Blessed are they that do his commandments
Rev. {22:14} Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Blessed are they that do His commandments.
Are we supposed to automatically be able to *do* the commandments? If something is automatic do we really need to be told to do it? If it is part of our life, if it all comes natural to us we really wouldn't have to be told to do it, right? When we're raising our children we instruct them in the ways of life. Things don't come natural to them. Oh, we'd like to think a child would automatically potty train themselves but in reality they don't, they are taught where to go once their bowels muscles are under their control, or they watch and imitate what others are doing- the point being they have to learn to do it. The same for many, many things, children don't just naturally eat neatly. They are taught to wipe their mouths, taught to wash their hands, taught to brush their teeth. Life as a child is spent learning how to be a proper adult and with good instruction aren't ALL taught and learn? Not necessarily. You could be the best teacher and still have a naturally unruly child, a bad seed so to speak. Then there are all different in-betweens the good and the bad. We as human beings have been given an opportunity to learn from the greatest teacher ever- our Heavenly Father.
God is very loving and He's set up our very lives to reveal His own. Parents and children and even if you've never been a parent you can witness the parents around you and guess what, no one escapes being a child and having a parent- no one. Don't even go to the orphans and such, they all still have a parental figure who might not necessarily be a good parental figure. All children are exposed to adults and as such they have a figure to look to. Some have the best parents ever, loving and kind and others have a mere caregiver who only cares if the child stays out of their way and does what they are told. And yes, there are many abusive parents and no, they aren't good examples of a loving father but they sure teach the abused child the horrors of life and I'm not saying that's a good thing. The only point I'm trying to make is the type of Father/Child exists and there are several combinations that can exist. Good/Good, Good/Bad, Bad/Good, Bad/Bad and many inbetween, such as partially good etc. We have only one example in our Heavenly Father- He will always be Good. Will He be exacting? Yes. Will He punish? Yes. Will He get angry? Yes. But His ways are just and true.
Rev. 15:3 '...God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints.'
Our heavenly Father gives us instructions in life that will...yes, go against our naturally corrupt inclinations. We are given an opportunity to choose over and over and over again, daily we are given opportunities to make the choices. Our lives are made up of making choices and even if we're not faced with outright choices that we recognize as such- content to just live our lives as we want, that in itself is a choice. Any day we don't recognize God as our Heavenly Father, any day we don't cling to Christ asking for forgiveness, asking for salvation, asking for His righteousness in place of our own is a day we are choosing to walk our own path on our own steam thinking we exist in our good lives on our own steam. We don't. We exist because the Lord has given us life and then offered us through all our hardships and whatnot a way to the true path of life eternal. We are all offered this life eternal. We are all given an opportunity to do as God wills.
As stated above, if we all are automatically able to do something it isn't something we are told to do. If we automatically breathe we aren't told to breathe- it comes automatically, right?
Rev. {22:14} Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
We have a choice to do God's commandments or not and if we think they come automatically- that we can keep them without making the choice to do so then we are setting ourselves up to fail. If we get caught up in the whole you're thinking by doing that you'll be saved, so you just don't do that thing or shouldn't be compelled to do it, then it's another trap altogether. We have to choose to do His commandments. We have a choice to make and we make it all the time. Just because you choose to do something won't save you, but certainly choosing not to will condemn you outright.
We are given commands. A command is something we are given and expected to follow or suffer the consequences of that action. There comes a point where we really do have to trust that God will take our actions and by the grace and mercy of Christ make them acceptable to Him. But we do have to commit to the action of doing.
When that verse from the Bible says- Blessed are they that do his commandments- does it mean blessed are they that don't choose but automatically do the commandments? No. There is no automatic about it all. Blessed are they that do his commandments. Meaning blessed are those that choose to do His commandments. Blessed are they that do his commandments why? That they might have right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. Obviously those that choose not to do his commandments won't have that right, and they won't enter through the gate.
Choose and trust in God to make the choice acceptable. Don't choose purposely NOT to do His commandments under the false pretense of not wanting to be bless by your own works. Choose to do His commandments and trust in God to work in and on our hearts to make our choice acceptable. The devil would have us think we are trying to *work* our way to heaven, but that's just another trap of His. He wants us to choose not to do God's commandments for whatever reason suits us personally. He'll use any means he can to keep us from doing God's commandments. He'll set up obstacles all along the way for us at every step.
Something that just occurred to me- there are a few of the Ten Commandments that we find all but impossible to keep- those that involve the thinking- the coveting (even in little things), the lying (little white lies) and that being so-- shouldn't we strive to do all the Commandments that we don't necessarily find emotionally, mentally trying? What I mean is-- most of us don't have a problem with killing so keeping/doing that commandment is fairly easy, the same for stealing, adultery, worshipping pagan gods. We generally don't fail at those commandments we do them. And then there is the Sabbath commandment, another that should be fairly easy to keep and yet for many it's extremely hard. Some purposely don't even try to keep the Sabbath because they get caught up in the whole bit about if my spirit isn't right doing it- if I'm reluctant then I'm not really keeping it so why bother. I say bother, because if you put yourself in the position you can give your heart to God and ask Him to make it right, but if you never put yourself in the position of doing His commandment then you will never give Him a chance to make your heart right.
Anyways, we have to choose to do His commandments. Don't think for one moment that they are automatically done. It's by the grace of our Lord that we can do His commandments. If we choose to do them, Christ will make our choices acceptable to the Father. By His amazing, unfathomable mercy and love, now and forever.
Amen.
Rev. {22:17} And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Come. I say Come!
I'm thirsty, Lord. So thirsty, please give to me the water of life freely, the water found in Christ, through Christ only and always.
7/26/11
A few days ago we
studied prophecy that revealed the down fall of the Grecian Empire and the rise
of the Roman Empire. We left off
having seen where prophecy predicted Julius Caesar's demise.
We noted
something previously that needs to be noted once again. The continuous use of
the North and South as kingdoms, kings.
From one leader to the next whoever was in control of the land north of
Jerusalem and south of Jerusalem were the kings of the North and South. Very understandable to us because we've
lived with the kings of various countries today and when that king dies another
becomes the king of that country, that land. The land remains the same even if
the kings change over and over again.
Picking up next
we're going to see the king who lived when Jesus was born.
Dan 11:20 Then shall stand up in his estate a
raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be
destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.
After Julius
Caesar came Caesar Augustus.
Luk 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that
there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be
taxed
'Augustus
Gaius Julius
Caesar Augustus 23 September 63 BC
– 19 August AD 14 is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he
ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in AD 14.
Born
Gaius Octavius Thurinus, he was adopted posthumously by his great-uncle Gaius
Julius Caesar in 44 BC via his last will and testament, and between then and 27
BC was officially named Gaius Julius Caesar.
In 27 BC the
Senate awarded him the honorific Augustus ("the revered one"), and thus
consequently he was Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus. Because of the various names
he bore, it is common to call him Octavius when referring to events between 63
and 44 BC, Octavian (or Octavianus) when referring to events between 44 and 27
BC, and Augustus when referring to events after 27 BC. In Greek sources,
Augustus is known as
(Octavius), (Caesar), (Augustus), or
(Sebastos), depending on context.
The young
Octavius came into his inheritance after Caesar's assassination in 44 BC.'
Pasted
from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_Augustus>
Dan 11:20 Then shall stand up in his estate a
raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be
destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.
A raiser of
taxes.
Luk 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that
there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be
taxed
ALL the world
should be taxed!
These two
verses fit!
As for being
destroyed…Augustus was a very sickly man throughout his remaining years, 14 or
so after the tax decree went forth as noted in Luke 2:1.
'He was of short
stature, handsome and well proportioned and he possessed that commodity so rare
in rulers - grace. Though he suffered from bad teeth and was generally of
feeble health. His body was covered in spots and he had many birthmarks
scattered over his chest and belly.'
Pasted
from <http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/augustus.html>
'Though
officially retired from public life, he worked tirelessly despite fragile health
to reform the political & social structure of the Roman state, producing a
long string of projects & edicts that were ratified by the Senate. Rather
than personally engaging in military campaigns, he relied on professional
soldiers like Agrippa & his stepson, Tiberius.'
Pasted
from <http://virtualreligion.net/iho/augustus.html>
'Octavian
was a competent politician and military commander but his real talent was as an
administrator. He introduced the administrative reforms that led to the
Pax Romana with its flourishing of trade and the arts. He did this
while ostensibly maintaining the form of the Roman Republic while in actuality
creating the Roman Empire. He did this through diligent hard work in spite of
bouts of ill health and personal tragedies. '
Pasted
from <http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/caesaraugustus.htm>
Augustus lived a
long time, but only a short time after our Savior was born, and he didn't die
in battle like so many leaders did.
Now we need to
look at what is next…
Dan 11:21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile
person...
A vile person
shell stand up in this ruler's place- did this happen?
Tiberius was
next.
'Tiberius (Latin:
Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus;[1] November 16, 42 BC – March 16, AD 37), was
Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD.'
Pasted from
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius>
Was he a vile
person?
'The
characterisation of Tiberius throughout the first six books is mostly negative,
and gradually worsens as his rule declines, identifying a clear breaking point
with the death of Drusus in 23 AD.[86] The rule of Julio-Claudians is generally
described as unjust and 'criminal' by Tacitus.[89] Even at the outset of his
reign, he seems to ascribe many of Tiberius' virtues merely to hypocrisy.[79]
Another major recurring theme concerns the balance of power between the Senate
and the Emperors, corruption, and the growing tyranny among the governing
classes of Rome. A substantial amount of his account on Tiberius is therefore
devoted to the treason trials and persecutions following the revival of the
maiestas law under Augustus.[90] Ultimately, Tacitus' opinion on Tiberius is
best illustrated by his conclusion of the sixth book:
His
character too had its distinct periods. It was a bright time in his life and
reputation, while under Augustus he was a private citizen or held high offices;
a time of reserve and crafty assumption of virtue, as long as Germanicus and
Drusus were alive. Again, while his mother lived, he was a compound of good and
evil; he was infamous for his cruelty, though he veiled his debaucheries, while
he loved or feared Sejanus. Finally, he plunged into every wickedness and
disgrace, when fear and shame being cast off, he simply indulged his own
inclinations.[79]'
Pasted from
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius>
He was a very
vile person.
Dan. 11:21 '...
to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom…'
Tiberius,
the second emperor of Rome, was not the first choice of Augustus and was not
popular with the Roman people.
Pasted
from <http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/emperors/ig/12-Caesars/Tiberius-.htm>
Tiberius did not
have the favor of the people of Rome at all.
'Tiberius was
cold and unpopular in his manners, awkward and even timid in his carriage, but a
master of dissimulation. The only person of whom he stood in awe was his mother
Livia; but he lived in constant fear of insurrection. Aelius Sejanus, the
Prefect of the Praetorians, had long been the friend and chief adviser of the
emperor. Sejanus was cruel, unscrupulous, and ambitious in fact the proper
instrument of a tyrant. In A.D. 27 Tiberius hid himself in the island of Capri
where he built twelve villas in different parts of the island living with a few
companions. No one was allowed to land upon the shores of Capri except of course
Sejanus and even fishermen who broke this rule through ignorance were severely
punished. Every day, however, dispatches were brought from the continent and he
still continued to direct the affairs of his vast empire. Sejanus was left to
govern Rome but eventually Tiberius realised that Sejanus had become so powerful
that he himself was at risk. Tiberius sent a letter to the Senate in which he
denounced Sejanus as a traitor. Sejanus was flung into the Mamertine Prison,
and there he was strangled in 31AD. The people of Rome threw his body into the
Tiber. Great numbers of his friends or relatives perished with Sejanus, and a
general massacre filled Rome with terror. Tiberius, meanwhile, seems to have
become a raging madman. He put to death his niece Agrippina, with her two
children and ruled over the Senate with pitiless cruelty. Tiberius died on
March 16, A.D. 37. He is believed to have been smothered with a pillow.
Tiberius left the empire in a prosperous condition. His cruelty, in fact, seems
to have been exercised upon the great and the rich, while the people of Rome
lived in relative security.'
Pasted
from <http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-emperors/tiberius.htm>
Did the following
happen?
Dan. 11:21… but
he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
Yes. He didn't
come in warring for the position, it was handed to him by Augustus, who didn't
really want him in there but he was the only obvious choice left for him. He
obtained the kingdom not by war but by flatteries.
Read this...
'In response, a
series of potential heirs seem to have been selected, among them Tiberius and
his brother, Drusus. In 24 BC, at the age of seventeen, Tiberius entered
politics under Augustus's direction, receiving the position of quaestor,[8] and
was granted the right to stand for election as praetor and consul five years in
advance of the age required by law.[9] Similar provisions were made for
Drusus.[10]'
*
'With Tiberius's
departure, succession rested solely on Augustus' two young grandsons, Lucius
and Gaius Caesar. The situation became more precarious in AD 2 with the death
of Lucius. Augustus, with perhaps some pressure from Livia, allowed Tiberius to
return to Rome as a private citizen and nothing more.[27] In AD 4, Gaius was
killed in Armenia and Augustus had no other choice but to turn to
Tiberius.[28][29]
The death of
Gaius in AD 4 initiated a flurry of activity in the household of Augustus.
Tiberius was adopted as full son and heir and in turn, he was required to adopt
his nephew, Germanicus, the son of his brother Drusus and Augustus' niece
Antonia Minor.[28][30] Along with his adoption, Tiberius received tribunician
power as well as a share of Augustus's maius imperium, something that even
Marcus Agrippa may never have had.[31] In AD 7, Agrippa Postumus, a younger
brother of Gaius and Lucius, was disowned by Augustus and banned to the island
of Pianosa, to live in solitary confinement.[29][32] Thus, when in AD 13, the
powers held by Tiberius were made equal, rather than second, to Augustus's own
powers, he was for all intents and purposes a "co-princeps" with Augustus, and
in the event of the latter's passing, would simply continue to rule without an
interregnum or possible upheaval.[33] Augustus died in AD 14, at the age of
75.[34] He was buried with all due ceremony and, as had been arranged
beforehand, deified, his will read, and Tiberius confirmed as his sole
surviving heir.[35]'
Pasted
from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius>
He was adopted
into the position.
Dan 11:22 And with the arms of a flood shall they
be overflown from before him and shall be broken;….'
Arms of a flood,
overflown. We cannot forget that
these were still tumultuous times with constant battles being waged for
territory-unlike today when we actually see very little battle waged for
territories. Yes, there are some, but not like back then, not by a long
shot.
Read this…
'Rise
and fall of Germanicus
Problems arose
quickly for the new Princeps. The legions posted in Pannonia and in Germania
had not been paid the bonuses promised them by Augustus, and after a short
period of time, when it was clear that a response from Tiberius was not
forthcoming, mutinied.[45] Germanicus and Tiberius's son, Drusus Julius Caesar,
were dispatched with a small force to quell the uprising and bring the legions
back in line. Rather than simply quell the mutiny however, Germanicus rallied
the mutineers and led them on a short campaign across the Rhine into Germanic
territory, stating that whatever treasure they could grab would count as their
bonus.[46] Germanicus's forces smashed across the Rhine and quickly occupied
all of the territory between the Rhine and the Elbe. Additionally, Tacitus
records the capture of the Teutoburg forest and the reclaiming of standards
lost years before by Publius Quinctilius Varus,[47] when three Roman legions
and its auxiliary cohorts had been ambushed by a band of Germans.[47]
Germanicus had managed to deal a significant blow to Rome's enemies, quell an
uprising of troops, and once again return lost standards to Rome, actions that
increased the fame and legend of the already very popular Germanicus with the
Roman people.[48]
After being
recalled from Germania,[49] Germanicus celebrated a triumph in Rome in AD
17,[47] the first full triumph that the city had seen since Augustus's own in 29
BC. As a result, in AD 18 Germanicus was granted control over the eastern part
of the empire, just as both Agrippa and Tiberius had received before, and was
clearly the successor to Tiberius.[50] Germanicus survived a little over a year
before dying, accusing Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, the governor of Syria, of
poisoning him.[51] The Pisones had been longtime supporters of the Claudians,
and had allied themselves with the young Octavian after his marriage to Livia,
the mother of Tiberius; Germanicus's death and accusations indicted the new
Princeps. Piso was placed on trial and, according to Tacitus, threatened to
implicate Tiberius.[52] Whether the governor actually could connect the
Princeps to the death of Germanicus will never be known; rather than continuing
to stand trial when it became evident that the Senate was against him, Piso
committed suicide.[53][54] Tiberius seems to have tired of politics at this
point. In AD 22, he shared his tribunician authority with his son Drusus,[55]
and began making yearly excursions to Campania that reportedly became longer and
longer every year. In AD 23, Drusus mysteriously died,[56][57] and Tiberius
seems to have made no effort to elevate a replacement. Finally, in AD 26,
Tiberius retired from Rome altogether to the island of Capri.[58]
Pasted
from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius>
They SMASHED
across the Rhine. They QUICKLY occupied. Deal a SIGNIFICANT blow. Return LOST
standards to Rome. INCREASED the
fame and legend.
They most
certainly did act as a flood and they literally overflew any that were trying to
threaten any of their territory and then some.
And the next bit
of prophecy…
Dan 11:22 '...
yea, also the prince of the covenant.'
Without any doubt
this was fulfilled perfectly.
Who is the prince
of the covenant? OUR SAVIOR!
Was our Savior
broken before Tiberius' reign?
Yes.
'Tiberius (Latin:
Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus;[1] November 16, 42 BC – March 16, AD 37), was
Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD.'
Pasted
from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius>
Our Savior died
in 31 AD we've proven that already beyond a doubt.
Tiberius was ruler until 37 AD.
Our Savior was
broken- our Savior was KILLED under the reign of this man just as prophecy
predicted!!!!
By the grace of
God may we continue to follow history and watch prophecy unfold!
It's only through
the love of our Savior, only through His mercy, His grace, His forgiveness, His
righteousness that we can hope, all our hope is in HIM now and forever!!!
Please Lord lead
us, Please Lord guide us! Please Lord give us all we need to understand all that
you would have us understand, not by our wisdom, not by anything we possess at
all whatsoever, but all by YOU!
For Your honor, Your glory, for You, for YOU Lord, our Creator, our
Savior!
Amen.
Blessed are they that do His commandments.
Are we supposed to automatically be able to *do* the commandments? If something is automatic do we really need to be told to do it? If it is part of our life, if it all comes natural to us we really wouldn't have to be told to do it, right? When we're raising our children we instruct them in the ways of life. Things don't come natural to them. Oh, we'd like to think a child would automatically potty train themselves but in reality they don't, they are taught where to go once their bowels muscles are under their control, or they watch and imitate what others are doing- the point being they have to learn to do it. The same for many, many things, children don't just naturally eat neatly. They are taught to wipe their mouths, taught to wash their hands, taught to brush their teeth. Life as a child is spent learning how to be a proper adult and with good instruction aren't ALL taught and learn? Not necessarily. You could be the best teacher and still have a naturally unruly child, a bad seed so to speak. Then there are all different in-betweens the good and the bad. We as human beings have been given an opportunity to learn from the greatest teacher ever- our Heavenly Father.
God is very loving and He's set up our very lives to reveal His own. Parents and children and even if you've never been a parent you can witness the parents around you and guess what, no one escapes being a child and having a parent- no one. Don't even go to the orphans and such, they all still have a parental figure who might not necessarily be a good parental figure. All children are exposed to adults and as such they have a figure to look to. Some have the best parents ever, loving and kind and others have a mere caregiver who only cares if the child stays out of their way and does what they are told. And yes, there are many abusive parents and no, they aren't good examples of a loving father but they sure teach the abused child the horrors of life and I'm not saying that's a good thing. The only point I'm trying to make is the type of Father/Child exists and there are several combinations that can exist. Good/Good, Good/Bad, Bad/Good, Bad/Bad and many inbetween, such as partially good etc. We have only one example in our Heavenly Father- He will always be Good. Will He be exacting? Yes. Will He punish? Yes. Will He get angry? Yes. But His ways are just and true.
Rev. 15:3 '...God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints.'
Our heavenly Father gives us instructions in life that will...yes, go against our naturally corrupt inclinations. We are given an opportunity to choose over and over and over again, daily we are given opportunities to make the choices. Our lives are made up of making choices and even if we're not faced with outright choices that we recognize as such- content to just live our lives as we want, that in itself is a choice. Any day we don't recognize God as our Heavenly Father, any day we don't cling to Christ asking for forgiveness, asking for salvation, asking for His righteousness in place of our own is a day we are choosing to walk our own path on our own steam thinking we exist in our good lives on our own steam. We don't. We exist because the Lord has given us life and then offered us through all our hardships and whatnot a way to the true path of life eternal. We are all offered this life eternal. We are all given an opportunity to do as God wills.
As stated above, if we all are automatically able to do something it isn't something we are told to do. If we automatically breathe we aren't told to breathe- it comes automatically, right?
Rev. {22:14} Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
We have a choice to do God's commandments or not and if we think they come automatically- that we can keep them without making the choice to do so then we are setting ourselves up to fail. If we get caught up in the whole you're thinking by doing that you'll be saved, so you just don't do that thing or shouldn't be compelled to do it, then it's another trap altogether. We have to choose to do His commandments. We have a choice to make and we make it all the time. Just because you choose to do something won't save you, but certainly choosing not to will condemn you outright.
We are given commands. A command is something we are given and expected to follow or suffer the consequences of that action. There comes a point where we really do have to trust that God will take our actions and by the grace and mercy of Christ make them acceptable to Him. But we do have to commit to the action of doing.
When that verse from the Bible says- Blessed are they that do his commandments- does it mean blessed are they that don't choose but automatically do the commandments? No. There is no automatic about it all. Blessed are they that do his commandments. Meaning blessed are those that choose to do His commandments. Blessed are they that do his commandments why? That they might have right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. Obviously those that choose not to do his commandments won't have that right, and they won't enter through the gate.
Choose and trust in God to make the choice acceptable. Don't choose purposely NOT to do His commandments under the false pretense of not wanting to be bless by your own works. Choose to do His commandments and trust in God to work in and on our hearts to make our choice acceptable. The devil would have us think we are trying to *work* our way to heaven, but that's just another trap of His. He wants us to choose not to do God's commandments for whatever reason suits us personally. He'll use any means he can to keep us from doing God's commandments. He'll set up obstacles all along the way for us at every step.
Something that just occurred to me- there are a few of the Ten Commandments that we find all but impossible to keep- those that involve the thinking- the coveting (even in little things), the lying (little white lies) and that being so-- shouldn't we strive to do all the Commandments that we don't necessarily find emotionally, mentally trying? What I mean is-- most of us don't have a problem with killing so keeping/doing that commandment is fairly easy, the same for stealing, adultery, worshipping pagan gods. We generally don't fail at those commandments we do them. And then there is the Sabbath commandment, another that should be fairly easy to keep and yet for many it's extremely hard. Some purposely don't even try to keep the Sabbath because they get caught up in the whole bit about if my spirit isn't right doing it- if I'm reluctant then I'm not really keeping it so why bother. I say bother, because if you put yourself in the position you can give your heart to God and ask Him to make it right, but if you never put yourself in the position of doing His commandment then you will never give Him a chance to make your heart right.
Anyways, we have to choose to do His commandments. Don't think for one moment that they are automatically done. It's by the grace of our Lord that we can do His commandments. If we choose to do them, Christ will make our choices acceptable to the Father. By His amazing, unfathomable mercy and love, now and forever.
Amen.
Rev. {22:17} And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Come. I say Come!
I'm thirsty, Lord. So thirsty, please give to me the water of life freely, the water found in Christ, through Christ only and always.
7/26/11
A few days ago we
studied prophecy that revealed the down fall of the Grecian Empire and the rise
of the Roman Empire. We left off
having seen where prophecy predicted Julius Caesar's demise.
We noted
something previously that needs to be noted once again. The continuous use of
the North and South as kingdoms, kings.
From one leader to the next whoever was in control of the land north of
Jerusalem and south of Jerusalem were the kings of the North and South. Very understandable to us because we've
lived with the kings of various countries today and when that king dies another
becomes the king of that country, that land. The land remains the same even if
the kings change over and over again.
Picking up next
we're going to see the king who lived when Jesus was born.
Dan 11:20 Then shall stand up in his estate a
raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be
destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.
After Julius
Caesar came Caesar Augustus.
Luk 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that
there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be
taxed
'Augustus
Gaius Julius
Caesar Augustus 23 September 63 BC
– 19 August AD 14 is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he
ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in AD 14.
Born
Gaius Octavius Thurinus, he was adopted posthumously by his great-uncle Gaius
Julius Caesar in 44 BC via his last will and testament, and between then and 27
BC was officially named Gaius Julius Caesar.
In 27 BC the
Senate awarded him the honorific Augustus ("the revered one"), and thus
consequently he was Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus. Because of the various names
he bore, it is common to call him Octavius when referring to events between 63
and 44 BC, Octavian (or Octavianus) when referring to events between 44 and 27
BC, and Augustus when referring to events after 27 BC. In Greek sources,
Augustus is known as
(Octavius), (Caesar), (Augustus), or
(Sebastos), depending on context.
The young
Octavius came into his inheritance after Caesar's assassination in 44 BC.'
Pasted
from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_Augustus>
Dan 11:20 Then shall stand up in his estate a
raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be
destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.
A raiser of
taxes.
Luk 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that
there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be
taxed
ALL the world
should be taxed!
These two
verses fit!
As for being
destroyed…Augustus was a very sickly man throughout his remaining years, 14 or
so after the tax decree went forth as noted in Luke 2:1.
'He was of short
stature, handsome and well proportioned and he possessed that commodity so rare
in rulers - grace. Though he suffered from bad teeth and was generally of
feeble health. His body was covered in spots and he had many birthmarks
scattered over his chest and belly.'
Pasted
from <http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/augustus.html>
'Though
officially retired from public life, he worked tirelessly despite fragile health
to reform the political & social structure of the Roman state, producing a
long string of projects & edicts that were ratified by the Senate. Rather
than personally engaging in military campaigns, he relied on professional
soldiers like Agrippa & his stepson, Tiberius.'
Pasted
from <http://virtualreligion.net/iho/augustus.html>
'Octavian
was a competent politician and military commander but his real talent was as an
administrator. He introduced the administrative reforms that led to the
Pax Romana with its flourishing of trade and the arts. He did this
while ostensibly maintaining the form of the Roman Republic while in actuality
creating the Roman Empire. He did this through diligent hard work in spite of
bouts of ill health and personal tragedies. '
Pasted
from <http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/caesaraugustus.htm>
Augustus lived a
long time, but only a short time after our Savior was born, and he didn't die
in battle like so many leaders did.
Now we need to
look at what is next…
Dan 11:21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile
person...
A vile person
shell stand up in this ruler's place- did this happen?
Tiberius was
next.
'Tiberius (Latin:
Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus;[1] November 16, 42 BC – March 16, AD 37), was
Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD.'
Pasted from
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius>
Was he a vile
person?
'The
characterisation of Tiberius throughout the first six books is mostly negative,
and gradually worsens as his rule declines, identifying a clear breaking point
with the death of Drusus in 23 AD.[86] The rule of Julio-Claudians is generally
described as unjust and 'criminal' by Tacitus.[89] Even at the outset of his
reign, he seems to ascribe many of Tiberius' virtues merely to hypocrisy.[79]
Another major recurring theme concerns the balance of power between the Senate
and the Emperors, corruption, and the growing tyranny among the governing
classes of Rome. A substantial amount of his account on Tiberius is therefore
devoted to the treason trials and persecutions following the revival of the
maiestas law under Augustus.[90] Ultimately, Tacitus' opinion on Tiberius is
best illustrated by his conclusion of the sixth book:
His
character too had its distinct periods. It was a bright time in his life and
reputation, while under Augustus he was a private citizen or held high offices;
a time of reserve and crafty assumption of virtue, as long as Germanicus and
Drusus were alive. Again, while his mother lived, he was a compound of good and
evil; he was infamous for his cruelty, though he veiled his debaucheries, while
he loved or feared Sejanus. Finally, he plunged into every wickedness and
disgrace, when fear and shame being cast off, he simply indulged his own
inclinations.[79]'
Pasted from
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius>
He was a very
vile person.
Dan. 11:21 '...
to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom…'
Tiberius,
the second emperor of Rome, was not the first choice of Augustus and was not
popular with the Roman people.
Pasted
from <http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/emperors/ig/12-Caesars/Tiberius-.htm>
Tiberius did not
have the favor of the people of Rome at all.
'Tiberius was
cold and unpopular in his manners, awkward and even timid in his carriage, but a
master of dissimulation. The only person of whom he stood in awe was his mother
Livia; but he lived in constant fear of insurrection. Aelius Sejanus, the
Prefect of the Praetorians, had long been the friend and chief adviser of the
emperor. Sejanus was cruel, unscrupulous, and ambitious in fact the proper
instrument of a tyrant. In A.D. 27 Tiberius hid himself in the island of Capri
where he built twelve villas in different parts of the island living with a few
companions. No one was allowed to land upon the shores of Capri except of course
Sejanus and even fishermen who broke this rule through ignorance were severely
punished. Every day, however, dispatches were brought from the continent and he
still continued to direct the affairs of his vast empire. Sejanus was left to
govern Rome but eventually Tiberius realised that Sejanus had become so powerful
that he himself was at risk. Tiberius sent a letter to the Senate in which he
denounced Sejanus as a traitor. Sejanus was flung into the Mamertine Prison,
and there he was strangled in 31AD. The people of Rome threw his body into the
Tiber. Great numbers of his friends or relatives perished with Sejanus, and a
general massacre filled Rome with terror. Tiberius, meanwhile, seems to have
become a raging madman. He put to death his niece Agrippina, with her two
children and ruled over the Senate with pitiless cruelty. Tiberius died on
March 16, A.D. 37. He is believed to have been smothered with a pillow.
Tiberius left the empire in a prosperous condition. His cruelty, in fact, seems
to have been exercised upon the great and the rich, while the people of Rome
lived in relative security.'
Pasted
from <http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-emperors/tiberius.htm>
Did the following
happen?
Dan. 11:21… but
he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
Yes. He didn't
come in warring for the position, it was handed to him by Augustus, who didn't
really want him in there but he was the only obvious choice left for him. He
obtained the kingdom not by war but by flatteries.
Read this...
'In response, a
series of potential heirs seem to have been selected, among them Tiberius and
his brother, Drusus. In 24 BC, at the age of seventeen, Tiberius entered
politics under Augustus's direction, receiving the position of quaestor,[8] and
was granted the right to stand for election as praetor and consul five years in
advance of the age required by law.[9] Similar provisions were made for
Drusus.[10]'
*
'With Tiberius's
departure, succession rested solely on Augustus' two young grandsons, Lucius
and Gaius Caesar. The situation became more precarious in AD 2 with the death
of Lucius. Augustus, with perhaps some pressure from Livia, allowed Tiberius to
return to Rome as a private citizen and nothing more.[27] In AD 4, Gaius was
killed in Armenia and Augustus had no other choice but to turn to
Tiberius.[28][29]
The death of
Gaius in AD 4 initiated a flurry of activity in the household of Augustus.
Tiberius was adopted as full son and heir and in turn, he was required to adopt
his nephew, Germanicus, the son of his brother Drusus and Augustus' niece
Antonia Minor.[28][30] Along with his adoption, Tiberius received tribunician
power as well as a share of Augustus's maius imperium, something that even
Marcus Agrippa may never have had.[31] In AD 7, Agrippa Postumus, a younger
brother of Gaius and Lucius, was disowned by Augustus and banned to the island
of Pianosa, to live in solitary confinement.[29][32] Thus, when in AD 13, the
powers held by Tiberius were made equal, rather than second, to Augustus's own
powers, he was for all intents and purposes a "co-princeps" with Augustus, and
in the event of the latter's passing, would simply continue to rule without an
interregnum or possible upheaval.[33] Augustus died in AD 14, at the age of
75.[34] He was buried with all due ceremony and, as had been arranged
beforehand, deified, his will read, and Tiberius confirmed as his sole
surviving heir.[35]'
Pasted
from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius>
He was adopted
into the position.
Dan 11:22 And with the arms of a flood shall they
be overflown from before him and shall be broken;….'
Arms of a flood,
overflown. We cannot forget that
these were still tumultuous times with constant battles being waged for
territory-unlike today when we actually see very little battle waged for
territories. Yes, there are some, but not like back then, not by a long
shot.
Read this…
'Rise
and fall of Germanicus
Problems arose
quickly for the new Princeps. The legions posted in Pannonia and in Germania
had not been paid the bonuses promised them by Augustus, and after a short
period of time, when it was clear that a response from Tiberius was not
forthcoming, mutinied.[45] Germanicus and Tiberius's son, Drusus Julius Caesar,
were dispatched with a small force to quell the uprising and bring the legions
back in line. Rather than simply quell the mutiny however, Germanicus rallied
the mutineers and led them on a short campaign across the Rhine into Germanic
territory, stating that whatever treasure they could grab would count as their
bonus.[46] Germanicus's forces smashed across the Rhine and quickly occupied
all of the territory between the Rhine and the Elbe. Additionally, Tacitus
records the capture of the Teutoburg forest and the reclaiming of standards
lost years before by Publius Quinctilius Varus,[47] when three Roman legions
and its auxiliary cohorts had been ambushed by a band of Germans.[47]
Germanicus had managed to deal a significant blow to Rome's enemies, quell an
uprising of troops, and once again return lost standards to Rome, actions that
increased the fame and legend of the already very popular Germanicus with the
Roman people.[48]
After being
recalled from Germania,[49] Germanicus celebrated a triumph in Rome in AD
17,[47] the first full triumph that the city had seen since Augustus's own in 29
BC. As a result, in AD 18 Germanicus was granted control over the eastern part
of the empire, just as both Agrippa and Tiberius had received before, and was
clearly the successor to Tiberius.[50] Germanicus survived a little over a year
before dying, accusing Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, the governor of Syria, of
poisoning him.[51] The Pisones had been longtime supporters of the Claudians,
and had allied themselves with the young Octavian after his marriage to Livia,
the mother of Tiberius; Germanicus's death and accusations indicted the new
Princeps. Piso was placed on trial and, according to Tacitus, threatened to
implicate Tiberius.[52] Whether the governor actually could connect the
Princeps to the death of Germanicus will never be known; rather than continuing
to stand trial when it became evident that the Senate was against him, Piso
committed suicide.[53][54] Tiberius seems to have tired of politics at this
point. In AD 22, he shared his tribunician authority with his son Drusus,[55]
and began making yearly excursions to Campania that reportedly became longer and
longer every year. In AD 23, Drusus mysteriously died,[56][57] and Tiberius
seems to have made no effort to elevate a replacement. Finally, in AD 26,
Tiberius retired from Rome altogether to the island of Capri.[58]
Pasted
from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius>
They SMASHED
across the Rhine. They QUICKLY occupied. Deal a SIGNIFICANT blow. Return LOST
standards to Rome. INCREASED the
fame and legend.
They most
certainly did act as a flood and they literally overflew any that were trying to
threaten any of their territory and then some.
And the next bit
of prophecy…
Dan 11:22 '...
yea, also the prince of the covenant.'
Without any doubt
this was fulfilled perfectly.
Who is the prince
of the covenant? OUR SAVIOR!
Was our Savior
broken before Tiberius' reign?
Yes.
'Tiberius (Latin:
Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus;[1] November 16, 42 BC – March 16, AD 37), was
Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD.'
Pasted
from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius>
Our Savior died
in 31 AD we've proven that already beyond a doubt.
Tiberius was ruler until 37 AD.
Our Savior was
broken- our Savior was KILLED under the reign of this man just as prophecy
predicted!!!!
By the grace of
God may we continue to follow history and watch prophecy unfold!
It's only through
the love of our Savior, only through His mercy, His grace, His forgiveness, His
righteousness that we can hope, all our hope is in HIM now and forever!!!
Please Lord lead
us, Please Lord guide us! Please Lord give us all we need to understand all that
you would have us understand, not by our wisdom, not by anything we possess at
all whatsoever, but all by YOU!
For Your honor, Your glory, for You, for YOU Lord, our Creator, our
Savior!
Amen.