Make a list of the "sevens" you can find in the Bible. E - 501 - 2 - 7

“The Heptadic Structure

The recurrence of the number seven - or an exact multiple of seven - is found throughout the Bible and is widely recognized. The Sabbath on the seventh day; the seven years of plenty and the seven years of famine in Egypt; the seven priests and seven trumpets marching around Jericho; the Sabbath Year of the land are well-known examples.”

Extracted from the February 1995 Personal Update News Journal. Link to the complete article.

http://www.khouse.org/articles/1995/102/

From Genesis through Revelation the number seven is often found.  

Seven days cited a number of times concerning the Flood:
Genesis 7:4, 10; 8:10,12

Seven lambs:
Genesis 21:28, 29, 30

Jacob serve seven years plus seven years for Rachel. His father-in-law pursued him and his family for seven days.

Pharaoh's dream of seven fat and seven lean kine in Genesis Chapter 41 as well as seven ears of good corn and seven ears of thin corn.

Several occurrences of seven days and leaven/ unleavened bread in the Book of Exodus.

Many occurrences of seven in the Book of Leviticus dealing with days, as a multiple and Sabbaths.

Fast forward to the Book of Revelation:

Before the Rapture of the Church:
Seven letters
Seven Churches
Seven Spirits of God
Seven golden candlesticks
Seven stars
Seven angels
After Jesus comes for the Church:
Seven sealed scroll – Seven seals
Seven trumpet judgments
Seven bowls of wrath
Red Dragon has:
Seven eyes
Seven horns
Seven heads
Seven crowns
Seven kings
Ten horns but three are pulled out
Seven hills/ mountains on while the woman sits
Seven plagues
Seven thunders
Seven thousand killed in the earthquake
Week of days – seven years
Great Tribulation or the time of Jacob’s Trouble is half of the Seventieth Week of Daniel, 1,260 days or 180 weeks.

We have “a more sure word of prophesy.”(2 Pet 1:19) 544 - 6 - 4

2 Peter 1:19, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:”

2 Peter 1:20, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”

2 Peter 1:21, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

The disciples of Jesus as well as thousands of other people witnessed the many miracles of Jesus such as feeding 5000 men and their families with a few loaves of bread and fish. At the time the Gospels were written and passed around to various groups there were firsthand witnesses who could’ve repudiated them were they false.

Also there is historical confirmation of the fulfillment of prophesies as in the events surrounding the final siege on Judah. Historian Flavius Josephus tells of what seem to be two conflicting prophecies regarding Zedekiah king of Judah. Jeremiah prophesized the king would be taken to Babylon (Jeremiah 34:3) and Ezekiel prophesized that the king would not see Babylon (Ezekiel 12:13). King Nebuchadnezzar blinded Zedekiah and took him captive to Babylon so both prophecies were correct (Jeremiah 39:7).

So firsthand reporting provides great validity of Scripture as does historical reporting. That said, nearly 2000 years later there seems to be a growing disbelief in the validity of Scripture. Critics cite such things as mass hallucination, wishful thinking by the witnesses and more. Anything to serve their atheist agenda.

Try as the atheist might to discredit God, they cannot deny the text of the Septuagint finished nearly 300 years before the birth of Jesus as well as the Dead Sea Scrolls. We certainly have the more sure word of prophecy.

One website that I often share with others is http://mb-soft.com/believe/txh/proph.htm, “Prophecies that Jesus Christ Fulfilled.” These are laid out in a table format with headers; Subject, Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment.

There are so many fulfilled prophecies that to deny Jesus as the Messiah is ludicrous. Prophecy fulfillment such as when Jesus rode into Jerusalem in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” to the very day prophesied in Daniel 9:25. Also the significance of 30 pieces of silver being the payment for the betrayal of Jesus then used in the purchase of the potter’s field is astounding. Certainly a more sure word of prophecy.

Ezekiel 12:13, "My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there."

Jeremiah 34:3, "And thou shalt not escape out of his hand, but shalt surely be taken, and delivered into his hand; and thine eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon."

Jeremiah 39:7, "Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon."

“Private interpretation” (2 Pet 1:20) and its influence on my approach to Bible study? 544 - 2 - 1

The apostle Peter walked in the dust of the Rabbi for three years and cited prophecy as being a better witness. 2 Peter 1:19-21 attests to the validity of the Word, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

Bible gateway is my go to website for a quick keyword search. Individual verses having that keyword are listed plus the opinion to view them in context.

An example is Daniel 7:16 which resulted from a search for the keyword “interpretation.” In context it reads:

Daniel 7:15-17,

15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

Without reading the original verse in context one could miss the fact that Daniel was given a look into the last days.

Old Testament heroes depended on God when interpreting dreams. 

Genesis 40:8, "And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you."

Genesis 41:16, "And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace."

Solomon used the wisdom given him by God when interpreting “a thing.” Ecclesiastes 8:1, "Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed."

When Daniel interpreted the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar in Chapter 2, Daniel credited God. Daniel 2:28, “But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these”

And again regarding the “Handwriting on the Wall.” Daniel 5:26, "This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it."

Jesus warned us again and again about false teachers. This warning was reinforced in 1 Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

With this in mind, my Bible study is just that, a study of God’s Word.

Added Later:

2 Timothy 2:14-16 reinforces this:

14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (G3718) the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings (G2757): for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

G3718 - From a compound of G3717 and the base of G5114; to make a straight cut, that is, (figuratively) to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message): - rightly divide.

G2757 - From a presumed compound of G2756 and G5456; empty sounding, that is, fruitless discussion: - vain.

How the Bema Seat Judgment affects my daily faith walk. 544 - 5 - 3

Bema is a Greek term meaning "judgment seat," a seat usually resting on an elevated platform. This will be a time of judgment for what we did/ did not do during our life.

Those appearing before the Bema Seat judgment have been justified by the shed blood of Jesus. What is at issue is the degree of our sanctification; did we hold fast/ endure to the end. This will determine what rewards and inheritances we received.

Applicable verses include:

 Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

Romans 14:10, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 5:9, “9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.”

1 Corinthians 3:11-13, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

1 Corinthians 3:14-15, “If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

Add to these is this this rather dark verse:

Matthew 25:30, “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Is this the fate of one who is justified but one who did nothing with it? Is this outer darkness for those who barely made it into heaven, but are not in proximity of Jesus?

My hope is to be alive at the time of the Rapture of the Church: 1 Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (G726) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Whether after the rapture or my natural passing from this world I will stand before Jesus on the Bema seat. Of course I’m hoping that will be determined that I built upon a foundation of gold, silver and precious stones. I certainly hope that I will not be cast into the outer darkness as in Matthew 25:30.

Daily I seek to do God’s will not only to earn rewards and inheritance but also so that I will not be a disappointment to Him. I try to be guided by the expression,” What would Jesus do.” That said, I too often fail. However, I do attempt to do my best so that I will be pleasing to Jesus at all times.

G726 - From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications): - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).

Added Later:

Don't read this reply if you haven't seen the movie "God isn't Dead" as it will possibly ruin the ending for you.

In the final minutes of the movie and in the final minutes of of the professor's life he finally came to faith in God. I couldn't help but think of his standing before Jesus on the Bema Seat Judgment. I would expect that Jesus would refer the professor to the hundreds if not thousands of college students that he bullied into making an affirmation that "God is dead." In the final analysis, we are all responsible for our decision to accept or reject the gift of grace, however, role models such as college professors do play a role in this and they certainly bare responsibility. Matthew 25:30, “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 

Many occurrences of the number seven in the Bible E - 501 - 2 - 7

“The Heptadic Structure

The recurrence of the number seven - or an exact multiple of seven - is found throughout the Bible and is widely recognized. The Sabbath on the seventh day; the seven years of plenty and the seven years of famine in Egypt; the seven priests and seven trumpets marching around Jericho; the Sabbath Year of the land are well-known examples.”

Extracted from the February 1995 Personal Update News Journal. Link to the complete article.

http://www.khouse.org/articles/1995/102/

From Genesis through Revelation the number seven is often found. 

Seven days cited a number of times concerning the Flood:
Genesis 7:4, 10; 8:10,12

Seven lambs:
Genesis 21:28, 29, 30

Jacob serve seven years plus seven years for Rachel. His father-in-law pursued him and his family for seven days.

Pharaoh's dream of seven fat and seven lean kine in Genesis Chapter 41 as well as seven ears of good corn and seven ears of thin corn.

Several occurrences of seven days and leaven/ unleavened bread in the Book of Exodus.

Many occurrences of seven in the Book of Leviticus dealing with days, as a multiple and Sabbaths.

Fast forward to the Book of Revelation:

Before the Rapture of the Church:

Seven letters

Seven Churches

Seven Spirits of God

Seven golden candlesticks

Seven stars

Seven angels

After Jesus comes for the Church:

Seven sealed scroll – Seven seals

Seven trumpet judgments

Seven bowls of wrath

Red Dragon has:

Seven eyes

Seven horns

Seven heads

Seven crowns

Seven kings

Ten horns but three are pulled out

Seven hills/ mountains on while the woman sits

Seven plagues

Seven thunders

Seven thousand killed in the earthquake

Week of days – seven years

Great Tribulation or the time of Jacob’s Trouble is half of the Seventieth Week of 
Daniel, 1,260 days or 180 weeks.

Does 2 Timothy 3:16 apply to all scripture? E - 501 - 2 - 7

Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, (G2315) and is profitable (G5624) for doctrine, (G1319) for reproof, (G1650) for correction, (G1882) for instruction (G3809) in righteousness: (G1343).

Doctrine: What's right
Reproof: What's not right
Correction: How to get it right
Instruction: How to stay right

I will not make a blanket statement that 2 Timothy 3:16 is applicable to all scripture, rather it is in most cases. IMO, 2 Peter 1 an example of its applicability and deals mostly with “Instruction.”

2 Peter 1:1, “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:” doctrine

2 Peter 1:2, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,” Instruction

2 Peter 1:3, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” Instruction

2 Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Correction/ Instruction

2 Peter 1:5, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;” Instruction

2 Peter 1:6, “And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;” Instruction

2 Peter 1:7, “And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. “ Instruction

2 Peter 1:8, “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Reproof

2 Peter 1:9, “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” Reproof

2 Peter 1:10, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” Instruction

2 Peter 1:11, “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Instruction

2 Peter 1:12, “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.” Correction/ Instruction

G2315 - From G2316 and a presumed derivative of G4154; divinely breathed in: - given by inspiration of God.

G5624 - From a form of G3786; helpful or serviceable, that is, advantageous: - profit (-able).

G1319 - From G1320; instruction (the function or the information): - doctrine, learning, teaching.

G1650 - From G1651; proof, conviction: - evidence, reproof.

G1882 - From a compound of G1909 and G461; a straightening up again, that is, (figuratively) rectification (reformation): - correction.

G3809 - From G3811; tutorage, that is, education or training; by implication disciplinary correction: - chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.

G1343 - From G1342; equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification: - righteousness.

The primary validation of Jesus as the Christ is that He fulfills the OT prophecies. E - 501 - 1 - 6

I've answered related discussion questions before so this DQ was more of a trip down memory lane. There are so many prophecies to write about beginning with the seed of the woman in Genesis. Here God got around the blood curse that He would later declared on Jehoiakim. Of course in the interim there was levirate marriage; the legal line of Jesus was through King David’s son Solomon to his stepfather Joseph and the bloodline was through King David’s son Nathan to his mother Mary.

Psalm 69:8 and 12 give some insight into why Jesus would later be rebuffed by those in Nazareth, “I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.” “They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards”

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” to the very day prophesied in Daniel 9:25.

Psalm 22 was a nearly blow by blow description of the physical Crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” God could not look upon Jesus as Jesus was sin in our place. Here Jesus cried out to God rather than addressing God as Father or Abba as was His usual salutation.

The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was prophesied in Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

Numbers 21:8-9 “The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” Fast forward hundreds of years to John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus had to be lifted up on a cross to cover our sins.

One website that I often share with others is http://mb-soft.com/believe/txh/proph.htm, “Prophecies that Jesus Christ Fulfilled.” These are laid out in a table format with headers; Subject, Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment. CM has taken us through statistical analysis of several of these proving beyond a shadow of a doubt Jesus was and is the Messiah.

Worldviews, cosmic accident or Creator God 544 - 5 - 7

There are two primary worldviews.

The first worldview is that everything is a result of a cosmic accident. This is the view most promoted today, first there was nothing and then it exploded into something; the big bang theory. After billions and billions of years of trial and error things just came together and the world as we know it came into being. This is a world created without God and therefore a world without responsibility to its creator. God was thrown out of our schools a half-century ago and we can see on the daily news how well that worked out.

The second primary worldview is that our world is deliberate result of a Creator. Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning (H7225) God created (H1254) the heaven (H8064) and the earth (H776). 

God is our Creator and we owe him reference and obedience. Further, God is very jealous of his creation with rather unpleasant consequences for the unbeliever as witnessed in Romans chapter 1. As our world is seemingly imploding, it is very reassuring to know that God is in control.

In the Issachar course I 605 seven Major Worldviews are listed:

Atheism: A world without God, back to the cosmic accident

The other six worldviews include a God and/ or God’s
.
Deism: A world made by God but left on its own
Pantheism: A world that is God
Panentheism: A world that is in God
Finite Godism: A world with a finite god
Polytheism: A world with more than one finite god
Theism: A world with an Infinite God

With critical thinking, all worldviews with the exception of theism make no sense. Theism includes the three monotheistic world religions, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Jesus fulfilled more than 100 prophecies in the Old Testament and was and is the long sought Messiah. Given that neither Judaism nor Islam consider Jesus as the Messiah these two subsets of the theistic worldview dropout. We are left with Christianity as the only logical view.

Also from I 605, according to John MacArthur in his book “Think Biblically”, “A worldview is, first of all, an explanation and interpretation of the world and second, an application of this view to life." Geisler and Watkins in their book “I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist” have it as "A world view is a way of viewing or interpreting all of reality. It is an interpretive framework through which or by which one makes sense out of the data of life and the world."

To say that one is a Christian can be a rather meaningless statement. How is one a Christian? All too often I hear people say they are a Christian because they are a good person and do good works. This betrays a lack of biblical knowledge/ understanding. Jesus was very clear that He is the only way to God. Jesus paid the price for all of us and we are justified by grace. However, one has to accept that free and life changing gift.

As for how can sincere people can know what to believe, they can do their own study of God’s Word. Also, one can examine the complexity of the simplest organism on this planet and see the hand of a creator in it. Truly we are without excuse.

With thanks to Strong’s:

H7225 - From the same as H7218; the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically a firstfruit): - beginning, chief (-est), first (-fruits, part, time), principal thing.
H1254 - A primitive root; (absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes): - choose, create (creator), cut down, dispatch, do, make (fat). We just stop it
H8064 - The second form being dual of an unused singular; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve): - air, X astrologer, heaven (-s).
H776 - From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land): -  X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X nations, way, + wilderness, world.

What eschatological lessons can you take from the record of the flood of Noah? 544 - 4 - 6

1 Peter 3:20, "Which sometime (G4218) were disobedient (G544), when once the longsuffering (G3115) of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
"
In my opinion, the majority the people sharing this planet have been very disobedient to the word of God. God has been long suffering as he was in the days of Noah. People go on with their lives but many seem to be becoming aware of a shift. We’ve had some pretty crazy weather in the last few years, there’s famine in the world, Ebola seems to be spreading in Africa and given international traveling, a pandemic could happen.

So how did the population of the world in Noah’s time be become so contaminated that only Noah and his family were spared?

Genesis 6:1-2, "And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose."

Genesis 6:4, "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown."
Jude 1:6, "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."

These sons of God, also known as fallen Angels, sired a corrupted and evil population. To say that God was displeased would be putting it mildly.

Genesis 6:5-6, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart."

In the past Satan may have manipulated human DNA as evidence by the strange man/animal gods of Egypt. Now he has had thousands of years to improve his methodology. So rather than creating giants today Satan may have adapted to more modern methods to contaminate the human race.

The course “1601 Intro to Strategic Trend Briefings” includes Transhumanism was a real revelation to me. This following is just one slide from the teaching, “More than Human.”

“Changing Human Nature: A Futuristic Perspective:

• Transhumanism philosophy promotes the idea of human enhancement by technological means:

• Futuristic concepts like intelligence enhancement (up to 'super intelligence ')

• Techniques like genetic engineering, psychopharmacology, anti-aging therapies. Neural interfaces, wearable/implantable computers, long lasting internal organ replacement, mental uploading and so forth

• Propagated from prominent positions like the US Nanotechnology Initiative and the Oxford University philosophy department.”

Fast-forward about six millennium, it seems we are again in the days of Noah.

The five Christian virtues that protect us from deceit while “contending for the faith” within this culture. 544 - 4 - 4

1 Peter 3:8, “Finally, be ye all of one mind (G3675), having compassion one of another (G4835), love as brethren (G5361), be pitiful (G2155), be courteous G5391:”

Here were told by Peter first of all to be of one mind with their fellow Christians. In my opinion, this will be very important as we will be called upon to stand strong against the tide of bias against Bible believing Christians.

Then were to have compassion for each other. Having compassion for others whether Christians or not would be what Jesus would do.

We are to love each other as Jesus loves us. John 13:34, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."

Plus we are to be courteous to each other. Perhaps there would be far more understanding and our world we were just courteous to one another. And as for our Christian family, absolutely we should be courteous and supportive of each other.

Jesus warned his disciples again and again to be discerning.

Matthew 7:15, "15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

1 John 4:1, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

Also in Matthew 24:11, Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22, Luke 6:26 and 2 Peter 2:1

Rather than all Christians drawing together it seems that there’s a fair amount of fragmentation. In his article “Delusion at the Checkpoint” Howard Green details Christ at the Checkpoint and what he considers a disturbing trend; a movement that sides with Hamas, radical Palestinian groups, and the “peace in our time” crowd while demonizing Israel for defending itself.

http://www.raptureready.com/soap2/green4.html

One of my favorite authors, Tom Horn, was a contributor to the book “Blood on the Altar: The Coming War Between Christian vs. Christian.” I remember reading of the experiments that Mr. Horn refers to in this book where seemingly decent and rational human beings could be coerced into inflicting pain on others.

In the dark days that are quickly approaching Bible believing Christians should form strong bonds with each other. Should anyone doubt that those calling themselves Christians could turn on Bible-based Christians all one has to do is scan to consider the millions who were tortured and killed by the Roman Catholic Church. The crime of those who were slaughtered, adhering to the Word of God rather than papal authority. As Satan gets a stronger toehold in the church God only knows what his minions are capable of.

With thanks to Strong’s:

G3675 - From the base of G3674 and G5424; like minded, that is, harmonious: - of one mind.

G4835 - From G4841; having a fellow feeling (“sympathetic”), that is, (by implication) mutually commiserative: - having compassion one of another.
G5361 – philadelphos - From G5384 and G80; fond of brethren, that is, fraternal: - love as brethren.

G2155 - From G2095 and G4698; well compassioned, that is, sympathetic: - pitiful, tender-hearted.

G5391 - philophrōn - From G5384 and G5424; friendly of mind, that is, kind: - courteous.

How would you explain and compare the phrases, “sincere milk of the Word” (1 Pet 2:2) with “strong meat”? (Heb 5:12-14) 544 - 3 - 4

As an aside, according to CM, The “milk” of the Word refers to what Jesus Christ did on earth, His birth, His life, His teaching, His death, His burial, and His resurrection. The “meat” of the Word refers to what Jesus Christ is now doing in heaven.

1 Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk (G1051) of the word that ye may grow thereby:” Here Peter seems to be gentle with new believers as they grow in their faith.

Habakkuk 2:4, "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." The first part of the first perhaps deals with someone who has not been justified. The balance of the verse inspired Martin Luther and the Reformation as well as Paul in the trilogy of Romans, Galatians and Hebrews.
Paul expected far more of the maturing/ mature believer who should seek the Meat of the Word and teach the Word. 

Hebrews 5:11-14, “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk (G1051), and not of strong (G4731) meat (G5160). For every one that useth milk (G1051) is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong (G4731) meat (G5160) belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

As for the carnal Paul had this to say, 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal (G4559), even as unto babes (G3516) in Christ. I have fed you with milk (G1051), and not with meat (G1033): for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"

Milk, G1051, of uncertain affinity; milk (figuratively): - milk.

Strong, G4731, stiff, that is, solid, stable (literally or figuratively): - stedfast, strong, sure.

Meat, G5160, nourishment (literally or figuratively); by implication rations (wages): - food, meat.

Gossip, the most painful sin as is bias reporting 544 - 3 - 1

Psalm 69:11-12, “I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them. They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.” Here we aware of the hurt felt by Jesus as the city gossips and town drunks gossip and speculate about His legitimacy.  Prior to the resurrection, his siblings did not believe in His divinity and likely resented the criticism Jesus brought their family.

A favorite broadcaster of mine was the late Paul Hardy with his "And that is the rest of the story." He would often take a half-truth of the day and dissect it and provide his listeners with the rest of the story. Today we have gossips (lame-stream media) who spread dissension often with half-truths or half of the story and/or bias reporting.

I will admit that I am equating the most painful sin of gossip with the extreme bias reporting so prevalent in the last month. 10 years and approximately 10,000 rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza. The people of Gaza elected/ tolerate/ support Hamas and are now reaping a horrific reward. Hamas locates missile launching sites in areas that are very repugnant to anyone who values human life. Children and families are used as human shields even though Israel has distributed flyers saying to evacuate areas that support a nest of terrorists. So who does the world condemns? Israel was condemned for excessive response to being fired upon by missiles. Also some idiot in the UN suggested that the iron dome technology should be shared with Hamas.

While there has been limited condemnation against Hamas for using human shields, the preponderance of criticism has been aimed at Israel. Currently there is a tenuous cease-fire in effect, however, Hamas today was making threats that they’re ready to go back to war if their unrealistic demands are not met.
Bias in the media serves to spread the marginalizing of Israel as well as anti-Israel sentiment. Anti-Semitism is a cancer that has spread across the globe. This is not unexpected as in the last days Israel will stand alone.

The KJV uses the word talebearer rather than Gossip, with thanks to Strong:

Gossip
G4691
σπερμολόγος
spermologos
sper-mol-og'-os
From G4690 and G3004; a seed picker (as the crow), that is, (figuratively) a sponger, loafer (specifically a gossip or trifler in talk): - babbler.
talebearer

H5372
נרגּן
nirgân
neer-gawn'
From an unused root meaning to roll to pieces; a slanderer: - talebearer, whisperer.

False Witness:

Lots of Proverbs dealing with false witness and lies including:

Proverbs 6:19, “A false witness who breathes out lies, and he who sows discord among his brethren.”

Proverbs 14:5, “A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness breathes out falsehoods.”

Proverbs 19:9, “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he who breathes forth lies shall perish.”

Proverbs 21:28, “A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears attentively will endure and go unchallenged.”

Proverbs 25:18, “A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a heavy sledgehammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.”