#messianic kingdom

[kdmiller55]

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies

27 And Balak said to Balaam, “Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.” 28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the desert. 29 And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” 30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on…

[world-v-you-blog]

Considering Psalms, 14 – Psalm 72, Part 2

For he will rescue the needy when they cry, the poor too and those with none to help them. He will have pity on the poor and needy; and the lives of the needy he will save. He will redeem them from oppression and violence; their blood will be precious in his view/sight. Psalm 72: 12-14, The Complete Jewish Bible. This instalment of “Considering Psalms” continues our reflection on King…

[mindfulldsliving]

Ezekiel 37 Prophecy: Uniting Sacred Texts and Peoples

We aim to explore the intricate connections between this Old Testament prophecy and the teachings within the Book of Mormon. Knowing the background and context of these scriptures helps to illuminate their potential meanings and enriches our appreciation

The Prophecy of Ezekiel 37: Unveiling Its Connection to the Book of MormonCriticism of Ezekiel 37:15-17 and Its Relation to the Book of MormonUnderstanding the Two SticksEzekiel 37:15-19: Books or Sticks? From Mormonism Research Ministries – by Bill McKeever and Eric JohnsonAppraising Ministries blog – Two Sticks: Refuting the Mormon View of Ezekiel 37:15-17 by Pastor – Teacher Ken…

[thinkingonscripture]

What Must I Believe to Be Saved?

The Terms of Salvation God requires that certain information be believed before He saves someone. This means saving faith requires content. Though faith alone is the only requirement by God, the content of faith has changed throughout the ages, depending on what God revealed at a particular time. What God revealed to Adam and Eve was different than what He revealed to Abraham, and what He…

[pastorhogg]

Truths for a Modern World from Matthew 11:1-6

The core themes of Matthew 11:1-6, particularly those of restoration, divine authority, and the unveiling of God’s kingdom through Jesus, echo across the expanse of biblical narrative. In this passage, Jesus responds to John the Baptist’s disciples by enumerating His works: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the…

[kgdrendel]

(via The Curious Upside Down Kingdom of God Revealed in the First Prophetic Utterance in the Bible)

Finishing up some thoughts I started with over the Holidays.

[ephratah]

[atfnews]

The Messianic Banquet is an intriguiging aspect of end times studies. It comes after the arrival of the kingdom and marriage of the Lamb. Along with the Messianic Banquet is the war against Gog and Magog. In this study, we clearly show how all these events line up during the endtimes. This study presents major challenges to the Amillennial and Dispensationalist views.of the endtimes, dispels the idea of rapture and shows that the battle of Gog and MaGog in Revelation occurred in connection with the Roman invasion of Jukdea. It is hope that the listener will pay careful attentioni, take notes and check the Scripture references and reason logically. Check Us Out Our On YouTube channel to leave us questions or comments.

[cyndaquilisbestboi]

One thing I’ve yet to see talked about with Nimona, but that I really really liked, is how it tackles the mythology of war and valor. Specifically, when we first see Gloreth during the intro book sequence, she’s depicted as a full grown adult, this divine, messianic figure heroically battling threats to her nation and people. The city’s equivalent of “good god” is even “good Gloreth”. But then when we actually get to see when all this started through Nimona’s flashback by the well, Gloreth is *very much* a whole ass six year old, maybe eight or nine if we’re stretching it. The mythical hero driving back the “evil darkness” is a few inches shy of a toddler. We don’t know much about the intervening conflict between Nimona and the people of the city, other than that it probably lasted longer than that one mob burning down their own village, and Gloreth abandoning Nimona. But one thing we do see when we pick back up 1000 years later is that the “elite force of knights” who Gloreth (supposedly) put in place whose “descendants would protect the kingdom for generations to come” are being succeeded by a whole new batch of child soldiers. The footage of Ballister breaking into the training grounds as a child isn’t him running to meet adult heroes honing their skills, it’s of him as a seven or eight year old trying to go train with the other child soldiers. This whole movie is a commentary on how media likes to portray soldiers as mature adults who go to war for honor, glory, and patriotism instead of a pack of kids being pushed into the line of fire because it’s what the adults in power tell them is right. It’s certainly something that stood out to me as someone who’s grown up in the hyper nationalism of the US, has seen who society *claims* is sacrificing their lives in military service, and has also seen who *actually* is recruited (the fact that Ballister is a homeless street kid who tries to use the military to get a decent life is not an accident.) And I think that’s neat and important.

[determinate-negation]

Where can I read about ancient Jewish history without spouting Zionist propaganda?

Also is it true that Judaism as a component of “wanting to return to Zion/Israel”, especially the phrase “Next year in Jerusalem. But that has to be distorted but I don’t know where to look.

judaism like any other religion has different interpretations and sects and obviously in the modern world peoples political beliefs inform their religious interpretations so there are zionists who justify this on religious grounds just like christianity was used to justify colonialism

but next year in jerusalem is really a metaphorical phrase, it has more of a messianic meaning. its like about spiritual redemption that hasnt been achieved yet. now since the nakba and the establishment of the state of israel it has a different real connotation to some people. but historically when people started saying it in like medieval times it was a metaphor because the jews didnt have a state. but like i said these are things people interpret differently and theres a lot of famous ancient rabbis who said different things. zionists will insist its literal, but theres a lot of other things that say you cant have a state, you have to stay in exile until everything will be redeemed, not before then, so its a wish for redemption, for the messianic era

so yes the land of israel as its called eretz yisrael is important in judaism and the idea of returning but its not the same as the nation state of israel. the palestinian land israel is currently occupying is important in a lot of religions so i dont think its ceding room to zionists to note that its important in judaism. its just that for a lot of history it wasnt at all conceived of as being a possible political reality, and not something jews could usher in on their own accord so the 'zionism' people might point to prior to the modern era is like a hypothetical religious wish. theres a lot of different perspectives in judaism on the meaning of exile after the destruction of the second temple and one is that you have to stay in exile and cant have a state until the messiah comes. im not very religiously educated but that my general understanding

this doesnt really address any actual ancient history of jewish kingdoms or whatever unfortunately i dont study this and cant point you to a definitive thing. but i just dont really think the historic presence of ancient jews in palestine legitimizes zionist claims today at all anyways

[clericsong]

religious references i noticed in 2.3

sunday and robin centric with mentions of jade and gallagher!

it's already strongly established at this point that sunday is a jesus figure, what with his overly compassionate nature and sacrificial lamb role in the designs of the dreammaster among other things, but i noticed most prominently starting with his boss fight that he's starting to be painted in a lucifer-esque light as well.

beginning with the obvious, sunday starts to become too prideful, declaring boldly that he will become a scorching sun that will burn away all darkness, then attempts to rise to the level of an aeon/god while essentially rebelling against xipe/god in the process. then, in his failure, we have his iconic scene with robin: an angel falling in defeat, which strongly calls to mind another fallen angel, lucifer himself.

continuing this theme, we have him cast out of penacony, an escapist dreamscape fantasy haven, or "heaven" rather. but penacony is in this regard also comparable to another haven mentioned in religion, the garden of eden, which ties in with the references to genesis and the creation of adam that we see in his boss fight and overall character.

and thus sunday is banished from eden, which brings us to jade, who from her splash art and femme fatale temptress role is strongly tied to the serpent in the garden. during their interaction, we have sunday in chains, which reminds me of Peter 2:4; "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;" (New International Version). jade also makes explicit references to lucifer at this point, citing that sunday has had a "fall from grace." she then has a line of dialogue that i adore: "go now, you are free, o chosen one who dared to exceed his bounds. sever your wings, descend to the mortal realm, and walk their lands. see what this world is truly like." in this line we have references to lucifer in "who dared to exceed his bounds. sever your wings," then jesus in the second half of the quote. "see what this world is truly like" also makes one think of adam and eve seeing the world beyond eden for the first time- but anchoring us to the theme of jesus again, the whole interaction of jade coming to "tempt" sunday while he is at his lowest and most desperate echoes The Temptation of Christ, where the satan comes to jesus while he is fasting in the wilderness after his baptism and attempts to tempt him. for his last temptation in this story, satan tempts jesus to worship him in return for all the kingdoms of the world, which is strikingly similar how the IPC, especially jade, works. but like jesus, sunday rebuffs the "devil's" temptations.

there is someone who falls into the devil's trap however. just as eve had taken the forbidden fruit, robin agrees to a deal with jade, the price of which sure to be anything but cheap. robin is evocative of several biblical figures as well throughout her arc, though more subtly than her brother. first of all, mirroring xipe in their multiplicity by being an idol actress of many roles and faces, as well as being the most prominent familial figure to sunday, robin may bring to mind the mother mary in her many epithets under the catholic faith. aside from this, being a major driving force for the movement of the plot and a singer that inspires strength and action in those around her, she also emulates the holy spirit within the holy trinity. and yet, robin can also reflect less immaculate characters- while the figure of judas is most straightforwardly represented by gallagher, he eventually emerges as a guardian angel figure to the trailblazer and co. it is instead robin, regardless of her intentions, that makes the great betrayal by turning against her messianic brother to help the trailblazer defeat him. following the boss fight, in 2.3 we see robin filling in for sunday in his absence, taking care of responsibilities to penacony and the family that would have fallen to him, such as acting as a spokesperson. in the dialogue for this part, characters affiliated with the family, including robin, make it a point to avoid mentioning sunday directly. particularly with robin, there are several instances where she attempts to bring him up, but appears to hold back, most markedly when she addresses the crowd and shifts to thanking them on "behalf of herself" instead of her brother. these details parallel robin to the apostle peter, who denied jesus after his death, but also took on the role of the first pope of the christian faith.

so far, these are all the religious references/connections i was able to make from the latest patch with sunday and robin specifically. if i missed anything, do let me know and i hope you enjoyed this!

[invested-in-your-future]

Also just so we all agree - RT completely wrote themselves into a corner with this right?

The main Kingdom supplying most of technology and the resource all the technology runs on is gone.

The only remaining place is some Kingdom in the desert that already got decimated years ago and shouldn't even have a properly functioning government with all the lore drops in the show on how it should by all means be a social-Darwinist anarchy state.

Military? What military? Military where? The only Kingdom shown to have one on-screen is gone alongside most of technology, so by all means all that should remain is just a bunch of civilian airships and some huntsmen.

Meanwhile citizens of THREE Kingdoms are now stuck in a decimated desert with limited resources - shortages of food and water alone would likely kill thousands.

Chain of command? Governmental structures? In Vacuo, especially? It SHOULD be an absolute mess.

Meanwhile armies of monsters are everywhere and, due to show's own lore, should be growing larger with every second because of how unbelievably messed up life should be there.

Oh and there's NotSatan with plot mcguffins that can do literally anything attempting to cause the apocalypse.

There's literally no way for civilization on Remnant to survive or turn things around barring some major asspulls that would make Team RWBY winning against Ace Ops, Clover's fate or the death of that Goliath look like near impeccable writing in comparison.

Now any actual writer would have likely :

Never written themselves into situation like that because why would you get rid of the meat and bones of the show called human conflict, considering how much that ties into the show's supposed themes of exploration of human nature.

If they had written themselves into situation like that would likely spend time exploring such hopeless and decimated world and how awful humans can get when people get displaced under extreme circumstances, but this ain't what RWBY would EVER do (nuance in human nature is not possible in milesWBY after all - people are either evil/flawed (and thus should die)or completely infallible.

I dread to imagine what V10 could have been and the sheer level of nonsensical writing it would have been required to do ANYTHING.

Any inter-factional conflict between humans would get CENTRISM-ed into nothingness and somehow Team RWBY would end up the god-sent religious messianic figures who Saved Them All (by literally rolling a dice on morality check every single time they make a decision).

With each passing moment the idea of V10 never happening is ever more exciting because, when I started watching RWBY, I sure didn't sign up for a show about Four Infallible Messiahs(And Jaune) saving humanity because God Told Them To.

[world-v-you-blog]

Considering Psalms, 13 – Psalm 72, 1

Please read Psalm 72 in whichever reputable translation you prefer in preparation for this reflection. The translation I am using is the Complete Jewish Bible, translated by David Stern, 1998. Psalm 72 is accredited to Solomon (Shlomo in Hebrew). It is in the form of a prayer for God’s blessing to rest upon the anointed King of Israel, according to the covenant between Solomon’s father, King…

[idylls-of-the-divine-romance]

What’s your favorite(s) Jesus moment?

Okay so I was thinking about this and I was going to list several but I’ve actually got a single answer

The Sermon on the Mount. It’s incredible and so masterfully designed. Now, whether there actually was a big sermon on a mountain side that Jesus gave or if this is just a collection is for scholars to debate (tho, naturally, I do have my own opinion) but either way it’s amazing.

Especially, the beatitudes: the manifesto of the messianic kingdom. The citizens of (G)Arden are the poor in spirit, the grieving, the low trodden, those desirous for justice and righteousness, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted.

How incredible is that??

[mariacallous]

Donald Trump’s fans and critics alike have compared him to some of history’s most famous rulers: Cyrus the Great, Adolf Hitler, King David and more. 

But on the eve of the election, a celebrity pastor named Jonathan Cahn wants his evangelical followers to think of the Republican candidate as a present-day manifestation of a far more obscure leader: the biblical king Jehu, who vanquished the morally corrupt house of Ahab to become the 10th ruler of the Kingdom of Israel. 

“President Trump, you were born into the world to be a trumpet of God, a vessel of the Lord in the hands of God. God called you to walk according to the template; He called you according to the template of Jehu, the warrior king,” Cahn told the hundreds of Christian leaders who gathered last week for the National Faith Summit outside Atlanta. He also shared a clip of his prophecy about Trump on his YouTube channel, which has more than a million followers. 

What Cahn means — and why at least one scholar of the Christian right says he is worried — requires some background. Cahn, 65, is the son of a Holocaust refugee and grew up in a Jewish household in New Jersey. When he was 20, he says he had a personal revelation that led him to Jesus, and he eventually became the head of a Messianic congregation, blending Jewish rituals with Christian worship and a focus on doomsday prophecies. 

Cahn helped popularize the interpretation of 9/11 as an apocalyptic biblical allegory. In his telling, the terrorist attacks were akin to God’s rebuke of the biblical nation of Israel, and they happened because God wanted the United States to revert to a time before legalized abortion and gay rights when religion held a more central place in society — or else. His book on the topic, “The Harbinger,” came out in 2012 and spent months on The New York Times bestseller list. 

Cahn continued to release commercially successful books, and combined with his social media activity, he established a growing and enthusiastic audience for his prophetic warnings. 

Then Trump came along. During Trump’s first term, many evangelical Christian supporters explained his lack of religiosity by comparing him to Cyrus, the pagan ruler of ancient Persia, who served as God’s agent by, according to the Bible, helping the Israelites return home from exile. In 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid an effort to build stronger ties with the evangelical movement, praised Trump as a modern-day Cyrus. 

But Cahn had spun a different prophetic narrative about the new American president. He released a book called “The Paradigm” a few months after the 2016 election, which cast Trump as Jehu, the biblical king who took control of and restored the Kingdom of Israel, whose territory largely overlapped with parts of present-day Israel and Lebanon. Just as Jehu killed the idol-worshippers who had taken over the kingdom, Trump would “drain the swamp” of Washington and “make America great again.” In this contemporary rendition, Hillary and Bill Clinton play the role of Ahab and Jezebel, the evil rulers who had led the kingdom astray. Jezebel is also seen as wicked in the Jewish tradition, but she is far more prominent as a symbol in evangelical discourse today, representing feminism, sexual promiscuity, and moral decay. 

In the 2024 election, Biden’s replacement with Harris as the Democratic candidate challenging Trump allowed the template of Jehu-versus-Jezebel to get updated and become salient again. 

Two weeks before Cahn spoke at the National Faith Summit, an ally of his named Ché Ahn evoked the comparison at another mass religious event. Ahn heads Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, California, as well as a network of thousands of ministries all over the world. He is a leader of a spiritual movement known as New Apostolic Reformation, which aims for Christians to dominate society and government. Major Republican figures like Mike Pompeo, Sarah Palin, and Josh Hawley have visited Ahn’s church, reflecting the growing influence of Christian nationalism on the Republican party.  

On Oct. 12, Yom Kippur, Ahn appeared at the “Million Women March” event on the National Mall, speaking before a crowd of tens of thousands with many wearing prayer shawls or blowing shofars — traditionally Jewish symbols highlighting the movement’s overlap with Messianic Judaism. 

“Jehu will cast down Jezebel,” Ahn said, and prophesized a victory by Trump over Harris.

The social media user who brought the recent Jehu comparisons to wider notice through posts on X is Matthew Taylor, a scholar of the Christian right at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, & Jewish Studies, a Baltimore-based Interfaith research and advocacy group, dedicated to “[dismantling] religious bias and bigotry.”

“Since Harris became the candidate this summer, we’ve seen the Jehu image really rise to the surface much more,” Taylor said in an interview. “This is the story [Cahn and Ahn] want running through their followers’ heads, their lens for interpreting the election and its aftermath.”

In the grim biblical story, recounted in the book of II Kings, as Jehu ascends the throne, he kills Jezebel by ordering her thrown out of a palace window, after which he stomps on her body, which is then eaten by dogs. The new warrior king then goes on a killing spree, slaying the families of Ahab and Jezebel and other Baal-worshiping pagans who had despoiled the kingdom.

“Jehu came to the capital city with an agenda to drain the swamp,” Cahn said in his speech, addressing Trump, who also spoke at the National Faith Summit. “Jehu formed an alliance with the religious conservatives of the land. So, it was your destiny to do the same. Jehu overturned the cult of Baal by which children were sacrificed. So, God chose you to overturn America’s cult of Baal, Roe vs. Wade.”

Cahn and Ahn did not respond to a request to their ministries from JTA to discuss the theology of their recent statements. 

Neither pastor elaborated on the analogy they were drawing and neither made an explicit call for violence. But Trump has generated widespread concern by speaking of retribution, calling his political opponents “the enemy from within,” and talking about using the military against political enemies if he wins. 

Given the riots that took place at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 after Trump challenged the election results, and his ongoing promotion of electron fraud narratives, independent experts and government agencies are warning of increased political violence. Many Jewish leaders are particularly concerned because Trump recently blamed Jews for his potential defeat.

Taylor says the pastors’ followers would be familiar with the biblical story of Jehu and he believes that they are priming their audience to accept violence during the election or afterward.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, that surfaced the Jehu prophecies, Taylor voiced his alarm. 

“If Trump wins in this election, the Jehu ‘template’ tells Trump’s Christian supporters: some real-world violence may be needed to purge America of her demons,” Taylor wrote. “If Trump loses this election, particularly to Kamala Harris their ‘Jezebel,’ the Jehu template prescribes vengeance.”

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Signs and Wonders Bear Witness

1 When Yeshua had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their towns. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the works of the Messiah, he sent word through his disciples 3 and said to Yeshua, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

4 Yeshua replied, “Go report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind see and the lame walk, those with tzara’at are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised and the poor have good news proclaimed to them. 6 Blessed is the one who is not led to stumble because of Me.”

A Prophet Without Honor

7 Now as they were leaving, Yeshua began to talk to the crowd concerning John. “What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 No? So what did you go out to see? A man dressed in finery? Look, those who wear finery are in the palaces of kings! 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, even more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written,

‘Behold, I send My messenger before You, who will prepare Your way before You.’

11 “Amen, I tell you, among those born of women, none has arisen greater than John the Immerser. Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Immerser until now, the kingdom of heaven is treated with violence, and the violent grasp hold of it. 13 For all the prophets and the Torah prophesied until the time of John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears, let him hear!

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call to one other, saying,

17 ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We wailed, but you did not mourn.’

18 “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

20 Then Yeshua began to denounce the towns where most of His miracles had happened, because they did not turn from their sins. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have turned long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 Nevertheless I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the Day of Judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will go down to Sheol! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 Nevertheless I tell you that it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom on the Day of Judgment than for you.”

Yeshua Teaches the Ways of His Father

25 At that time Yeshua said in response, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and discerning and revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, for this way was pleasing to You.

27 “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and ‘you will find rest for your souls.’ 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” — Matthew 11 | Tree of Life Version (TLV) Tree of Life Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society. Cross References: Genesis 50:10; Exodus 4:11; Numbers 12:3; Deuteronomy 28:54; Job 37:24; Psalm 118:26; Proverbs 23:21; Isaiah 14:13; Isaiah 28:12; Isaiah 29:18; Jeremiah 23:14; Joel 3:4; Amos 1:9; Malachi 3:1; Malachi 4:5; Matthew 3:1; Matthew 3:4; Matthew 3:15; Matthew 5:19; Matthew 5:46; Matthew 7:28; Matthew 9:34-35; Matthew 14:5; Matthew 4:12; Matthew 5:29; Matthew 12:20; Matthew 13:9; Matthew 13:21; Matthew 13:43; Matthew 14:3; Matthew 17:10; Matthew 21:26; Matthew 23:7; Matthew 28:18; Mark 1:2; Mark 3:22; Mark 12:38; Luke 1:76; Luke 7:32; Luke 10:13; Luke 16:16; Luke 22:42; John 5:36; 1 John 5:3

What does Matthew chapter 11 mean?

Key Events in Matthew 11

1. John sends his disciples to Jesus. 7. Jesus' testimony concerning John. 16. The perverse judgment of the people concerning the Son. 20. Jesus upbraids Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum; 25. and praising his Father's wisdom in revealing the Gospel to the simple, 28. he calls to him those who are weary and burdened.