In another thread, a member here claimed: "Yahweh wouldn't cause a person to Rebel~Resist against Him...because that's just plan stupid...and Yahweh is Righteous...not stupid"
Actually, the only thing that is stupid is denying the plain teaching of the Word of God in favor of one's own opinion!! :dunce:
2 Sam 24: AND again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?
4 Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.
2Sam 24:10
And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD , I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD , take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
1 Chron. 21:17a
And David said to God, �Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil.
So, the Lord moved ( enticed, persuaded, provoked, set on, stirred up) David to sin against Him. Interesting.
SALVATION IS 100% FREE BUT HEAVENLY REWARDS ARE 100% FREE:
Hebrews 11:1,6: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see....And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He **REWARDS those who earnestly seek Him!!
Ephesians 6:8: Serve wholeheartedly , as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will **REWARD everyone for what ever good he does!.Revelation 22:12 Jesus says, �Behold I am coming soon! My **REWARD is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!�
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, �The Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels and THEN He will **REWARD each person according to what he has done!�
2 Corinthians 5:9,10: We make it our goal to please Him... for we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15: His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives , he will receive his **REWARD. If it is burned up he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Colossians 3:23-25: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, siince you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a **REWARD. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
Win Heavenly CROWNS:
I Corinthians 9:24-27: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes in to strict training. They do it to get a **CROWN that will not last; but we do it to get a **CROWN THAT WILL LAST FOREVER! Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly. I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize!
2 John 1:8: Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be **REWARDED fully!. Revelation 3:11: Jesus says, �I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your **CROWN!�
2 Timothy 4:7,8: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the **CROWN of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,will award to me on that day�and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing!
The **CROWN of Life for those who persevere under trials and persecution:
James 1:12: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the **CROWN OF LIFE that God has promised to those who love Him!
Revelation 2:10 Jesus says, �Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer... Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the **CROWN OF LIFE!�
Matthew 5:11,12: Jesus says, �Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, beacuase great is your **REWARD in heaven!�
Hebrews 10:32-36: Remember those earlier days after you had received the Light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of sufferin. Sometimes you were publicaly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly **REWARDED. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you receive what He has promised!
The CROWN OF GLORY to preachers and teachers:
1 Peter 5:-4: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers�not because you must, but because you are will ing, as God wants you to be, not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the **CROWN OF GLORY that will NEVER fade away!
1 Corinthians 3:6-9: I planted the seed, Apollos watered it but God made it grow. So neiither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be **REWARDED according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers!
Daniel 12:3: Those who are wise {or impart wisdom-NIV} will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever!
REWARDS for doing good works secretly without earthly rewards:
Matthew 6:3,4: Jesus says, �When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will **REWARD you!�
Matthew 6:6: Jesus says, When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will **REWARD you!�
Matthew 6:17,18: When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will **REWARD you!�
Matthew 6:19-21: Jesus says, Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth aand rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your Treasure is, there your heart will be also!�
Luke 6:35: Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them wirthout expecting to get anything back. Then your **REWARD will be GREAT!�
How to receive a **RICH WELCOME in Heaven!!
2 Peter 1:5-11: For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith {a 100% free gift} goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-contol; and to self-control, perseverence; and to perseverence, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, LOVE. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.....Therefore, my brother, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do all these things, you will receive a **RICH WELCOME into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ !!
Ephesians 2:8,9: For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith�and this NOT from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God�not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do!
Revelation 2:17 Jesus says, �To him who overcomes I will give a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it!� Revelation 3:21: Jesus says, �To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne!!�
"Prophetic" - I know how Cut and paste works. I would prefer that you do not post off-topic. It ruins the discussions. If you would like to promote your article, please start a new thread. Thank you.
I Peter 1:22: "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere **LOVE**:hearts: for your brothers, l**LOVE**:hearts: one another deeply, from the heart."
I Corinthians 13:2,4-8: If I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not **LOVE**:hearts: I am nothing...**LOVE**:hearts: is patient, **LOVE**:hearts: is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. **LOVE**:hearts: does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. **LOVE** :hearts:never fails!!"
John 13:34: Jesus says, "A NEW command I give you: **LOVE**:hearts: one another As I have loved you, so you must **LOVE**:hearts: one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples."
John 14:23: Jesus says, �If anyone **LOVES**:hearts: Me, he will obey My teaching, My Father will **LOVE**:hearts: him, and We will make Our home with him.�
Matthew 28:19.20� Jesus commands, �Go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to *OBEY EVERYTHING* I have commanded you!� {See I John 2:3-5}
EVERYTHING would also include all the other commands in God's inspired Word from Acts to Revelation as per 2 Timothy 3:16: 4:2: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work...Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."
If we really **LOVE**:hearts: our brothers and sister in Christ we will lovingly teach them to obey all the approximately 400 commands of the NT with **LOVE**:hearts: in the hope of countless eternal rewards when Jesus comes with great power with all His angels.
Revelation 22:112: Jesus says,"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!?
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, For the Son of Man is going to come in His **FATHER'S GLORY WITH HIS ANGELS**, and **THEN** He will reward each person according to what he has done."
Ephesians 4:15: "Speaking the Truth in **LOVE**:hearts:, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ!"
"Prophetic" - I know how Cut and paste works. I would prefer that you do not post off-topic. It ruins the discussions. If you would like to promote your article, please start a new thread. Thank you.
WE ARE ALL WAITING FOR THE NEW EARTH, THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE HEAVENLY NEW JERUSALEM!!
Revelation 21:1-5: Then I saw a New heaven and a New Earth, for the {present} first heaven and first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the **NEW JERUSALEM**, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making **EVERYTHING NEW**!" Then He said, "Write this down, for these words are TRUSTWORTHY and TRUE!"
2 Peter 3:10-13: But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will DISAPPEAR with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and *EVERYTHING* in it will be burned up {NIV}. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you wait eagerly for the Day of God to come. {NIV} That Day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise **WE** {Excluding the Preterists and the RC church} are looking forward to a New heavens and a New Earth, the home of righteousness.
Hebrews 11:13-16: All these people {Abraham, Sarah Isaac, Jacob, Noah etc} were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were looking for a BETTER COUNTRY--a HEAVENLY ONE. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a *CITY* (The *NEW JERUSALEM*} for them!!
Galatians 4:25,26: Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the **JERUSALEM** that is **ABOVE** is free, and she is our MOTHER !!
Revelation 22:16,18,19: "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches.....I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this Book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book {Including eternel hell}. And if anyone takes *WORDS AWAY* {Like the Preterists and the RC church} from this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the Tree of Life and in the Holy City {The **NEW JERUSALEM**}, which are described in this Book.!!"
The New Jerusaem is described in Revelation 21:9 to Revelation 22:5. The New Jerusalem will be 12,000 stadia {which is about 1377 miles} long, high and wide as per Revelation 21:16. A stadia is 606 feet long which is the exact same length as the ancient Greek stadium. 606 feet times 12,000 equals 7,272,000 feet which is 1377 miles plus 1,440 feet. A mile is exactly 5,280 feet. {1377 times 5,280 feet equal 7,270,560 feet.} And so the New Jerusalem will be exactly 1377 miles plus 1,440 feet long, wide and high!!
Revelation 21:9-12,15-16,19,23,27; Revelation 22:1-6: The angel said to John, �Come, I will show you the Bride the Wife of the Lamb.� And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from from God It shone like the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel. It had a great high wall {1377 miles HIGH!} with 12 gates, and with 12 angels at the gates.
The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the City and its walls. The City was laid out as a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the City with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and Heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel clear as crystal. It had a great high wall {1377 miles plus 1,440 feet high} with 12 gates and with 12 angels at the gates...... The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the City, its gates and its walls. The City was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the City with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia {606 feet} in length, and as wide and high as it is long. {1377 miles plus 1,440 feet long, wide and high} The wall was made of Jasper, and the City of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone....... The great street of the City was of pure gold, like transparent glass...... Only those written in the Lamb's Book of Life will be able to enter the New Jerusalem!
Then the angel showed me the river of the Water of Life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb {Jesus} down the middle of the great street of the City. On each side of the river stood the Tree of Life, bearing 12 crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month... The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the City, and his servants will serve Him. They will see His face and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night!! They will not need the light of the lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. The angel said to me, �These words are TRUSTWORTHY and TRUE!!�
