PomegranitesPomegranites

Scriptural “seeds”

you may have never noticed

Why Pomegranates?

God directed the priests of Israel to use Pomegranates as embellishments on the bottom of the their robes. (Exodus 28:33-34)

Pomegranates are full of little seeds. These seeds are mostly sweet, but have a tart-ness about them.

I call this series "Pomegranates" because in it, I discuss little embellishments God has placed in his word. They are packets of information that can bring clearer understanding to the Scriptures.

Sometimes these little packets require us to adjust our thinking from what we may have been taught all of our lives.

Which Came First?

Which came first? The chicken or the egg?

For a Christian, this should be a no-brainer.

The Chicken, of course.

Who Came First?

Who came first? Adam, Noah, Abraham, or Jesus?

Jesus!

John 1:1-3  “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Colossians 1:16 “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: ”

Ancient China

Some try to claim that China’s history goes back more than 10,000 years. However a closer look reveals this is simply not true, and it really lines up quite nicely with the Biblical account.

Here’s how:Adopted from the appendix of

Genesis and the Mystery Confucius Couldn’t Solveby Ethel R. Nelson and Richard E. Broadberry.

Ancient China

The early Chinese were descendants of Noah as well as contemporaries.

The first 10 generations of man had an average life span of 912 years.

Ancient China

In the 10th generation, the flood came. This was 1656 years after creation, or 2348 BC.

Ancient China

101 years after the flood (Genesis, chapter 11) or 2247 BC, the event of Babel took place:

Ancient China

The first dynasty (Xia, also called Hsia) in China is recorded as having begun in 2205 BC.

Ancient China

““Before the first dynasty in 2205 BC, Before the first dynasty in 2205 BC, the Chinese record a mysteriousthe Chinese record a mysterious

‘‘Legendary Period of Five RulersLegendary Period of Five Rulers.’ .’

Ancient China

According to scripture, there were five generations between the flood and the Tower of Babel.” (From Noah: Shem, Arphaxad, Salah, Eber, and Peleg).

Genesis 10:25“To Eber [son of Salah, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of

Noah] were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided.”

Ancient China

These five “patriarchs” in the Bible match the generations of the “Five Legendary Rulers.”

They fit right here!

Ancient China

From Babel at 2247 BC to the first dynasty at 2205 BC provides approximately 40 years for a migration of the great Chinese family

from the region of the Tower of Babel in Mesopotamia to resettlement in China.

Ancient China

It was during this period that the Chinese record in the It was during this period that the Chinese record in the Shu Shu Ching [Book of History]Ching [Book of History], compiled by Confucius, that a , compiled by Confucius, that a ruler, Shun by name (c. 2230 BC), ‘ruler, Shun by name (c. 2230 BC), ‘sacrificed to Shang Ti.’ sacrificed to Shang Ti.’ Also Also called Shangdi. called Shangdi. This practice continued until the earlyThis practice continued until the early 1940’s.1940’s.

[Phonetically, “Shang Ti” in one Chinese dialect is remarkably similar to [Phonetically, “Shang Ti” in one Chinese dialect is remarkably similar to Shaddai (as in El Shaddai), one of the Hebrew names for God.] Shaddai (as in El Shaddai), one of the Hebrew names for God.]

Forbidden Fruit

What kind of fruit did Adam and Eve eat that they were commanded not to eat?

XFruit from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Genesis 2:17 “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (KJV)

It was certainly not an apple, or we wouldn’t have apples today.

Forbidden Fruit

Here’s an interesting note:

Adam and Eve were allowed to eat from the tree of life. They were never commanded to not eat from it.

In Genesis 3:22, scripture says,  “And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”

I believe this is not an eat-once-and-live-forever fruit, but one that must be regularly eaten.

Forbidden Fruit

In support of that, consider:Revelation 2:7b  “… To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

Revelation 22:2 “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

The Tree of Life is in Heaven, and has a continuing function there.

Forbidden Fruit

Here’s an interesting note about KJV and Revelation 22:19. The King James says:

“And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (KJV)

However, nearly every translation besides the King James Version says “tree of life” instead of “book of life.”

“And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (NIV)

This seems to reinforce the idea that not being able to eat from the tree of life continually would result in death.

Forbidden Fruit

Leather Coats?

Who made the first leather coat?

God.

Genesis 3:21 “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” (KJV)

Ark Animals

How many of each animal did Noah take into the ark?

Two?

Ark Animals

Genesis 6:19 “And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.” (KJV)

Genesis 6:20 “Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.” (KJV)

But wait…

Ark Animals

There’s more…

Genesis 7:2 “Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.” (KJV)

Genesis 7:3 “Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.” (KJV)

You see, you’ve got to consider all God says on a given subject.

Noah

Noah was six hundred years old when the flood waters came upon the Earth. (Genesis 7:6)

He lived 350 years after the flood! (Genesis 9:28)

Noah

Noah and his family were in the ark 1 year, 1 month, and 27 days. (Genesis 8:13-14)

That’s 417 days, because before the flood, the year had exactly 360 days.*

360 + 30 + 27 = 417 days

*Walt Brown, In the Beginning http://creationscience.com/onlinebook/Trenches3.html http://creationscience.com/onlinebook/TechnicalNotes24.html#wp3750319 Endnote 38 on http://creationscience.com/onlinebook/Trenches7.html#wp12794225

Moses

Where did Moses die?

Mount NeboDeuteronomy 32:48-50 “And the LORD spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:”

Nineveh

Nineveh was such a large metropolis that it took three days to walk across it.

Jonah 3:3 “So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.”

Nineveh

Where was Nineveh?But where in the world is that today?

Iraq

Post Mortem

What prophet spoke after he was dead?

Samuel to Saul

1 Samuel 28:7-19 especially v.15 “And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I

shall do.” (KJV)

Post Mortem

Let’s just say… It did not go well for Saul.

Talking Animals

Did Animals ever speak?

The Bible relates two occasions:

A serpent: Genesis 3:1 “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (KJV)

AndAn ass: Numbers 22:28-30 “And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and

she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?  And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.” (KJV)

Talking Animals

Nowadays, it’s getting ’em to shut up that’s the trick.

God Worked Directly

God has worked directly with or responded directly to people on an individual basis many times in the past—even in New Testament times. There is no reason to believe He cannot, and does not, do so today whenever He deems it necessary.

2 Chronicles 16:9a “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

God Worked Directly

Old Testament New TestamentEnochMethuselahNoahAbraham [Acts 7:2 appeared to our father

Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia,]

MelchisidekMosesJobJonah -the people of NinevehJethro -Priest of MidianBalamIsaiah -45:22 Look unto me, and be ye

saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Cornelius Acts 16People of MacedoniaActs16:9 During the night Paul had a

vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."

Ethiopian EunuchGod had people in Corinth unknown to

Paul:

Acts 18:9 One night the Lord spoke

to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have

many people in this city.

God Worked Directly

Paul further validates this truth: Acts 17:26-27, 29-30 From one man he made every nation of men, that they

should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.… "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

This is God reaching out to individuals, and does not contradict Jesus’ statement that no man comes to the Father but through the Son.

God Worked Directly

Paul indicates God's acknowledgment of those who seek Him.

Romans 2:14-16

14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

How Many Will God Win?

How many people will God win?

World-wide, throughout history, 66% of everyone conceived in the womb failed to live to see the fifth year of life.

How Many Will God Win?

Children are innocent and automatically receive salvation.

Since this is true, estimates of the total of these children combined with everyone who has accepted Jesus as God's Son through the ages equals approximately 77% of all people who were ever conceived.

So by default, God wins 77% of His creation. It’s up to us to pursue as many as we can

to increase this number.

Isaiah 57:1 “The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.”

If You Don’t Mean It

A lot of times, we worship in song without even considering the words we sing.

If You Don’t Mean It

However, if we sing words in a song that we don’t mean, that’s like lying to God.

We should seriously consider the words that are in the songs we sing, and if you don’t believe them, you shouldn’t sing them.

The Light of the World

There’s a hymn that has the phrase, “…the Light of the World is Jesus.”

The Light of the World

Unfortunately, it’s wrong.

The light of the World is not Jesus!

The Light of the World

Jesus said:John 9:5

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (KJV)

Then, Jesus said His disciples are the light of the world…

Matthew 5:14

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” (KJV)

The Light of the World

And by inference, those disciples who follow Jesus’ disciples are the light of the world.

They’re called Christians, today.

Bless the Food?

I was recently asked to offer prayer before a meal.

I made it very short and simply thanked God for the food before us.

Bless the Food?

The host jokingly commented that I didn’t “bless the food.”

That got me thinking…

Bless the Food?

Did Jesus ever “bless the food?”

So I searched the Scriptures. Guess what! There is no record of Jesus blessing the food. There is no record of anyone ever blessing food, or blessing any inanimate object!

Bless the Food?

In Scripture, blessings are either from God to people, from people to people, or from people to God.

With regard to food, thanks were given before or during a meal or the breaking of bread.

Bless the Food?

It appears the “blessing of food” before a meal is something man has made up.

With that being said, a valid “prayer” before a meal can be something as simple as, “Father, thank you for this food.”

Matthew 14:19 …Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he [Jesus] gave thanks and broke the loaves. ….

Bless the Food?

Other passages related to “giving thanks”:

    Matthew 26:26 took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave ....     Matthew 26:27 took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, ....     Mark 6:41 he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then ....     Mark 8:7 he gave thanks for them also and told ....     Mark 14:22 took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave ....     Mark 14:23 took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, ....     Luke 9:16 he gave thanks and broke them [loaves and fish]. ....     Luke 22:17 taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this ....     Luke 22:19 took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave ....     Luke 24:30 took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and began….    John 6:11 took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those ....     Acts 27:35 he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of ....

God Bless You!