281 responses to “What Does The Bible Really Say About The Sons Of Abraham – And What Will It Take For This Dysfunctional Family To Become As One?”

1. 

   Terence M. Blackett

   June 13, 2010 at 5:34 pm

   
   

   For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

   He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.

   Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. (Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians)…

   Deceiver Jews like SID ROTH with this concept of O.N.M view as a “”superior identity assertion,” a form of “third race replacement theology” – requoting the Word of God by saying:

   “When the ancient Jewish spiritual DNA merges with the New Covenant Gentile spiritual DNA, it will explode with “life from the dead” resurrection power as One New Man” (Eph. 2:14-16).

   http://www.sidroth.org/site/News2?abbr=art_&page=NewsArticle&id=7861&security=1043&news_iv_ctrl=1053

   Is this the “new domination theology” being advocated by the “dark lords” of deceptive end time Christianity?

   http://www.atam.org/DNA.html

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2. 

   J

   June 13, 2010 at 5:46 pm

   
   

   Look Terrance Blackett and Georgie Porgie:

   There are NO chosen people.

   Jews/Gentiles/Palestians/Muslims/Christians/Arawaks/Bajans are all God’s people if we believe in God.

   Or maybe we just lucky to be here and and are no more special than the guava tree in my backyard.

   For too long the world, incuding write sensible scholars, and politicians has allowed themselves to be deceived with this chosen people nonsense.

   The Jews/Gentiles/Palestians/Muslims/Christians/Arawaks/Bajans are no more special than the Arawaks who lived in Barbados 10,000 years ago, and maybe none of them are any more special that the paw-paw tree in my back yard.

   Its way past time that sensible academics and policy makers stop making policy on the basis of old scribblings of semi-literates.

   There are NO chosen people. Get it? There are NO chosen people.

   Think about that and then make your policy of what is good for most people here and now. Stop basing policy on the incoherent scribblings of semi-literates.

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3. 

   Kiki

   June 13, 2010 at 5:51 pm

   
   

   8)
   Roots.. Rock…. Rootical!! Pt 5 –
   Dj Ian Irie on mix duties!

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4. 

   Georgie Porgie

   June 14, 2010 at 12:46 pm

   
   

   Last week I quoted some passages from some of the Minor Prophets to show that the Bible teaches that in the eschaton God will deliver his people from the wrath of the nations and regather them to Jerusalem

   I continue now with this article on Nahum which I wrote when I started to research my DMin thesis on The Prophecies of God in the OT as they relate to NT teachings.

   What the poetic book of Nahum did was to provide comfort to Judah that God would remove Ninevah (Assyria) from off the face of the earth, and that they would no longer be a threat to thier existence.

   In like manner, just as the prophesies of Nahum were fulfilled so that there is not a single Assyrian around today. The promises concerning the regathering of the Jews and the defeat of thier current and contemporary enemies will likewise come to pass.

   So here are my NOTES ON NAHUM part 1

   PROMISES IN NAHUM

   Nahum differs notably from his contemporaries, Jeremiah and Zephaniah, who were primarily interested in Israel’s reformation. Nahum says nothing about Israel’s need of repentance. Rather, the thrust of his message was that which Jonah wanted to see one hundred and fifty years earlier; namely God’s judgment on the Assyrians, and the doom about to descend upon Nineveh. It is a message of comfort to a harassed and fearful people in peril through the cruel and awful military power of Assyria (1:7,12, 13), who terrified Western Asia for over 500 years. Nahum predicts the overthrow of Nineveh as the retribution of God against the wicked Assyrians of Nineveh. Nahum’s major idea may really be put in the words “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” saith the Lord (Romans 12:19), a thought also presented in Deuteronomy 32:35,41,43; Psalm 94:1; 149:9; Proverbs 6:34.Nineveh had run roughshod over the nations, but they who take the sword shall perish by the sword (Matthew 26:52). Convinced that Jehovah though slow to anger will yet take vengeance on his adversaries, he focuses the light of God’s moral government upon Nineveh, and chants the death-dirge of the world’s greatest oppressor. He proclaims the judgment of the Lord, which though long deferred is sure, and will be complete and final. However, though the book focuses on Assyria’s fall and judgment, it is written to bring comfort to Judah.

   The calamity described in the book of Nahum is presented in excellent poetry which is expressed in strong and brilliant language whose rhythm rumbles and rolls, like the horsemen and chariots it describes. The outline below by Willmington facilitates our understanding of the book of Nahum. 1. The Patience of God (1:1-8).
   2. The Pride Of Sennacherib (1:9-14).
   3. The Promise To Judah (1:15).
   4. The Punishment of Nineveh (2-3) (a)

   The following outline is also most helpful:
   According to poetic structure the book may be divided into eight strophes (*) of nearly equal length.
   A- Introduction (1:1)
   B- Prophecy and Certainty of God’s Judgment on Nineveh (1:2-15)

   * A description of the Avenging Jehovah’s Holy wrath, who will not leave crime unpunished, against Nineveh unpunished (Chapter 1:2-6).
   * Jehovah must destroy Nineveh in order to be faithful to his own people, and so that Nineveh’s scheming against God will end (Chapter 1:7-12).
   * Deliverance promised to Judah, but judgment to Nineveh. (Chapter 1:13 -2 :2).

   C. The Description of God’s Judgment on Nineveh (chap. 2)

   *A series of brilliant pictures descriptive of the city’s assault and capture (Chapter 2:3-8).
   * The inhabitants of the city, once gorged, are now pillaged and terror-sricken with their
   ” knees smiting together.” (Chapters 2 : 9-3:1).

   D God’s Judgment on Nineveh described and her defenses shown to be useless (chap. 3)

   * Chariots rush against the doomed city, and are only impeded by the heaps of corpses lying
   about the city and in the streets, as greedy Nineveh lies prostrate and stripped (Chapter 3:2-7).
   * As No–Amon [Thebes ] succumbed, so must Nineveh also ; there is no escape. (Chapter 3: 8-
   13).
   * Resistance will be vain like devouring locusts, for Nineveh’s foes will come. In fact her king
   has already fallen asleep, and his people are scattered as sheep without a shepherd, while the
   while the nations rejoice at Nineveh’s collapse (Chapter 3: 14-19). (b)

   In studying Nahum one must see that “Nineveh’s destruction is not an act of capricious sovereignty, but the just reward of her iniquities. It is not the product of mere national hatred, or even vengeance. It is not Israel’s-pride that is at stake but God’s honor; and it is not even the redemption of his people that is primary, but the vindication of their God. The joy of Nahum, we repeat, is not merely the human exultation of an angry patriot over a fallen foe, but rather the glad cry of an assured faith in the God of the fathers. To Nahum, Nineveh’s destruction was subordinate to the saving mercy which Jehovah intended to show toward his own people and through them to the world.” (c)

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5. 

   Georgie Porgie

   June 14, 2010 at 12:47 pm

   
   

   Part 2

   To properly grasp Nahum, one needs to compare it with Jonah, of which it is a sequel or continuation and supplement. It is both its complement and counterpart since the two prophecies form part of the same moral history. However, Jonah stresses God’s mercy and forgiveness and patience (2 Peter 3:9), and the temporary remission of His judgments. In contrast, Nahum in pronouncing divine judgment and total destruction on the second greatest pagan city in the Old Testament, speaks of the execution of God’s impending, eventual, and certain wrath against all sinners everywhere. Jonah had dwelt on the first side of God’s character -love (Jonah 4:2). Nahum brings out the second- the holiness of God which must deal with sin in judgment. (Nahum 1:2,6).

   Jonah dwells on the first side of Gods character (Jonah 4:2). God had revealed his name to Moses in his twofold character. “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty (Exodus 34:6-7a). This is the attribute of God exhibited in Jonah.

   In contrast, Nahum 1:2 proclaims that God is a jealous God and an avenger is the Lord, and that he will take vengeance on, and reserves wrath for his enemies. Nahum 1:3 teaches that though the Lord is slow to anger, He is great in power and will not at all acquit the wicked. When Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah, God was forced to forgive them since he is “faithful and just” (1John1:9). God forgave them on the basis of his promises and practice that truly repentant sinners would be pardoned. But when their short lived repentant attitude terminated in open defiance of the living God as shown in the blasphemous attitude of Sennacherib alluded to in Nahum 1:9,11, 200 years later, Nahum’s prediction was one of unconditional and final destruction. The time for judgment was imminent.

   We must recognize in the spirit of revenge and rejoicing in Nahum the just judgment of God rather than sheer vengefulness. This is in marked contrast to the theme of the book of Jonah, which also deals with Nineveh. In the book of Jonah, God forgave Nineveh; in Nahum He announces and executes its doom. Nahum rejoices over its downfall as Jonah would have done had his threats been carried out. “At last!” the prophet shouts, for the fall of Nineveh brings relief for Judah (Nahum. 1:12, 13, 15; 2:2). It is a cry of outraged humanity similar to the other cries against Assyria in Isaiah 30:30, 31; and Zephaniah 2:13-15. Nahum, in its general theme of victory over an enemy, might be compared to the song of Deborah (Judges5). To understand this attitude, it is necessary to study the history of Nineveh, and the cruelty of the Assyrians, and to consider what the Assyrian conquest meant. The city had one more denunciation given to it a few years later by Zephaniah (2:13), shortly after which these prophecies were fulfilled in 606 B.C.

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6. 

   Georgie Porgie

   June 14, 2010 at 12:52 pm

   
   

   Nahum was written about one hundred fifty years after the revival of Jonah when the city of Nineveh was brought to repentance in “dust and ashes. No doubt the Ninevites were sincere then, and their repentance then delayed the judgment of God for about a century. But their godly sorrow did not last.

   The conversion of the Ninevites in response to the preaching of Jonah was short lived and they soon returned to their former ruthless, wicked ways, and became once more guilty of the very sins of which they had repented. Nineveh, the glory of the Assyrians, had come to a complete and deliberate defiance of the living God. They were not just backsliders. They had apostasized! They deliberately rejected and defied the God they had accepted, and worshipped.
   (2 Kings 18:25,30,35; 19:10-13). Since they had not realized that genuine repentance involves continuing in God’s word (John 8:31), the Ninevites had to learn that mercy unheeded finally brings judgment.

   The Lord accepted the haughty Assyrian challenge of 2 Kings 19:22-23 and Nahum was chosen to record the prediction of the final and complete over throw of Nineveh and the Assyrian empire. This empire which had been built up by violence and cruel oppression, perished in a violent and extraordinary way 86 years afterwards.

   God’s patience is infinite in depth, but it is not eternal in duration. The message of warning to be gleaned from the experience of Assyria is that, all that God can do with a rebellious, defiant and apostate people and nation is to destroy them.

   The tone and tenor of Nahum’s prophecy suggests that Nahum and his compatriots in Jerusalem lay bound and helpless in the grasp of a cruel, tyrannical enemy (1:I5-2: 2), that Nineveh was still at the height of her glory (3:16-17), that the destruction of Thebes was a comparatively recent event, and that Nineveh’s downfall though not yet obvious, was prophetically imminent. Hence the exact date of Nahum’s ministry was probably not long after 650 B. C.

   Since Nahum speaks of the capture of Thebes (No) in Upper Egypt by Assurbanipal in 663 B. C.
   as already past in 3:8-10, and since in all three chapters he predicted Nineveh’s fall as imminent
   (2:1; 3:14, 19), this suggests that Nahum, probably wrote close to 612 when this event occurred.
   This would place his ministry sometime during the reign of Josiah and make him a contemporary
   of Zephaniah and Jeremiah.

   It is noteworthy that Nahum has nothing to say concerning the sins of Judah, no threats of punishment for her, nor does he give any promise of a golden age, of peace and righteousness. He is strictly concerned with the downfall of Nineveh as a judgment of God upon her sins. These are listed as atrocities, idolatry, commercialism, and brutality, all of which are amply attested to in both literature and art.

   Nahum means “consolation comfort or compassion.” His message brought comfort to Judah, but was certainly not very comforting to the wicked Assyrians who occupied Nineveh. Nor was it meant to be, because “I am against thee” saith the Lord of Hosts,” is twice repeated (2:13; 3:5). This is instructive, since this in antithetical to the great Patriarchal promise of God for His people, “I will be with thee” which we have followed throughout this study.

   The event Jonah feared, occurred in 722, when Sargon II of Assyria destroyed Samaria and took the Northern Kingdom of Israel into captivity, scattering the ten tribes. Later, Sennacherib of the Assyrians almost captured Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah in 701 B.C.

   At the time of this prophecy, Nineveh appeared to be impregnable with its walls 100 feet high and broad enough for chariots to drive upon them. It had a circumference of sixty miles and was decorated with more than 1,200 towers.

   However, Nineveh fell in 612 B.C, about 18 years after this prophesy, being completely destroyed by the Medes from the north and the Babylonians from the south. Nahum not only predicted the fall of Nineveh but the very manner in which it would fall.

   The Historical record reveals us that the destruction of Nineveh occurred at the zenith of its power and was complete. Napopolassar, king of Babylonian with his invasion forces, besieged the city for three years, leading three massive attacks against it and failing each time.

   Because of this, the Assyrians inside Nineveh rejoiced and begun holding drunken parties. But suddenly just as Nahum predicted the Tigris river assisted the attacking armies of the Medes and Babylonians in its overthrow (1:8;2:6) when it overflowed its banks and sent its wildly churning waters against
   the walls of the city.

   Soon it had washed out a hole, into which gap rushed the Babylonians, and the proud city was destroyed. It was also partly destroyed by fire as promised in 3:13,15. God so effectually dug its grave that every trace of its existence disappeared for ages, until excavations since 1841 have confirmed the truth of this prophecy.

   The destruction of Nineveh was so great that when Alexander the Great marched his troops over the same desolate ground which had once given support to her mighty buildings, he did not even know there had once been a city there.

   The promise of God to Judah 1:15 that Nineveh would be cut off and that they would no longer need to fear this cruel nation was thus definitely fulfilled. In predicting the certainty of this punishment in 3:11-19 Nahum compared Ninevah to Thebes (No-Amon, see 3:8) the great capital of upper Egypt. It too boasted that no power on earth could subdue it. However both Jeremiah (46:25) and Ezekiel (30:14-16) predicted its destruction, which was fulfilled later by Sargon of Assyria in his campaign against Egypt. Now Nineveh’s hour had similarly come.

   The fact that the eventual doom of Nineveh was delayed for 200 years after Jonah’s preaching and after a further denunciation by Zephaniah (2:13), speaks of the degree or extent of God’s longsuffering, patience, and grace.

   IS HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF TODAY?

   YOU BET!

   BUT THE END WILL COME SOON!

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7. 

   Georgie Porgie

   June 14, 2010 at 1:51 pm

   
   

   Let us now detail how each prediction in Nahum was fulfilled. First, God is described as jealous and the avenging Lord, who will take vengeance on his enemies, who reserves wrath for his enemies (1:2), and will not acquit the wicked (1:3a), on one hand. However, on the other hand, God is shown to be slow to anger despite His great power (1:3b-5), and the fact that none can stand before his indignation or abide in the fierceness of his anger (1:6).

   This passage pictures God as a well balanced adjudicator. Although we live in an age that we makes little reference to the wrath of God, we are here reminded that God is still is a holy God, who hates sin, and who will bring judgment upon it. Because He is a just God, He must therefore avenge all crimes, for He is a God of absolute justice, He will by no means excuse the guilty. Yet we observe that God did not bring judgment on Assyria in hot haste. He had been patient for a long time, because He is slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He is the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and willing to forgiving iniquity. This passage is thus one of the many on the Old Testament that illustrates the truth of 2 Peter 3:9. Though God is slow to anger, as his action toward Nineveh in the book of Jonah shows, His long suffering is not to be interpreted as indifference or lack of power or slackness, for he is also full of wrath and indignation as indicated by Nahum 1:3,6. Though very patient, when he goes into action none can resist him. Now regardless of its power and prominence, Nineveh is clearly judged as doomed by a Holy God through the prophet Nahum. Assyria’s cruelty, power, and pride would come to an end by the power of God (1:6, 8-14). For “the face of the Lord is against them that do evil to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth (Psalm 34:16).

   The verdict pronounced on Nineveh revealed that “with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place (1:8), that the city would be captured while drunk (1:10), that they would be cut down and unable to afflict Judah anymore (1:12), that Nineveh’s Name would be blotted out (1:14), and that God would dig her grave (1:14). Nineveh had been weighed in the balance and found wanting.

   It is generally thought that the wicked counselor of Nahum 1:11 is Sennacherib, the evil Assyrian king who invaded Judah and surrounded Jerusalem in 701 B.C. during the 14th year of Hezekiah’s reign (2 Kings 18:13-19:37; Isaiah 36-37). At that time his armies were destroyed at Jerusalem’s gates and he was himself murdered as recorded in 2 Kings 19:35-37, he is referred to here because his arrogance was symbolic of Nineveh’s pride. We are ever enjoined to remember that “pride goeth before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18), and that “let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).

   With respect to Nahum1:12, Scofield informs us that “the Hebrew here represents a transliteration of a long- forgotten Assyrian legal formula…[which]…proves, on investigation, to indicate joint and several responsibility for carrying out an obligation. Nahum quotes the Lord as using this Assyrian formula in speaking to the Assyrians, saying in effect, “Even though your entire nation joins as on person to resist me, nevertheless I shall overcome you.” As the words would have been equally incomprehensible to the later Hebrew copyists, their retention is striking evidence of the care of the scribes in copying exactly what they found in the manuscripts, and testifies to God’s providential preservation of the Biblical text. (b) The point that is stressed in Nahum 1, is that God Himself was the source of destruction of Nineveh. The promise was that Judah would no longer have to fear the cruel Assyrians.
   IS HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF TODAY?

   YOU BET!

   BUT THE END WILL COME SOON!

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8. 

   Georgie Porgie

   June 14, 2010 at 2:13 pm

   
   

   Chapter 2 reveals that the king vainly tried to rally his drunken nobles to defend the city (2:5), but the Tigris had caused a flood which had washed away most of the wall which had seemed to them an impregnable fortress. The call to stand found no response (2:8), as every one attempted to flee. Spoil was abundant (2:9), and the city was looted while the people stood with their knees knocking together with fear (2:10).

   In irony it was asked, “Where is the dwelling of the lions (the national symbol of Assyria) where the lion and the whelps devoured the prey and none made them afraid (2:11)?” The Assyrians used to fill the city with the spoils of their victories, but now the processes were reversed. Though the enemy executes the deed it is really the Lord who is her attacker. The Lord specifically said, “I am against thee! (2:13).”

   We cannot read this without being struck by the solemnity of it all. Nahum prophesied this destruction. Today the traveler finds this great city Nineveh of the past still lying in ruins. God has brought everything to pass, exactly as predicted. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hand of the Lord (Hebrews 10:31).

   The phrase “Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings and publisheth peace”(1:15) is a promise which points forward to the proclamation of the good tidings of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. This phrase also suggests that just as the destruction of Nineveh took place before the joyful news was given in this verse, that that the kingdom of darkness must fall before the kingdom of light breaks forth, and before the reign of the Prince of Peace can be inaugurated. Such a message has a value for all time.

   In chapter 3 Nahum expresses the certainty of Nineveh’s punishment by referring to the sacking of Thebes (3:8), the great capital of Egypt, which had also boasted that it could not be captured. However, Thebes, though populous and protected by seas and faithful allies was overthrown by Ashurbanipal (Sargon) of Assyria exactly as predicted by Jeremiah 46:25 and Ezekiel 30:14-16. Nahum points out that Nineveh was no more exempt from danger than was Thebes, because God had decreed her doom. He predicted that Nineveh would be no more secure than ripe figs when shaken from a tree, and that her inhabitants would be no more forceful than women (3:8-13). The prophet in ironic scorn calls for peace time activities such as drawing water and making brick (3:14), and in final taunt he compares the stability of Nineveh’s leaders to locusts that settle on a hedge on a cold day, but which depart in every direction when the sun comes out. He describes
   Assyria’s shepherds as slumbering, and her people as scattered with none to gather them (3:18), while everyone who hear of her fate are exultant (3:19).

   IS HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF TODAY?

   YOU BET!

   BUT THE END WILL COME SOON!

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9. 

   Christopher Halsall

   June 14, 2010 at 2:30 pm

   
   

   @GP…

   You come across to me as a M10 fighter…

   Not much accuracy, but a lot of output….

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10. 

    Georgie Porgie

    June 14, 2010 at 3:39 pm

    
    

    Having summarized the Biblical account, we will now state the historical facts which corroborate the Bible record in amazing fashion, and prove the efficacy of God in keeping His promises.

    Assyria, of which Nineveh was the capital, was a nation largely geared for aggressive war. Its atrocities were proverbial as the records and the art left by its kings make quite clear.

    Though it would conquer the world, it proved unable to rule it. Its victims lay prone under tyranny, but no national spirit breathed in the corpus. No peace organization of any proper kind existed to keep the whole together. Nineveh saw men and nations as tools to be exploited to gratify the lust of conquest and commercialism. Assyria existed to render no service to mankind.

    Assyria reached its peak under Ashurbanipal who, though most widely known for his library, was also its last great ruler. Following his death in 626 BC, the downfall came swiftly.

    Although Assyrian records are lacking for the last 25 years of Nineveh’s existence, classical sources and the Babylonian Chronicle reveal that from as early as 625 B.C., Cyaxares may have been attacking Nineveh.

    However, Nineveh fell before the onslaught of a combined thrust by Babylonians under Nabopolassar, by the Medes led by Cyaxares, and by the Scythians.

    The relations of Israel and Judah to Assyria may be described as “From Qarqar to Carchemish.” At Qarqar Ahab and his allies fought Shalmaneser III in 853 B.C., and Israel shortly there after became tributary; finally being destroyed in 722 B.C.

    Judah became tributary in 735 B.C.; was threatened by Sargon in 711 B.C. (cf Isaiah 20); and was pulverized by Sennacherib in 701 B.C., though she barely escaped through the destruction of Sennecharib’s army (2 Kings 18:13-19:36). Ninevah fell in 612 B C but a rump state at Haran continued until defeated by Nebuchadnezzar at Carchemish in 606) B.C.

    History reveals that according to Nahum’s prophecy, it came true that a sudden rise of the Tigris precipitated the destruction of Nineveh by carrying away a great part of the wall, and breaching the city’s defenses. This greatly assisted the attacking army of the Medes and Babylonians and the Scythians in its overthrow (Nahum 2:6).

    Nineveh had fortified herself with walls one hundred feet high and wide enough for four chariots to go abreast, and a circumference of eighty miles, adorned by hundreds of towers. A moat one hundred and forty feet wide and sixty feet deep surrounded the vast walls. Nineveh sat complacently thinking that nothing could harm her. But Nineveh had not reckoned with God. What are bricks and mortar to God!

    The mighty empire which Shalmaneser, Sargon, and Sennacherib had built up, the Lord threw down with a stroke, and that beyond all recovery. The inventions of civilization are powerless against heaven’s artillery.

    The attackers first razed all the surrounding fortresses (3:12), and then beleaguered the city (Nahum 3:13,15). The Ninevites proclaimed a fast of one hundred days to propitiate their gods (cf.Jonah 3:15), nevertheless the city fell (1:12). The last night of the besieged city was spent in drunken orgies (1:10; 2:5) in which the effeminate kind set the example. The king seeing the fate impending, burnt himself alive in his palace (3:15-19), and the city was, of course, subsequently plundered of its rich spoil (2:10-I4).

    The Medes and Babylonians completely destroyed Nineveh in 612 B.C. at the zenith of her power. So complete was its destruction, so deeply and effectively did God dig Nineveh’s grave that that all traces of the Assyrian Empire’s existence disappeared for ages and its site was unknown and all that remains today of the ancient city are two great mounds- Quyundjiq (Kouyunjik) and Nebi Yunus).

    The destruction was so complete that when Alexander the Great fought the battle of Arbela nearby in 331 B.C., he didn’t even know there had ever been a city there. It is said that Alexander the Great marched by, not knowing that a world empire was buried under his feet.

    When Xenophon and his 10,000 Greeks passed by the site some 200 years later they gave no indication of knowing that the capital had existed. He thought the mounds were the ruins of some Parthian city. When Napoleon encamped near its site, he, too, was unaware of it.

    So complete, indeed, were Nineveh’s ruins that Lucian wrote, “Nineveh is perished, and there is no trace left where once it was.” Gibbon records that as early as A.D. 62, “the city and even the ruins of the city, had long disappeared.” The traveler Niebuhr in 1766 passed over the site without knowing it. As Nineveh sowed, so did she reap.

    IS HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF TODAY?

    YOU BET!

    BUT THE END WILL COME SOON!

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11. 

    Georgie Porgie

    June 14, 2010 at 3:40 pm

    
    

    Many scholars thought the references in the Bible were only mythical, and that no such city ever existed. However, in 1845,Layard confirmed the suspicions of the Englishman Claud James Rich, who in 1820 thought the mounds across the Tigris from Mosul were the ruins of Nineveh. Only since Layard and Botta identified the site in 1842 has the city begun to be recognized by the modern world. The ruins of the magnificent palaces of the Assyrian kings, and thousands of inscriptions were unearthed which give to us the story of Assyria as the Assyrians wrote it themselves. And so the remains of the magnificent capital, the wealthiest and most splendid city in the world of its day, has been discovered to lie across the Tigris River from Mostil, about 1500 yards from the river.

    Quyundjiq has been subjected to repeated excavation by Layard, Rassam, Place, and a host of
    others over the past 100 years. Today there is only waste on this impressive mound that is about
    one mile long and 650 yards wide and 90 feet high. Upon it has been built a water tank to give
    pressure to the water supply in the nearby village. Separated from Quyundjiq by a small river,
    the Khoser, Nebi Yunus, the other mound has a cemetery and a village on it that has made
    excavation impossible. The growing village slowly encroaches on the area once enclosed by
    Nineveh while fields and the tin cans of the city dump cover other sections. Nineveh certainly
    went to the dump, and the dogs, as we say today. Thus the Bible account has been confirmed.

    There are no direct Messianic prophecies in Nahum, in keeping with the basic Christological spirit of all prophecy, but Nahum sees Christ as the jealous God and avenger of His adversaries (1:2f). Similarly, Nahum is not cited or echoed in the New Testament, yet, imbedded in it, the Holy Spirit has implicitly predicated that every power must fall before the coming of the Kingdom of God. There seem to be no promises in the book of Nahum to be fulfilled in the New Testament. Nahum 1:7 also presents us with a promise of comfort and blessing. It is that God “knows those who trust or take refuge in Him,” and that He will be their “stronghold in the day of trouble”(Nahum 1:7). He assures God’s people then, and now that while God’s enemies are suffering the heat of his anger (1:6,8), that those who hold tenaciously to His promises will be safe in his stronghold and keeping (Jude 24;1 Corinthians 10:13). This concept reminds believers today of Paul’s comforting thought in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, where he states that “God hath not appointed us (i.e.His people) to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”

    Nahum in warning of God’s impending judgment on Nineveh, essentially taught or promised God’s eventual judicial wrath against all wickedness worldwide. He thus mirrors the sentiments echoed by Jude 14-15 and 2 Peter 2:9. Psalm 103: 8 promises that the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy, but while God’s patience is infinite in depth, it is not eternal in duration.

    Although a book of judgment, Nahum is careful to report in 1:3a that God is “slow to anger”. This is the same teaching as that expounded by Peter in 2 Peter 3:9 where we read that “The Lord is long suffering and not willing that any should perish.” Both Nahum and Peter therefore compare and declare God’s attribute of justice and inability to overlook and absolve wickedness, with his attributes of love, forgiveness and longsuffering.

    Later, the Holy Spirit through John teaches that God devised a way to make these characteristics of justice, and mercy (the desire and unwillingness not to see any perish) complementary. In 1 John 2:1-2;3:5; 4:9, we are taught that God in love, sent us Jesus The Righteous One to be the Propitiation for the sins of the whole world, and the Advocate to those who would avail themselves of his mercy by confessing their sins. God is thus seen to be both “faithful” and “just” in so doing.

    The concept of God being “faithful” and “just” as stated in 1 John 1:9 is a fundamental one which is the basis of God’s relationship to us with respect to all of His promises. It is of major significance, because since the fall of man God’s forgiveness which was offered on the basis of a blood sacrifice as a substitute for sins ought to be considered the primary interest by sinful man. The greatest of all God’s promises and the major focus of Scripture is salvation by faith in the shed blood of Christ. In our daily dealings, we seek to do business with those who are trustworthy, and are often disappointed. However, in our dealings with God we can be sure that is always “faithful” and “just”.

    The word “faithful” means that “He is trustworthy and always acts consistently” no matter how many times we may have sinned. This does not mean we are to abuse the privilege of His forgiveness. The word “just” is a Greek word that means “to declare innocent or holy.” Only God has the right to declare one holy and He does it on the basis of the blood of Jesus Christ.

    For those who will confess their sins, there is in God perfect faithfulness and perfect justice in forgiving. God is faithful or true to his promise to forgive us as we turn to him – we can rely on him completely to do this.

    The Greek word translated “just” is the same word translated “ righteous” in 1 John 2:1. It means one who does what is right. God’s justice, the fact that God upholds righteousness and truth, means that he could not just set aside our sins, however, he forgives them as they are borne by His righteous, sinless Son. God is faithful to His own Son who has accomplished redemption for confessing sinners. God is just in forgiving because the cross of Christ has satisfied every requirement of justice. Any sinner can come to him on the grounds of this blessed verse and find eternal forgiveness.

    “In verse 9 there is one surprising word. Note that God is ‘faithful and just to forgive our sins.” Just is the word, not merciful. The forgiveness we have in Christ is based on God’s justice, on his righteousness. God forgives not as a man might, because he chooses to be tolerant or indulgent, but because in the completeness of his plan, forgiveness is consistent with his justice. Sinful men can believe in the forgiveness of their sins, not by convincing themselves that their sins are forgivable, but by their faith in the justice and consistency of God once for all revealed in Christ and His finished work! The concept is breathtaking. It is so far beyond anything man might imagine of God or goodness, that the heart can only bow in adoration before the clear vision of love revealed. In such light, how pathetically a human claim to sinless perfection appears. ” (c)

    The translation of 1 John 1:9 in Living Letters helps us to understand the concept we have just discussed. There we read “ But if we confess our sins to Him, He can be depended on to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from every wrong. And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins.

    God is faithful to His promise, and God is just, because Christ died for our sins and paid the penalty for us. This means that every time we sin, we must remember that we do so against a faithful loving God!” This is the New Testament fulfillment of the promises of God as taught in the complementary books of Jonah and Nahum.

    Nineveh represents nations that turn their backs from God. In our day, proud nations are staking everything upon the strength of man power and machines and there is an utter disregard of God. However, Nineveh was overthrown because of her sin (Nahum 3:1-7) and her great wealth and strength was not sufficient to save her (Nahum 3:8-19).

    We can be assured from the message of Nahum, that the individual or nation that deliberately and finally rejects God, deliberately and finally and fatally elects doom. We must beware of this!

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12. 

    Christopher Halsall

    June 14, 2010 at 3:44 pm

    
    

    @Georgie Porgie: “BUT THE END WILL COME SOON!

    In your opinion Dr. Georgie Porgie…

    Is this “end” something we should look forward to and encourage?

    …or something we should fear and work to avoid?

    Sincere questions.

    Dare to answer sincerely?

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13. 

    Georgie Porgie

    June 14, 2010 at 4:04 pm

    
    

    Final paragraphs on promises in Nahum

    The warning of Nahum can be summarized in the two following Scriptures:

    The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up (2 Peter 3:9,10).

    Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men id fully set in them to do evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11).

    We can summarize the promises and lessons to be deduced from the book of Nahum thus:

    • God rules in the kingdoms of men (Romans 13:11). He uses nations to mete out judgment to other nations.
    • God is a stronghold in the time of trouble (Nahum. 1:7).
    • There are no strongholds secure from the vengeance of God (Obadiah1:3-4).
    • Nations, like individuals reap what they sow; “sin when it is full-grown bringeth forth death. (Galatians 6:7; James 1:15). Nahum is thus a book of great relevance in a world of dictators.
    • God’s patience will one day come to an end, and then mercy unheeded will finally bring
    judgment. Then the mills of God grind exceeding small for nations as well as for individuals.
    • When the Lord comes in judgment and wrath the physical world will tremble (Nahum 1:5).
    • Though God is slow to anger he will yet take vengeance on his adversaries.
    • Though the judgment of the Lord is long deferred, it is sure, and will be complete and final.
    • Even in times of impending judgment, God brings comfort to His people.
    • God is merciful, forgiving and patient (2 Peter 3:9), and sometimes temporarily remits His judgments. (The Ninivites’ repentance delayed the judgment of God for about a century). But God will eventually execute His impending and certain wrath against all sinners everywhere.
    • The judgment of God is just rather than sheer vengefulness.
    • Genuine repentance involves continuing in God’s word (John 8:31).
    • Mercy unheeded finally brings judgment.
    • All that God can do with a rebellious, defiant and apostate people and nation is to destroy them.
    • Though it seems that the world is bound and helpless in the grasp of the cruel, tyrannical enemy, Satan, and that the wicked are at the height of their glory, their downfall is very obvious and imminent. We must be comforted because our salvation is now nearer than when we first believed.(Romans 13:11).
    • At that time, just as God had nothing to say about Judah’s sin in Nahum, similarly God will have nothing to say about our sins, because, He has forgiven them, and because there will be no sin there (Revelation 21:27).
    • Just as the downfall of Nineveh occurred as predicted, totally and completely, so too will the predicted judgment of the world occur on time, and in God’s time.
    • The universality of God’s government will be universal, but its retributive character will be in subordination to His scheme of grace.

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14. 

    Bonny Peppa

    June 14, 2010 at 4:38 pm

    
    

    J
    I trying hard not ta laff but um in wukkin………………murdahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, i luv um.(i cryinnnnnnn)

    Chris @ 3:44PM
    Murdahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I deadin. i luv um, sincerely. (ya wicked) 🙂

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15. 

    Georgie Porgie

    June 14, 2010 at 4:50 pm

    
    

    @Georgie Porgie: “BUT THE END WILL COME SOON!

    In your opinion Dr. Georgie Porgie…

    Is this “end” something we should look forward to and encourage?

    DEPENDS ON WHO “WE” ARE

    ALL TRUE BELIEVERS ARE LOOKING FOWARD TO THE RAPTURE AND THE MILLENNIUM AFTER THE TRIBULATION

    Such people look foward to it and say like John in Revelation, ” Even so come :Lord Jesus.”

    …or something we should fear and work to avoid?

    IF YOU ARE AN UNBELIEVER YOU OUGHT TO FEAR
    YOU CAN NOT DO ANYTHING TO AVOID THE COMING DISPENSATIONS NOR CAN YOU WORK TO AVOID BEING LEFT OUT SIMPLY BECAUSE SALVATION IS BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH AND NOT OF WORKS LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.

    This is my sincere answer Has it helped SIr> I doubt it very much.

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16. 

    Christopher Halsall

    June 14, 2010 at 5:14 pm

    
    

    @Dr. Georgie Porgie: “Has it helped SIr> I doubt it very much.

    Actually, it has helped greatly…

    So just for clarity…

    Iff (If and only If) I (or anyone else) agree(s) with the fairy tales you believe in, you say I (we) will join with those “saved” by the second coming of Christ after the near future war which you look forward to and are working towards.

    All others are doomed to an eternal future of fire and torture in hell.

    Do I understand your position accurately Dr. Georgie Porgie?

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17. 

    Bonny Peppa

    June 14, 2010 at 6:25 pm

    
    

    ‘All true believers are looking forward to the rapture and the millineum after the tribulation’.

    Many will be greatly disappointed on that fateful day too because many will be called but only a very minute few will be chosen.A very minute few. Chosen to do what or chosen to go where, I’m curious. But…………………….’rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.

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18. 

    Anon

    June 14, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    
    

    I come from de country. One time we had a dog dat bark and bark and bark allllll night long and won’t let nobody sleep. The only solution wuz to hold he and grease he asshole wid vasaline. Yuh see, when he asshole grease, he can’t get a grip when he try to bark. Dat fix he.

    I guarantee that dis will work with Georgie Porgie too. My God, de man won’t shut up.

    Who volunteering to bell de cat…oops…grease de dog.

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19. 

    Bonny Peppa

    June 15, 2010 at 9:15 am

    
    

    Anon
    ya got de green-tea comin thru ma nostrils. Ya got ma cryinnnnnnnnnnn. Dah had a dog like dah dat whun leh me sleep pun a nite needa and I in grease he pooch, I gih he a nice sirloin steak wid am, am, ammmmmmm, wah now? I khan rememba wid wah now but I kno dat I sleep like a baby evry nite since den and he still sleeping all like now too.
    urrrrrrrrr, urrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, uuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, rufffffffff, ruffffffffffffffffffffffff, urrrrrrrrr

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20. 

    Georgie Porgie

    June 15, 2010 at 11:43 am

    
    

    AS we continue to expose the issues concerning What the Bible really says about the Sons of Abraham in relation to the end times, i quote from my 2001 study of Zephaniah entitled PROMISES IN ZEPHANIAH.

    In keeping with the warnings of cursing for disobedience in Deuteronomy 28, the central theme is that of judgment or the coming of the day of the Lord. Hodgkin calls the book of Zephaniah “a survey of the universal government of Jehovah, His judgment of the whole earth,” and states that “ Zephaniah’s prophecy is marked by the emphasis he lays upon the Day of the Lord”, (1) which is found more times in Zephaniah than any other book.( 1:7,8,14,18; 2:2,3).

    The key words of Zephaniah’s prophecy are indeed “day of the Lord,” “that day,” the day,” which combined occurs some 23 times in this short book. These phrases are the focal point and major theme of Zephaniah’s message. This concept which involves two distinct aspects; judgment followed by blessing, describes a time when God will come to His people and in the process of delivering them, also destroy evil.

    Zephaniah Chapter three clearly records these two distinct aspects of this awesome day. After Israel repents and returns to the Lord, they will be restored under the righteous rule of Messiah.

    It is apparent that Zephaniah, like Joel, had both “local” aspects in view of this coming Day of God’s presence among them (with the judgment of Assyria and Babylon), in addition to seeing that these judgments/deliverances mirrored, and foreshadowed, the ultimate deliverance and judgment which would come in the eschaton.

    “On this day, the nearness and severity of which are emphasized, the Lord would come as a mighty and just warrior-judge to punish the whole world, including Judah. Through this purifying judgment the nations would become genuine worshippers of the one true God.

    The judgment of the Lord’s Day would also purge God’s covenant people and their capital city, Jerusalem. A faithful remnant, the nucleus of the purified city and rejoice in the Lord’s deliverance and protections.” (2)

    I think the main point of the book is 2:3, “Seek the Lord all you humble of the land, who do his commands; seek righteousness, seek humility.” The rest of the book is mainly made up of warnings that judgment is coming upon the proud and promises that the humble and righteous who seek refuge in the Lord will be saved (3:12,13).

    So there are three things: commands, warnings and promises. Obedience to the command in 2:3 is Zephaniah’s main goal, and the warnings and promises are incentives for the people to repent and obey.” (4) “The central and most emphatic portion of the book is the call for repentance (2:1-3). The promise of salvation at the end of the book (3:9-20), also has particular force.” (4a)

    The fulfilled predictions in Zephaniah are presented in the first two chapters and the unfulfilled in the last chapter. In our attempt to gather the promises from the book of Zephaniah we will first attempt to summarize, and analyze and briefly expose its contents. Chapter one announces coming judgment on Judah and Jerusalem in the words “I will stretch out my hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (1:4)”

    As in Joel 2:1-2 this impending judgment is called the “day of the Lord (1:7,14-15). It is described vividly in Verses 14 and 15 thus: “The great day of the Lord is near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter, the mighty man cries aloud there. A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness.”

    That this is a very good description of the tribulation period as described in Revelation, is very well explained by Scofield who posits that “in predictive prophecy such as Zephaniah’s portrayal of the day of the Lord, the near and far are often merged. From a distance a great mountain range appears as a single barrier against the sky, although it actually comprises many foothills and intermediate summits separated by extensive valleys from the ultimate heights. So Zephaniah, seeing in the impending fall of Jerusalem the nearest aspect of the day of the Lord, can say that it is “at hand”(v7) and “near”(v 14); whereas, towering in the distant future of unfulfilled prophecy, the final day of the Lord awaits the return of Christ in glory. It is then that all earth-judgment will culminate, to be followed by the restoration and blessing of Israel.” (5)

    `In the process of warning about and declaring God’s impending judgment on Judah, Zephaniah exposes and catalogs in both chapter one and in 3:1-7, the sins which has kindled God’s wrath against Judah. We read in 1:4, “I will cut off the remnant of Baal.” Manasseh had built altars and high places to this foreign god in the temple (2 Kings 21:3,5,7). Although Josiah had torn them down during his reform effort there remained a remnant of Baal worshipers, which God was going to cut off in the day of the Lord, which was immediately impending in the form of the invasion of Judah by Babylon.

    We observe next in 1:5 that the Judeans were also guilty of idolatry by worshiping the hosts of heaven and “exchanging the glory of God for the derived glory of created things”(2 Kings 23:12; Jeremiah 19:13; Romans 1:23), and by trying to serve two masters (which Jesus later also condemned in Matthew 6:24;Luke 16:13). This set of idolaters were swearing both by the Lord, and by Milcom (or Molech) the national god of the Ammonites. This was of course in contravention to the first commandment (Exodus 20:3). God’s purpose is to show that he alone is God and there is none else (Joel 2:27) and that, therefore, the people should return to him with all their heart (Joel 2:12). History teaches that the Babylonian captivity cured the Jews of idolatry; so God’s promise to punish this sin was kept.
    In Verse 6 backsliders and those who failed to trust God are indicted, and so are the princes, the kings children and all those that are clothed with strange apparel (which probably means those who had embraced idolatrous and pagan customs and pagan) (1:8). All of these sinners were condemned for judgment in 1:7.
    Also cataloged in chapter one are Judean sinners who trusted in riches (1:18). Verse 9 also describes the servants of the rich who zealously filled their master’s houses through violence and fraud. Verse 11 predicts that all these who were afflicted by the love of money would be cut off. It is noteworthy that the love of money is here associated with the same sins of pride arrogance, self-sufficiency and idolatry which are all also rampant in contemporary civilization. Believers of our era are warned by Paul “to flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness (1 Timothy 6:11) “to flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” Readers are urged to pay diligent heed to the precepts in l Timothy 6: 5-11. The prediction concerning the group of defaulters described in 1:13,17,18, will be discussed below in our treatment of the judgment of the sins described in Zephaniah generally.
    .
    Verse 12 refers to those who have grown hard and calloused in their abundance and say, “The Lord will not do good nor will he do ill.” It is interesting to note that 2 Peter 3 discusses this sort of unbeliever, who is deluded by the philosophy of uniformitarianism which has gripped both the scientific world and the scholastic world for a long time. Peter’s arguments are relevant to our study of the promises from Zephaniah. Zephaniah’s contemporaries were denying the possibility of divine intervention in the impending judgment of the soon approaching day of the Lord concomitant with the Babylonian captivity; and Peter is refuting arguments with respect to the denial of God’s impending judgment at the ultimate day of the Lord which is associated with a supernatural reappearance of Jesus at the second advent. In keeping with the mandate of this study to explain the promises of the Old Testament relative to New Testament teaching and fulfillment, we will delve very deeply via a detailed dissection of this deceptive dogma at the end of this chapter.

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21. 

    Georgie Porgie

    June 15, 2010 at 11:56 am

    
    

    The unfulfilled predictions in Zephaniah are presented in the last chapter from 3:8-20, where the prophet pronounces several significant end time promises of judgment followed by Israel’s restoration and the joy of God’s people and kingdom blessing under Messiah.

    These end time promises describe the glorious future of the godly. God’s justice is seen to be (1) upon the former gentile enemies of God who with all the nations will worship God in the millennium (3:9); (2) upon the land of God (Judah) in which Israel will dwell in peace (3:13); and (3) upon the city of God, Jerusalem, which will be filled with singing with God himself leading the songs (3:14-15,17.)

    It must be noted that though the amazing promises of this section relate most directly to the converted and restored people of Israel (v. 10), that the blessings promised flow out beyond the bounds of Israel and include us who through faith in Christ become Abraham’s seed and heirs of the promise as taught in Galatians 3:29.

    Verse 8 is an assurance that we can expect the fulfillment of all God’s promises and threatenings, because of His immutability and faithfulness in keeping His promises (Hebrews 6:17-18; 13: 8 etc.

    In addition, Zephaniah agrees with Joel, and Zechariah concerning the gathering of the gentile nations at the end of this age to pour out his indignation and fierce anger at Armageddon for attacking Jerusalem (Zechariah 10:3; 12:12; 14:3; Isaiah10:27; Revelation19:17).

    In the primary interpretation of this verse God promised the Jews that despite the fact that all was hopeless from the human standpoint with respect to the widespread and deeply imbedded evil in Jerusalem that was incorrigible because of the corruption and faithlessness of its leaders, that he would intervene with blessing following the judgment of the Babylonian captivity.

    In addition, according to the law of double mention God also promised a gleam of hope for the end times when the situation in Jerusalem will also be hopeless from the human standpoint. God promises that at that time, when they see the armies of the nations gathering upon the city of Jerusalem with evil intentions, that it is God who has summoned them there so that He may destroy them by pouring out his indignation, the heat of His anger, and the fire of His jealous wrath.

    The nations will gather with evil intentions against Jerusalem, but God will use this rally for good to save His people alive as was the case in Genesis 50: 20.

    In verse 9 we see the converted Jews, as well as the spared and sifted remnant of the Gentile nations converted to God and serving him with a ready will, and with one consent; not one unbeliever being found among them. This indicates that God intends to save more than just Jews, and hints at the international character of the millennial era: “Yea, at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.”

    “The prophet is not [necessarily] foretelling a universal language, as though to reverse the consequences of Babel, but the conversion of the nations, a spiritual transformation readily discernable in their purified speech.” (9)
    T
    he pure language, may here mean the form of religious worship. They had been before idolaters: now God promises to restore his pure worship among them. The word has certainly this meaning in Psalm 81: 6; where, as God is the speaker, the words should rendered, “I heard a religious confession, which I approved not.” (See Isaiah 29:18; Hosea 19:3; and Joel 2:28, where a similar promise is found).

    The Jews, returned to their own land from different parts of the world where they were scattered will make the necessary offerings as they acknowledge God’s mercy in sending them the Messiah to bless them, by turning every one of them away from their iniquities. This verse speaks mainly of the second such gathering at the end time.

    In other words things are set up for the next event on God’s calendar for the end times to occur.

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22. 

    Georgie Porgie

    June 15, 2010 at 12:00 pm

    
    

    Verses 11-18 pictures the cleansed rejoicing nation of Israel appears, dwelling in their own land. The redeemed who will experience the fulfillment of the promises of 3:14-17 are the ones who obeyed the threefold call back in 2:3: “Seek the Lord … seek righteousness, seek humility.”

    Therefore, humility which takes refuge in God (or as we would say today, humility which takes refuge in the death of Jesus Christ for our sins) is not only the way of escape from divine wrath, it is even more the way of entrance into divine joy in the millennial kingdom.

    Repentant Israel will not be ashamed in the eschaton, because their punishment would have ceased because God will pardon their sin by which they had rebelled against Him.

    At that time God will remove from their midst the proudly exultant ones, such as the rebellious leaders of Zephaniah’s time and the wicked Jewish priests and scribes who blasphemed Christ and would not come under his yoke.

    God will replace the proud leaders by those who are humble and lowly and who seek refuge in the name of the Lord- they will become humble and lowly because they have been conquered by the sovereign grace of God, and will then be following Him who is meek and lowly in heart in order to obtain rest for their souls (Matthew 11:28-30).

    Thus even in the midst of His judgments, God would preserve Himself a people who would remain faithful to His cause, and trust only in His name. The remnant of Israel in the end time will not engage in any iniquity, lying or deceit.

    Verse 14 is both a gracious prophetic promise of the Jews restoration from captivity, and also of their conversion to God through Christ at His second advent.

    This verse teaches that rejoicing and exulting with all the heart is what the humble and lowly will do for all eternity (Revelation 4:4-11), for at the end time we too will then fully appreciate that God kept his promise to us through the Abrahamic Covenant.

    We are told in Revelation 21:3, “Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them [us], and they [we] shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them [us], and be their [our] God.”

    “The closing verses, from 14 on, constitute a command to the redeemed in Zion to break into praise to the Lord in song for the redemption He has brought about. This is the new order that follows the darkness, the gloom, and the slaughter. It is what God has been aiming at all along, that He might bring song instead of sorrow, service instead of selfishness, security instead of slavery.

    The prophet’s picture is one of great beauty and glory. He describes the scene thus: “The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival” (3:17).

    It is the song of the redeemed in which the Lord Himself is present to lead them in glorious exultation. “When God deals a death stroke against the flesh within us and brings us through the painful judgment of saying no to the ego and the self life, there follows a time of singing and of joy. That is the reason God takes us through the pain and the darkness.

    What we see to be true of the individual life today will ultimately be true on the whole wide canvas of history as God brings the evil of humanity to an end and ushers in the day of joy and gladness.” (10)

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23. 

    Georgie Porgie

    June 15, 2010 at 12:03 pm

    
    

    Verses 15-20 give the reasons why the Jews can rejoice. First verse 15 states that the Lord would remove every enemy and opponent and hindrance to their joy. The judgment that had been directed against them is turned away – there would be no more condemnation. This promise reminds us of that in Romans 8:1.

    In addition, in the phrase “The king of Israel, the Lord, is in their midst:” we note a repetition of God’s promise to the Patriarchs, but added to it is the promise “ thou shalt not see evil any more” That this promise will be ultimately fulfilled is gloriously stated in Revelation 21:4, which says in effect “NO MORE DEATH, OR SORROW, OR CRYING, OR PAIN- THAT IS ALL FINISHED!” We believe it, but we can not fully comprehend this, for the converse is all we know. But what a pleasant prospect!

    It is noteworthy that the title “King of Israel” in referring to God is found only twice in the Bible; in Zephaniah 3:15 and centuries later in John 1:49 when Nathanael thus referred to Jesus. The Jews have never had a king since the death of Zedekiah, and never shall have one till they have the King Messiah to reign among them. This promise refers to that event.

    Verse 16 is a command that because there would be no more captivities or national afflictions, the Jews should not be slack in the rebuilding of the temple of God, after the return from Babylon; and, secondly, to their diligence and zeal in the worship and service of God in the eschaton. Church.

    The old marriage covenant between God and Israel is depicted in verse 17 as gloriously restored (Isaiah 62:5; Hosea 2:19): the husband is rejoicing in His wife, resting in His love and joying over her with singing. The conversion of the Jews will be a subject of peculiar delight and exultation to God himself! There will be more than ordinary Joy in heaven, when the Jews return to God through Christ.

    The phrase “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty” may be translated “The self-existent and eternal Being, who is in covenant with you.” This is the character of God in reference to the Jews when standing in the nearest relation to them. He is the Mighty Prevailing One, the all- conquering Hero. This is the same character which is given to Christ (Isaiah 9:6).

    “His name shall be called, the prevailing Almighty God.” He will save and deliver thee from all the power from all the guilt, and from all the pollution of thy sins; and when thus saved “he will rejoice over thee with joy,” with peculiar gladness

    Zephaniah predicts that God will someday “rest” again after completing his great work of redemption as he once did after his work in creation (Compare 3:7 with Genesis 2: 2-3). Gray interprets “rest” as “be silent” and suggests “that this silence of God towards his people is no longer the silence arising from forbearance in order to punish at the end ( Psalm 50:21) but because He has nothing more to reprehend. (11) “He will rest in his love,” may also mean that God will renew his love, to the Jews and exhibit the same love to them that he did of old to the Patriarchs.

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24. 

    Georgie Porgie

    June 15, 2010 at 12:05 pm

    
    

    In verses 19- 20 the restored people are predicted to be a blessing in the whole earth as foretold in the Abrahamic covenant and the millennial Psalms. God promised in verse 19 that at that time that he would punish those who had persecuted Judah.

    Though it showed much malignity and baseness of mind to afflict or reproach those who were lying under the chastising hand of God, this was the conduct of the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites during the Jew’s adversity. The Lord severely punished them for it according to the precept in the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:3). In the end times God will also punish the prevailing anti-Semitism at Armageddon.

    I wilt save her that halteth and gather her that was driven out by captivity probably refers to God renewing the covenant with the Jews, who were considered as an unfaithful spouse divorced by her husband. God promises to bring her back to His house and bestow on them praise and fame in every land. They shall become a great, a good, and a useful people, and will no longer be a proverb of reproach, as they are considered today in the countries where they sojourn.

    At the end of the seventy years of the Babylonian captivity God kept his promised to bring the Jews to their homeland. This restoration was a type of their redemption from sin and iniquity to be ultimately fulfilled in the millennium (Isaiah 11:12; 27:12; 56:8; Ezekiel 28:25; 34:13; 37:21; Amos 9:14).

    At this time, and at this only, will they have a name and praise among all the people of the earth. On their conversion to Christianity, they will become as eminent as they ever were in the most illustrious days of their history. Zephaniah 3:20 is thus the fulfillment of Israel’s destiny as stated in Deuteronomy 26:19.

    Let us summarize the main lessons and promises in Zephaniah.

    • Though Zephaniah gave us a very long list of his ancestors, yet little concerning him is known. God’s messengers must hide behind God’s message.

    • God will punish idolaters of all kinds, and he knows each one of them (1:2-3). ****
    • God will utterly consume all things, and punish sinners (Zephaniah 1:3***; 2 Peter 2:4-10; 2 Peter 3:10). Although many don’t want to believe this, the facts are that just as God destroyed the world that was by water, so too will he destroy the world that is, by fire as indicated in 2 Peter3. The world that will be, will never be destroyed.

    • In the imminent day of the Lord all defendants will be silent before the Lord God (1.7), because they will have no adequate excuse or defense. Study of the book of Revelation reveals that God has already made all the necessary arrangements for this judgment and chosen the players in this drama.

    • God will one day punish those who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good or evil!”(1:12.) Those who are careless, satisfied with the temporal goods of this life; who trust in and depend on their wealth, and are ungodly; who, while they acknowledge that there is a God, but like the Aristotelians, think that he is so supremely happy in the contemplation of his own excellences, that he feels it beneath his dignity to concern himself with the affairs of mortals to judge them for their sins, will be surprised that he does, just as he has in the past The day of the Lord”, which is quickly approaching will be the last great judgment of God upon earth; it will be a time of such great and universal trouble that there will be nothing comparable to it in all the annals of history. The day of the Lord is described as a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. The tribulation period that follows the rapture is indeed most imminent (1:15-18).
    • At that time neither the sinner’s silver nor his gold will be able to deliver him on the day of the wrath of the Lord” (1:17,18).
    • Just as the details of destruction described was clearly fulfilled at the Babylonian invasion, (chapter1) so too in “the day of the Lord”, God will bring to pass all of his promises in the same minute detail. Just as Judah and her enemies were punished as predicted, (2: 1-9) God will similarly punish the ungodly in the ultimate day of the Lord (Jude 14-15). This series of judgments is a warning that there is no escape when the day of the Lord comes.
    • All those who repent and seek the Lord, righteousness, humility, and obey his commands will thereby avoid God’s judgment, and be sheltered from danger on the day of the wrath of the Lord, in accordance of the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from, their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.”
    • Just as Judah’s enemies found escape impossible in the day of the Lord when the Babylonians wreaked havoc on these nations, similarly there will be no escape for those who are not hidden in the hands of Jesus or the heavenly Father as taught in John10: 28-29.
    • God is the only refuge from the storms and tempests of this life (2:3).
    • God is always in the midst of His people as he promised the Patriarchs.
    • God is just and will adjudicate fairly-He sees, records, and will punish all wickedness. “Not a day passes but we see instances of his goodness to righteous men, and of his vengeance on the wicked.”
    • Messiah is presented as the Righteous One within the nation of Israel and the One who will also be their King.
    • God will gather the gentile nations at the end of this age to pour out his indignation and fierce anger at Armageddon for attacking Jerusalem (Revelation19:17; Zechariah 10:3; 12:12; 14:3; Isaiah10: 27). The former gentile enemies of God will then worship God in the millennium (Zephaniah 3:9).
    • Although the amazing promises of the millennium will relate most directly to the converted and restored people of Israel (v. 10), the blessings promised will flow out beyond the bounds of Israel and include us who through faith in Christ become Abraham’s seed and heirs of the promise as taught in Galatians 3:29.
    • In the future day of the Lord, God will judge Judah, Jerusalem and the Gentiles. The later will gather with evil intentions against Jerusalem, but God will use this rally, which he has in effect summoned, to pour out his indignation, the heat of His anger, and the fire of His jealous wrath upon them, and save His people alive. Eventually, the spared and sifted remnant of the Gentile nations who were former gentile enemies of God, but now converted to Him and serving Him with a ready will, shall worship God in the millennium (3:9); Israel will dwell in peace (3:13); and Jerusalem will be filled with singing with God himself leading the songs (3:14-15,17.) This indicates that God intends to save more than just Jews. At that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.”
    • Humility which takes refuge in God (or as we would say today, humility which takes refuge in the death of Jesus Christ for our sins) is not only the way of escape from divine wrath, it is even more the way of entrance into divine joy in the millennial kingdom.
    • Even in the midst of His judgments, God will preserve Himself a people who would remain faithful to His cause, and trust only in His name. The remnant of Israel in the end time will not engage in any iniquity, lying or deceit.
    • The conversion of the Jews will be a subject of peculiar delight and exultation to God himself! There will be more than ordinary Joy in heaven, when the Jews return to God through Christ.
    • God can help even in cases that are hopeless from the human standpoint.
    • God is not unrighteous for taking vengeance as described in the book of Zephaniah-this is corroborated by the teaching of Romans 3:3,5.
    • The Lord severely punished the nations for their anti-Semitism in the past history of Israel. The historical record demonstrates that Edom, Babylon, and Assyria were all decimated for their evil to Israel, according to the promise in the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:3). In the end times God will also punish the prevailing anti-Semitism at Armageddon.
    • At the end of the seventy years of the Babylonian captivity God kept his promised to bring the Jews to their homeland. This restoration was a type of their redemption from sin and iniquity to be ultimately fulfilled in the millennium (Isaiah 11:12; 27:12; 56:8; Ezekiel 28:25; 34:13; 37:21; Amos 9:14).
    • In Zephaniah 3:12,13, the prophet depicts the character of those who will be redeemed as “humble and lowly” since they were conquered by the sovereign grace of God.
    • In verses Zephaniah 3:19- 20 the restored people are predicted to be a blessing in the whole earth as foretold in the Abrahamic covenant and the millennial Psalms.

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25. 

    Bonny Peppa

    June 15, 2010 at 1:25 pm

    
    

    Anon
    He hear you but he won’t tek heed so I gun volunteer ta grease de dog pooch, man. stupsee
    He reallly tink dat people gun read all dat shoite fa true doe? He gotta be moe foolish than he look.

    My Dream box ded, my dream box ded, he ded,he ded, he dedddddddddd. Aw-rite, doan cry, doan cry.

    MADD murdahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh fa Crop Ova2010.

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26. 

    Zoe

    June 16, 2010 at 5:25 pm

    
    

    GP, Once again, you’ve done an excellent job at presenting the Biblical prophetic structure, confirmed over and over again by historical veracity, i.e., archeaological findings and so on, which the die-hard *scoffers* simply cannot refute.

    You have systematically given God’s Word on the Abrahamic aspect of the unfolding of this *Unconditional* Covenant, cemented on the logical principle, that:

    The structure of JUSTIFICATION, (warranted credible truth) in defending any propisitional TRUTH CLAIM, is *COHERENCE* which IS our sole criteria for TRUTH.

    GP, You have coherently done this from God’s Word.
    Amen and AMEN!!!

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27. 

    Anon (the original one)

    June 16, 2010 at 5:47 pm

    
    

    Yes Zoe
    It is very clear that Dr GP is a student of God’s Word and understands exactly what he is talking about.

    He has certainly helped me to understand more of the book of Nahum especially.

    In addition he has clearly indicated from several of the so called Minor Prophets how the Sons of Abraham will fare in latter days at the end times.

    He has also stuck on point while debating and debunking the nonsense presented by the so called scholar who is clearly out of his depth.

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28. 

    Christopher Halsall

    June 16, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    
    

    @All…

    If I may please ask a very simple question…

    Why are those who claim to be so very right…

    …too cowardice to stand behind their words?

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29. 

    Anon (the original one)

    June 16, 2010 at 6:14 pm

    
    

    To all

    Why does this jackass never have anything of substance to bring to the table.

    Why does he not shut up if he does not know what to say.

    Does he not know that NO ONE THROWS STONES AT TREES THAT ARE NOT LADEN WITH GOOD FRUIT.

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30. 

    Terence M. Blackett

    June 16, 2010 at 7:02 pm

    
    

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31. 

    Terence M. Blackett

    June 16, 2010 at 7:07 pm

    
    

    CHECK OUT THE RESEARCH – IT MAKES FOR FASCINATING READING…

    AND THEN YOU DECIDE FOR YOURSELF…

    AS IS SAID = EVERY MAN MUST BE PERSUADED FOR HIMSELF IRRESPECTIVE OF THE CONSENSUS…

    http://www.ifamericansknew.org/

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32. 

    Terence M. Blackett

    June 16, 2010 at 7:08 pm

    
    

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33. 

    Terence M. Blackett

    June 16, 2010 at 7:09 pm

    
    

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34. 

    Terence M. Blackett

    June 16, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    
    

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35. 

    Terence M. Blackett

    June 16, 2010 at 7:12 pm

    
    

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36. 

    Anon (the original one)

    June 16, 2010 at 9:59 pm

    
    

    When Terrence has done all that he can to show how much he hates Jews or how evil Jews are, and when he has sucessfully whipped up hate against Jews, how will this change what the OT prophets predict about the Jews in the end times.

    Terrence you are supposed to be some scholar, right?

    You started your thread with a title WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY…………………….. I notice that Dr GP quotes the Bible, but you bring videos. I and others are interested in WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS. Can you get back there Mr? I doubt it.

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37. 

    Bush Tea

    June 16, 2010 at 10:27 pm

    
    

    So GP, do you expect Terence to refer to the bible for information on what happened in Gaza last year? with pictures?

    Do you not think that we can use our own judgment of right and wrong? of love and hate?

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38. 

    Georgie Porgie

    June 16, 2010 at 11:27 pm

    
    

    BT

    You seem to think that I am a fool.

    But if I start a thread on “What the Bible Really Says About The Sons Of Abraham ” I would continue to say what the Bible says about the Children of Abraham.

    Since his lousy article with which he started this thread and for which you acclaimed him a bar raiser, he has been hemming and hawing and talking nonsense, which you some how seem to think I should listen to.

    This I find hilarious when they are REAL Theologians around and real eschatologists to whom one can listen

    GP does not expect Terence to refer to the bible for information on anything, because he is hopeless in interpreting WHAT THE BIBLE REALLY SAYS ABOUT THE SONS OF ABRAHAM.

    This was demonstrated in his first post, and he has done nothing since then to impress me that he does.

    Re Do you not think that we can use our own judgment of right and wrong? of love and hate?

    I am really not sure about the above. Honestly.

    What I percieve is that there is no love for Jews and a great deal of hatred. This is clearly expressed by the BU comnmentors. But this has been prophesied, so I accept that this will be so.

    As I have said before, my interest is to see how this will all play out, and how will the Word of God prove to be as accurate as it has been in the past. I think it is reasonable for me to feel this way, and that I have the right to concentrate on that which interests me..

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39. 

    Terence M. Blackett

    June 17, 2010 at 5:45 am

    
    

    @ BUSH TEA

    “do you expect Terence to refer to the bible for information on what happened in Gaza last year? with pictures? Do you not think that we can use our own judgment of right and wrong? of love and hate?

    There are some 38,000 christian denominations in the world…

    With some 2 billion people who claim to adhere to the Bible and call themselves christian of one sort or another….

    33% of the world’s population is considered to be Christian of some kind practicing FAITH* according to how they have been indoctrinated….

    In America, 75% of the populace consider themselves christians of sorts…

    Of the approximate 2 billion Christians in the world today, 648 million (11% of the world’s population) are Evangelicals or Bible “THUMPING” so-called believing Christians….

    Evangelicals have grown from a mere 3 million in the 1500’s, to 648 million worldwide, with 54% of them being people of color…(GO FIGURE)…

    In so-called “HEATHEN” countries, there are some 20,500 permanent full-time Christian workers and 10,200 foreign missionaries…

    In so-called christian countries, there are some 1.31 million permanent full-time Christian workers…

    In these said christian countries, there are some 306,000 foreign missionaries who go to other supposed Christian lands to proselytize…

    In these so-called christian countries there are some 4.19 million permanent full-time Christian Bible workers (95%) of whom work in these countries…

    Some 83 million Bibles are distributed around the world every year…(that’s good book sales)…LOL

    Plus in print or on demand, there are some 6 million so-called christian books available to buy (mine’s included)…LOL

    GOD BLESS ‘EM – but there are on average of 171,000 Christians martyrs worldwide murdered for the sake of the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST* per year…(some folks can’t even handle a little controversy far less)…

    So BT, my point is my dear Brother,(and forgive my research rant) – if we as so-called CHRISTIANS can’t EVEN* agree on even the basics – do you think I am particular bothered about folks who are frankly clueless???

    Haven’t even been in the firing line; have nothing to show for their so-called gallantry; flip & flop at the twitch of a button; know nothing of “TRUE” Christian LOVE* and are basically, no different to the Scribes & Pharisees of Jesus’ day or should I say like the folks who currently occupy a geographical place called Israel when the “TRUE ISRAEL OF GOD”* & “THE NEW JERUSALEM” are concepts so far removed from any of us humans that to be constantly dribbling on and whining about EXEGESIS & HERMENEUTICS is something I leave to my 4 year old grandson…

    I have read enough books and in the process, write too many as it is…

    Who needs all this foolishness!!!

    P.S. More videos coming down the pike… YOU DECIDE!!!

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40. 

    Terence M. Blackett

    June 17, 2010 at 6:11 am

    
    

    @ BUSH TEA

    “BUSHMAN” – some historical facts:

    But first a PROVERB –

    “”What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.”

    JEWS AND THE BLACK HOLOCAUST

    Overwhelming Evidence –

    The history that the old “Black-Jewish Coalition” clumsily avoids is the entire three century history of Jewish presence in South America and the Caribbean. But other highly acclaimed Jewish scholars have not been so blind:

    •Lee M. Friedman, a one-time president of the American Jewish Historical Society, wrote that in Brazil, where most of the Africans actually went, “the bulk of the slave trade was in the hands of Jewish settlers.”

    •Marcus Arkin wrote that the Jews of Suriname used “many thousands” of Black slaves.

    •Herbert I. Bloom wrote that “the slave trade was one of the most important Jewish activities here (in Suriname) as elsewhere in the colonies.” He even published a 1707 list of Jewish buyers by name with the number of Black humans they purchased.

    •Cecil Roth, writer of 30 books and hundreds of articles on Jewish history, wrote that the slave revolts in parts of South America “were largely directed against [Jews] as being the greatest slave-holders of the region.”

    •”I gather,” wrote Jewish scholar Wilfred Samuels, “that the Jews [of Barbados] made a good deal of their money by purchasing and hiring out negroes…”

    •According to the Jewish historians, all Barbadian Jews owned slaves – even the rabbi had “the enjoyment of his own two negro attendants.”

    •In Curaçao which was a major slave trading depot, Isaac and Susan Emmanuel report that “the shipping business was mainly a Jewish enterprise.”

    •Says yet another Jewish writer of the Jews of Curaçao, “Almost every Jew bought from one to nine slaves for his personal use or for eventual resale.”

    •Seymour B. Liebman in his New World Jewry, made it clear that “[t]he ships were not only owned by Jews, but were manned by Jewish crews and sailed under the command of Jewish captains.”

    •Moshe Kahan stated bluntly that in 1653-1658, ” Jewish-Marrano merchants were in control of the Spanish and Portuguese trade, were almost in control of the Levantine trade…were interested in the Dutch East and West Indian companies, were heavily involved in shipping; and, most important, had at their disposal large amounts of capital.”

    •In Brazil, where most of our kidnapped ancestors were sent, Jewish scholar Arnold Wiznitzer is most explicit about Jewish involvement:

    (Cited from “Jews and the Black Holocaust”)…

    YOU DECIDE!!!

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41. 

    Terence M. Blackett

    June 17, 2010 at 6:25 am

    
    

    PALESTINIANS SHOULDN’T WORRY ABOUT THEIR JEWISH BROTHERS SIBLING RIVALRY – THEY ARE DOING A GOOD ENOUGH JOB FIGHTING AMONGST THEMSELVES…. LOL

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42. 

    555dubstreet

    June 17, 2010 at 7:54 am

    
    

    Chosen Brothers & Bullwackie’s
    All Stars – Child Of Slave

    June 17, 2010 at 12:45 pm · Filed under Bullwackies,

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43. 

    Georgie Porgie

    June 17, 2010 at 10:13 am

    
    

    Question
    What has this got to do with WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE SONS OF ABRAHAM
    That is the topic of discussion.

    You started the topic not me.

    Neither you or your 4 year old grandson knows nothing about EXEGESIS & HERMENEUTICS

    In the thread on the same subject you supported by opening article man. Go back and see who is flip flopping

    I am constant and consistent Mr scholar and author and bar raiser.

    How you praise and promote your self. I am nothing man just a little doctor who teaches some Basic Sciences and Bible, but I have you posting all sorts of videos none of which I have watched, and you are running here and there and everywhere.

    But apart from telling us a bit about a Sunday School lesson long learned from Genesis 25 and a few trivia other issues well understood (as I wrote my DMin thesis on Genesis having researched the OT in the process to follow up on the promises) what more have you said about the sons of Abraham?

    That David ‘s great grand mother was a Moabitess? And a mixed multitude accompanied Israel to the promise land etc. All basic general knowledge for cursory Bible readers.

    Every story has a beginning (and I remind you that Hagar was NOT Abraham’s first wife or his wife at all) and a story has an end.

    I have taken the time since you are not honest enough or do not realize that the end of the story concerning Israel is recorded in the 16 prophetic books.

    Basically at the end of all the 16 prophetic books. the prophetic gives a word about the future of Israel in the Millennial kingdom.

    Send your videos for the benefit of those who do not read or know the word of God. Spread your hate, and then be incensed that despite it all, ISRAEL continues to survive in the land of promise since 1948 against seeminly surmountable odds..

    Get angry again and rant and rave and send whole movies when the next time some folk come up against Israel thier God helps them to prevail once more.

    And have a heart attack when Jesus comes to win the battle of Armageddon and defeat their foes for good.

    You think all the nasty things you are saying affect me. People throw stones in fruitful trees man.

    I was not given my scholarship, nor any of my degrees. And as unaccomplished as you think I am I HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD OF GOD.

    And you have said very little about WHAT DOES THE BIBLE (noyt your videos) SAY ABOUT THE SONS OF ABRAHAM

    So run in again and BOWL AT THE STUMPS THAT YOU SET UP, oh thou great author and raiser of the bar!

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44. 

    Bush Tea

    June 17, 2010 at 7:25 pm

    
    

    But looka muh crosses fuh muh nuh!!
    …..what a cockroach like BT doing at this fowlcock party doh….???

    @ GP
    But if I start a thread on “What the Bible Really Says About The Sons Of Abraham ” I would continue to say what the Bible says about the Children of Abraham.
    *********************************************************************************************
    Man cuhdear GP, what does it matter what title is given to a thread? obviously a contributor has to respond based on the trend of the discussion…..
    Are you some kind of academic purist now? Lighten up, this is an informal blog that caters to all types.

    In any case, Bush Tea knows full well that both you and Zoe (I won’t speak for Dick) understand full well where Terence, Technician, BT, and everyone else are coming from…

    It is extremely difficult for anyone to understand how a people who claim to be God’s specially chosen can demonstrate all the characteristics that are CONTRARY to those expounded by the son of God himself.

    In the case of the Jews, it is even more distressful – given their recent, much vaunted history with the NAZIS- to conceive how they can now be seen to demonstrate even more dastardly behaviors towards Palestinians -including women, children.

    You seem to be saying that since they were ‘chosen’ they can now ‘do as they like’, and they will none the less be protected.

    Let me tell you this GP…

    This is exactly what we see with those individuals who are supposed to be Christians in the world.
    They claim that they have been either “called” or “chosen” as christians and thus will receive supernatural protection (for example, you have your chops out for your expected ‘Rapture’). In the meantime, their lives are indistinguishable from those who are either not called, not chosen or (I could not resist this… LOL) Not Saved. In fact, many of these persons display characteristics that are even more unrighteous than the ‘gentiles’.

    This is the point that the bushman makes when I insist that anyone can talk, or write eloquently, but in the final analysis, it is the fruit that they produce which matters if we are seeking to judge their character.
    Did Jesus not direct that the tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire…?

    The chosen people of this world were specifically selected to be ‘as the salt of the earth’ – to be examples of how the spiritual laws if God works and to exemplify the power of LOVE, FAITH and HOPE.

    The people of Israel for the past decades, have exemplified only their faith in the military power of the USA; the arrogance of being a bully; and the hopelessness of trusting in military might to achieve peace.

    In my humble bushy opinion, since Anno Domini Nostri Iesu Jesu Christi, the ‘chosen people’ of this world have been those who have been given the very spirit of God as so eloquently explained by Paul.
    The ‘chosen’ status of the physical peoples called Jews was but a foretaste of the great work that was to be done by the Messiah.

    The sad reality and truth is that those people who now live in that small enclave in Palestine and call themselves ‘Jews’, DO NOT have what it would take to live lives as ‘lights of this world’ or to be the ‘salt of the Earth’.

    Such a life is ONLY possible (and even then at great challenge and needing ongoing relentless efforts) by those who have been blessed with God’s holy spirit. Such persons are identifiable by the LOVE and Faith that exemplify their every behavior.

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45. 

    Crusoe

    June 17, 2010 at 7:52 pm

    
    

    What does it matter.

    We are all of God. Ego, power, deceit all contribute to segregate mankind.

    God is Love, Oneness.

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46. 

    Georgie Porgie

    June 17, 2010 at 8:34 pm

    
    

    Mr Bush Tea Sir

    I said if I start a thread on “What the Bible Really Says About The Sons Of Abraham ” I would continue to say what the Bible says about the Children of Abraham.” And I meant that, because I can! LOL
    .
    Mr Bush Tea Sir, it does matter what title is given to a thread.
    Your bar raiser can mot sustain a reasonable argument about What the Bible Really Says About The Sons Of Abraham ” What the Bible Really Says About The Sons Of Abraham ” And yes I am an academic purist when I am dealing with academic pontiffs.
    I know well that this blog caters to all types. However, I don’t classify myself thus.OK?

    I am discussing What the Bible Really Says About The Sons Of Abraham.

    You and others continue to judge based on your own thinking You are leaning to your own understanding, when you opine “It is extremely difficult for anyone to understand how a people who claim to be God’s specially chosen can demonstrate all the characteristics that are CONTRARY to those expounded by the son of God himself.”

    The scriptures teach clearly that God told the Jews that they were not the most numerous people or the most righteous or the strongest when he chose them. His choosing them had nothing to with them per se , nor does his relationship with them depend on their behavior with respect to the Abrahamic Covenant. The promises of the Abrahamic covenant are unconditional as is clearly taught in Genesis 13 and Hebrews 6.

    His relationship with them with respect to the Mosaic Covenant made at Sinai was conditional on their obedience. For this they were twice removed from their land. For their rejection of God ‘s laws as itemized consistently throughout the OT they were sent into captivity by the Astyrians and the Babylonians. For rejecting Christ they were again dispersed after AD 70 and since. During that time they have undergone tremendous suffering, in keeping with the numerous predictions on this same matter.
    .
    The Scriptures teach as quoted by Zoe in Amos that on return to their land they will not be again removed. It is clear that the reassembling of the nation in 1948 is in keeping with the prophesies on Ezekiel and that in Matthew 24 with respect to the budding of the fig tree.

    Zoe has repeatedly rehearsed the history of Israel since their return to the land.
    It is clear that there is land in Arab territories where the Palestinians can be housed
    It is clear that there is a desire by the “Palestinians “ to destroy Israel at all cost .
    Zoe has proclaimed these truths all the time with out any understanding by folk who are supposed to be educated enough to ascertain the facts, and realize that he is indeed accurate.

    Re You seem to be saying that since they were ‘chosen’ they can now ‘do as they like’, and they will none the less be protected. I have not said anything of the sort, nor have I implied such. What I have done is highlighted the Scriptures in the Minor Prophets that speak to the regathering of Israel at the end times. One can do two things with these scriptures; believe as they are literally declared or reject or misinterpret them.

    I don’t care two hoots what you see or think you see. You need to stop adjudicating wit out the facts.
    This is exactly what we see with those individuals who are supposed to be Christians in the world.

    I believe that the Scripture teaches THE RAPTURE BT clearly in 1 Cor 15:552 et secq and 1 Thess 4:13-18inter alia

    You keep on harping on “This is the point that the bushman makes when I insist that anyone can talk, or write eloquently, but in the final analysis, it is the fruit that they produce which matters if we are seeking to judge their character.” You do not know me. You know nothing about my relationship with God “ You are NOT the judge of Christians or Israel. BT When will you get that into your head?

    And you know nothing absolutely NOTHING about my life or/ and my relationship wit the God of Heaven. Neither you or Technician or any one else will not be the judge of the Jews or Christians. You need to stop judging and leave the judging to Christ as determined by John 5.

    Re The people of Israel for the past decades, have exemplified only their faith in the military power of the USA; the arrogance of being a bully; and the hopelessness of trusting in military might to achieve peace.

    What do you expect them to do? How do you expect them to behave? They are still in unbelief? They are behaving just as they have behaved throughout their history. Their behavior has not been predicted to change until Christ’s return in Glory. This is the clear teaching of the Word. Israel are behaving just as they as expected to. Last week I cited Paul’s teaching on this from Romans 2, but it was lost on you because you can only see the understanding to which you lean

    Re Many persons display characteristics that are even more unrighteous than the ‘gentiles’ So what? Is ones acts of righteousness the determination of salvation?. Read Titus 3:3-5 & Romans 4;-5 Ephesians 2:8-10.

    Re Did Jesus not direct that the tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire…? You read a text here ad one there, but how does this relate to I John 1:9 and several other scriptures.

    Re The chosen people of this world were specifically selected to be ‘as the salt of the earth’ – to be examples of how the spiritual laws if God works and to exemplify the power of LOVE, FAITH and HOPE…… BUT NONE OF THEM ARE PERFECT NONE

    IT IS WRITTEN THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS NO NOT ONE. I am not down here depending on my self righteousness or my good works Sir.

    There are several scriptures that teach that Christians were given the Spirit of God, but there are scriptures that teach that Christians can grieve the spirit or quench the spirit also. You seem to hold on to the few verses that you know and seem not to regard the others. You need to apply what Paul calls the whole counsel of God

    YOU SEEM TO BETHE ONLY PERFECT CHRISTIAN WHO LOVES AND DOES EVERYTHING RIGHT. You thereby declare yourself to be a LIAR. Read 1 John 1 6-9.

    Re The ‘chosen’ status of the physical peoples called Jews was but a foretaste of the great work that was to be done by the Messiah.
    The sad reality and truth is that those people who now live in that small enclave in Palestine and call themselves ‘Jews’, DO NOT have what it would take to live lives as ‘lights of this world’ or to be the ‘salt of the Earth’.

    So you are a rocket scientist or Columbus or Columbo or Monk “ Which? THIS IS NOTHING NEW. THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY! THIS IS TAUGHT THROUGHOUT THE WORD OF GOD AND THEY HAVE BEEN PUNISHED AND CONTINUE TO BE SO PUNISHED

    None of us have stated that the Israelis are saints or perfect.

    Re Such a life is ONLY possible (and even then at great challenge and needing ongoing relentless efforts) by those who have been blessed with God’s holy spirit. Such persons are identifiable by the LOVE and Faith that exemplify their every behavior.

    Again this is basic stuff learned in Sunday School.

    You do not know the anguish and the struggles that Christians engage in. EVEN PAUL HAD STRUGGLES IN LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE READ ALL ABOUT IT IN ROMANS 6 & 7

    You are the only one that knows it all and lives perfectly and are above judgement.

    The Abrahamic Covenant is unconditional. God will deliver his chosen people at Christ’s return, according to the numerous promises to this effect, because God he must keep his promises as taught in several scriptures.do so according to the teachinhg of Hebrews 6:13 etc

    There is a need to try to understand what the Bible is saying even though it goes against our logic and our own understanding.

    You and others will continue in your ways. Why dot you let us go our way also. Let God judge us.

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47. 

    Georgie Porgie

    June 17, 2010 at 8:53 pm

    
    

    I have been looking through the Minor Prophets and bringing to this thread WHAT THE BIBLE REALLY SAYS ABOUT THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM

    I continue now in Micah 7:15- 17. According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might. they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf [Mic. 7:16]. They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee

    God led Israel out of Egypt by miracle, but He did not bring them out of Babylon by miracle. No miracles are mentioned in connection with that, although their return to the land was a wonderful thing. It was the deliverance out of Egypt that was miraculous, and God says here that that will be the pattern for the day when He again brings them into the land. We have not seen anything like that in their present-day return to the land. We ought to recognize, therefore, that God has not yet completely fulfilled this prophecy.
    When God begins again to move them back into the land fully, the world will stand in amazement, just as the peoples round about them did at the time of their exodus from Egypt. You remember the confession of the harlot, Rahab: “For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath” (Josh. 2:10–11). The word has gotten around as to how God had taken care of His people.

    Verse 17 refers to the godless nations which have attempted to destroy Israel. In that day when He comes to deliver Israel, “they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.”

    Like it or lump it. This is what the scripture says.

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48. 

    Bush Tea

    June 17, 2010 at 9:15 pm

    
    

    ….so wait….. now I am Mr Bush Tea SIR…???!!
    what happen to BT? rotflahmb (rotfl and holding muh belly)

    GP, why are you so ‘touchous’? (as Bonny would put it)?
    No one was talking about you….
    what happen? …. did the cap fit when I talk about so called christians not reflecting the fruits of the spirit?

    Man Bush Tea was talking GENERALLY. I ent mean you!

    Nor have the bushman ever said ANYWHERE that BT is any perfect or even halfway christian. The most the bushman ever claimed was to be one of BBE’s boys – all I looking for is a likkle pick with the cows or the bees (somebody have to help produce the milk and honey….LOL)

    …BT too wufless to feel that he is any perfect christian – ask Bonny or ac…..

    But you got the bushman at a loss GP…..
    I tell you that JESUS says that he going cut down the trees that do not produce good fruit and cast them in the fire and you get hot under the collar and cuss Bush Tea and say
    ***********************************************************************
    “I don’t care two hoots what you see or think you see. You need to stop adjudicating wit out the facts”
    ***********************************************************************
    Man BT was only passing on a message – just telling you what Jesus said GP….. it was pure hearsay….. LOL…. or are you saying that HE won’t be judging you either…??

    The other thing is this; If you agree that the Jews have been less than perfect and have been consistent in this behavior over the centuries -causing God to punish them over and over; Why are you complaining about others saying the exact same thing about their treatment of the Palestinians?

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49. 

    Georgie Porgie

    June 17, 2010 at 10:07 pm

    
    

    Not touchous at all BT
    Just gave a detailed answer to your post, as is my custom.

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50. 

    Inkwell

    June 18, 2010 at 12:16 am

    
    

    I ‘m not much of a biblical scholar, but if every time the Jews displease God by becoming arrogant and overbearing, he punishes them to bring them back in line, I’m wondering if it isn’t time again.

    Maybe it isn’t that end time is here, it may just be that its crying time for the chosen ones again because they haven’t learnt their lesson.

    Who will He use this time…Ahmadinejad?

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