Clownfish evolution or intelligent design?

Today I had to take an Environmental Science Test (can't wait till I graduate). One of the questions contained this information with it, "Clownfish have evolved resistance to the deadly stings of sea anemones. The sea anemone provides protection for the clownfish from predators and leaves the uneaten remains of its prey for the clownfish to finish off. Meanwhile the clownfish helps attract prey to the sea anemone with its bright colors". That is amazing, that 'information' took the science out of  Environment Science Class. Science is suppose to be testable and demonstrable fact or hypothesis, not opinions and religious beliefs. There are no facts to back up the statement "Clownfish have evolved resistance to the deadly stings of sea anemones". To anyone who believes this, I would like to ask them the following questions....

1.) How did clownfish "evolve" this resistance?

2.) Can you prove (or even guess) when in time clownfish "evolved" this resistance? 

3.) Do you have fossils or proofs of clownfish in the past who did not have this resistance? (there are only a few fossilized anemones in existence)

4.) When did the clownfish find out that it had evolved this resistance? 

It is true that animals can obtain better traits given the right environment. For example, everyone knows that some roaches developed resistance to pesticides through natural selection, the few roaches that had higher resistance to pesticides survived exterminations. When these few resistant roaches survived, they passed on these desirable traits to their offspring. Now we have roach populations that are resistant to some pesticides. Could this principle also apply to a clownfish though? Did the original clownfish kind swim into anemones until all of them died except for a remnant that had a heightened resistance to it? Did this then leave a handful of resistant clownfish that past these traits on to their offspring? Of course not, that is nonsense. Clownfish would not just keep swimming into anemones and dying....and there is no other way that a community of clownfish could obtain such a trait. (at least not that I can think of)

The fact is, anemones have tentacles with stinging capsules (nematocysts) on them which they use to kill prey. You cannot exactly "evolve" a "resistance" to a harpoon-like stinger...That would be like saying that in the middle ages certain soldiers developed resistance to spears! However, how can anyone (fish or human) resist a stinger/spear? Armor....which is what the clownfish uses. Like many species of fish, the clownfish has skin that produces a slick mucus that keeps the stinger from harming it. Secondly, this layer of mucus did not evolve, it had to have been designed by a Creator (Gen. 1:1). Fish mucus is not an "evolved" secondary trait, it is very important and serves multiple functions. This mucus produced from the cells in the fish can regulate body functions, protect against parasites, increase swimming speed, and allow the chemical molecules in the fishes skin to circulate when breathing through their gills and skin. By the way, clownfish are not the only fish that have mucus, many of them do. Parrotfish will form a bubble of mucus around itself to stay protected from predators. Other fish produce toxins with their mucus that will deter predators from biting them....others even feed their mucus to their young! Very nasty, but it works.  

But...."Clownfish have evolved resistance to the deadly stings of sea anemones". That is unscientific, irrational, illogical, nonsense.

Anyone who has any knowledge of fish should have known this. The Environmental Science Test I took is obviously designed by ignorant, biased evolutionist that have to insert their religion where ever they can. USA Test Prep (which is where the test was designed) could never get away with putting that in their test if they produced college level studies. Perhaps they get all their information about clownfish from watching Finding Nemo...

--Eli Caldwell

 

"And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind..." Genesis 1:21

Immersion?

The Baptists and "Church of Christ" (Campbellites) all use references to baptism into Christ as found in Romans 6:3-4, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Colossians 2:10-12, and Galatians 3:26-28 to teach that water baptism was by immersion (or "burial"). However, none of those references are to baptism with water, they are all said to be baptism into Christ. Christ is not a tank of water, therefore baptism into Christ has nothing to do with water.

Baptism into Christ is done by God the Holy Spirit

"By one Spirit are we all baptized into body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:13)

"Now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him" (1 Cor. 12:18)

"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also are ye risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead" (Col. 2:12)

The Holy Spirit joins a believer to the Lord making us crucified, buried, risen, and seated with Christ (1 Cor. 6:15-17, Eph. 2:6, Rom. 6:3-4, Gal. 2:20, 3:26-28).

Water baptism has nothing to do with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. There is not one verse in the Bible that says water baptism pictures the death/burial/resurrection. The 12 apostles baptized (John 4:2) without even knowing about the death/burial/resurrection (Matt. 16:21-23, Mark 9:9-10, 9:31-32, Luke 9:44-45, 18:31-34, John 20:6-10).

Water baptism was said to be a "figure" (1 Pet. 3:21) of the washing away and remission of sins (Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3, Acts 2:38, 22:16). The washing away of sins is done by the SPRINKLING of the blood of Christ, not by immersion (Heb. 9:13-14, 10:22, 12:24, 1 Pet. 1:2, Isa. 52:14-15). Clearly then water baptism was by SPRINKLING as a "figure" (Heb. 10:22, 1 Pet. 3:21).

Water baptism was a Jewish "purifying" (John 3:25-26) that the Priests and Levites knew about (John 1:19) and expected the Christ to perform (John 1:25). Why did the Jews expect Christ to baptize? Ezekiel 36:25 says that Christ would come and sprinkle clean water upon them. Why did the Jews send their Priests and Levites to question John about why he was baptizing? Because they performed baptism all the time....(Num. 8:5-7, Lev. 8:5-6, Exod. 29:4, 30:20, 40:12). The Gospel of John calls baptism "purifying" in John 3:25, every other reference to purifying is a Jewish cleansing (John 2:6, 11:55, Num. 8:7, etc.).

Christ's death baptism is called a pouring (Luke 12:50, Ps. 22:14, Isa. 53:12).

The baptism with the Holy Ghost was called a pouring, falling, shedding, etc. (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:17-18, 2:33, 8:16, 10:44-45, 11:15).

The baptism unto Moses had two phases, in the cloud and in the sea (1 Cor. 10:1-2). The baptism in the cloud was a pouring out of water (Ps 77:16-20) and the baptism in the sea was dry, none of the Jews got wet.

Baptism cannot be defined as "immersion", different baptism are done in different ways

baptism with water was a sprinkling
baptism unto Moses (two phases) was a raining and then dry
baptism with the Holy Ghost was a pouring/falling/shedding
baptism with fire will be a raining (Luke 17:29-30)
baptism into Christ is an immersion
baptism with death/suffering was a pouring

--Eli Caldwell

Matthew 24 in Context--by Dr. Sam Gipp

Listen to this sermon where Dr. Gipp destroys the "post tribulation rapture" fraud.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PbWURWTTAQ&google_comment_id=z12hcfpr4x3vjnua304cixzpvrnssxfiqqo0k

--Eli Caldwell

Post-Tribulation Rapture Fraud! The rapture is at hand..

This is for those who believe that the rapture of the Body of Christ happens at the middle or end of Daniel's 70th Week...they deny that our rapture is at hand. Some misuse 2 Thes. 2:2 to teach this, yet the "day of Christ/Lord" is NOT the rapture of the Church and there is no verses that says that it is. The Day of Christ/Lord takes place after the coming of the Lord according to 1 Corinthians 1:7-8, which puts the order as the coming of the Lord before the Day of Christ. "The Day of Christ" is always a reference to the period of time between the rapture of the Church and the Second Coming to the Earth in which the members of the Body of Christ are taking their places in Heaven at the Judgement Seat of Christ (Eph. 2:6-7, 2 Cor. 4:14-5:11, etc.).

The rapture is clearly at hand!

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Romans 13:
[11] And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. [Clearly a reference to the salvation/redemption of our body as spoken of in chapter 8 verses 23-24]
[12] The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Philippians 3:20-4:5
[20] For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
[21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
[1] Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown*, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
[2] I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
[3] And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
[4] Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
[5] Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

*1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

Pre-"Tribulation" rapture in 2 Corinthians 4:14-5:11

The people who believe that the rapture of the Body of Christ is before Daniel's 70th Week often make accusations against those who believe in the Pre-Daniel's-70th-Week such as

"There is no verse in the Bible that teaches the Pre-Tribulation rapture"

"The Pre-Tribulation rapture started with a crazy girl in the 1820's"

"The Tribulation is never called "wrath", God's wrath is only poured out at the Second Advent."

And on and on they go.

I have showed in previous posts that those are both lies and that all "Post Trib Rapture" believers are lying (whether on purpose or in ignorance). There are many verses that plainly state the rapture of the Body of Christ will be BEFORE Daniel's 70th Week. I am not talking about indirect statements or theories based, I mean plain statements. The problem is that the "Post Tribulation Rapture" people have turned this issue into a battle of vocabulary. All of their proofs and arguments are based on false definitions and wrong use of vocabulary.

For example, a "pre tribulation rapture" believer will say "There is no way that God would let His own body, the Church, go through the Tribulation". Then the "post tribulation rapture" people are quick to say "Oh yes He would. Look at John 16:33, Acts 14:22, Rom. 5:3 and other passages. Clearly God will let us go through tribulation." The "Post-Trib" argument is completely based on the word "tribulation". Their premise is that there is a PERIOD OF TIME called "THE Tribulation" and that since God lets the Church go through tribulation, we can also go through this so called period of time called "THE Tribulation". That is a lie. There is NO period of time in the entire Bible called "THE Tribulation". It appears nowhere in the Bible. "Tribulation" is an adjective and NOT a noun. Just like C.I. Scofield misdefined a "dispensation" as a period of time, likewise the Post Tribbers have done the same thing with the word "tribulation". The duration of Daniel's 70th Week is called the "LAST DAYS", "LATTER DAYS", "the DAYS OF VENGEANCE", and "THE TIME of Jacob's Trouble". God's attitude toward Israel in this period of time is described as "WRATH", "GREAT WRATH", "FURY", and "ANGER".

At this point the so called "Post Tribulation rapture" people have just lost over a dozen proof texts. Every time the word "tribulation" shows up in the New Testament they jump on it like a bug on fly paper and say that these verses prove that the Church is going to go through a period of time called "THE Tribulation". As brother Paul said, these Post "Tribulation" rapture people teach this stuff "understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm." (1 Tim. 1:7). Just like Hymenaeus and Philetus, they couldn't rightly divide a Kit-Kat Bar (2 Tim. 2:15-18).

It is obvious that the Body of Christ will go through a lot persecution and tribulation. All believers since Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, etc. have gone through persecution and tribulation.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

What does this have to do with Daniel's 70th Week or any rapture of any kind? Absolutely nothing.

Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 are the big hang ups for "Post-Tribulation Rapture" people. The "post-tribbers" actually believe that Matthew/Mark/Luke/John are about the Church which is the Body of Christ, even though it cannot be found anywhere in those 89 chapters. Everyone the Lord talked to and preached to in those Books were Jews and any Gentiles that got blessed in that period of time got blessed only because they acknowledged that they were DOGS and the Jews were God's chosen people. Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises made unto the fathers (Rom. 15:8). The Jews are who Christ came to (Rom. 9:4-5). Christ was sent ONLY to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matt. 15:22-26, Mark 7:25-27). During Christ's earthly ministry salvation was of the Jews (John 4:22, Luke 19:9). Christ sent His apostles only to the Jews (Matt. 10:6-7). There is no grace age dispensation in the four Gospels, that was given to Paul (Rom. 6:14, Eph. 3:2, 1 Tim. 1:11-16). In the four Gospels all you have is the Law and the New Covenant (which is still the Law) with Israel. Jesus Christ taught the Law only, not the dispensation of Grace being free from the Law (Matt. 5:17-20, 7:12, 8:4, 19:17, 23:1-3, 24:20). Which is why the 12 apostles of Israel (Matt. 10:5-8, 19:28) were continually in the temple, keeping the feasts, keeping the dietrary restrictions, and would not dare go into a Gentiles home and eat with him (Luke 24:53, Acts 2:46, 3:1, 5:42, 10:10-17, 10:28). That is why Ananias was a devout man according to the Law (Acts 22:12) and that is why James's disciples were all zealous of the Law in Acts 21:18-24. That is also why some of the BELIEVERS in the church at Jerusalem thought that circumcision was a requirement for salvation in Acts 15:5. Without the Pauline epistles and the revelations that the Lord gave us through him, there would be no such thing as the dispensation of Grace...all you would have is the Law (Rom. 6:14). Matthew through Acts 8 is all about restoring the Kingdom to Israel. Gentiles were allowed to convert and get in on the blessings to Israel (Matt. 28:19-20, Mark. 16:15) IF they recognized that they were dogs (Matt. 15:22-26, Mark 7:25-27).

Most Post "Tribulation" people will not accept those Biblical facts. They actually believe that there is only one gospel throughout the entire Bible and that dispensationalism is satanic. They think they are "spiritual Jews" in Christ and that the saved people under Grace become "the Israel of God". How you could 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Galatians 3:26-28, Col. 3:11, Rom. 11:25, Eph. 2:14-16, etc. and believe that you are a "spiritual Jew" I will never know. In fact, the only time the phrase "the Israel of God" shows up in the Bible is in Galatians 6:16 and it is clearly separated from the Church, the New Creature in Christ (Gal. 6:15-16).

Dispensationalism is the main issue in the rapture debate. Those who think they are Jews in Christ and that this present age was not a mystery given to Paul but in fulfillment of OT prophecy WILL believe in a "Post Tribulation Rapture" because there is a rapture of the believing Jews at the end of Daniel's 70th Week (Dan. 12:1-2, Ezek. 37:1-28). Here is a thorough list of Old Testament references to the rapture/resurrection of Israel at the end of Daniel's 70th Week:

• Ezekiel 11:16-20, 20:33-38, 28:25-26, 34:1-31, 36:16-38, 37:1-14, 37:21-28,  39:23-29
• Jeremiah 23:1-8, 30:1-31:10, 31:16-18, 31:31-34, 32:36-42, 33:1-18, 50:18-20
• Isaiah 10:20-23, 14:1, 26:19, 27:12-13, 51:11, 54:5-9
• Micah 2:12, Hos. 1:11, 3:5, Zeph. 3:15-20, Dan. 12:1-2, Deut. 30:1-10, Zech. 8:7-8
• Ps. 50:5, 57:3, 106:47-107:7

Look up all of those references and you will see that they are ALL about Israel being resurrected/raptured to their LAND to be in a New Covenant with God keeping His Law perfectly by the supernatural power of the Holy Ghost. They have nothing whatsoever to do with a member of the Body of Christ under Grace. The Body of Christ will be taken to HEAVEN, not the earth. We are caught up in the air to go to heaven, not the "land".

1 Thessalonians 4:
[13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
[15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
[16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
[17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Philippians 3:
[20] For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
[21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

1 Corinthians 15:48-49 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Ephesians 2:
[6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
[7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:
[1] If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
[2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
[3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
[4] When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

The Body of Christ is going to be caught up to heaven, where our blessings are, not to the city of Jerusalem and the land of Israel. At the Second Advent and "regeneration" Jesus Christ will be reigning over the world with the 12 apostles judging the 12 tribes of Israel (Matt. 19:28). The earth will be like the garden of Eden and the crops will flourish and the earth will be wonderful (Isa. 51:3, Ezek. 36:35, Joel 2:3). People will inherit lands and they will be rich on the earth (Matt. 19:29, Mark 10:29-30, Matt. 24:44-47, 25:14-23, Luke 12:42-44). These are hardly "spiritual blessings" in "heavenly places" that those under Grace receive (Eph. 1:3, 2:6-7, Col. 3:1-4).

But now to the point of this post...2 Corinthians 4:14-5:10 contains plain Scripture proving that the rapture of the Body of Christ happens before Daniel's 70th Week. Clearly the apostle Paul knew that he would never go through the Time of Jacob's Trouble.

2 Corinthians 4:14-5:11
[14] Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
[15] For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
[16] For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
[17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
[18] While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
[1] For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
[2] For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
[3] If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
[4] For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
[5] Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
[6] Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
[7] (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
[8] We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
[9] Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
[10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
[11] Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

As seen from the passage above, Paul told the Church that we look for Christ to raise us up to be clothed with a new immortal body.

We do not look for anything that is seen, but at the things which are NOT seen. The Body of Christ does NOT have any "signs" to look for before our rapture, signs are for the Jews (1 Cor. 1:22, John 4:48). Which means...The "signs" in Matthew 24 have nothing to do with the Church the Body of Christ.

Our rapture is something that we "know" (4:14), "look" for (4:18), "groan" for (5:2), "confident" about (5:6), and it is something we are "willing" to happen (5:8). The Lord told the apostles of Israel (Matt. 19:28) to "look" and "watch" for His Second Coming, but only when the events of the Olivet Discourse begin to come to pass. The 12 apostles of Israel were not looking for Christ to come at any moment, they were waiting till the first signs happened as found in Matthew 24:3-6. Jesus said in the Olivet Discourse "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21:28. Contrast that with what Paul wrote here in 2 Corinthians and also Titus 2:13, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;". The apostle of the Gentiles (Rom. 11:13) did not wait till "these things begin to come to pass" because Matthew/Mark/Luke/John were written about the Jews and the mystery of the Dispensation of Grace had not been revealed yet. Titus 2:13 and Luke 21:28 do not agree, they are clearly different.

Notice there in 2 Corinthians 4:14-5:11 that the chronology is that we wait for the rapture experiencing light affliction, then we get a new immortal body, then we stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ. [The Judgement Seat of Christ is where we are at during the Day of the Lord according to 1 Cor. 1:7-8, 5:5, 2 Cor. 1:12-14, Phil. 1:6, 1:9-10, 2:15-16, etc.]. There is no mention of Daniel's 70th Week in the whole passage! In fact, the passage proves that we will NOT go into Daniel's 70th Week...Look what Paul told the Body of Christ compared to what the Lord said to those under the Gospel of the Kingdom (Jewish Dispensation).

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Mark 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

Clearly Paul knew he would not go into Daniel's 70th Week.

--Eli Caldwell

Updated, Zechariah 7:8-8:8

Zechariah 7:8-8:8 is a prophecy of the earthly ministry of Christ, Israel's refusal of their King, Israel's fall, the time of Jacob's trouble, the Second Coming to Israel, the "post tribulation rapture" of believing Jews, and the Millennium. Notice that the ''Dispensation of Grace", "Mystery Age", or "Church Age" is not found in the prophecy. The prophecy goes from Israel's rejection of Christ's Gospel of the Kingdom straight to the "Time of Jacob's Trouble", "last days", Daniel's 70th week, or sometimes incorrectly called "The Tribulation". 

Verses 7:8-10 record Christ's Gospel of the Kingdom
Verses 7:11-12a record Israel's rejection of Christ and their Fall
Verses 7:12b-14 record the Time of Jacob's Trouble
Verses 8:1-3 record the Second Coming of Christ to Israel
Verses 8:4-8 record the "post tribulation rapture" of Jewish saints to Jerusalem for the Kingdom
 

Zechariah 7:8-8:8  
[8] And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,
[9] Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
[10] And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

"Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts" A clear reference to the words of Jesus Christ, the Lord.

John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

John 5:46-47 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

John 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

Zechariah then gives a summary of the Lord's message and words as found in the Gospels (Matthew/Mark/Luke/John).

"Execute true judgment" 

•  Matthew 7:1-5 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
• John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

"shew mercy and compassions"

• Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

"oppress not the widow"

• Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
• Mark 12:38-40 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

"nor the fatherless"

• James 1:25-27 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

"the stranger"

• Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

"nor the poor"

• Matthew 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Matthew 11:5  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
• Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

"and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart"

• Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
• Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
• Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 

Zechariah gives that prophecy of the earthly ministry of Christ. Christ's earthly ministry of offering the Kingdom of Heaven to Israel was continued by the 12 apostles until Acts 7, then Israel fell by blaspheming the Holy Ghost.

Re-offering of the Kingdom to Israel in Acts...

Acts 1:
[6] When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
[7] And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

Acts 2:
[29] Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
[30] Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
[31] He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
[32] This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Acts 3:
[19] Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
[20] And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
[21] Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
[22] For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
[23] And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
[24] Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
[25] Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
[26] Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Israel rejected this offer of the Kingdom when their rules killed Stephen, a man full of the Holy Ghost.   

Acts 6:

[9] Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
[10] And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
[11] Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
[12] And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
[13] And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
[14] For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
[15] And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. (Stephen was so full of the Holy Ghost that his message was irresistable to some and his face shined like that of an angel, like Moses's face. But Israel's leaders accused Stephen of blasphemy!)

Acts 7:

[51] Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
[52] Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
[53] Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
[54] When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
[55] But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
[56] And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
[57] Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
[58] And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
[59] And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
[60] And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Blaspheming the Holy Ghost is an unpardonable sin (Matt. 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-29, Luke 12:10). Blaspheming the Holy Ghost was done by speaking against a man full of the Holy Ghost such as by accusing the man of being full of a devil (Matt. 12:24-32), lying to the man (Acts 5:1-11), or by killing the man (Acts 7:51-60). The baptism with the Holy Ghost that took place during the Acts period resulted in the apostle/prophet being overpowered and controlled by the Holy Ghost directly. Any action against that apostle/prophet would be an action against the Holy Ghost, as we see in Acts 5:1-11 when Ananias lied to Peter (though Peter by the Holy Ghost knew about the lie), yet is said to have lied to the Holy Ghost. Ananias and his wife were punished by immediate death. What would be Israel's punishment for KILLING a man full of the Holy Ghost be? Well according to prophecy, they would go into a time of trouble, also known as God's wrath/vengeance/fury/tribulation/affliction. Notice what happens as soon as Israel's council stoned Stephen....

Acts 8:

[1] And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
[2] And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
[3] As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
[4] Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Believing Israel began to be persecuted and scattered by the unbelievers after the stoning of Stephen.  This is in accord with Daniel's 70th Week and Israel's last days, which Peter preached (Acts 2:16-17).

Jeremiah 23:

[1] Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
[2] Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
[3] And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
[4] And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
[5] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
[6] In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
[7] Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
[8] But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

The pastors of Israel began scattering the sheep in Acts 8, the 12 apostles and the other believers were God's "flock" that would inherit the Kingdom. Jesus Christ said to the disciples in Luke 12:32, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." The Time of Jacob's Trouble would begin and the believing remnant would go through it and inherit the Kingdom.

Jeremiah 30:

[1] The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
[2] Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
[3] For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
[4] And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
[5] For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.
[6] Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
[7] Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
[8] For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
[9] But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
[10] Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.
[11] For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
[12] For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.
[13] There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.
[14] All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.
[15] Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.
[16] Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.
[17] For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
[18] Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.
[19] And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
[20] Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.
[21] And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD.
[22] And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
[23] Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.
[24] The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.

Deuteronomy 4:

[26] I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.
[27] And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.
[28] And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
[29] But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
[30] When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
[31] (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

Deuteronomy 30:

[1] And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,
[2] And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
[3] That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.
[4] If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:
[5] And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.
[6] And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
[7] And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.
[8] And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.

Zechariah 13:

[6] And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
[7] Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
[8] And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
[9] And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

In Acts 8 everything is set for the Time of Jacob's Trouble to begin. Christ has come and offered Himself as the Lamb of God preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. This fulfilled the prophecies of His First Advent. Then He sent His apostles out to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to all nations, then the end would come (Matt. 24:13-14, 28:19-20). They went out preaching the last days and the Restoration of the Kingdom to Israel with Christ as their King (Acts 1:6-8, 2:14-21, 3:19-26)

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Acts 1:6-8 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 2:
[14] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
[15] For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
[16] But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
[17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
[18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
[19] And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
[20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
[21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 3:
[19] Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
[20] And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
[21] Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
[22] For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
[23] And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
[24] Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
[25] Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

Zechariah 7:

[11] But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
[12] Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.

The Lord Jesus Christ came to Israel "saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart." Verses 11-12a record Israel's response. Israel "refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets". This is recorded in Acts 7...

Acts 7:

[51] Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
[52] Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
[53] Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
[54] When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
[55] But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
[56] And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
[57] Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
[58] And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
[59] And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
[60] And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Israel refused to hear the words of the Holy Ghost through the prophets and the Law:

• Acts 7:51-53 "ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it."

• Zechariah 7:12 "Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets"

Acts 7:54-58 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

 

Zechariah 7:11 "But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear"

The result of the unbelief of Israel would be the Time of Jacob's Trouble, God would send His wrath on them for not accepting Jesus Christ...

" Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts."

The "great wrath" is clearly a reference to Daniel's 70th Week, when Israel will be scattered among the heathen and persecuted.

Luke 21:
[20] And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
[21] Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
[22] For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
[23] But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
[24] And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Which leads us into the next part of Zechariah 7:8-8:8...

Zechariah 7:
[13] Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:
[14] But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.

God says that He cried out to Israel for them to hear His word, the Law, and the prophets, but they refused to hear Him. Therefore when He sends His "great wrath" upon them and they cry out to Him, He will not hear their cries (Zech. 7:8-13). Instead, God will scatter them among the heathen while the Gentiles make the land of Israel desolate (as we saw above in Luke 21). All the prophecies of God scattering Israel among the heathen and leaving the land desolate will be fulfilled.....but things do get better for Israel.

Zechariah 8:
[1] Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,
[2] Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
[3] Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
[4] Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
[5] And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
[6] Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
[7] Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
[8] And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. 

Here is when Israel's problems will get fixed, at the Second Advent. 

After pouring out His wrath on Israel, God has mercy on them...

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury" (verse 2)

The LORD Jesus Christ returns to gather Israel from where they were scattered and reigns in Jerusalem...

"I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain." (verse 3)

Israel is in peace,

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts." (verses 4-6)

The Lord saves Israel, gathers them, and reigns over them in truth and in righteousness...

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness." (verses 7-8)

Sadly, all of the above information is unknown to those who believe in the "post tribulation rapture" of the Body of Christ. If they would study the Scripture given above, they would realize two very important things:

1.) The falsely so called "Tribulation" period is God's "great WRATH" on Israel and has nothing to do with the Church the Body of Christ (1 Thes. 1:10, 5:9, Rom. 5:9)

2.) The falsely so called "Tribulation" period is all about God's dealings with Israel, not the Body of Christ. 

Another thing to add is that in the Dispensation of Grace, the Church is looking for the Lord Himself to descend and catch us up to heaven (Phil. 3:20-21, 1 Thes. 4:13-18, Eph. 1:3, 2:6-7, 2 Cor. 4:14-5:10, Titus 2:13). We are not looking for angels to gather us from the uttermost part of the earth from where we were scattered from Judea (Matt. 24:15-31, Mark 13:14-27) to be brought back to Jerusalem. Israel and the Body of Christ are different things (1 Cor. 12:13, Gal. 3:28, Col. 3:11), and events that happen "that all things which are written may be fulfilled" (Luke 21:22) cannot have anything to do with a "mystery" given to Paul about the Church "by the word of the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:51, 1 Thes. 4:15, Eph. 3:1-9, Rom. 16:25, Col. 1:25-28). Failure to rightly divide between Israel and the Body of Christ, and Prophecy and Mystery, is why we have "Post Trib" rapture believers today (2 Tim. 2:15). Amazingly, not putting our resurrection in the proper point in time is the only example Paul gives of not rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:18).  

--Eli Caldwell    

Updated Acts 28 page

Most of my blog pages are just links to my blog posts on that particular topic, however I have updated the Acts 28 page to an article against Acts 28 Dispensationalism. I tried to address all their major points. I have read many Acts 28 articles and had correspondence with 5-6 different Acts 28 proponents and none of them have ever attempted to answer those Biblical charges against their position.

Polystrate tree photos

Burning the Corrupt NIV perversion of the Bible

Pastor Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, Arizona turns the Satanically inspired New International Version into a BBQ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ABDM9xneqo

Acts 19:
[17] And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
[18] And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
[19] Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

If you do not believe that the modern "bible"perversions are satanic, get a copy of Dr. Gail Riplinger's book New Age Bible Versions.

For examples of why the NIV should be burned.....The underlined phrases are DELETED in the New International Version, not counting the entire 16 verses that the NIV omits. [From my notes taken from If The Foundations Be Destroyed (Chick Silliby) and Floyd Nolen Jones's Ripped Out Of The Bible]

Matthew 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son. 

Matthew 5:44 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.

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Matthew 9:13For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 

Matthew 15:8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 

 Matthew 16:3O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

Matthew 17:21Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. 

Matthew 19:9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. 

Matthew 20:16So the last shall be first and the first last: for many be called but few chosen. 

Matthew 20:22But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

Matthew 23:14Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows'  houses,  and for  a pretence make  long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 

Matthew 27:35And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 

Mark1:14     Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.
1:31     and  immediately the fever left her.
2:17     I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
6:11     Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in   the day of judgment than for that city.
7:8       Ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other   such like things ye do.
7:16     If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
9:44     Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
9:46     Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.9:49     For every one shall be salted with fire and every sacrifice shall be salted       with salt.
10:21   come, take up the cross, and follow me.
10:24    Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God.
11:26    But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
13:14    But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet.
13:33    Take ye heed, watch and pray.
14:68    And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
15:28    And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

Luke
1:28     the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
2:43     Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
4:8       And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan:
9:54     Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
9:55     But he turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
11:2-4  When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth…but deliver us from evil.
11:29   they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
17:36   Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
22:31   And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you.
22:64   And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face.
23:17   For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.
23:38   And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

John1:27     He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me.
3:13     And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
5:3-4    In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water:  whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
6:47     He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
11:41   Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid.
17:12   While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name.

Acts10:6     he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
20:32   And now, brethren, I commend you to God.
24:6-8  Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, Commanding his accusers to come unto thee.
24:15   there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust.
28:16   And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard.
28:29   And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had great reasoning among themselves.

Romans1:16     I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. 
9:28     For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
10:15   How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace.
13:9     Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness.
14:6     He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks.
14:21   whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
15:29   I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

I Corinthians5:7        For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
7:5       that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer.
7:39     The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth.
11:24   Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you.

Galatians3:1        who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth.

Ephesians5:30     For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
6:10     Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord.

Philippians3:16     Let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Colossians1:14     In whom we have redemption through his blood.
3:6       the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.

II Thessalonians1:8        In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God.

I Timothy1:17     immortal, invisible, the only wise God.
4:12     in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
6:5       destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

II Timothy1:11     I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Philemon1:12     Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him.

Hebrews1:3      when he had by himself purged our sins.
2:7      thou crownedst him with glory and honour and didst set him over the works of thy hands.
7:21     Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
10:34    knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

I Peter4:1      Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh.
4:14    on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
5:11    To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

II Peter2:17    to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

I John2:7      The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
5:7,8    For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

Jude25       To the only wise God our Saviour.

Revelation2:13     I Know thy works, and where thou dwellest.
6:1       one of the four beasts saying Come and see. Also in verses 3, 5 and 7.
11:17   Saying, We give thee thanks O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come.
12:12   Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea.
16:17   there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven.
21:24   And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their gloryand honour into it.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.

Matthew 8:29 And behold, they cried out saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God?

Matthew 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house.

Matthew 13:51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

Matthew 15:30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them.

Matthew 16:20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. 

Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief,

Matthew 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him.

Matthew 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 

Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is God.

Matthew 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God and cast out all them that sold and bought. 

Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 

Matthew 22:32 God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

Matthew 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ.

Matthew 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another.

Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Matthew 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Mark5:13     And forthwith Jesus gave them leave.
6:33     And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot.
            thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
7:27     But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled.
9:24     The father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord.
11:10   Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord.
11:14   And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee.
11:26   But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
12:27   He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living.
14:45   and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.

Luke2:40    And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit.
4:4      man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
4:41    Thou art Christ the Son of God.
7:22    Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way.
7:31    And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation?
9:56     For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.
9:57     Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
12:31   But rather seek ye the kingdom of God.
13:25   Lord, Lord open to us.
21:4     For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God.
22:31   And the Lord said, Simon, Simon.
23:42   And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me.

John4:16    Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband.
4:42    and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
4:46    So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee.
5:30    because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
6:39     And this is the Father's will which hath sent me.
6:69     And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
8:20     These words spake Jesus in the treasury.
8:29     the Father hath not left me alone.
9:35     Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
16:16   a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
19:38   He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

Acts2:30     according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne.
3:26     Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus.
4:24     Lord, thou art God.
7:30     there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sina an angel of the Lord.
7:32     I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
7:37     A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me; him shall ye hear.
8:37     And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
9:5-6    And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise.
9:29     And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus.
15:11   through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
15:18    Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
16:31    Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
19:4      that they should believe on him which should come after him, that  is, on Christ Jesus.
19:10    so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus.
20:21    repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
20:25    among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God.
22:16    wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
23:9      let us not fight against God.

Romans1:16     For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
6:11     alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
8:1       There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ. Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
14:6     He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord.
15:8     Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision.
15:19   Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.
16:18   For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ.
16:24   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

I Corinthians1:14     I thank God that I baptized none of you.
5:4      In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together.
5:5      that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6:20    glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
9:1      have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?
9:18    Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge.
10:28   for the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.
15:47   the second man is the Lord from heaven.
16:22   If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema.
16:23   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

II Corinthians4:6       the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
4:10     Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus.
5:18     hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ.
10:7     that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
11:31   The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians3:17     the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ.
4:7       heir of God through Christ.
6:15     For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing.
6:17     I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Ephesians3:9       God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.
3:14     I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5:9       For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness.

Philippians4:13      I can do all things through Christ.

Colossians1:2       peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:28     that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
2:2       to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.

I Thessalonians1:1       peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2:19     in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
3:11     Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
3:13     at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

II Thessalonians1:8       that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:12     That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified.
2:4,      so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God.

I Timothy1:1       and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.
2:7       speak the truth in Christ, and lie not.
3:16     And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh.
5:21     I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

II Timothy4:1       I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4:22     The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit.

Titus1:4       from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Philemon6          every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews3:1       the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.
10:9     Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.
10:30   I will recompense, saith the Lord.

I Peter1:22     Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit.
5:10     who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus.
5:14     Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

I John1:7       the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
3:16     Hereby perceive we the love of God.
4:3       And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God.
5:7-8    For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
5:13     and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

II John3          and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
9          He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Jude 4          denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation1:8       I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.
1:9       the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
1:11     Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.
5:14     the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
12:17   and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
14:5     they are without fault before the throne of God.
16:5     Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be.
19:1     glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God.
20:9     and there came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
20:12   And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God.
21:4     And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
22:21   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

For those of you who may think that burning the NIV is extreme, you need to look at what James R. White (The King James Only Controversy) said about wanting to burn the King James Bible.

 
https://dorightchristians.wordpress.com/2014/08/07/picture-proof-that-james-white-hates-the-kjv/

--Eli Caldwell