#mt ephraim

[todaysdocument]

CCC; "Ephraim Counser at Mt. Morris Camp"; N.Y

Collection FDR-PHOCO: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain PhotographsSeries: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs

A black and white photograph of an older man in the uniform of the Civilian Conservation Corps, a jacket over a shirt and tie and a side cap.  He is looking directly at the camera and holds an ax or hatchet over his shoulder.

[hieromonkcharbel]

Every night, review how you passed the day, and in the morning review how the night passed, so that you know how your soul’s accounts are doing. If you see a loss, try to regain it through caution and forcefulness. If you see a profit, glorify God, your invisible helper. Do not let your conscience prick you for long, but quickly give it whatever it wants, lest it take you to the judge and the prison (cf. Mt. 5:25 ). Does your conscience want you to attend to your prayer rule* and regain prayer? Give it these things, and behold, you are delivered from going to the judge. Do not weaken the saving voice of your conscience by disregarding it, because later you will regret it to no avail.

Elder Ephraim form Arizona

[shinyhappysims]

Onyeka family update #1

Hey guys, before we go on to gen 2 here’s a third person update on the Onyeka kids. We probably won’t be seeing much of these folks for a while because I want to focus on Isioma’s story for a bit.

Chukwuma and Breyonnah Onyeka are 57 and 54 respectively and have been married for 29 years. Out of their 10 children, 5 still live at home. Those 5 children are Lotanna (14), Ifeanyi (16), Jachike (19), Onyinye (16), and Sochima (13). Jachike has recently joined the military and is awaiting his post. The other 4 children are still being homeschooled by Bre.

Nnadi and Miguel Ventura are both 26, have been married for 8 years, and have 5 children: Gideon (7), Ephraim (5), Shoshanna (3), Bartholomew (2), and Abigail (6 months). They are very committed to the fundamentalist lifestyle and are raising their brood to do the same. They live in Oasis Springs, where Miguel works as a business manager.

Kelechi and Sandrine Onyeka are 24 and 27 years old. They have been married for 5 years and live in Brindleton Bay, where Kelechi pastors Calvary Baptist Church, and Sandrine is a preschool teacher. Despite a rocky start to their arranged marriage, they now have a good partnership. Sandrine still isn’t quite sure that she loves Kelechi but she’s getting there, they’re happy for now. They have 1 daughter, Faith, who is 4 years old. They’re now trying for baby #2.

Chidi is 23 years old and just moved to San Myshuno. He just landed a job as an junior attorney at a private law firm. Chidi’s ready to live his best life free of his parents. He’s also taking the time to figure out his sexuality and his beliefs. It’s not that he doesn’t believe in God, but he’s willing to learn of a God that’s actually loving, because that wasn’t the one he was raised with.

Adaeze is Chidi’s twin sister. Like Chidi, she’s a recent college grad and exploring the world. Unlike Chidi, she’s estranged from a good bit of her family, because it’s really shameful for women to have their own lives or something like that. She lives Britechester with her boyfriend Raj Sanyal (25), her cousin Diana, and Diana’s fiancé Alberto. Adaeze just began working as a scientist, while Raj works at a museum. They are looking for their own place, and don’t tell Adaeze, but Raj might pop the question soon…

Isioma and Anwar Kamal are 21 and 23 years old and live in Del Sol Valley. They currently are on their honeymoon in Mt. Komorebi. They are excited to start a family. Anwar is glad Isioma is leading him back to Christ and Isioma is glad she married someone who can help her have fun and see the good in the world.

[leonieanderson]

Every night, review how you passed the day, and in the morning review how the night passed, so that you know how your soul’s accounts are doing. If you see a loss, try to regain it through caution and forcefulness. If you see a profit, glorify God, your invisible helper. Do not let your conscience prick you for long, but quickly give it whatever it wants, lest it take you to the judge and the prison (Mt. 5:25 ). Does your conscience want you to attend to your prayer rule* and regain prayer? Give it these things, and behold, you are delivered from going to the judge. Do not weaken the saving voice of your conscience by disregarding it, because later you will regret it to no avail.

+Elder Ephraim form Arizona

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Today in Christian History

Today is Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023. It is the 235th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 130 days remain until the end of the year.

1712: Addison’s hymn “The Spacious Firmament on High” appears in the Spectator at the end of an essay on faith.

1723: Death of Increase Mather, one of America’s most famous eighteenth-century clergymen, a president of Harvard College, and the father of Cotton Mather. Mather had published many books, including Cases of Conscience Concerning Witchcraft which helped end executions for witchcraft in New England.

1828: Carl Gutzlaff and Jacob Tomlin become the first Protestant missionaries to set foot in Thailand.

1838: Death of Gideon Blackburn who had been a missionary to the Cherokee and an evangelist and church planter in other frontier states, including Tennessee. Blackburn Theological Seminary (later renamed Blackburn College) will be named in honor of him.

The first class graduates from Mt. Holyoke Seminary, the first American college for women, founded by the Christian educator Mary Lyon. (pictured above)

1888: Huang Su’e marries Episcopal missionary Francis Lister Hawks Pott, a leader and educator with the Chinese Anglican Church. Huang will evangelize, teach, and found an orphanage.

1901: Six hundred American teachers arrive in the Philippines to staff schools and begin mass education of Filipinos. With them comes Protestantism, which will eventually make up about 7% of the island nation’s population.

1918: Soviets execute Ephraim, the Orthodox bishop of Selenginsk. He had been a fiery preacher, beloved of his people, and had converted Mongols, Buryats, and Koreans to Christianity.

1952: Death in Catonsville, Maryland, of Russell Kelso Carter. A Methodist preacher, he had authored the hymn “Standing on the Promises.”

1928: Death in Catonsville, Maryland, of Russell Kelso Carter. A Methodist preacher, he had authored the hymn “Standing on the Promises.”

1952: Death of Frederick Kenyon, biblical archeologist and author of Our Bible and the Ancient Manuscripts. He had had a knack for making his findings intelligible to lay people.

1966: Communist Chinese Red Guards smash the windows of Moore Memorial Church, burn its books, burn its cross, and confine church leader Sun Yanli and his family in the building where they interrogate and whip them. Later, when they are released, the guards will shave Sun’s head and make him sweep and clean the church buildings.

2008: A rampage against Christians begins in Orissa State, India, following the assassination of a Hindu leader which is blamed on Christians. Hindu mobs will kill forty Christians and burn thousands of homes, hundreds of churches, and thirteen schools. They will also rape many Christian women and sell dozens into sexual slavery. Tens of thousands of Christians will flee from the violence.

[ongolecharles]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Fri June 07th, 2024 ... Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B/Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Reading 1

____________

Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9

Thus says the LORD:

When Israel was a child I loved him,

out of Egypt I called my son.

Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,

who took them in my arms;

I drew them with human cords,

with bands of love;

I fostered them like one

who raises an infant to his cheeks;

Yet, though I stooped to feed my child,

they did not know that I was their healer.

My heart is overwhelmed,

my pity is stirred.

I will not give vent to my blazing anger,

I will not destroy Ephraim again;

For I am God and not a man,

the Holy One present among you;

I will not let the flames consume you.

Responsorial Psalm

______________

Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6.

R. (3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

God indeed is my savior;

I am confident and unafraid.

My strength and my courage is the LORD,

and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water

at the fountain of salvation.

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;

among the nations make known his deeds,

proclaim how exalted is his name.

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;

let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,

for great in your midst

is the Holy One of Israel!

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Reading 2

____________

Eph 3:8-12, 14-19

Brothers and sisters:

To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given,

to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,

and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery

hidden from ages past in God who created all things,

so that the manifold wisdom of God

might now be made known through the church

to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.

This was according to the eternal purpose

that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

in whom we have boldness of speech

and confidence of access through faith in him.

For this reason I kneel before the Father,

from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory

to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,

and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;

that you, rooted and grounded in love,

may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones

what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,

so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Alleluia

________

Mt 11:29ab

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord;

and learn from me, for I am meek and gentle of heart.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or

_________

1 Jn 4:10b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God first loved us

and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

________

Jn 19:31-37

Since it was preparation day,

in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,

for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,

the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken

and they be taken down.

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first

and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,

they did not break his legs,

but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,

and immediately blood and water flowed out.

An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true;

he knows that he is speaking the truth,

so that you also may come to believe.

For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled:

Not a bone of it will be broken.

And again another passage says:

They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

***

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

One just has to open a newspaper today or watch the daily news to see a plethora of examples where the world’s darkness reveals that the light of God’s love needs to be shone more brightly. In the spirit that lives within all of us, we too may hold onto a heavy-hearted darkness about ourselves, or places where there may be stumbling blocks to God’s love truly finding a home in our hearts.  So, to celebrate a day of unconditional love, a sacred love, flowing forth from the heart of Jesus, is a devotion and a day of solemnity that brings hope to our world and a joy to our hearts.

I would like to reflect a bit on why this solemnity of the Sacred Heart is a dear devotion for me and a devotion to which I owe my vocation to the priesthood recall the genesis of this devotion, and why for us it is a solemn day of celebration and a transforming devotion that will change our hearts and the heart of our world for good, for God. 

First, a personal story. When I was a young boy, our home parish, Immaculate Conception in Waukegan, Illinois, had to the left of the Altar, a huge mosaic to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I used to love to sit in front of that piece of art and was mesmerized in the connection between the love that Christ had in his eyes and the love that that exposed heart symbolized.

Second, all celebrations, like this solemnity, have their beginnings. This story, is all about heart, the heart of a nun’s story, the heart of the Jesuit’s story.  heart of our story. First, the heart of a nun’s story. The place was the Visitation convent at Paray-le-Monial in France. Between 1673 and 1675, our Lord appeared three times to a contemplative nun, Margaret Mary Alacoque, showed her his heart. In the first appearance, Jesus commissioned her to spread devotion to his sacred heart. In the second, he asked for Holy Communion and a Holy Hour of Reparation.

Third, during the octave of Corpus Christi in 1675, Jesus asked her to see a special feast established in reparation to his heart for the injuries done it. He added: "Go to my servant the Jesuit Father, Claude de La Colombiére and tell him from me to do all in his power to establish this devotion and give this pleasure to my heart." And Claude did "all in his power." The young Jesuit whom Jesus identified to Margaret Mary as "my faithful servant and perfect friend" preached the devotion to the end of his short life. (source: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/the-revelation-of-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus-paral-le-monial-france-13719.

This devotion remains a devotion that is promoted and defended in the Society of Jesus to this day.  even though celebrated with remains alive in the Society.  In a more recent Jesuit General Congregation (General Congregation 35, 2008) the Jesuits stressed and emphasized promoting Christ’s sacred heart when it proclaims, “Nothing could be more desirable and more urgent today, since the heart of Christ burns with love for this world, with all its troubles, and seeks companions who can serve it with him.”

And finally, Christ’s sacred heart and us. And so, what’s wrong with a little devotion, why has it become an outmoded practice. The word devotion is a word of affection, of love, of knowing that someone is so in love with us they are devoted to us, and in return we, in our love for them, and the things that represent them, like the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are so in love, so devoted to them.  So, the heart of Christ, as well as our own hearts, symbolizes something wonderful, something that is about the lifeblood flowing through our veins yes, but also, of what is and should be the heart of our faith, the heart of our very life, and this, this is love divine.

For love has the power to transform our very lives, to transform our world, in radical and wonderful ways, away from our own brokenness and need for healing, and into those places in this world that still live in darkness, oppression, hatred, and injustice, so that these places, these hearts of ours can feel too love’s clear promise of heaven.  We recollect this image of Christ’s sacred heart, and see there a love given freely, a love fraught with all meaning, and see Christ’s love encouraging us to be brave, to not be afraid, for it’s only love after all.

***

SAINT OF THE DAY

Bl. Franz Jagerstatter

(May 20, 1907 – August 9, 1943)

Blessed Franz Jägerstätter’s Story

Called to fight for his country as a Nazi soldier, Franz eventually refused, and this husband and father of three daughters—Rosalie, Marie and Aloisia—was executed because of it.

Born in St. Radegund in Upper Austria, Franz lost his father during World War I and was adopted after Heinrich Jaegerstaetter married Rosalia Huber. As a young man, he loved to ride his motorcycle and was the natural leader of a gang whose members were arrested in 1934 for brawling. For three years he worked in the mines in another city and then returned to St. Radegund, where he became a farmer, married Franziska and lived his faith with quiet but intense conviction.

In 1938, he publicly opposed the German Anschluss–annexation–of Austria. The next year he was drafted into the Austrian army, trained for seven months and then received a deferment. In 1940, Franz was called up again but allowed to return home at the request of the town’s mayor. He was in active service between October 1940 and April 1941, but was again deferred. His pastor, other priests, and the bishop of Linz urged him not to refuse to serve if drafted.

In February 1943, Franz was called up again and reported to army officials in Enns, Austria. When he refused to take the oath of loyalty to Hitler, he was imprisoned in Linz. Later he volunteered to serve in the medical corps but was not assigned there.

During Holy Week Franz wrote to his wife: “Easter is coming and, if it should be God’s will that we can never again in this world celebrate Easter together in our intimate family circle, we can still look ahead in the happy confidence that, when the eternal Easter morning dawns, no one in our family circle shall be missing—so we can then be permitted to rejoice together forever.” He was transferred in May to a prison in Berlin.

Challenged by his attorney that other Catholics were serving in the army, Franz responded, “I can only act on my own conscience. I do not judge anyone. I can only judge myself.” He continued, “I have considered my family. I have prayed and put myself and my family in God’s hands. I know that, if I do what I think God wants me to do, he will take care of my family.”

On August 8, 1943, Franz wrote to Fransizka: “Dear wife and mother, I thank you once more from my heart for everything that you have done for me in my lifetime, for all the sacrifices that you have borne for me. I beg you to forgive me if I have hurt or offended you, just as I have forgiven everything…My heartfelt greetings for my dear children. I will surely beg the dear God, if I am permitted to enter heaven soon, that he will set aside a little place in heaven for all of you.”

Franz was beheaded and cremated the following day. In 1946, his ashes were reburied in St. Radegund near a memorial inscribed with his name and the names of almost 60 village men who died during their military service. He was beatified in Linz on October 26, 2007. His “spiritual testament” is now in Rome’s St. Bartholomew Church as part of a shrine to 20th-century martyrs for their faith. Blessed Franz’s liturgical feast is celebrated on August 9.

***

【Build your Faith in Christ Jesus on #dailyscripturereadingsgroup 📚: +256 751 540 524 .. Whatsapp】

[mangiamopizza]

Toni Roni's

Toni Roni's has several locations. The location I visited was in Mt. Ephraim, New Jersey. Great pizza and a friendly staff!

[fehtism]

I love Alfred but can’t seem to get him to work well. Do you have any ideas to make him the best unit he can be? :)

hiii thanks for your ask

here's what i would consider the ideal alfred build :3

i'd recommend pairing him with a good far save unit (i.e duo byleth, brave corrin, valentines myrrh) due to his low res stat

since arcane qiang is inheritable rather than prf it can be refined to increase a stat, i showed it here refined for increased mt but you can refine it to increase def if you would prefer.

no quarter is highly contested fodder which makes alfred the perfect candidate for it. as a rearmed unit he can duplicate no quarter and other units can inherit no quarter and arcane qiang at the same time. reminder than when you merge arcane units they regain the ability to be foddered again. no quarter is the only way for a cav unit to get damage reduction piercing without it being outsourced from either legendary alear or legendary camilla.

no quarter is currently only on winter dimitri however it will most definitely be released on other units at some point soon. winter dimitri will be rerun soon on one of the 7th anniversary special heroes banners so you can try to get him then. until you get no quarter he can run bonfire which is in his kit.

self improver is his prf skill which gives him a hefty visible atk and def increase with the drawback of -5 res (similar to solid ground)

flow desperation is an upgrade from the flow n trace he has in his kit. it has the same half null follow up effect but he loses the canto rem+1 effect. however, in return he gains the desperation effect (follow up occurs before foe can counter). with the extra special charges from arcane qiang alfred is able to trigger no quarter on his follow up before the foe can counter which will most likely kill them : )

flow desperation can be inherited from tea ayra who similar to winter dimitri should be rerunning soon on a 7th anniversary special heroes banner

alarm atk/def gives him extra stats as well as providing him with the canto 1 effect since he lost canto by replacing flow n trace with flow desperation. the condition is pretty easy to meet and if he starts the turn with 2 adjacent allies he gains a visible +6 atk/def buff and the canto 1 effect and if he starts the turn with 1 or 0 adjacent allies he will get the previous effect as well as an addition +3 atk/def in combat.

alarm atk/def is only available on summer ephraim who similarly to winter dimitri and tea ayra will be rerunning soon

if you cannot get alarm atk/def you can run a tier 4 smoke skill

hope this helps !

[thesynaxarium]

Today we celebrate our Venerable Father Ephraim of Katounakia. Saint Ephraim is one of the greatest and most memorable elders of the twentieth century. He was a giant of Athonite hesychasm, renowned for his obedience and his gifts of clairvoyance. The Elder began his life on Athos in 1933 at Katounakia, the desert of Mt Athos, and remained there until his repose in 1998. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1936. Even though he did not live in the brotherhood of Elder Joseph the Hesychast, Elder Ephraim was wholeheartedly devoted to Elder Joseph. His own elder, Elder Nikiphoros, was an extremely severe and simple monk who could not offer the young Father Ephraim guidance in the frequent spiritual states he was experiencing. Father Ephraim found the water he had long thirsted for in the teachings and guidance of his beloved Elder Joseph. He found answers to all his questions, receiving direction in the patristic tradition. Elder Joseph taught him about the Jesus prayer, about the fruits of obedience, about the life of divine Grace, and opened for him the doors to an earthly paradise. But what a dilemma for Father Ephraim! He lived in a brotherhood of elders ignorant of the treasures he had discovered. He had thoughts of leaving to join the brotherhood of Elder Joseph, but the wondrous fruits of spiritual progress were to be won through the life of absolute obedience and so, he remained with Elder Nikiphoros. Elder Joseph once whispered to him: “I know your thoughts and your entire spiritual state. Don’t be afraid; I’ll never leave you alone”. Such words sufficed to comfort the young priestmonk. Thus, a life of obedience saw this holy man receive gifts beyond belief. He became a luminary for the entire Holy Mountain and the Orthodox faithful who made the journey to receive his blessing. From lived experience, Elder Ephraim repeated to all who would listen that “obedience is life; disobedience, death”. May he intercede for us always + Source: https://lychnos.org/elder-ephraim-katounakia-1912-1998/ (at Mount Athos) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpJASCbrqoF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[xkibitzerx]

Today's ride was the Wackiest & most Complicated & Test of Endurance I've had since I was in my 20's. I haven't done these numbers in years: 46.62 miles in 3 Hrs. 48 Mins. The route? Pennsauken/Merchantville/Westmont/Haddonfield/Mt. Ephraim/Runnemede/Haddonfield/Cherry Hill/Maple Shade/Moorestown/Cinnaminson/Mt. Laurel/Hainesport/Lumberton/Hainesport/Mt. Laurel/Moorestown/Cinnaminson/Pennsauken.... RAGE!!!🚴‍♂️

https://www.instagram.com/p/DAMo04ZOiJYdUX5bz5gVJqYowTOsoMmBgQSVuc0/?igsh=MXU2MmFnbGY0OG1h

[nach-yomish]

Day 46: I Samuel 1 // שמואל א' א

(Link to full chapter text on Sefaria)

Welcome to the book of Samuel!

[catolinewsdailyreadings]

Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Reading 1

JER 31:1-7

At that time, says the LORD, I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus says the LORD: The people that escaped the sword have found favor in the desert. As Israel comes forward to be given his rest, the LORD appears to him from afar: With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you. Again I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin Israel; Carrying your festive tambourines, you shall go forth dancing with the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; those who plant them shall enjoy the fruits. Yes, a day will come when the watchmen will call out on Mount Ephraim: "Rise up, let us go to Zion, to the LORD, our God." For thus says the LORD: Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The LORD has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel.

Responsorial Psalm

JEREMIAH 31:10, 11-12AB, 13

R./ The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, proclaim it on distant isles, and say: He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together, he guards them as a shepherd his flock. R./ The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

The LORD shall ransom Jacob, he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror. Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion, they shall come streaming to the LORD's blessings. R./ The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Then the virgins shall make merry and dance, and young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will console and gladden them after their sorrows. R./ The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Gospel

MT 15: 21-28

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us." He said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me." He said in reply, "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour.

[messias-ben-ephraim]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWS3SR8XDEY&t=1s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1uISB5m6y8 https://m.grin.com/document/190488 https://www.joerg-sieger.de/einleit/zentral/03zuk/zent43.php Jer 31,9 Weinend kommen sie / und tröstend geleite ich sie. Ich führe sie an Wasser führende Bäche, / auf einen ebenen Weg, wo sie nicht straucheln.Denn ich bin Israels Vater / und

Ephraim

ist mein erstgeborener Sohn. https://www.uibk.ac.at/theol/leseraum/bibel/jer31.html

Mt 24,22 Und wenn jene Zeit nicht verkürzt würde, dann würde kein Mensch gerettet ,doch um der Auserwählten(=PETER KRZYZANOWSKI) willen wird jene Zeit verkürzt werden. https://www.uibk.ac.at/theol/leseraum/bibel/mt24.html

[numbersbythebook]

Zion, Rachel and Firstborn

by Will Schumacher

Per my last post I believe the correct interpretation of Revelation 12 is that the woman in travail is Heavenly Zion and Rachel is a type of Heavenly Zion as the redeemed bride.

As I have also posted, the 12th chapter of Revelation is tied to the 12th letter of the Hebrew alphabet Lamed. Lamed is tied to the idea of authority or dominion. Revelation 12 is about authority or dominion.

Since I believe Zion is the Heavenly Authority of the 12th chapter of Revelation, I looked at the 12th use of Zion in the Bible.

Psalm 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

This is a perfect match to Rachel. Zion is called beautiful which is Strong’s H3303. Rachel is called beautiful also using Strong’s H3303.

Genesis 29:17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

Another interesting tidbit of Psalm 48 is that it is recited on the second day of the week after the morning prayers. There is a psalm for each day of the week and it corresponds to each day of creation thus Psalm 48 corresponds to day 2 of creation.

In day two of creation God separated the waters above and below and created the firmament or what the Bible calls Heaven.

Genesis 1:8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

Recall the woman of revelation 12 was in heaven and Zion is called Heavenly Jerusalem.

Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

Now if you continue to the next verse in Hebrews you see that Mount Zion is not only heavenly Jerusalem, but also the church of the firstborn who are already written in heaven.

Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Zion has a gematria of 1060 in Hebrews 12:22. In Hebrews 12:23 Zion is called the church of the firstborn. Strong’s H1060=”firstborn”. Firstborn is an important concept in the old testament. God was given the firstborn of all Israelites and their animals.

Exodus 13:2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

The gematria of Zion in the Old testament is 156 matching the gematria of Rachel’s firstborn Joseph.

Joseph was not the firstborn of Jacob, he was actually the 11th born son, but he received the firstborn’s double portion inheritance in that his 2 sons Manasseh and Ephraim were each given a share and each became one of the 12 tribes. (There is no tribe of Joseph and Levi became the workers of the tabernacle and their inheritance is God)

This verse recording Manasseh and Ephraim taking their inheritance and thus Joseph’s double portion firstborn inheritance, has a gematria of 1060 matching Zion in the NT and the Strong’s number 1060 for firstborn.

Joshua 16:4 So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.

Strong’s G1060=”marry”. The 12th time Rachel is used in the Bible she marries Jacob.

Genesis 29:28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

This concept of “firstborn” is the same as “firstfruits”. Stong’s H1061=”firstfruits”. They share the same Hebrew root. Rachel has a gematria of 238 and the in-text gematria of the first use of Strong’s H1061=”firstfruits” is 238 also.

I recently did some posts on Revelation 7 and how the 144,000 are the firstfruits of the land.

Zion’s only actual mention in the book of Revelation is in chapter 14. Jesus is pictured as a Lamb standing on Mt Zion with a 144,000.

Revelation 14:1And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

The Lamb alludes to Jesus as the Passover sacrifice for our redemption. The 144,000 are then called “redeemed” and “firstfruits”.

Revelation 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

When we give our lives to God through the gift of redemption we are seen as “firstfruits” and “firstborn” by God. We become children of Heavenly Zion. Our names are recorded in heaven as Hebrews 12:23 states and we become “those that dwell in heaven” vs the unredeemed who are referred to as “those who dwell upon earth”.

Revelation 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

[southjerseyweb]

Kings Highway back open in Mt. Ephraim, NJ after water main break - CBS News

New Jersey · Water Main Break · South Jersey. First published on December 6, 2023 / 7:01 AM EST. © 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved …

[spiritsoulandbody]

#DailyDevotion God's Choice Determines Through Whom The Blessing Comes

#DailyDevotion God's Choice Determines Through Whom The Blessing Comes Psalm 78 5Then the Lord awoke like one who had been sleeping, like a strong man shouting from wine. 66He beat His enemies back and disgraced them forever. 67He rejected Joseph's tents, and didn't choose the tribe of Ephraim. 68He chose rather the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion that He loved. The LORD in time finally had enlarged Israel enough to take care of the wild animals on their own. Starting with Saul and completing it with David, He begins His campaign to totally rid the land of pagans who worship other gods. The LORD, especially through His servant David, beat back His enemies and disgraced them so they would know the LORD is one and only true God. Strangely, He rejected the tents of Joseph and the tribe of Ephraim. Why is this strange? If you hearken back to Genesis, Joseph would be the son of Jacob who receives the blessing instead of Reuben who was the oldest of the twelve. But it is God's choice, as you remember Jacob was the younger of the two twins and he received the blessing. Ephraim is mentioned because Jacob did not bless Joseph directly but blessed his first two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, and again, God's choice, Ephraim the younger received the greater blessing. While Ephraim would become the greater in terms of wealth and numbers, God chose Judah from whom the rulers of Israel would have its kings. God chose the tribe of Judah and Mt. Zion where He would build His temple and for Israel to come and worship Him. In Judah, the LORD would choose David, the youngest of his brothers, through whom He would become incarnate and save the world. 69He built His sanctuary like the high heavens and founded it forever like the earth. 70He chose His servant David and took him from the sheepfolds. 71From tending the sheep nursing their young, He brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, His people, and Israel, His possession. 72So he shepherds them with a pure heart and leads them with skillful hands. Yes, it would be His servant David whom He took from tending the flocks to tend His people. He tended over His people Israel with a pure hear and led them with skillful hands. David would be the type who is fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus would be and is our Good Shepherd. He has the pure heart that leads His holy Church. Jesus as our Good Shepherd lays down His life for us His sheep and indeed for all people everywhere, of every language, people, tribe and nation. He gives us His Holy Spirit so we may have faith in Him and trust our Father in heaven for every good thing. The Holy Spirit reminds us of Jesus' teaching and leads us throughout our days. He preserves for Jesus a holy people and brings them into the Promised Land, the New Heavens and New Earth, where righteousness reigns. Jesus as the New David, will expunge from the earth all the pagans of the world and all the unfaithful of the Church so we may live in peace in that place and no longer be troubled by them ever again. Heavenly Father, grant us faith in You Son, Jesus Christ, to be our New David, who conquers all Your foes who will not trust in You, so we may inherit the earth at His second advent and live and reign with Him forever. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Read the full article