| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Noahs Dove" |
| Date: |
14 Apr 2006 02:35:59 AM |
| Object: |
Easter Peace Message / Messianic Prophecies |
Peace is something we all desire and it's something the world
desperately needs. Jesus, the Lamb of God when he comes will bring
real world peace...however the Bible says an emerging antichrist system
will bring a false peace. The following is some scripture, notes and
thoughts on God's Peace. I hope this message will give you peace
from the Christ the Prince of Peace. If you are blessed by the
following message of peace it will be nice to hear from you,
"Swords into Plowshares" - a Message and Prayer for Peace
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the
LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and
shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the
mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will
teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion
shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and
they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither
shall they learn war any more." - the Prophet Isaiah Ch2
Our world is threatened with terrorism, racial violence, and war. What
has happened in Israel, and else where in the world is perhaps a
barometer for the times we live in. Is there a solution for lasting
Peace? With man perhaps it is impossible. God's Peace is available for
individuals and like salt and light can spread with God's help in our
society and beyond. When the Prince of Peace comes the prophets say
there will be permanent peace...however before that Day comes can we be
Peacemakers in a world being torn apart by hatred? Yes, we can ...God
who created the human race and has acted into human history has not
left us in the dark as to the nature of Peace.
Sometimes humans get use to imperfection
In a perfect world with perfect people there would be no
war, thief, terrorism, racism, human inflicted misery etc. All would
obey God's commandments to love our neighbors and obey the Golden rule.
Our nations would have no need for weapons of war. We would need no
police, armies, priest, gurus or locks on our door . There would be no
poverty, cruelty, or murder. Mankind would experience unity and peace.
All would worship and serve the one true God as there would be no
idolatry, false prophets or antichrists. This doesn't sound like our
world presently does it?
All this should tell us there is something terribly wrong with the
human
race. St. Paul in the book of Romans Ch1 wrote:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of
God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and
also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to
faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God
hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his
eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God,
neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their
foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made
like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and
creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of
their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served
the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their
women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman,
burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that
which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their
error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God
gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not
convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,
malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of
evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things
are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them
that do them.
If you read the rest of Romans to the end of book of Revelations you
will begin to see God's solution for all this.
For a brief summary of the solution:
The following quotes, comments, and relevant scriptures will hopefully
shed some understanding and light on that that humanly difficult thing
to achieve...which is Peace.
War is easily spread by the flames of hate, racism, demonization and
desire for revenge. When people or nations are not just in their
treatment of others ..the seeds of war are planted.
Racism as defined by the dictionary is "an irrational belief or
advocacy of the superiority of a given group, people or nation." Racism
is not just a matter of differences in the colour of one's skin and
culture..it goes much deeper into issues...such as cultural pride ,
nationalism, non-scientific or untruthful definintions of race,
prejudice, etc.
Racism is widespread in our world and has led to lynchings, mob
violence, genocide and war and has resulted in the death of untold
millions on this planet. Racism and hate if unchecked have the
potential to destroy all life on this planet. Is this what people want
..=2E.If we come to our senses I think not!
What are the roots of racism and hate... The following quotes by
various prophets and sages will shed some light on the roots of racism
and hate and offer some alternative solutions:
A person who is treated poorly by a person of another race or color can
respond with hate or heed the words "You have heard that it has been
said, You should love your neighbour, and hate your enemy, But I say
unto you, Love your enemies....bless them that curse you, do good to
them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you.."
The latter is difficult but can defuse a potentially reactionary
situation.
The person who said these words also said:
"So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; this is
the meaning of the Law and the Prophets." *
A person who loves will honestly recognize one's own faults and will
hold
his breath rather than condem others.
"He who has no sin cast the first stone" -this was said by Jesus of
Nazereth to an angry
judgemental crowd who was ready to cast stones at a women caught in the
act of adultery.
No racial group or individual can claim it, or he or she is without
sin...unfortunately we are
often too quick in condeming others while failing to see one's own
shortcomings.
Jesus had the following wise words to say about blindly condeming
others:
"Condem not, that you be not condemed.
For with what judgment you condem, you shall be condem: and with what
measure you out, it shall be measured to you again. And why do you
notice the speck that is in your brother's eye, but not see the beam
that is in your own eye? Or why do you say to thy brother, Let me pull
out the speck out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye?
You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then
you will see clearly to cast out the speck out of thy brother's eye.".*
St. Paul writes:
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone
else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are
condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same
things. {Rom 2:1 NIV}
Love is willing to forgive and with time and God's help forget.
It is difficult to love our enemies without God's help. He is the Vine
..=2Ewe can bear the fruit of love, forgiveness and peace if we abide in
in God .... "a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself"*
"But if you are led of the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the
works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell
you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do
such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there
is no law." Paul to the Galatians.
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh
after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he
shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" -John the
Baptist
How do we receive the Spirit of PEACE and LOVE?
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh
receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it
shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a
father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a
fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a
scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto
your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy
Spirit to them that ask him?*
- * quotes from Jesus of Nazereth
Faith is gift of God and comes from hearing His Word and His Gospel of
Peace. This gospel will shed light on who is Jesus of Nazereth.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made
by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him
was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in
darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent
from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear
witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was
not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was
the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He
was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him
not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as
received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to
them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of
the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word
was made flesh, and dwelt among us,(and we beheld his glory, the glory
as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
- excerpt from the Gospel of John
We cannot justify ourselves before a Holy God if we have broken His
Laws. Our conscience and God's written Law condems us when we break the
moral Law. Depending on personal righteousness when we have broken
God's Moral Laws leads only to self-righteousness, pride and often
hypocrisy. Self-righteousness feeds pride and hate and is used as a
justification for war and revolutions. ...human history has too many
examples of this.
Lust for power as well as a greed also feed the roots of war and
destruction.
"From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence,
even of your lusts that war in your members? You lust, and have not:
you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war, yet
you have not, because you ask not. You ask, and receive not, because
you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts." - letter of
James
"And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves
that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the
temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The
Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I
am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as
this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the
publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto
heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a
sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the
other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that
humbleth himself shall be exalted."* -the Gospel of Luke
Understanding we are only acceptible to God on the basis of mercy and
grace destroys any pride and self-righteousness. In the eyes of God we
are all poor in sufficent righteousness and if we are honest need to
afirm the words of the publican, God be merciful to me a sinner.
"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
-from Paul's letter to the Ephesians...please also read Paul's letter
to the Galatians and Romans to help clarifiy the issues such as the
purpose of the Moral Law, Justification by faith and Peace.
How can we be justified and make peace with God? When we make peace
with God then He helps us make peace with men.
God has provided a way of Peace
by means of atonement..the Passover and Day of Atonement foreshadows
God's atonement when a lamb is slain in substitution.
Isaiah in 700 BC predicted this means of atonement and it can be read
on the copper scroll of Isaiah in the "Tomb of the Scroll" in
Jerusalem, which is part of the Dead Sea Scrolls...
or in the Old Testament.
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD
revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out
of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see
him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and
rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we
hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him
not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did
esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was
wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are
healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his
own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was
oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is
brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers
is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and
from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off
out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was
he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich
in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit
in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief:
when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his
seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall
prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by
his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall
bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53)
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."..
..these are the words of the prophet John speaking of the person who was
called Yeshua or Jesus.
The Lamb of God has power to take away our sins and give us power to
live in peace because of who He is.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there
shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to
order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from
henceforth even for ever." (Isaiah 9)
"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the
thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is
to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from
everlasting. " (Micah 5:2)
" I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord,
which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."
(Revelations 1:8)
"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers
of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from
the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his
dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of
sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every
creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and
that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by
him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things
consist.
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the
preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness
dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to
reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be
things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime
alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he
reconciled"
-Paul to the Colossians Ch. 1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ: St. Paul to the Romans Ch 5:1
The story of Noah's Ark is a symbol of our oneness in the family of
Man...we are all the children of Adam ..we are all God's children as He
is our Creator. The dove of Noah carrying the olive leaf is a symbol of
Peace if we follow His ways. The Rainbow is a symbol of God's Promise
when we have faith and obey. ALL men are created in the image of God.
"God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him;
male and female created he them." -Genesis
We are ALL His offspring by creation.
"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord
of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither
is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing
he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one
blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and
hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their
habitation;
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and
find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we
live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets
have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as WE are the
offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto
gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all
men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the
which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath
ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath
raised him from the dead."
- Paul's speech to the Athenians (Acts 17)
Evolutionary theories on the other hand tends to support unscientific
theories of racial superority...Hitler borrowed ideas from Darwin to
justify German racisim claims and genoicide.
War and conflict are due to mankind failing to obey God's command to
love ones neighbour and one's enemies.
The following commandment of God if obeyed with God's help will bring
peace to Jew, Gentile and Arab alike who accept and act on it...
You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour,
and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use
you, and persecute you;
That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he
maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on
the just and on the unjust.
For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? do not even
the publicans the same?
And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? do
not even the publicans so?
Be therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect.* -Jesus of Nazareth
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no
murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3
.."..So let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that
loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was
manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only
begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein
is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son
to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we
ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If
we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in
us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath
given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be
the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth
in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is
love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day
of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no
fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath
torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him,
because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his
brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath
seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this
commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother
also." (1 John 4)
Please spread this gospel of peace and love before it is too late!
Christ said his gospel would not bring peace to individuls who reject
it or choose not to walk in the Spirit of Peace...however He promises a
Peace that the world cannot receive or understand to those who seek it.
that the world cannot receive or understand to those who seek it.
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send
in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world
giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it
be afraid." Jesus -Gospel of John
Pray for a peaceful end to conflict in the world.
Pray for your own Peace with God and others and you are at Peace
pass this message and prayer to others.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of
God."
Now the God of peace be with you. Amen.
http://www.messianic-prophecy.net/
=EF=BF=BCMessianic Prophecy: A Definition
The term "Messianic prophecy" refers to a compilation of over one
hundred predictions (conservative estimate) in the Old Testament
regarding the Messiah. They have undeniable accuracy even though these
prophecies were recorded by numerous writers into various books over
1000 years. We are assured that these prophecies were not conspired
after the fact due to the Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint. These items
are existed prior to Jesus' time on earth.
Messianic Prophecy: The Fulfillment
Jesus Christ fulfilled the Messianic Prophecy foretold by the Old
Testament authors. Study the prophecies yourself and consider the
probability of just one person fulfilling even a few of these specific
prophecies! Luke 24:44 says, "Then he said, 'When I was with you
before, I told you that everything written about me by Moses and the
prophets and in the Psalms must all come true.'"
Consider these Old Testament prophecies and the New Testament
fulfillment by Christ:
=E2=80=A2 Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7)
=E2=80=A2 Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23) as a descendant
of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 22:18; Matthew 1:1; Galatians 3:16), of the
tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10; Luke 3:23, 33; Hebrews 7:14), and of the
house of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Matthew 1:1)
=E2=80=A2 Herod killing the infants (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16-18)
=E2=80=A2 Taken to Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:14-15)
=E2=80=A2 Heralded by the messenger of the Lord (John the Baptist) (Isai=
ah
40:3-5; Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:1-3)
=E2=80=A2 Anointed by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; Matthew 3:16-17)
=E2=80=A2 Preached good news (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:14-21)
=E2=80=A2 Performed miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6; Matthew 9:35)
=E2=80=A2 Cleansed the Temple (Malachi 3:1; Matthew 21:12-13)
=E2=80=A2 Ministered in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:12-16)
=E2=80=A2 Entered Jerusalem as a king on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew
21:4-9)
=E2=80=A2 First presented Himself as King 173,880 days from the decree to
rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25; Matthew 21:4-11)
=E2=80=A2 Rejected by Jews (Psalm 118:22; 1 Peter 2:7)
=E2=80=A2 Died a humiliating death (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53) involving:
rejection (Isaiah 53:3; John 1:10-11; 7:5,48), betrayal by a friend
(Psalm 41:9; Luke 22:3-4; John 13:18), sold for 30 pieces of silver
(Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:14-15), silence before His accusers
(Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12-14), being mocked (Psalm 22: 7-8; Matthew
27:31), beaten (Isaiah 52:14; Matthew 27:26), spit upon (Isaiah 50:6;
Matthew 27:30), piercing His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16; Matthew
27:31), being crucified with thieves (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38),
praying for His persecutors (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34), piercing His
side (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34), given gall and vinegar to drink
(Psalm 69:21, Matthew 27:34, Luke 23:36), no broken bones (Psalm 34:20;
John 19:32-36), buried in a rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew
27:57-60), casting lots for His garments (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24).
=E2=80=A2 Rose from the dead! (Psalm 16:10; Mark 16:6; Acts 2:31)
=E2=80=A2 Ascended into Heaven (Psalm 68:18; Acts 1:9)
=E2=80=A2 Sat down at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3)
=EF=BF=BC=EF=BF=BC=EF=BF=BC=EF=BF=BC=EF=BF=BCMessianic Prophecy: Part 2. (R=
ead Part 1 First!)
Messianic Prophecy - The Odds of Fulfillment
We can understand the power of Messianic Prophecy when we consider
statistical odds that one person fulfilled all of them. If we study
just seven of the specific prophecies, that were later fulfilled in the
Person of Jesus Christ, we are amazed by the impossibility!
To illustrate, here are some conservative "odds" next to seven
established prophecies.
Messianic
Prophecy=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=
=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0
Odds Without God
1=2E
Jesus would be a descendant of David.
104 (1 in 10,000)
2=2E
Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.
105 (1 in 100,000)
3=2E
Jesus would be a miracle worker.
105 (1 in 100,000)
4=2E
Jesus would present Himself as King riding on a donkey.
106 (1 in 1,000,000)
5=2E
Jesus would be betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver.
106 (1 in 1,000,000)
6=2E
Jesus would be crucified.
106 (1 in 1,000,000)
7=2E
Jesus would first present Himself as King 173,880 days
from the decree of Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem.=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=
=C2=A0
106 (1 in 1,000,000)
=C2=A0
Total Probability (without God)
1038 (1 in a 100 billion, billion, billion, billion)
Messianic Prophecy - The Importance!
This Messianic prophecy is unparalleled evidence that sets God's Word,
the Bible, apart from the other "holy books." Take time to study the
Old Testament prophecies and the parallel New Testament fulfillments.
What you discover is potentially life-changing!
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| User: "Noahs Dove" |
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| Title: Re: Easter Peace Message / Messianic Prophecies |
14 Apr 2006 03:22:43 AM |
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http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/528.htm
=EF=BF=BCDreams and visions have, through recorded history, often guided
mankind. God has frequently made use of dreams in communicating his
will to men. The following special dreams are recorded in the Tawrat's
Book of Genesis written by the Prophet Musa (Moses, pbuh):
=E2=80=A2 Yaqub (Jacob, pbuh) (28:12 & 31:10)
=E2=80=A2 Laban (31:24)
=E2=80=A2 Yusuf (Joseph, pbuh) (37:9-11)
=E2=80=A2 Abimelech (20:3-7)
=E2=80=A2 Egypt's Pharaoh (41:1-8). (Pharaoh is also mentioned in the
Qur'an in Surah 10, Ayat 90-92)
=E2=80=A2 Egypt's Pharaoh's chief butler and baker (40:5)
And in other books of what is known as the Old Testament, also
sometimes referred to as the Tawrat:
=E2=80=A2 Gideon (Book of Judges, 7),
=E2=80=A2 King Sulaiman (Solomon) (Book of 1 Kings, 3:5)
=E2=80=A2 The Midianite People (Book fo Judges, 7:13)
=E2=80=A2 King Nebuchadnezzar (Book of Daniel, 2:1; 4:10, 18)
And in the Injil (New Testament), we find:
=E2=80=A2 Joseph, husband of Maryam (Mary), the mother of Jesus
"=2E..an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph,
son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child
who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.' 'She will bear a
Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people
from their sins.' Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by
the Lord through the prophet: 'BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD
AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,' which
translated means, 'GOD WITH US.' (Book of Matthew, 1:20. See also 2:12,
13, 19)
=E2=80=A2 The wise men from the east who were led to the birthplace of Isa
al Masih (Jesus) (Book of Matthew. 2:12)
=E2=80=A2 Pilate's wife (Book of Matthew 27:19)
=E2=80=A2 Paul In a night vision a "man of Macedonia" stood before Paul a=
nd
said, "Come over into Macedonia and help us" (Acts 16:9; see also 18:9;
27:23)
God is Great! Just as He did in the past, God is showing His mercy and
guidance to Muslims throughout the world today! Read the following
story portions from Muslims worldwide who have reported such dreams and
now follow Isa al Masih as their Savior:
"=2E..two angels dressed in white robes stood on top of the mountain.
Jesus was standing between the angels. He left the angels and came to
where I stood watching. As he approached me, I knelt down and he laid
his hands on my head..." [read more]
"=2E..['D.'] dreamt he was sitting with his arms tied to a chair. Then he
saw a man he recognized as Jesus coming. Jesus touched the ropes and
they fell from his arms..." [read more]
"=2E..In the dream, Jesus told me to come to Him and read the Bible and
He would show me the way, truth and the life..." [read more]
"=2E..I was standing in a cross shape with a low wall around it. In my
right hand, I had a big stack of white unwritten papers. I was standing
at the cross beam, and I was looking to a small group of people who
were standing at the top. They all wore long white clothing, but one of
them was different. He was standing at the right side, and with his
left hand he was leading the people through a door in the wall. Beyond
the door was light, and I could not see what was in there. One moment I
was standing in the dream, and the next moment I was seeing the cross
from above..." [read more]
"=2E..I saw some Christians standing in line to get into Heaven. I tried
to get into this line also, but a very tall being blocked my path and I
started to cry because the side I was on was really horrible but the
side they were on was a beautiful place, so beautiful, so blue..."
[read more]
"=2E..I went back to bed after a short prayer and saw a second dream.
This time it was Jesus as I saw him in the Jesus film years ago and I
had trashed his video. He was hanging on the cross, the nails were in
his hands and feet, yet he was smiling at me and talking to me. Though
he was dying he seemed so beautiful. The cross was huge and I seemed
like a little boy. My neck was falling back trying to see the whole
face of Jesus and suddenly a huge big circle of light came from above
the cross and down upon me..." [read more]
"=2E..I was swimming. It was very dark, without any stars in the sky.
After swimming for a while, I stopped and looked up at the sky.
Suddenly, I saw a star shining. I closed my eyes and made a wish. I
said, 'Morning Star, teach me the secret of life'...I kept having this
dream for years almost every other month and this pattern continued
until a few months after my conversion, when I read Rev. 22:16, which
says, 'I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the
churches. I am the Root and the offspring of David, and the bright
Morning Star'..." [read more]
Other Stories:
=EF=BF=BCFilipino Muslims. Stories from the Zamboanga and Basilan regions of
the Southern Philippines are starting to come in. Yakan and Tausug
Muslims are reporting having dreams of Isa during and after Ramadan.
[read more]
A Vision. The story of one Malay's trip to Mecca for the hajj and the
strange incidents that occurred there. [read more]
The Battle. The story of one Turkish man's spiritual journey while
studying in the Caucasus. [read more]
From Mosque to Church. Yilmaz, a Turkish man, decides to follow after
Isa Mesih. [read more]
Out of Kundalini. (non-Muslim) The story of one Indonesian man's
journey to Christ. [read more]
Power to Heal. (non-Muslim) The story of one Malaysian man's miraculous
healing. [read more]
A magazine published in California reports the following (based on
questionnaires completed by over 600 Muslims who placed their faith in
Jesus) [1]:
"Though dreams may play an insignificant role in the conversion
decisions of most Westerners, over one-fourth of those surveyed state
quite emphatically that dreams and visions were key in drawing them to
Christ and sustaining them through difficult times. Rick Love,
International Director of Frontiers, has recognized the pattern as
well. He writes that, 'Just as God used a vision to convert Paul, in
like manner He reveals Himself to Muslims through dreams and visions.
Just as God prepared Cornelius to hear the Gospel through a vision, so
God is preparing a multitude of Muslims to respond to His good news.'
[2]
=EF=BF=BCOne believer from Guinea recounts the dream of a figure whom he
later believed to be Christ. The figure was in a white robe, calling
the man to come to Him. In a related dream, he recalls that the same
figure's arms were extended, beckoning him. Dreams of this type have
become recognized as a pattern of work among Muslims. Though there are
variations, Christ appearing in a white robe is a recurring image among
those who have had dreams and visions. Similarly, a Muslim Malay woman
was drawn by a vision she had of her Christian parents who had died.
She saw them rejoicing with others in heaven. Jesus, appearing in a
white robe, said, "If you want to come to me, just come." Feeling that
she had tried her entire life to reach God without success, she now saw
God initiating the effort to reach her through Jesus.
A convert from the Middle East who had been afflicted with severe
headaches was lying on his bed after having prayed for his sick son. A
man with a beautiful, peaceful face appeared. Dressed in white, the
figure walked to the head of the man's bed and touched him three times
on the head. The next morning his headaches were gone. His son, too,
was fully healed. Understandably, he now recounts with confidence, "I
believe in prayer in the name of the Christ."
The great majority of dreams seem to fall into one of two broad
categories. The first could be considered the preparatory dream. Like
Christ appearing in a white robe, the vision confirms thoughts or
conversations one has been having about Christ or the Christian faith.
The second could be called the empowering dream. Here the dream or
vision commonly gives the believer strength in the face of persecution.
Short of persecution, it may embolden believers, strengthening the
nature of their witness.
Preparatory. One Sunni woman from the Arabian Peninsula had a figure
appear to her in a dream, telling her to visit a Christian woman she
knew. The figure, who she was later convinced was Christ, told her this
woman would teach her.
=EF=BF=BCPrior to his conversion, a Persian man had a vision. In it, he was
falling in darkness over a cliff and was saved by a light holding onto
his back.
In a fascinating twist on God's use of dreams and sleep, one Algerian
recounted how she heard her sleeping Muslim grandmother say, "Jesus is
not dead. I want to tell you He is here."
A West African man recounts a succinct, yet powerful vision he had
prior to conversion. He saw a devout Muslim in hell and a poor
Christian who couldn't afford to give alms in heaven. A voice explained
to him that the difference was belief in Jesus.
Empowering. A North African believer found the needed strength to face
his imprisonment from a dream he had while imprisoned for his faith. In
it, he saw thousands of believers pouring through the streets of his
city, openly proclaiming their faith in his restricted country. While
in prison, he was tortured, suspended upside-down naked for hours,
beaten with electrified rods and repeatedly threatened with execution.
His vision of a day when people of his country would openly proclaim
their faith in the streets gave him great strength to persevere through
this most difficult time.
=EF=BF=BCEncounter. Though not strictly a dream or a vision, a number of
Muslim-background believers have had a significant supernatural
encounter that was instrumental in drawing them to Jesus. One Egyptian
Muslim was reading the Injil (Gospel), when he came to Luke 3, where
the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove. God said,
"This is my son, in whom I am well pleased." As he read those words, a
stormy wind broke into his room. A voice spoke to him saying, "I am
Jesus Christ, whom you hate. I am the Lord whom you are looking for."
He recalls that he "wept and wept, accepting Jesus from that time."
Whatever personal perspective one has on dreams and visions and the
Christian walk of faith, it is difficult to consider engaging in
ministry to Muslims without a recognition of and an openness for God to
continue drawing people to Himself through what may be viewed as
unconventional means.
The Story of Al-'Uris
Al-'Uris was a historical figure associated with the family of Saladin
and the journals of the Ayyubids and their conflicts with the
Crusaders. Muslim history records a dream he had which sounds very
similar to the stories above:
"Al-'Uris saw in his sleep Christ Jesus Son of Mary, who seemed to turn
his face toward him from heaven. Al-'Uris asked him, 'Did the
crucifixion really happen?' Jesus said, 'Yes, the crucifixion really
happened.' Al-'Uris then related his dream to an interpreter, who said,
'The man who saw this dream shall be crucified. For Jesus is infallible
and can speak only the truth, yet the crucifixion he spoke of cannot
refer to his own, because the Glorious Qur'an specifically states that
Jesus was not crucified or killed. Accordingly, this must refer to the
dreamer, and it is he who shall be crucified.' The matter turned out as
the interpreter said. (p. 205)" [3]
Sadly, it is recorded that Al-'Uris met a horrific death sometime after
telling his dream to someone who did not believe in the resurrection of
Jesus. If this story is true, it is clear that Jesus was trying to tell
him the truth of his death and resurrection to call Al-'Uris unto
himself. Perhaps Al-'Uris put his faith in Jesus as his Savior as this
account records that he himself was crucified. As a searcher of the
truth, perhaps he was willing to follow the truth even though it led to
an untimely death.
The Next Step
Have you had dreams or visions of Isa? He is trying to tell you
something of great importance: the assurance of salvation and the
acceptance of God. We would be happy to correspond with you via email
if you have any questions. (See our contact information for details.
Any correspondence will be kept confidential.). Or you may wish to tell
someone you know about your dreams.
If you have not had dreams of Isa, don't be alarmed. He does not speak
to everyone in such ways. Pray for guidance from God and ask that He
would show you the way of truth in the person of Isa al Masih.
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