Why do that?” Jacob replied. “My lord has already been kind enough to me.” So that same day Esau made his way back to Seir. But Jacob traveled to Succoth where he built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was called Succoth.”)

      (There are several reasons why Jacob chose not to go to Mt. Seir after Esau. First, as he said, his herds and children probably could not keep up with Easu’s warriors. Second, he probably did not fully trust his brother. The current friendliness could change and he could lose everything. And third, God did tell him to return to his land, not Seir. But Jacob is still not able to deal truthfully, probably because of fear of Esau.)

      (Gen 33:18-20; “After he left Paddan Aram, Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan and he camped near the city. Then he purchased the portion of the field where he had pitched his tent; he bought it from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money. There he set up an altar and called it “The God of Israel is God.”) The God of Israel is Jesus, our Lord and Savior, the God who chooses and saves according to His will and purpose. The same Lord Jesus that wrestled with Jacob and changed Jacob’s name to Israel, has promised to return with power, resurrect His followers, set up His kingdom on this earth, bring scattered Israelites from around the world to their promised borders and make this earth a utopia. Let us wait on the Lord.

      We’re thankful for you subscribers and prayer partners. Your being there adds to our desire to teach the holy scriptures as Jesus would have us to. We thank God for revealing His Way and sharing His glory. (Primarily we teach one God inspired biblical book or letter at a time with other supporting text, “revealed commentary is spiritually used as a vehicle of faith in God.) We’re indeed thankful for the privilege. Followers of Jesus must be careful not to take the word of any person, revere any person, esteem any person as a spiritual father or one to be reverenced. Jesus’ apostle Paul explains to Christians

       (1Thess 5:16-22; “Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not extinguish the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt. But examine all things; hold fast to what is good. Stay away from every form of evil.”)

      We’re spirit led to trust God’s Word regarding, “what is good and evil.” Our practices and living are accordingly. Believers IN are spirit led not to trust people who condones pagan practices and don’t acknowledge God’s Sabbaths.

To: The Family of God, “people being made temples of His spirit” God’s Church  8/20/18, God’s 6th month, Elul 9, 5778 until sunset.

      All but God’s chosen were looking to manufactured gods of their imagination in Jacob’s day and still in this age. Speaking of unbelievers, Peter wrote.

      (2Peter 3:5-7; “For they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the Word of God the heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water. Through these things the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water. But by the same Word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”) The holy scriptures teach, “there’s an inherited logic and there’s a spiritual gifted understanding!” Allow Jesus’ apostle Paul’s teaching to Believers IN - “the spiritually mature.”

      (1Cor 2:6-16; “Now we “apostles” do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing. Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love Him.” God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him.? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we “mature - Believers IN” have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God. And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those “words” taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise Him? But we “Believers IN” have the mind of Christ.”)

      Our called out spiritually gifted ancestors were and we Believers IN, “are gifted with the mind of Christ.” Begotten by - fathered by the spirit of God our father. Why would people be willingly ignorant? The fleshly inherited from Adam nature doesn’t willingly submit: “wants to go a way that seems right.” Its how Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would have lived, “had God not revealed Himself and His Way.” Its the way Paul lived, “UNTIL Jesus revealed Himself, as he traveled toward Damascus to persecute. Paul like Jacob and each Believer, “became a ‘Believer IN’ after Jesus revealed Himself.”

      As Jacob traveled back toward Edom with his family, Jacob feared Esau and expressed a “forgive me attitude toward him.” Had God not promised protection, Jacob may have been to fearful of returning.

      (Genesis 32:3-8; “Jacob sent messengers on ahead to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the region of Edom. He commanded them, “This is what you must say to my lord Esau: ‘This is what your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban until now. I have oxen, donkeys, sheep, and male and female servants. I have sent this message to inform my lord, so that I may find favor in your sight.’” The messengers returned to Jacob and said, “We went to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you and has four hundred men with him.” Jacob was very afraid and upset. So he divided the people who were with him into two camps, as well as the flocks, herds, and camels. “If Esau attacks one camp,” he thought, “then the other camp will be able to escape.”) Jacob’s faith was weak at this point. Lesson for us is that God understands our humanity and weakness.

      (Gen 32:9-12; “Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O Lord, you said to me, ‘Return to your land and to your relatives and I will make you prosper.’ I am not worthy of all the faithful love you have shown your servant. With only my walking stick I crossed the Jordan, but now I have become two camps. Rescue me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, as well as the mothers with their children. But You said, ‘I will certainly make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand on the seashore, too numerous to count.’”)

       Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were recipients of the same promises. Their descendents include each of us; “if we are Believers IN.” We’re absolutely heirs with Abraham, “if we believe IN Jesus. (Again see Galatians 3:29) No one is worthy of God’s calling and faithful love!

      (Gen 32:13-18; “Jacob stayed there that night. Then he sent as a gift to his brother Esau two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. He entrusted them to his servants, who divided them into herds. He told his servants, “Pass over before me, and keep some distance between one herd and the next.” He instructed the servant leading the first herd, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? Whose herds are you driving?’ then you must say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They have been sent as a gift to my lord Esau. In fact Jacob himself is behind us.’”) Esau’s original intent, coming with 400 men, may have been to harm?

      (Gen 32:19-28; “Jacob also gave these instructions to the second and third servants, as well as all those who were following the herds, saying, “You must say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. You must also say, ‘In fact your servant Jacob is behind us.’” Jacob thought, “I will first appease him by sending a gift ahead of me. After that I will meet him. Perhaps he will accept me.” So the gifts were sent on ahead of him while he spent that night in the camp.)

    (22-28; “During the night Jacob quickly took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream along with all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone. Then a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he could not defeat Jacob, he struck the socket of his hip so the socket of Jacob’s hip was dislocated while he wrestled with him. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” “I will not let you go,” Jacob replied, “unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” He answered, “Jacob.” (28) “No longer will your name be Jacob,” the man told him, “but Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have prevailed.”) This angel manifesting himself as a man, “was either Jesus or an angelic ambassador.” Remember in part, “the name ‘Israel’ means “God fights.” More broadly it seems to mean  “Israelite’s destiny is to fight against God and men, but prevail because of God’s mercy and promises.” Jacob demonstrated gifted perseverance, “a characteristic we each need to pray for.”

      (Gen 32:29-20; “Then Jacob asked, “Please tell me your name.” “Why do you ask my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there. So Jacob named the place Peniel, explaining, “Certainly I have seen God face to face and have survived.”) Peniel means “face of God.” The name seems to be appropriate. God made Jacob - Israel, special to Himself, by promise to Abraham. Including Abraham’s descendents; ‘Israelites’ physical and spiritual. The fulfillment: “spiritual Israelites are Believers IN Jesus; a people belonging to God by promise.” How joyful to be a gifted Believer IN - Christian.

      Remember Moses is writing and perhaps editing parts of Genesis. Likely Moses’ insight included access to writings kept by the Patriarchs and even from Noah. (Jacob’s perspective at the beginning of this encounter, “narrator - translator called Jacob’s opponent a man.” Later in the struggle Jacob realizes his true identity. We need spiritual revelation regarding spiritual principles as laid down by God. From Genesis, through Revelations we see; “God had purpose in all His creation.” Purpose in making mankind in His image and likeness. Purpose in selecting a people to be followers of Jesus, have part in His millennium reign, resurrections and judgment.

      (Gen 32:31-32; “The sun rose over Jacob as he crossed over Penuel, but he was limping because of his hip. That is why to this day Israelites don’t eat the sinew which is attached to the socket of the hip, because “Jesus” the man struck the socket of Jacob’s hip near the attached sinew.”)

      The Patriarch Jacob  “Israel“ represents promise, “God fights” for physical and spiritual heirs of Abraham. Regarding our Patriarchs as “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (According to our English dictionary, the Eastern Orthodox Church considers a Patriarch, “a bishop of the sees of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antakya, or Jerusalem, Russia, Romania, or Serbia.)

       The Church of Latter-Day Saints calls their dignitary, “Patriarch” thinking they have power to invoke blessings, “especially the Melchizedek order of priests.”

      Believers IN have a firm foundation, “we’re built on the prophets and apostles, with the Son of God, “Jesus” our Creator being our corner Stone.” Through Abraham God was looking forward to His New Covenant with “the followers of Jesus.” Through Jesus the wall of separation and division is no more. Prayerfully consider Jesus’ apostle Paul’s teaching.

      (Ephesians 2:11-22; “Therefore remember that formerly you, “Gentiles in the flesh – called “un-circumcision” by the so-called circumcision” that is performed on the body by human hands – that you were at that time without the Messiah, alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, the one who made both groups into one and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility, when He nullified in His flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man “people” out of two, thus making peace, and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, so that through Him we both “Israelites & non-Israelites” have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer foreigners and non-citizens, but you are fellow citizens with the Saints and members of God’s household, because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”)

      Understanding the gigantic chasm difference in, “believing IN opposed to believing that” is revealed knowledge. Believing IN is to know God loved us first, called, revealed Himself and to whom we belong. Its truth opposed to divisionary assumptions of the flesh.  

To: Family of God, “people being made temples of His spirit” God’s Church  8/18/18, God’s 6th month, Elul 7, 5778 until sunset.

      Jesus’ good news is about His kingdom on earth, “people being born from above” made at one with God the Father and Himself.

      Unbelievers can’t fathom Jesus’ attributes: “Creator, Re-creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, Mediator, Savior and coming king of kings.” (See Col 1:15-20) He is the all knowing Preplanner God. Scoffers prefer imagining a God fitting traditional paganism, “One of their making.” Differing from the Creator; “One manifested in the Old and New Testament’s” Preferring a condoning One who allows practices :the God of Creation hates.”

      Believers IN are gifted to know, “God is all knowing, predestining individuals and events.” Abraham,” Isaac, Jacob and his twelve sons were known before the foundation of the world. (Conniving Jacob did nothing to earn God’s choosing, “nor God’s promising eternal blessings to his descendents.”) After serving his idol worshiping father in law, “Laban” 14 plus years, “God led Jacob to separate from Laban and his people.”

      From the foundation of the world, “God planned the revelation He gave Rachel, ‘the older would serve the younger,’” God was looked forward to this latter day age: “this age AFTER, Messiah Jesus’ coming and revealing Himself as the Son of God, by miraculous deeds defying natural science.” (His instantly healing diseases, turning water into aged wine, calming a stormy sea, re-creating food to feed thousands, resurrecting to physical life, presenting Himself alive after His resurrection, ascending to God the Father as planned and promised.)

        Believers IN, find it difficult to imagine people seeing these things and not believing: “until understanding His clear words to the Jewish leaders.”

      (John 10:24-30; “The Jewish leaders surrounded Jesus and asked, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus replied, “I told you and you do not believe. The deeds I do in My Father’s Name testify about Me. But you refuse to believe because you are not My sheep. (27) My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from My Father’s hand. The Father and I are One.”)

      During Jacob’s day and in this latter age, “God is allowing Satan to be the god of this world’s populations “demonstrating the result of our inherited from Adam, “sin nature” choosing a religion of choice and attempting to be divine.” UNTIL God reveals and chooses a people to see His View.”) Study 1 Corinthians 15: for our purpose consider the following verses.

      (1Cor 15:20-23; “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, (Adam) the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. “Jesus” For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to Him.”) The Lord Jesus was leading Jacob to believe IN.

       (Gen 31:3-9; “The Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives. I will be with you.” So Jacob sent a message for Rachel and Leah to come to the field where his flocks were. There Jacob said to them, “I can tell that your father’s attitude toward me has changed, but the God of my father has been with me. You know that I’ve worked for your father as hard as I could, but your father has humiliated me and changed my wages ten times. But God has not permitted him to do me any harm. If he said, ‘The speckled animals will be your wage,’ then the entire flock gave birth to speckled offspring. But if he said, ‘The streaked animals will be your wage,’ then the entire flock gave birth to streaked offspring. (9) In this way God has snatched away your father’s livestock and given them to me.”)

      Jacob was understanding, “God keeps promises and reveals His Way.” Even more so, “when he learns of his son “Joseph” being a ruler in Egypt.

      Speaking to his wives, Jacob shared. (Gen 31:10-18; “Once during breeding season I saw in a dream that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled, and spotted. In the dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ ‘Here I am!’ I replied. Then he said, ‘Observe that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled, or spotted, for I have observed all that Laban has done to you. I am “the God of Bethel” where you anointed the sacred stone and made a vow to Me. Now leave this land immediately and return to your native land.’ (14) Then Rachel and Leah replied to him, “Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house? Hasn’t he treated us like foreigners? He not only sold us, but completely wasted the money paid for us! Surely all the wealth that God snatched away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So now do everything God has told you.” So Jacob immediately put his children and his wives on the camels. He took away all the livestock he had acquired in Paddan Aram and all his moveable property that he had accumulated. Then he set out toward the land of Canaan to return to his father Isaac.”)

        Laban’s idol worshiping ways, were not only fruitless to him, “Rachel too was taken in by them, she wasn’t yet a believer IN.”

       (Gen 31:19-30; “While Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole the household idols that belonged to her father. Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was leaving. He left with all he owned. He quickly crossed the Euphrates River and headed for the hill country of Gilead. Three days later Laban discovered Jacob had left. So he took his relatives with him and pursued Jacob for seven days. He caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and warned him, “Be careful that you neither bless nor curse Jacob.” Laban overtook Jacob, and when Jacob pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead, Laban and his relatives set up camp there too. “What have you done?” Laban demanded of Jacob. “You’ve deceived me and carried away my daughters as if they were captives of war! Why did you run away secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me so I could send you off with a celebration complete with singing, tambourines and harps? You didn’t even allow me to kiss my daughters and my grandchildren good-bye. You have acted foolishly! I have the power to do you harm, but the God of your father told me last night, ‘Be careful that you neither bless nor curse Jacob.’ Now I understand that you have gone away because you longed desperately for your father’s house. Yet why did you steal my gods?”)

       (Gen 31:31-35; I left secretly because I was afraid! “Jacob replied to Laban.” I thought you might take your daughters away from me by force. Whoever has taken your gods will be put to death! In the presence of our relatives, identify whatever is yours and take it.” (Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.) So Laban entered Jacob’s tent, and Leah’s tent, and the tent of the two female servants, but he did not find the idols. Then he left Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s. (Now Rachel had taken the idols and put them inside her camel’s saddle and sat on them.) Laban searched the whole tent, but did not find them. Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my lord. I cannot stand up in your presence because I am having my period.” So he searched thoroughly, but did not find the idols.”)

       Its the ways of our inherited fleshly nature inherited from Adam. Idol worship is no more than a superstition. Laban may have lost something and ask a figurine idol, “help me find this thing” when it soon it turned up.) Demonic weaknesses of this sort get started when people rely on their fleshly intellect.

       (Gen 31:36-42; “Jacob became angry and argued with Laban. “What did I do wrong?” he demanded of Laban. “What sin of mine prompted you to chase after me in hot pursuit? When you searched through all my goods, did you find anything that belonged to you? Set it here before my relatives and yours, and let them settle the dispute between the two of us! “I have been with you for the past twenty years. Your ewes and female goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks. Animals torn by wild beasts I never brought to you; I always absorbed the loss myself. You always made me pay for every missing animal, whether it was taken by day or at night. I was consumed by scorching heat during the day and by piercing cold at night, and I went without sleep. (41) This was my lot for twenty years in your house: I worked like a slave for you – fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, but you changed my wages ten times! If the God of my father – the God of Abraham, the one whom Isaac fears – had not been with me, you would certainly have sent me away empty-handed! But God saw how I was oppressed, how hard I worked, and He rebuked you last night.”)

      (Gen 31:43-50; “Laban replied to Jacob, “These women are my daughters, these children are my grandchildren and these flocks are my flocks. All that you see belongs to me. But how can I harm these daughters of mine today or the children to whom they have given birth? So now, come, let’s make a formal agreement, you and I, and it will be proof that we have made peace.” So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a memorial pillar. Then he said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” So they brought stones and put them in a pile. They ate there by the pile of stones. Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. Laban said, “This pile of stones is a witness of our agreement today.” That is why it was called Galeed. It was also called Mizpah because he said, “May the Lord watch between us when we are out of sight of one another. If you mistreat my daughters or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one else is with us, realize that God is witness to your actions.”

       (Gen 31:51-32:2; “Here is this pile of stones and this pillar I have set up between me and you,” Laban said to Jacob. “This pile of stones and the pillar are reminders that I will not pass beyond this pile to come to harm you and that you will not pass beyond this pile and this pillar to come to harm me. May the God of Abraham and the god of Nahor, the gods of their father, judge between us.” Jacob took an oath by the God whom his father Isaac feared. Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat the meal. They ate the meal and spent the night on the mountain. Early in the morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters goodbye and blessed them. Then Laban left and returned home.” (32:1-2; “So Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim.”) Apparently means “two camps.” (Angels of God occurs only here and in Gen 28:12. Jacob saw a vision of angels just before he left the promised land. Now he encounters angels as he prepares to return to it. Text does not give the details of the encounter, but Jacob’s response suggests it was amicable. (This location was where heaven made contact with earth and where God made his presence known to Jacob the patriarch”)

      God revealed that He had been the God of Abraham and was the God of Isaac. (Jacob’s believing IN response was to practice the way pleasing to God.) Demonstrating to his family that he was a Believer IN.

       Consider: Many individuals and groups “believers that” “as did idol worshiping Labon.” He was not a called Believers IN “as was Jacob.” Unbelievers trust their intellect, do what seems right, practice evolutionary traditions, “but they don’t believe IN God’s Way.” Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were chosen to be “Believers IN” chosen by promise and predestined. People gifted to believe IN, “are called, chosen and born from above.” Paul was gifted to understand, “let’s review” considering Jacob’s and our own weaknesses.

      (1Cor 1:26-31; “Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position. But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, so that no one can boast in His presence. He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”)

      (Ephesians 1:17-23; “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of Him, since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what is the wealth of His glorious inheritance in the Saints and what is the incomparable greatness of His power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of His immense strength. This power He, “God The Father” exercised in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (22) And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and He gave Him to the church as head over all things. Now the church is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”)

      (Eph 4:4-6; “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”) As always, study the whole. Jesus’ revelations made each apostle consistent with the other.

      (2Peter 1:10-11;” Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin. For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.”) Believers IN are spirit led to put God in front of family, tradition and intellect. Remembering: (There is a way that seems right to our to our minds, that leads to death.)

To: Spiritual Israelites, “Family of God, people being made temples of His spirit” God’s Church  8/17/18, God’s 6th month, Elul 6, 5778 until sunset.

       Its revealed, “followers of Jesus are temporary residences: in the world but not of this world.” Gifted Believers IN; as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, need to realize “our citizenship is heavenly with king Jesus.” Our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Never be overly involved in this world’s system of things. Until Isaac and Jacob’s descendents “those of promise” crossed the Jordan river and occupied gifted lands, “they were citizens of no particular country.” (Still; Israelite’s history of, “keeping the Feast of Tabernacles - Festival of Booths” reminds them of their temporary status and a permanent one in the age to come.) Way before the flood “the seventh from Adam preached “the kingdom of God’s coming on earth.”

      (Jude 1:14-16; Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam, even prophesied of them, saying, “Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy Ones, to execute judgment on all, and to convict every person of all their thoroughly ungodly deeds that they have committed, and of all the harsh words that ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” These people are grumblers and fault-finders who go wherever their desires lead them, and they give bombastic speeches, enchanting folks for their own gain.”) Few denominations teach Enoch’s message, each are about their own gain.

      (Gen 28:10-17; “Meanwhile Jacob left Beer Sheba and set out for Haran. He reached a certain place where he decided to camp because the sun had gone down. He took one of the stones and placed it near his head. Then Jacob fell asleep in that place and had a dream. He saw a stairway erected on the earth with its top reaching to the heavens. The angels of God were going up and coming down it and the Lord stood at its top. He said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of your father Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the ground you are lying on. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west, east, north, and south. All the families of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using your name and that of your descendants. I am with you! I will protect you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you!”)

      God repeated these blessings to these three, “chosen by promise.” Suppose Rebekah shared with Jacob, God’s prophetic words, “the older will serve the younger.?” Jacob’s descendents will be recipients of millennium blessings and the gates of New Jerusalem are named for the twelve tribes.  

      (Gen 28:18-22; “Then Jacob woke up and thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, but I did not realize it!” He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is nothing else than the house of God! This is the gate of heaven!” Early in the morning Jacob took the stone he had placed near his head and set it up as a sacred stone. Then he poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, although the former name of the town was Luz. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God is with me and protects me on this journey I am taking and gives me food to eat and clothing to wear, and I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will become my God. Then this stone that I have set up as a sacred stone will be the house of God, and I will surely give you back a tenth of everything you give me.”) How and to whom would Jacob give a tenth? There was no physical temple nor serving priest. There’s no record of Melchisedec communing with Jacob. Jacob likely fulfilled his promise by his helping others.

      (Gen 29:1-8; “So Jacob moved on and came to the land of the eastern people. He saw in the field a well with three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because the flocks were watered from that well. Now a large stone covered the mouth of the well. When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone off the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place over the well’s mouth. (4) Jacob asked them, “My brothers, where are you from?” They replied, “We’re from Haran.” So he said to them, “Do you know Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” “We know him,” they said. “Is he well?” Jacob asked. They replied, “He is well. Now look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.” Then Jacob said, “Since it is still the middle of the day, it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. You should water the sheep and then go and let them graze some more.” (8) “We can’t,” they said, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone is rolled off the mouth of the well. Then we water the sheep.”

      (9-14; While Jacob was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was tending them. When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, and the sheep of his uncle Laban, he went over and rolled the stone off the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban. (11) Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep loudly. When Jacob explained to Rachel that he was a relative of her father and the son of Rebekah, she ran and told her father. When Laban heard this news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he rushed out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban how he was related to him. Then Laban said to him, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.” So Jacob stayed with him for a month.”)

      (Gen 29:15-20; “Then Laban said to Jacob, “Should you work for me for nothing because you are my relative? Tell me what your wages should be.” (Now Laban had two daughters; the older one was named Leah, and the younger one Rachel. Leah’s eyes were tender, but Rachel had a lovely figure and beautiful appearance.) Since Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, he said, “I’ll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel.” Laban replied, “I’d rather give her to you than to another man. Stay with me.” So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel. But they seemed like only a few days to him because his love for her was so great.

       (Gen 29:21-27; “Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time of service is up. I want to have marital relations with her.” So Laban invited all the people of that place and prepared a feast. In the evening he brought his daughter Leah to Jacob, and Jacob had marital relations with her. (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) In the morning Jacob discovered it was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What in the world have you done to me! Didn’t I work for you in exchange for Rachel? Why have you tricked me?” “It is not our custom here,” Laban replied, “to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn. Complete my older daughter’s bridal week. Then we will give you the younger one too, in exchange for seven more years of work.”) Jacob the trickster gets tricked, but all in God’s plan. Laban’s family, “people of the east” unlike Abraham and Isaac’s, lived among people of their own nationality. They too were descendants of Noah’s son Shem and Abraham’s father, Terah. These were being allowed to go the way that seems right to their nature and intellect, the broad way, “each desiring to be his own god.” Jesus addressed this human problem, revealing to His apostles that result.

      (Matthew 24: “Now as Jesus was going out of the temple courts and walking away, His disciples came to show him the temple buildings. And He said to them, “Do you see all these things? I tell you the truth, not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!” As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, His disciples came to Him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Make sure that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these things are the beginning of birth pains. “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of My name. Then many will be led into sin, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will appear and deceive many, and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

      “So when you see the abomination of desolation – spoken about by Daniel the prophet – standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. The one on the roof must not come down to take anything out of his house, and the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the Elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe him. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the Elect. Remember, I have told you ahead of time. So then, if someone says to you, ‘Look, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe him. For just like the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

      “Immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather His Elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

      “Learn this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also you, when you see all these things, know that He is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away.

      “But as for that day and hour no one knows it – not even the angels in heaven – except the Father alone. For just like the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. For in those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left. There will be two women grinding grain with a mill; one will be taken and one left.

      “Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.

       “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom the Master has put in charge of His household, to give the other slaves their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom the master finds at work when He comes. I tell you the truth, the Master will put him in charge of all His possessions. But if that evil slave should say to himself, ‘My Master is staying away a long time,’ and he begins to beat his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with drunkards, then the Master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.