AsTheChaosDies

#spiritualwarfare #armorofgod #salvation In this part of our study we discuss the helmet of salvation. How is it that believers can wear the same battle proven helmet that Yahweh Himself wears in the OT? Select sources: Arnold, Clinton E. Ephesians (ZECNT). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010 Aune, David E. “Archon.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Barth, Markus. Ephesians (AB). 2 vols. Garden City: Doubleday, 1974 Betz, Hans D. “Authorities.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Cohick, Lynn H. The Letter to the Ephesians (NICNT). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020 CSB Tony Evans Study Bible. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers 2019 Breshears, Gerry. “Spiritual Warfare.” Biblical Training Academy. BiblicalTraining.org/learn/academy/th251-spiritual-warfare Feldmeier, R,. “World Rulers.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Hoehner, Harold. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002 Ramirez, John. Armed and Dangerous: The Ultimate Battle Plan for Targeting and Defeating the Enemy. Chosen Books. 2017 Ramirez, John. Fire Prayers: Building Arsenals that Destroy Satanic Kingdoms. Charisma House. 2023. TESTUDO. https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-army/military-formations-of-ancient-romans/testudo/amp/ Yoder Neufeld, Thomas R. Put on the Armour of God: The Divine Warrior from Isaiah to Ephesians. JSNTSup vol 140. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997

#spiritualwarfare #armorofgod #warzone In this study we will be discussing footwear. Roman shoes were designed to endure long marches and provide maneuverability in battle. How does this relate to the Christian life? Join us to find out! Select sources: Arnold, Clinton E. Ephesians (ZECNT). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010 Aune, David E. “Archon.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Barth, Markus. Ephesians (AB). 2 vols. Garden City: Doubleday, 1974 Betz, Hans D. “Authorities.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Cohick, Lynn H. The Letter to the Ephesians (NICNT). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020 CSB Tony Evans Study Bible. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers 2019 Breshears, Gerry. “Spiritual Warfare.” Biblical Training Academy. BiblicalTraining.org/learn/academy/th251-spiritual-warfare Feldmeier, R,. “World Rulers.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Hoehner, Harold. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002 Ramirez, John. Armed and Dangerous: The Ultimate Battle Plan for Targeting and Defeating the Enemy. Chosen Books. 2017 Ramirez, John. Fire Prayers: Building Arsenals that Destroy Satanic Kingdoms. Charisma House. 2023. TESTUDO. https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-army/military-formations-of-ancient-romans/testudo/amp/ Yoder Neufeld, Thomas R. Put on the Armour of God: The Divine Warrior from Isaiah to Ephesians. JSNTSup vol 140. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997

#spiritualwarfare #armorofgod #warzone In this study we will be discussing footwear. Roman shoes were designed to endure long marches and provide maneuverability in battle. How does this relate to the Christian life? Join us to find out! Select sources: Arnold, Clinton E. Ephesians (ZECNT). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010 Aune, David E. “Archon.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Barth, Markus. Ephesians (AB). 2 vols. Garden City: Doubleday, 1974 Betz, Hans D. “Authorities.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Cohick, Lynn H. The Letter to the Ephesians (NICNT). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020 CSB Tony Evans Study Bible. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers 2019 Breshears, Gerry. “Spiritual Warfare.” Biblical Training Academy. BiblicalTraining.org/learn/academy/th251-spiritual-warfare Feldmeier, R,. “World Rulers.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Hoehner, Harold. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002 Ramirez, John. Armed and Dangerous: The Ultimate Battle Plan for Targeting and Defeating the Enemy. Chosen Books. 2017 Ramirez, John. Fire Prayers: Building Arsenals that Destroy Satanic Kingdoms. Charisma House. 2023. TESTUDO. https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-army/military-formations-of-ancient-romans/testudo/amp/ Yoder Neufeld, Thomas R. Put on the Armour of God: The Divine Warrior from Isaiah to Ephesians. JSNTSup vol 140. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997

#spiritualwarfare #armorofgod #righteousness In this study we will be discussing the breastplate of righteousness. Going into battle without the breastplate leaves the vital organs open to mortal wounds. We need to have God’s armor on, especially in these troubled times. Select sources: Arnold, Clinton E. Ephesians (ZECNT). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010 Aune, David E. “Archon.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Barth, Markus. Ephesians (AB). 2 vols. Garden City: Doubleday, 1974 Betz, Hans D. “Authorities.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Cohick, Lynn H. The Letter to the Ephesians (NICNT). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020 CSB Tony Evans Study Bible. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers 2019 Breshears, Gerry. “Spiritual Warfare.” Biblical Training Academy. BiblicalTraining.org/learn/academy/th251-spiritual-warfare Feldmeier, R,. “World Rulers.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Hoehner, Harold. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002 Ramirez, John. Armed and Dangerous: The Ultimate Battle Plan for Targeting and Defeating the Enemy. Chosen Books. 2017 Ramirez, John. Fire Prayers: Building Arsenals that Destroy Satanic Kingdoms. Charisma House. 2023. TESTUDO. https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-army/military-formations-of-ancient-romans/testudo/amp/ Yoder Neufeld, Thomas R. Put on the Armour of God: The Divine Warrior from Isaiah to Ephesians. JSNTSup vol 140. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997

#spiritualwarfare #armorofgod #truth In this study we will discuss the belt of truth. It’s interesting that the first piece of armor Paul mentions is the truth. And when the disciples asked Jesus about the sign of his coming and the end of the age, Jesus first command in response was, “see to it that no one deceives you.” The truth is of primary importance. Select sources: Arnold, Clinton E. Ephesians (ZECNT). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010 Aune, David E. “Archon.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Barth, Markus. Ephesians (AB). 2 vols. Garden City: Doubleday, 1974 Betz, Hans D. “Authorities.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Cohick, Lynn H. The Letter to the Ephesians (NICNT). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020 CSB Tony Evans Study Bible. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers 2019 Breshears, Gerry. “Spiritual Warfare.” Biblical Training Academy. BiblicalTraining.org/learn/academy/th251-spiritual-warfare Feldmeier, R,. “World Rulers.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Hoehner, Harold. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002 Ramirez, John. Armed and Dangerous: The Ultimate Battle Plan for Targeting and Defeating the Enemy. Chosen Books. 2017 Ramirez, John. Fire Prayers: Building Arsenals that Destroy Satanic Kingdoms. Charisma House. 2023. TESTUDO. https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-army/military-formations-of-ancient-romans/testudo/amp/ Yoder Neufeld, Thomas R. Put on the Armour of God: The Divine Warrior from Isaiah to Ephesians. JSNTSup vol 140. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997

#spiritualwarfare #armorofgod #resistance Ephesians 6:13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. The spiritual and cosmic nature of our enemy and warfare makes God’s spiritual armor absolutely necessary. Because our enemy is a spiritual foe we need spiritual armor. The battle is a constant one; and our hope is in the Lord’s strength and the armor he provides. The powers of darkness have been defeated by Christ but they are still active; we can’t afford to be complacent. Therefore, or on account of this, take up the full armor of God. I like the CSB here because their translation “resist” is better than “withstand” or “stand” that other translations have. I believe the idea is active opposition through verbal confrontation. Scholars debate the meaning of “the evil day.” We will discuss the options. We have a part to play in all this as well. Spiritual discipline is necessary. As is knowing our Lord and what he has provided for us. And having done all, to stand. The goal of the preparation is to stand - to keep from falling into sin and to advance on enemy territory to bring the good news of deliverance to those who are oppressed. Thank you for listening! Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to help the channel grow! God bless! Select sources: Arnold, Clinton E. Ephesians (ZECNT). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010 Aune, David E. “Archon.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Barth, Markus. Ephesians (AB). 2 vols. Garden City: Doubleday, 1974 Betz, Hans D. “Authorities.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Cohick, Lynn H. The Letter to the Ephesians (NICNT). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020 CSB Tony Evans Study Bible. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers 2019 Breshears, Gerry. “Spiritual Warfare.” Biblical Training Academy. BiblicalTraining.org/learn/academy/th251-spiritual-warfare Feldmeier, R,. “World Rulers.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Hoehner, Harold. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002 Ramirez, John. Armed and Dangerous: The Ultimate Battle Plan for Targeting and Defeating the Enemy. Chosen Books. 2017 Ramirez, John. Fire Prayers: Building Arsenals that Destroy Satanic Kingdoms. Charisma House. 2023. TESTUDO. https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-army/military-formations-of-ancient-romans/testudo/amp/ Yoder Neufeld, Thomas R. Put on the Armour of God: The Divine Warrior from Isaiah to Ephesians. JSNTSup vol 140. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997

#Trinity #JesusChrist #oldtestament Zechariah 10:12 “I will make them strong in Yahweh, and they shall walk in his name,” declares Yahweh. This is one of the verses that communicates the Jewish concept of Two Powers in Heaven; the Jewish concept of the Godhead. How would this be translated using New Testament language? That’s what I will discuss in this brief video.

#spiritualwarfare #armorofgod #mafia In Ephesians 6:12 Paul introduces the spiritual mafia, the forces of chaos. You cannot negotiate with the enemy of your soul. Stop compromising and making peace with him. All he understands is violence. Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. The terminology Paul uses here for these spirits is suggestive of hierarchy in the demonic realm. The spiritual battle is against the spiritual mafia. The cosmic rulers of darkness are in conflict with the God of light. In this study we will explore this fascinating verse and seek to flesh out its meaning. Thank you for listening! Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to help the channel grow! God bless! Select sources: Arnold, Clinton E. Ephesians (ZECNT). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010 Aune, David E. “Archon.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Barth, Markus. Ephesians (AB). 2 vols. Garden City: Doubleday, 1974 Betz, Hans D. “Authorities.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Cohick, Lynn H. The Letter to the Ephesians (NICNT). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020 CSB Tony Evans Study Bible. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers 2019 Breshears, Gerry. “Spiritual Warfare.” Biblical Training Academy. BiblicalTraining.org/learn/academy/th251-spiritual-warfare Feldmeier, R,. “World Rulers.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Hoehner, Harold. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002 Ramirez, John. Armed and Dangerous: The Ultimate Battle Plan for Targeting and Defeating the Enemy. Chosen Books. 2017 Ramirez, John. Fire Prayers: Building Arsenals that Destroy Satanic Kingdoms. Charisma House. 2023. TESTUDO. https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-army/military-formations-of-ancient-romans/testudo/amp/ Yoder Neufeld, Thomas R. Put on the Armour of God: The Divine Warrior from Isaiah to Ephesians. JSNTSup vol 140. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997

#spiritualwarfare #armorofgod #Yahweh Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. In our last study, we discussed being strong in the Lord. How to carry out the command to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power is found in the command here, and that is, put on the whole armor of God. And the reason for putting on this armor is to stand against the devil’s schemes. Romans 13:12 let us put on the armour of light. The spiritual battle requires spiritual armor. The whole armor implies completeness. God’s armor is fully capable of protecting the believer as well as providing offensive weaponry. Paul, and the Lord, want believers to be fully equipped soldiers. The armor of God has both defensive and offensive components. All of the armor needs to be seen in both aspects. Believers will assuredly come under attack and need to take a defensive stance, but this will frequently happen in the context of making offensive inroads into the dominion of darkness by sharing the gospel and freeing the captives. God’s armor is described in a few OT passages. Isaiah 59:17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. Isaiah 11:5 He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. Wisdom 5:17-20 For armour he will take his jealous love, he will arm creation to punish his enemies; he will put on justice as a breastplate, and for helmet wear his forthright judgement; he will take up invincible holiness for shield, of his pitiless wrath he will forge a sword. Notice in all of these passages it’s God who is wearing this armor and going to battle. This perfectly fits with Paul’s command for believers to put on God’s armor. It’s the armor of God. The armor he makes available for his own. This isn’t the armor of men. 2 Corinthians 10:4 “for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds.” All these weapons are used and tested by God himself. Believers have been elevated to the status of active participants in Yahweh’s war with the darkness. As the body of Christ, the church is now given Yahweh’s body armor. The armor goes on the body. As Yahweh was enveloped in these virtues so now we are to be also. And the purpose or reason Paul gives for putting on this armor is so we are able to stand against the devils schemes or tactics. This is the answer to the “why” question. Why put on the armor? To stand against the devil’s schemes. Because our struggle is not against flesh and blood. And standing firm is the language of war. Psalm 144:1 Blessed be Yahweh, my rock who trains my hands for battle and my fingers for warfare. Thank you for listening! Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to help the channel grow! God bless! Select sources: Arnold, Clinton E. Ephesians (ZECNT). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010 Aune, David E. “Archon.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Barth, Markus. Ephesians (AB). 2 vols. Garden City: Doubleday, 1974 Betz, Hans D. “Authorities.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Cohick, Lynn H. The Letter to the Ephesians (NICNT). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020 CSB Tony Evans Study Bible. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers 2019 Breshears, Gerry. “Spiritual Warfare.” Biblical Training Academy. BiblicalTraining.org/learn/academy/th251-spiritual-warfare Feldmeier, R,. “World Rulers.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Hoehner, Harold. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002 Ramirez, John. Armed and Dangerous: The Ultimate Battle Plan for Targeting and Defeating the Enemy. Chosen Books. 2017 Ramirez, John. Fire Prayers: Building Arsenals that Destroy Satanic Kingdoms. Charisma House. 2023. TESTUDO. https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-army/military-formations-of-ancient-romans/testudo/amp/ Yoder Neufeld, Thomas R. Put on the Armour of God: The Divine Warrior from Isaiah to Ephesians. JSNTSup vol 140. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997

#endtimes #prophecy #antichrist The identity of Gog has been a mystery to students of the scriptures for centuries. Many have sought to unravel this mystery, including the ancient Jewish sages. What did the Jewish interpreters believe about Gog? What do the Septuagint and Aramaic Targums have to say about Gog’s identity? What does this have to do with the end times and the return of Christ?

#spiritualwarfare #armorofgod #bible In this part of our study on spiritual warfare we are focusing on Ephesians 6:10. Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. With his command to Be strong, Paul is giving us the strategy to prosper spiritually in the midst of the battle against evil spiritual forces. Be strong in the LORD and in the power of HIS might. Some translations say his mighty power. This is not your power. Paul is not telling believers to be strong in themselves. He is commanding the exact opposite. The strength for living the Christian life, the power to stand against the darkness, comes from an outside source, it is found in the Lord. Period. Paul emphasizes that our strength is in the Lord. When Paul says be strengthened “in the Lord”, he is speaking of Christ, as Paul often calls Jesus Lord in his epistles. This isn’t just my opinion, the scholars say this. Andrew Lincoln: “the Lord is Christ.” Harold Hoehner:“the phrase in the Lord refers not to God but to Christ.” Clinton Arnold: “Here, as elsewhere in Ephesians where the phrase in the Lord occurs, it does refer to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is precisely through their relationship with the resurrected and ascended Christ that believers find empowerment…This power is only available through union with Christ and participation in his resurrection and exaltation. This power is not mediated through incantations, formulas, or shamanistic or magical rituals.” John Ramirez: “To be armed, dangerous, and supernaturally effective in waging war against the forces of hell, just do what Paul said: "Be strong in the Lord" (Eph. 6:10). It's about being spiritually mature. That comes through total submission to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. It requires obedience to Christ, an attitude of humility, and standing in righteousness. Instead of acting on your emotions or carnal mindsets, maintain holiness and right standing in Christ. Let them show up in your lifestyle. Being strong in the Lord means surrendering yourself completely to Christ. Then you will access all He has prepared for you in the fight.” Select sources: Arnold, Clinton E. Ephesians (ZECNT). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010 Aune, David E. “Archon.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Barth, Markus. Ephesians (AB). 2 vols. Garden City: Doubleday, 1974 Betz, Hans D. “Authorities.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Cohick, Lynn H. The Letter to the Ephesians (NICNT). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020 CSB Tony Evans Study Bible. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers 2019 Breshears, Gerry. “Spiritual Warfare.” Biblical Training Academy. BiblicalTraining.org/learn/academy/th251-spiritual-warfare Feldmeier, R,. “World Rulers.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Hoehner, Harold. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002 Ramirez, John. Armed and Dangerous: The Ultimate Battle Plan for Targeting and Defeating the Enemy. Chosen Books. 2017 Ramirez, John. Fire Prayers: Building Arsenals that Destroy Satanic Kingdoms. Charisma House. 2023. TESTUDO. https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-army/military-formations-of-ancient-romans/testudo/amp/ Yoder Neufeld, Thomas R. Put on the Armour of God: The Divine Warrior from Isaiah to Ephesians. JSNTSup vol 140. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997

#ArmorOfGod #spiritualwarfare #biblestudy We recently did a study on Matthew 11:12 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.” In this series we will study in depth the second piece of Jesus statement, “the violent take it by force.” I believe Ephesians 6 gives a detailed explanation of how the violent take the kingdom by force. John Ramirez calls Matthew 11:12 “the ministry of violence.” He’s obviously speaking in a spiritual sense, the spiritual ministry of violence. He says, “The apostle Paul was no stranger to this ministry of violence. He told us how to prepare, and he also told us how to engage…What exactly is the ministry of violence? It is the spiritual conflict that no child of God can afford to sweep under the rug. Remember, those who don't engage suffer spiritual loss. You cannot ignore the ministry of violence and be more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. If you want your God-given destiny to be fulfilled in the land of the living, you have to recognize how critical this ministry is…This is not the time to sleep. It's time to wake up, wear the armor of God, and put on Christ (Rom. 13:14). The battle is ongoing. You have been called by the Most High God and are enlisted in the almost untouchable, unmovable army of King Jesus. The battle is real.” The believer’s task of living in the world is set in a cosmic context. There is continual warfare between the cosmic darkness and the believer. Spiritual warfare is the conflict in the spiritual realm that affects the physical realm. Our weapons are also located in the spiritual realm. 2 Corinthians 10:4 “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds.” Romans 13:12 “The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” 2 Corinthians 6:7 “We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.” If you’re in a fight and you don’t who you’re fighting or the power you have, you’re probably not gonna win. And we are in a fight. We were born in it. We must know our enemy, and more importantly, we must know Christ Jesus and the weapons and armor he has made available for us. Through the cross and resurrection of Christ, victory is already won. The devil has lost. We are to stand firm in Christ’s victory. As John Ramirez says, “The devil is defeated by the finished work of the cross. Satan's time is short. Exodus 15:3 reminds us that "the LORD is a warrior; the LORD is His name." It's time to fight back. We are on the victor's side.” That’s what we’ll be studying throughout this series in the coming weeks and months. Identifying our enemy, our source of strength, and the weapons in our arsenal. Select sources: Arnold, Clinton E. Ephesians (ZECNT). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010 Aune, David E. “Archon.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Barth, Markus. Ephesians (AB). 2 vols. Garden City: Doubleday, 1974 Betz, Hans D. “Authorities.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Cohick, Lynn H. The Letter to the Ephesians (NICNT). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020 CSB Tony Evans Study Bible. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers 2019 Breshears, Gerry. “Spiritual Warfare.” Biblical Training Academy. BiblicalTraining.org/learn/academy/th251-spiritual-warfare Feldmeier, R,. “World Rulers.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Hoehner, Harold. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002 Ramirez, John. Armed and Dangerous: The Ultimate Battle Plan for Targeting and Defeating the Enemy. Chosen Books. 2017 Ramirez, John. Fire Prayers: Building Arsenals that Destroy Satanic Kingdoms. Charisma House. 2023. TESTUDO. https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/roman-army/military-formations-of-ancient-romans/testudo/amp/ Yoder Neufeld, Thomas R. Put on the Armour of God: The Divine Warrior from Isaiah to Ephesians. JSNTSup vol 140. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997.

#prophecy #israel #bible #endtimes Ezekiel 38-39 has been a subject of fascination for students of the Scripture for centuries. It is still so in our days. In this lecture we will seek to answer the following questions: Who is Gog? Where does he come from? Who are his allies? When does he invade? What are his connections with the gods, the garden of Eden, and the chaos monster? Why does Ezekiel seem to link him with the dragon? Is there a city in hell to which Gog and his army is sent? What insights does the book of Revelation give us in our quest to understand Ezekiel’s prophecy? Is the invasion of Gog linked to Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ? Join us as we explore this incredible section of Scripture! Select sources: Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Ezekiel. Interpretation Commentary. John Knox, 1990 Cook, Stephen L.Ezekiel 38-48: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Yale Bible 22B. Yale, 2018 Eichrodt, Walter.Ezekiel. OTL. Westminster, 1970 Heiser, Michael S. Ezekiel 38-39 Part 1, Episode 152. Naked Bible Podcast Transcript. April 1, 2017. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NB-152-Transcript.pdf Heiser, Michael S. Ezekiel 38-39 Part 2, Episode 153. Naked Bible Podcast Transcript. April 8, 2017. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NB-153-Transcript. Holy Bible. NLT. Filament Edition. Tyndale. 2022 Kaiser, Otto.Isaiah 1-39. 2 vols. OTL. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1983, 1974 van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds.Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. Brill, 1995. 2nd ed, 1998 Zimmerli, Walther.Ezekiel 25–48. Hermeneia. Fortress, 1983 If you like the content be sure to like, share and subscribe to help the channel grow. Thank you and God Bless!

#elemental #prophecy #Christ What are the stoicheia? Where do they show up Christian and Jewish literature? What did the Greeks believe about them? What is the relationship between the stoicheia and the elements? Who, or what, is the angel of the waters? Revelation 16:5 “I heard the angel of the waters say, You are just, the Holy One, who is and who was, because you have passed judgment on these things.” Some believe the stoicheia are national deities, which would link them to Deuteronomy 32:8-9. What is the connection between the stoicheia, the elemental spirits, and the new age? How is Christ, the One who died and rose again, the only foundational pillar or element of the new world? What does any of this have to do with spiritual warfare and the end times? Join us as we discuss this fascinating topic! Select Sources: Beale, Greg K. Colossian and Philemon (BECNT). Grand Rapids: Baker, 2019 Heiser, Michael S. Demons: What the Bible Really Says about the Powers of Darkness. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020 Heiser, Michael S. The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015 Lohse, Eduard.Colossians and Philemon(Hermeneia). Philadelphia: Fortress, 1971 Longman, Tremper, III, and Daniel G. Reid. God Is a Warrior. Studies in Old Testament Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995 Pao, David W. Colossians and Philemon (ZECNT). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012

#Christ #bible #KingofGlory Have you ever heard of the Gospel of Nicodemus? It’s a very interesting early Christian writing. Eduard Lohse references a line from the Gospel of Nicodemus in his commentary on Colossians. It records a dialogue between Hades and Satan. Hades asks Satan: “Through what necessity did you contrive that the King of glory should be crucified, so that he should come here and strip us naked.” The Gospel of Nicodemus Chapter 18 “THEN the prince of hell took Satan, and with great indication said to him, O thou prince of destruction, author of Beelzebub's defeat and banishment, the scorn of God's angels and loathed by all righteous persons! What inclined thee to act thus? Thou wouldst crucify the King of Glory, and by his destruction, hast made us promises of very large advantages, but as a fool wert ignorant of what thou wast about. For behold now that Jesus of Nazareth, with the brightness of his glorious divinity, puts to flight all the horrid powers of darkness and death; He has broke down our prisons from top to bottom, dismissed all the captives, released all who were bound, and all who were wont formerly to groan under the weight of their torments have now insulted us, and we are like to be defeated by their prayers…O prince Satan, thou great keeper of the infernal regions, all thy advantages which thou didst acquire by the forbidden tree, and the loss of Paradise; thou hast now lost by the wood of the cross; And thy happiness all then expired, when thou didst crucify Jesus Christ the King of Glory. Thou hast acted against thine own interest and mine, as thou wilt presently perceive by those large torments and infinite punishments which thou art about to suffer.” Select Sources: Bass, Justin. The Battle for the Keys: Revelation 1:18 and Christ’s Descent into the Underworld. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2014 Beale, Greg K. Colossian and Philemon (BECNT). Grand Rapids: Baker, 2019 Heiser, Michael S. Demons: What the Bible Really Says about the Powers of Darkness. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020 Heiser, Michael S. The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015 Lohse, Eduard.Colossians and Philemon(Hermeneia). Philadelphia: Fortress, 1971 Longman, Tremper, III, and Daniel G. Reid. God Is a Warrior. Studies in Old Testament Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995

#Yahweh #MostHighGod #divinecouncil Scholars argue that in Psalm 82, Yahweh and El are separate deities. El is the head of the council and Yahweh is one of the assembled gods. They argue this point by noting the verb “stand” in V1. 82:1 “God stands in the divine assembly; he pronounces judgment among the gods.” The NET renders this verse “God stands in the assembly of El; in the midst of the gods he renders judgment.” The high god would be seated as judge. The fact Yahweh is standing proves he holds an inferior status and is acting as prosecutor, or so they say. However, if we are going to focus on Yahweh’s posture in V1 we also need to pay just as close attention to his posture in V8. 82:8 “Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!” The psalmist asks Yahweh to rise up. This statement requires him to have up to this point been seated. This places Yahweh as the Most High God presiding over the council from the very beginning. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1277&context=lts_fac_pubs

#Yahweh #Elyon #DivineCouncil It seems to be the majority view among scholars that pre exilic Israel shared the polytheistic worldview of her pagan neighbors. In this view, Yahweh was a member of the pantheon (one of the sons of Elyon) and became Israel’s National god (Deuteronomy 32:8-9). Over time Yahweh subsumed the characteristics of the gods of Canaan and emerged as the head of the pantheon (Psalm 82). Israel slowly evolved into monotheism and their scriptures were then redacted and all traces of the previous polytheism were removed. Michael Heiser “This evolution, according to the consensus view, was achieved through the zealous commitment of Israelite scribes who edited and reworked the Hebrew Bible to reflect emerging monotheism and to compel the laity to embrace the idea.” Except these same scholars who promote this consensus opinion also state that all traces of the previous polytheism weren’t fully redacted and that’s why we have Deuteronomy 32 and Psalm 82. Deuteronomy 32:8-9, as I mentioned, is cited in support of this evolutionary view by assuming that Yahweh and Elyon are separate deities. Heiser “this consensus view lacks coherence on several points.” In this study we will go through the scholarship, and there has been a lot written on this subject. I will be quoting many scholars, even scholars who believe in the consensus view, to show that, in fact, Yahweh and El Elyon are one and the same. Deuteronomy 32:8-9 When the Most High (Elyon) gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. But the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage. Mark S Smith in his book “God in Translation”, says, “Despite possible appearances to the contrary…the composer did not intend any picture of polytheism with his rendering of verses 8-9. In fact, he likely thought of El and Elyon simply as two of Yahweh’s titles (as they are elsewhere in the Bible) and not as a separate god, El.” As Heiser says, “In Deuteronomy 4:19-20, a passage recognized by all who comment on these issues as an explicit parallel to 32:8-9, the text informs us that it was Yahweh who allotted the nations to the host of heaven and who took Israel as his own inheritance. Neither the verb forms nor the ideas are passive. Israel was not given to Yahweh by El, which is the picture that scholars who separate El and Yahweh in Deuteronomy 32 want to fashion. In view of the close relationship of Deuteronomy 32:8-9 to Deuteronomy 4:19-20, it is more consistent to have Yahweh taking Israel for his own terrestrial allotment by sovereign act as Lord of the council.” Mark S Smith “In short, 4:19 presupposes the identification of El Elyon as the god of Israel in 32:8.” Smith “In sum, these echoes of Deuteronomy 32:8-9 [4:19, 29:25] in the book of Deuteronomy show a monotheistic reading that identifies Yahweh as El Elyon.” Smith “What we perhaps have in Deuteronomy 32:8-9 is a notion of minor divinities, who serve the absolute divine King; these are, relatively speaking, so powerless compared to Yahweh that for the composer, they do not truly constitute gods like Yahweh. They are perhaps the ‘elim of the Qumran Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice, minor “divinities”, actually angels, but hardly gods in the modern, conventional sense.” Smith “Deuteronomy 32, in telling the story of Israel’s relationship with its God, begins with a single divine head, Yahweh El Elyon.” Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible, in their entry on Elyon, says, “In the present form of the biblical text, the term [Elyon] is understood to be an epithet for Yahweh, the God of Israel.” Theodore J Lewis, in his book “The Origin and Character of God”, says, “the application of the title Elyon to Yahweh was ubiquitous.” As you can see from both the Bible and the scholarship, Yahweh is El Elyon! Select sources Alter, Robert. The Five Books of Moses : a Translation with Commentary. New York :W.W. Norton & Co., 2004. Elnes, E. E., Miller, P. D. “Elyon.” In Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998. Heiser, Michael, "Are Yahweh and El Distinct Deities in Deut. 32:8-9 and Psalm 82?" (2006). LBTS Faculty Publications and Presentations. 278. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/lts_fac_pubs/278 Lewis, Theodore J. The Origin and Character of God: Ancient Israelite Religion through the Lens of Divinity. Oxford, 2020 Seow, C.L. Myth, Drama, and the Politics of David's Dance. HSM 46; Atlanta 1989 Smith, Mark S.God in Translation. Deities in Cross-Cultural Discourse in the Biblical World. Eerdmans, 2010 Westermann, C.Genesis. 3 vols. Augsburg, 1984-86. Please like, share, and subscribe to help the channel grow! Thank you and God bless!

#colossians #bible #spiritualwarfare In this study we will be going in depth into Colossians 2:15, one of the famous Christus Victor passages. We will discuss the following topics: The similarities between the Roman triumphal procession and the triumph of Christ over the powers of darkness. The identities of the evil powers and their relationship to new age spirituality. The Gospel of Nicodemus. Spiritual warfare, both now and at the eschaton. A conversation between the prince of hell and Satan. And more! Select Sources: Guthrie, George H. 2 Corinthians (BECNT). Grand Rapids: Baker, 2015 Bass, Justin. The Battle for the Keys: Revelation 1:18 and Christ’s Descent into the Underworld. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2014 Beale, Greg K. Colossian and Philemon (BECNT). Grand Rapids: Baker, 2019 Copenhaver, Adam, and Jeffrey D. Arthurs. Colossians and Philemon. A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching (Kerux). Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2022 Heiser, Michael S. Demons: What the Bible Really Says about the Powers of Darkness. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020 Heiser, Michael S. The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015 Lohse, Eduard.Colossians and Philemon(Hermeneia). Philadelphia: Fortress, 1971 Longman, Tremper, III, and Daniel G. Reid. God Is a Warrior. Studies in Old Testament Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995 McKnight, Scot. The Letter to the Colossians (NICNT). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2018 Pao, David W. Colossians and Philemon (ZECNT). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012

#riddles #parables #wisdom Matthew 11:12 ESV “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” NLT “And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.” 1984 NIV “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” There are few sayings of Jesus over which such a flood of explanations has been poured in various combinations and whose understanding still remains so uncertain. Is this saying about violence and the kingdom of heaven a wisdom teacher’s riddle? If so, does that help to explain why this saying of Jesus has proven so difficult to interpret? In this study we will seek to answer these questions and explain one of the New Testament’s greatest interpretive riddles. Select Sources Carson, D. A. “Matthew,” in EBC, vol. 8. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984 Davies, W. D. and Dale C. Allison, Jr. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to St. Matthew. Vols II & III. (ICC). Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1991-97. Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009. Luz, Ulrich. Matthew. 3 vols. (Hermeneia). Minneapolis: Fortress, 2001-7 Marshall, I. Howard. The Gospel of Luke (NIGTC). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1978. Osborne, Grant R. Matthew (ZECNT). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010 Ridderbos, Herman N. Matthew. Bible Student’s Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1987

#Yahweh #Messiah #HolySpirit Ezekiel 39:21 I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the judgment I have executed and the hand I have laid on them. Yahweh’s glory is the Hebrew word kavod. Pieter de Vries says it “must be understood as a physicality, just as when he took up residence in the tabernacle.” I believe Yahweh’s kavod here is speaking of the Messiah. As I have mentioned before, I believe Jesus Christ will have returned to earth by this point in history, so the glory of Yahweh being on display is a statement of Yahweh in human form, Jesus of Nazareth, being physically present and visible in his glorified state to the nations of the world. Ezekiel 39:22-23 From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God. And the nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile on account of their iniquity, because they dealt unfaithfully with me. Therefore, I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies, so that they all fell by the sword. Joseph Blenkinsopp says, “This spectacular conclusion to the invasion will convince the nations witnessing it that the Israelites were exiled not because their God was powerless to prevent it but on account of their sins.” Ezekiel 39:24-26 I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and transgressions, and I hid my face from them. So this is what the Lord GOD says: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have compassion on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. They will feel remorse for their disgrace and all the unfaithfulness they committed against me, when they live securely in their land with no one to frighten them. The restoration of Jacob’s fortunes reminds us of the exile of Jacob himself into Mesopotamia and his subsequent return to the land of his father. In this way Jacob served to foreshadow Israel’s future exile and return. In speaking of the prosperity of the returned exiles, Ezekiel again seems to be relying on Leviticus. Leviticus 26:5-6 “Your threshing will continue until grape harvest, and the grape harvest will continue until sowing time; you will have plenty of food to eat and live securely in your land. I will give peace to the land, and you will lie down with nothing to frighten you. I will remove dangerous animals from the land, and no sword will pass through your land.” Ezekiel 39:27-29 When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the countries of their enemies, I will demonstrate my holiness through them in the sight of many nations. They will know that I am the LORD their God when I regather them to their own land after having exiled them among the nations. I will leave none of them behind. I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel.” This is the declaration of the Lord GOD. Leviticus 22:32 “Do not bring shame on my holy name, for I will display my holiness among the people of Israel. I am the LORD who makes you holy.” Psalm 147:2 The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; he gathers Israel’s exiled people. Jeremiah 31:10 The one who scattered Israel will gather him. He will watch over him as a shepherd guards his flock The Lord also promises he will no longer hide his face. Seeing the face of God is associated with the experience of worship. Psalm 27:8 “You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” Here we see the Lord pouring his Spirit on Israel. In Ezekiel 37:14 Yahweh put his Spirit within his people. Walter Zimmerli says, “The communication of the Spirit is here described as the final irrevocable Union of Yahweh with his people.” Join us as we conclude our study of the famous Gog and Magog prophecy! Select sources: Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Ezekiel. Interpretation Commentary. John Knox, 1990 Cook, Stephen L.Ezekiel 38-48: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Yale Bible 22B. Yale, 2018 Eichrodt, Walter.Ezekiel. OTL. Westminster, 1970 Heiser, Michael S. Ezekiel 38-39 Part 1, Episode 152. Naked Bible Podcast Transcript. April 1, 2017. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NB-152-Transcript.pdf Heiser, Michael S. Ezekiel 38-39 Part 2, Episode 153. Naked Bible Podcast Transcript. April 8, 2017. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NB-153-Transcript. Holy Bible. NLT. Filament Edition. Tyndale. 2022 Kaiser, Otto.Isaiah 1-39. 2 vols. OTL. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1983, 1974 van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds.Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. Brill, 1995. 2nd ed, 1998 Zimmerli, Walther.Ezekiel 25–48. Hermeneia. Fortress, 1983 If you like the content be sure to like, share and subscribe to help the channel grow. Thank you and God Bless!

#ezekiel #prophecy #endtimes The remote parts of the north is the Hebrew phrase “yareka Zaphon”. In this study we will deep dive this phrase because this phrase has caused all kinds of confusion when read in modern English translations. People see this Hebrew phrase translated into English as “the remote north” and then look at a map and draw a line north of Israel and find Russia. So therefore Ezekiel is saying the Russians will attack Israel. But this phrase yareka Zaphon indicates a mythic place, a cosmic place. We will look at the use of this phrase in Psalm 48 and Isaiah 14 and show that it does not, and cannot, refer to Russia. We will also discuss the term “rosh,” which occurs multiple times in Ezekiel 38-39. Ezekiel 39:1 And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Some of translations will say “prince of Rosh”, and this is another place the Russia confusion comes in. I will quote from multiple respected Old Testament scholars who demonstrate this Hebrew word is not a place name and does not reference Russia. Join us as we continue our study of the famous Gog and Magog prophecy! Select sources: Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Ezekiel. Interpretation Commentary. John Knox, 1990 Cook, Stephen L.Ezekiel 38-48: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Yale Bible 22B. Yale, 2018 Eichrodt, Walter.Ezekiel. OTL. Westminster, 1970 Heiser, Michael S. Ezekiel 38-39 Part 1, Episode 152. Naked Bible Podcast Transcript. April 1, 2017. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NB-152-Transcript.pdf Heiser, Michael S. Ezekiel 38-39 Part 2, Episode 153. Naked Bible Podcast Transcript. April 8, 2017. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NB-153-Transcript. Holy Bible. NLT. Filament Edition. Tyndale. 2022 Kaiser, Otto.Isaiah 1-39. 2 vols. OTL. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1983, 1974 van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds.Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. Brill, 1995. 2nd ed, 1998 Zimmerli, Walther.Ezekiel 25–48. Hermeneia. Fortress, 1983 If you like the content be sure to like, share and subscribe to help the channel grow. Thank you and God Bless!

#ezekiel #prophecy #endtimes Many theories have been proposed as to the timing of Gog’s invasion of Israel. Does Ezekiel 38-39 have any relationship to Armageddon? Where does this invasion fall in relation to the return of Jesus Christ? What does John’s use of “Gog and Magog” in Revelation 21 add to the equation? In this study we will seek to answer these questions. The verses I will cite in support of my view might surprise you! There is also a very important textual criticism issue in Ezekiel 39:7, which will once again take us into Codex Vaticanus. I believe the correct understanding of this textual question is very important in interpreting the timing of Ezekiel’s prophecy. Join us as we continue our study of the famous Gog and Magog prophecy! Select sources: Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Ezekiel. Interpretation Commentary. John Knox, 1990 Cook, Stephen L.Ezekiel 38-48: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Yale Bible 22B. Yale, 2018 Eichrodt, Walter.Ezekiel. OTL. Westminster, 1970 Heiser, Michael S. Ezekiel 38-39 Part 1, Episode 152. Naked Bible Podcast Transcript. April 1, 2017. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NB-152-Transcript.pdf Heiser, Michael S. Ezekiel 38-39 Part 2, Episode 153. Naked Bible Podcast Transcript. April 8, 2017. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NB-153-Transcript. Holy Bible. NLT. Filament Edition. Tyndale. 2022 Kaiser, Otto.Isaiah 1-39. 2 vols. OTL. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1983, 1974 van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds.Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. Brill, 1995. 2nd ed, 1998 Zimmerli, Walther.Ezekiel 25–48. Hermeneia. Fortress, 1983 If you like the content be sure to like, share and subscribe to help the channel grow. Thank you and God Bless!

#ezekiel #prophecy #endtimes Ezekiel 38:10-12 “This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan. “You will say, “I will advance against a land of open villages; I will come against a tranquil people who are living securely, all of them living without walls and without bars or gates”  —  in order to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against ruins now inhabited and against a people gathered from the nations, who have been acquiring cattle and possessions and who live at the center of the world.” Gog, the chaos dragon, targets the defenseless. The description of Israel as a nation of unwalled villages is a typical messianic feature. For example, Zechariah 2:4-5 “Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the number of people and animals in it.” The declaration of the LORD: “I myself will be a wall of fire around it, and I will be the glory (kavod) within it.” Ezekiel is using cosmic language to describe Israel. The mountains of Israel in 38:8 and Israel’s dwelling at the center of the earth in 38:12 are both statements of cosmic geography. The Septuagint renders the phrase “the navel of the earth.” This is the axis Mundi, the cosmic center, often depicted as the cosmic mountain or the cosmic tree; the attachment point of heaven and earth, the focal point of creation. Ezekiel 36:35 “And when I bring you back, people will say, ‘This former wasteland is now like the Garden of Eden! The abandoned and ruined cities now have strong walls and are filled with people!’” Gog desires the cosmic center, the Mountain of God. And just like Smaug, the dragon that took the Lonely Mountain to seize its wealth, we see Gog, the sleeping dragon rouse himself to go in search of plunder. The greed of the dragon is clear. Join us as we continue our study of the famous Gog and Magog prophecy! Select sources: Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Ezekiel. Interpretation Commentary. John Knox, 1990 Cook, Stephen L.Ezekiel 38-48: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Yale Bible 22B. Yale, 2018 Eichrodt, Walter.Ezekiel. OTL. Westminster, 1970 Heiser, Michael S. Ezekiel 38-39 Part 1, Episode 152. Naked Bible Podcast Transcript. April 1, 2017. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NB-152-Transcript.pdf Heiser, Michael S. Ezekiel 38-39 Part 2, Episode 153. Naked Bible Podcast Transcript. April 8, 2017. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NB-153-Transcript. Holy Bible. NLT. Filament Edition. Tyndale. 2022 Kaiser, Otto.Isaiah 1-39. 2 vols. OTL. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1983, 1974 van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds.Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. Brill, 1995. 2nd ed, 1998 Zimmerli, Walther.Ezekiel 25–48. Hermeneia. Fortress, 1983 If you like the content be sure to like, share and subscribe to help the channel grow. Thank you and God Bless!

#prophecy #monsters #tolkien In Part One of our study of Ezekiel 38-39, we will explore the background of Gog of Magog. Many have sought to identify the entity known as Gog in Ezekiel 38&39. Attempts to identify Gog historically have failed. This is because, in the words of Stephen L. Cook, Gog is “physically real but of mythological,…fantastic, and archetypal proportions...Ezekiel 38-39 describes earthly reality invaded by the chaos monster Gog, with whom God grapples with hooks in the jaws. Across mythologies, half-imagined denizens of darkness wriggle away their lives in such crevasses as Gog’s cavern, deep in the roots of mount Zaphon. Thus, JRR Tolkien’s Balrog dwells deep in the mines of Moria…Consider Gog of Magog. A Balrog eschatologized, he is at once both mythic and realistic. When a visionary’s eye sees a Balrog archetype appear incarnate within terrestrial reality as Gog, a proto-apocalyptic revelation has occurred. Certainly Revelation, a full blown apocalypse, had no doubt that Gog was an end time fiend…an end time monster.” I am looking forward to analyzing these statements by Professor Cook in depth. His commentary is what inspired me to take on Ezekiel 38-39 in depth. We will also need to have an accurate understanding of the terms "mythology" and "apocalyptic literature” as we proceed through Ezekiel. What is the definition of mythology? Myth is defined as: a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events. Myth can be true. What is Apocalyptic Literature? Apocalyptic literature transcends space and time. It contains cosmic visions, often described in terms of war between light and darkness. There is no peace or coexistence between the supernatural forces of light and the supernatural forces of darkness and rebellion. Ezekiel 38-39 is an early form of Jewish apocalyptic. Cook calls these chapters Proto-apocalyptic. Revelation is perhaps the most well known example of Jewish apocalyptic literature. Joseph Blenkinsopp says Ezekiel 38-39 “can be seen as transitional between prophetic eschatology and the apocalyptic visions of Daniel and Revelation.” Gog was a subject of fascination for the Jewish community just as he remains so for the Christian community. The Jewish community has had a lot to say about Gog over the centuries. The Targums, Septuagint, and Sameritan Pentateuch all mention Gog in places the Masoretic Text does not. These differences will be important in our study of Ezekiel 38-39. We will also look at some of the mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien, specifically the Balrog. How is this revelant to Gog and Biblical prophecy? Join us to find out!! Select Sources: Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Ezekiel. Interpretation Commentary. John Knox, 1990 Cook, Stephen L.Ezekiel 38-48: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Yale Bible 22B. Yale, 2018 Eichrodt, Walter.Ezekiel. OTL. Westminster, 1970 Heiser, Michael S. Ezekiel 38-39 Part 1, Episode 152. Naked Bible Podcast Transcript. April 1, 2017. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NB-152-Transcript.pdf Heiser, Michael S. Ezekiel 38-39 Part 2, Episode 153. Naked Bible Podcast Transcript. April 8, 2017. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NB-153-Transcript.pdf Holy Bible. NLT. Filament Edition. Tyndale. 2022 van der Toorn, Karel, Bob Becking, and Pieter W. van der Horst eds.Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. Brill, 1995. Second edition, 1998 Zimmerli, Walther.Ezekiel 25–48. Hermeneia. Fortress, 1983 Please like, share, and subscribe to help the channel grow. Thank you and God Bless!