Book of Hebrews an overview

 Ch 1 God who in times past spake by the prophets, now speaks to us by His son, Jesus Christ.
Ch 2 Now we must listen to Jesus, who tasted death for every man. He took on Him the seed of Abraham.
Ch 3 Consider Christ Jesus, who was counted more worthy than Moses. Be steadfast unto the end. Recalls those wandering in the wilderness and those who could not enter into His rest because of unbelief and perished in the wilderness. We can have rest through faith in Christ.
Ch 4 As God ceased from His own works on the day of His rest, so should we seek rest in Christ. The Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword
Ch 5 Concerning Christ being our high priest after the order of Melchisedec.  Paul rebukes those listening that though they should be teachers they need teaching themselves because they do not understand these things.
Ch 6 Paul tells his Hebrew brethren not to make salvation include works, but yet to rest on the doctrine of Christ. A reminder to  persevere and be diligent and reminder of the dangers of apostasy (verse 6)
Ch 7 Recalls Melchisedec, king of Salem (old name for Jerusalem), how even Abraham gave a tenth to. Jesus was made a priest after Melchisedec, see Gen 14:18-20 and Psalms 110 and also reminds them that perfection was not in the Levitical priesthood, but that the priesthood of Jesus is perfect because He endureth forever.
Ch 8 Paul summarizes the previous chapters - Jesus is our high priest who has obtained a more excellent ministry and is now the mediator of a better covenant. He quotes from Jeremiah 31 about the new covenant, why it came and that because it is new, the old is passed away.
Ch 9 Christ made the sacrifice once, unlike the priests who made offerings and the high priest who alone was able to enter into the most holy place (the 2nd tabernacle)
Ch 10 The Law was but a shadow of good things to come and were made every year. Paul compels us to be steadfast in our faith.
Ch 11 The substance of faith explained. Recounts things did by faith of Noah, Enoch, Moses, Abraham, Isaac and Rahab. Recounts what endless others like Gideon, Samson did great things through faith. did which cost them to suffer, yet they continued.
Ch 12 Run the race before you and endure the Lord's chastening.
Ch 13 Paul encourages us what to do and what to avoid - continue in brotherly love, avoid diverse and strange doctrines, communicate, obey them that have the rule over you (referring to a pastor). Always entertain the stranger as they might be angels.

Jeremiah Overview

Overview
Jeremiah was a prophet at the time of kings Hilkiah, Josiah and Jehoiakim.  He prophesied of both the judgement coming upon both houses of Israel - Israel and Judah, and the nations around them, a new covenant and foreshadowed the future destruction of Babylon.

Ch 1 A son of Hilkiah the priest. In the days of Josiah, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, kings of Judah. Judgement is coming on the cities of Judah and Jerusalem from the nations of the north.
Ch 2 God tells Jeremiah to rebuke the children of Israel for turning away from Him and sought after other gods. They shall not be able to trust in Egypt
Ch 3 God yet offers a chance to Israel to turn back to God, and Judah who yet serves Him in a feigned (fake) way. Mentions there is a time coming when they will no more seek the ark of the covenant or the Lord, and Jerusalem will the throne of the Lord.
Ch 4 God gives the people one last change to yet remove the abominations from among them and they will not be removed. The destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way. Verses 23-26 seem at first to say the whole earth is destroyed, but the key is verse 27. Always read in context.
Ch 5 The house of Israel and Judah have dealt treacherously with the Lord, have refused correction and even the great men have turned away. God is sending an army from the north of ancient people (the Assyrians) but will not make a full end of them. Because they have served strange gods, so shall they serve strangers in a strange land that is not their own. The prophets speak falsely and the priests rule by their own means.
Ch 6 Stand ye in the ways and ask for the old paths. The Lord brings evil upon this people. The Lord has set Jeremiah as a tower and fortress to know and try the way of the people (verse 28). A tower is used to watch and warn of approaching danger.
Ch 7 God tells them to look at Shiloh for an example of what will happen. The children of Judah have set abominations in the Lord's house and were practicing child sacrifice at Tophet. God tells Jeremiah don't bother praying or making intercession for them, their time of judgement has come. What kind of slaughter will God bring upon America and other countries who have shed so much innocent blood of the unborn children?
Ch 8 The bones of their great princes and great men will be dug up and used as dung. Their wives will be given to other men.
Ch 9 The people proceed from evil to evil. Let not the rich man or mighty man glory in what he has, but in the knowledge of the Lord.
Ch 10 A rebuke of the false gods of the heathens as well as the pastors of the people and telling of a coming commotion out of the north country that will lay waste to the cities of Judah.
Ch 11 The Lord says to proclaim in the cities of Judah that cursed be the man that does not keep the covenant. The people have turned back unto iniquities of their fathers and the Lord will bring evil upon them and will not hear them when they cry unto Him. God tells Jeremiah not to pray for this people. Men of Anathoth had threatened to kill Jeremiah for prophesying in the name of the Lord and the Lord will kill these men and their children will die of hunger.
Ch 12 Jeremiah is turning away from his own people because they are against him and have forsaken the Lord.  The Lord is to make the land desolate yet will restore them.
Ch 13 God uses the a linen girdle, has him hide it in a rock near the Euphrates river then dig it up to see that it had been marred. This to show Jeremiah and the whole house of Judah that they will have to cleave unto the Lord. Even still the Lord gives the call to turn back unto Him, but if not , destruction comes and they will be carried away captive.
Ch 14 A drought has come upon Judah. Again the Lord tells Jeremiah not to pray for this people because of their straying, but Jeremiah tells the Lord that the prophets tell the people they will not be consumed by the sword, famine and pestilence. God tells him those same prophets will also die by the sword, famine and pestilence.
Ch 15 Because of the things that king Manasseh did, the Lord says to tell the people some are to be fall by the sword, some by famine, some to be torn by dogs and beasts and some to go into captivity.  See II Kings ch 21, Manasseh rebuilt the altars to false gods that his father Hezekiah had torn down. God promises to preserve Jeremiah through all the destruction and danger.
Ch 16 Jeremiah told not to take a wife or have sons or daughters, because the sons and daughters and the mothers that bear them will die in the place they have been sent. When the people ask why so much evil is come upon them, the Lord says to tell them it is because their fathers have sought after other gods and they have done even worse abominations. However, it will come that the Lord will bring them back.
Ch 17 Cursed be the man that trusteth in man (ref. Psalms 146). The heart is deceitful above all things. Woe to those that get riches the wrong way. Jeremiah asks the Lord to bring double destruction upon those persecute him. God tells him to stand in the gates of Jerusalem and compel the kings and people to obey the sabbath or else.
Ch 18 Jeremiah and the potters wheel. The creation before the flood is the first work that was marred, then the 2nd has become Israel who have turned away from the Lord. The people speak against Jeremiah and he prays that they be destroyed, yet even now God gives them one last chance that they refuse.
Ch 19 God sends Jeremiah to valley of the son of Hinnom, near the east gate of Jerusalem. He's told to preach to all the people of the coming evil the Lord is sending upon them because they have forsaken the Lord and served other gods including Baal. They will be broken like the potters vessel that cannot be made whole again. Question - if they are not to be made whole again, then what about later under Ezra and Nehemiah?  At first this passage about "cannot be made whole again" seems to imply they will never be a people again, let alone be restored to the land and I'm sure some will say this is yet again another contradiction in the Bible. In ch 12(vs 15) the Lord says He will pluck them up but will also restore them. I think what this example of the potters vessel is that the people will have to cleave unto the Lord like the girdle in order to be restored and not of their own will.
Ch 20 The priest named Pashur smites Jeremiah and has him put in prison. The next day Pashur brings Jeremiah out and Jeremiah tells him and everyone else what is coming upon them, and how he sought not to say anymore after the people would not hear him, yet the Word of the Lord burned inside him. Prays before them, asking the Lord to let him see the Lord's vengeance brought upon these people.
Ch 21 King Zedekiah had sent Jeremiah unto Pashur the priest to enquire of the Lord, but Jeremiah tells the king and the people what the Lord has said - that they will fall and go into captivity because of their evil doings.
Ch 22 Jeremiah delivers yet another chance for the king to turn from his ways and do justice or else suffer destruction. Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, would not be lamented and his dead carcass would be cast out and buried like a dead donkey. The wind will eat up their pastors. They will fall to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and the Chaldeans. Coniah the son of Jehoakim will go into captivity and remain childless.
Ch 23 Woe unto the pastors that have scattered the flocks. The Lord will give them new shepherds. The Lord tells Jeremiah of a time when a king will come from the line of David and be called THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. This is speaking of the 1000 year kingdom, Revelation ch 20 and all through Isaiah.
Ch 24 Parable of the two basket of figs, one bad and good for nothing, the other very good. The bad figs were those that remained and the good were those that were carried away captive and whom the Lord will bring back.
Ch 25 In the fourth year of Jehoiakim (when he was 4yrs old), Jeremiah is told that after 70 years the Babylonians will be punished along with the nations that surround them and benefit from them. Namely Egypt, Tyre, Uz, Phillistines, Zimri, Elam, Media, and finally Babylon itself. Starting in verse 29, the subject seems to be referring to a far distant time and the day of the Lord.
Ch 26 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, Jeremiah told to speak unto everyone at the Lords house and give them one last chance to turn back unto the Lord, or else be made like Shiloh. A great debate ensues between the people including the princes and priests, whether to put Jeremiah to death, but they do not. A scribe named Shaphan stood up for Jeremiah.
Ch 27 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, the Lord tells Jeremiah to make yokes and send them to the various kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Zidon, and Tyrus.  They are to serve the king of Babylon or else be put to the sword. Now, Jeremiah at a time of King Zedekiah, seems to be speaking of a 2nd wave of captivity to start.
Ch 28 Jeremiah during the reign of Zedekiah in the 4th year and 5th month. The prophet Hananiah spoke to Jeremiah and all the people and priests in the Lords house (the temple not yet destroyed?). Hananiah takes off Jeremiahs yoke of wood and propheceys that the Lord will so break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, but the Lord later revealed that Hananiah is lying and the Lord will give them yokes of iron. Hananiah dies that same year.
Ch 29 Jeremiah writes letters from Jerusalem unto the captives in Babylon and Jeconiah the king had already been taken from Jerusalem. Tells them the Lord has said to build houses there, have children and after 70 years the Lord will bring them back. Also tells them not to listen to the false prophets and that the people who still remain in Jerusalem will suffer the sword and pestilence until they be removed to the kingdoms where others have been sent. Jeremiah deals with another false prophet Shemaiah, whom the Lord tells him he will be punished and he will not have seed (children) nor shall he see the good the Lord will bring upon the people because he has taught rebellion against the Lord.
Ch 30 The Lord tells Jeremiah to write all the things He is telling him in a book. The Lord will bring the people back from captivity and they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king. How could they serve David if he is long dead? Jesus was to be a direct decedent of David. Speaks of a time of great fear and every man with hands on his loins and pale faces, all concerning a great day. Later, Cyrus the great would conquer the Babylonian kingdom and allow the return of the Hebrews under Ezra and Nehemiah.
Ch 31 The Lord will return the people unto the land. The parable of the father eating the sour grape and the children's teeth are set on edge will be said no more. The Lord says the day is coming that He will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and Judah, which they failed to keep.
Ch 32 In the 10th year of Zedekiah and 18th year of Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah is in prison. God tells him to buy a field and seal the deal in front of witnesses. This is to show that even though they will be taken into captivity, they will be brought back and will buy fields again.
Ch 33 God tells Jeremiah again,still in prison,that the captivity will bee brought back and the cities restored and the branch of David will sit upon the throne. Also interesting, mentions the covenant of the day and night (see Gen 1:16-1:18).  Verse 16 was hard to understand at first, as it uses the term 'she' and then the 'The LORD our righteousness', but she is referring to the city of Judah, Jerusalem and it is called by His name, see also Daniel 9:19
Ch 34 When Nebuchadnezzar has come, God tells Jeremiah to tell king Zedekiah the city will fall and be burnt and Zedekiah will not die by the sword but in peace. The Lord rebukes them for not giving their servants liberty at the end of six years.
Ch 35 In the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, God tells Jeremiah to bring into the Lords house the Rechabites and charge them to drink wine. They refuse because they are keeping the will of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father charged them to drink no wine or build houses, but to dwell in tents. Then God tells Jeremiah to have the Rechabites to go and tell this same thing to the children of Israel.
Ch 36 In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, Jeremiah has Baruch the scribe write down all the words the Lord spoke to him concerning the judgement upon Israel. Then to take it to the people to be read to the people in the Lords house. Those that heard it took it to the king to be read, but he tossed it in the fire. So the Lord has Jeremiah tell the king that he will have no descendants to sit upon the throne of David and then write the same words in another scroll and more words were added from the first.
Ch 37 Zedekiah the son of Josiah is king, but none hearkened upon the words of the Lord. The Egyptians come in to the area and the Chaldeans that were besieging the city heard of them, they left. The Lord tells Jeremiah to tell people not to trust in help from the Egyptians and that the Chaldeans will take the city (Jerusalem). Jeremiah thrown into prison again.
Ch 38 Some of the princes heard the words Jeremiah spoke concerning the city and told the king that he causes the men that are fighting to be weakened.  They ask for Jeremiah to be killed.  Hmmm, sounds like some today that denounce anyone that casts America in a negative light because of its doing things that God calls an abomination. Jeremiah is put in a dungeon with no food or water, but later spared by an Ethiopian eunuch who spoke to and obtained permission of the king, lowered a rope made from rags. Then the king pulls Jeremiah aside and asks him to tell him the truth and he repeats the things he has already said. 
Ch 39 In the 9th year of king Zedekiah, the Babylonians besiege Jerusalem and take it 2 years later. Zedekiah tries to escape but is caught on the plains of Jerico, his sons killed in his sight and put out his eyes, and the nobles of Judah killed, then he is to be carried away to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar tells his captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan, to secure Jeremiah and make sure that he has whatever he needs or wants. The Lord tells Jeremiah to speak unto Ebedmelech, the Ethiopian eunuch that earlier had defended Jeremiah unto the king, that the Lord will bring evil upon the city but that he (the Ebedmelech) will be preserved because he had put his trust in the Lord.
Ch 40 Jeremiah given food and told by the captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan that the Lord thy God has brought evil upon this place. Also if Jeremiah wants to go to Babylon, he would take him or he is free to go anywhere he wants. The king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the governor over Judah, who told the people to fear not to serve the king of Babylon. Johanan the son of Kareah comes to tell Ahikam that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay him.
Ch 41 Ishmael comes with ten men and slew Gedeliah and others.  I find it interesting that earlier, Gedeliah had called for Jeremiah to be put to death. The pit that Ishmael has the dead thrown into was the same pit that king Asa had dug for Baasha, king of Israel.
Ch 42 The remnant of people ask Jeremiah to ask the Lord what they should do and promise to do whatever His answer is. After ten days, the Lord tells Jeremiah that if the people are to remain, they will be built back up and they are not to go into Egypt, but they have also asked this thing with a feigned hear (dissembled), not really meaning it.
Ch 43 The remnant of people that stayed behind with Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people obeyed not and went ahead into Egypt at Tahpanhes. The Lord tells Jeremiah to hide great stones in the brickkiln (furnace where bricks are dried) and that Nebuchadrezzar will set his throne upon them. Also, the Egyptian houses of their gods will be burned with fire.
Ch 44 The Lord has Jeremiah to deliver a message to those from Judah that had went into Egypt against His will. They will be consumed by the word and famine, as Pharaohhophra the king of Egypt is given into the hands of his enemies
Ch 45 Baruch the scribe who had begun to loose hope that all is lost, gets a message from the Lord by way of Jeremiah.  Things that were planted will be plucked up but his life will be sparred.
Ch 46 The Lord speaks against the Gentiles and tells Jeremiah that He will send Nebuchadnezzar to conquer Egypt. The Lord will make a full end of all the nations but that Jacob will He not make a full end of but will punish.
Ch 47 The Lord tells Jeremiah what He will do to the Philistines, Tyre, Zidon and Ashkelon. Also in verse 2 & 3 is an example of a flood being used to describe a large body of men coming to conquer, and how we can know Daniel 9:26 is describing the same thing, an invading army. 
Ch 48 The destruction of Moab is coming. They have trusted in their own works and treasures. Moab had offered in the high places and celebrated when Israel was troubled. The very last verse the Lord promises to restore the captivity of Moab in the latter days. Lots of names and places are mentioned here eg. Dibon,Nebo,Bethdiblathaim,Kiriathaim,Bethgamul,Bethmeon, Kerioth Bozrah, sea of Jazer, and Kirheres
Ch 49 Prophesy against others around Israel.  See Romans 4, does Israel have sons today? These kingdoms mentioned were mainly the east - Ammon (north of Moab), Edom, Elam and Damascus. Esau and his grandson Teman are mentioned as references to Edom.  Also mentions Hazor and its kingdoms, yet is a city in the northern part of Israel. There is some interesting background on that as is with all these locations and their names. Also mentioned that in the latter days, the captivity of Elam will be brought back.
Ch 50 Prophesy against Babylon, foreshadows what is spoken of in Revelation 16 & 18.
Ch 51 Continuation of ch 50, prophesy against Babylon. 
Ch 52 Jeremiah recounts the events of the last few years of Zedekiah's reign, capture and the things done to him and his sons at the hands of the Babylonians. Mentions the stages of people being taken into captivity.

Bible Qualifications Of A Pastor Regarding Marriage and Divorce

What does the Bible lay out for the standard to be the pastor of a church?  The main area I point to is I Timothy 3. A few key verses here, then we will look at one area that some have disagreement over.

3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach
3:3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
3:4  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

One obvious thing should be pointed out. Somehow there are those that twist scriptures to allow women pastors.  How can a woman be a husband of one wife? Ok, that should seem pretty straightforward, but lets move on to the issue of divorce and re-marriage regarding a pastor of a church.

Most of those qualifications I Timothy chapter 3 would seem obvious and expected.  Regarding marriage however, some will claim that a man that has divorced is still qualified, assuming the divorce was "justified".  See this post on marriage and divorce. The Bible is clear that marriage is to be between one man and one woman, for life.  Except for fornication (not adultery), a man is to remain bound to his spouse until his death, or the death of his wife, even if the wife departs. Just because a woman leaves her husband, he does not then have justification to re-marry. 

So what does the phrase "husband of one wife" mean in this context?  One wife at a time - or one wife period? Just a few chapters later we can see what Paul is saying here, that it is the latter and not the former.  Paul regarded Timothy as his son (I Timothy 1:2). He is instructing him on not just how to be a pastor, but what standards both he and others must meet. In I Timothy 5:9 we see Paul speak regarding widows that are taken in to be cared for.  One of the requirements before doing so was that they had been a wife of one husband. This is the same qualification of sorts, just reversed.  All of this so that the pastor or elder may be blameless. The keyword here - blameless does not imply sinless.  These are character qualifications

Isaiah an overview

 Isaiah was a prophet that preached during the 8th century BC (700's) and long enough to live under at least 4 different kings. Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, he preached about the coming judgement of the children of Israel and the nations around them, a coming messiah, the last days and the millennial kingdom and the new Jerusalem. Some of the language can be a bit more cryptic than the other prophets.  Chapters 1-39 are mostly concerning the coming judgement on Israel and the nations surrounding it, but also a distant kingdom to come that has yet to be fulfilled. Chapters 40-66 mostly concern a messiah of both His first and second coming as well as the new Jerusalem.

A few of the major prophecies:
- Judah to fall and be carried into captivity
- Syria and Remaliah will not prevail against Jerusalem and Ephraim will be broken within 65 years, ch 7
- A coming messiah, ch 6, 7, 9, 11, 53 (basically all through)
- The day of the Lord ch 13
- A highway out of Egypt and Israel to be a third with Assyria and Egypt in ch 19
- Resurrection of the righteous, ch 26
- God will use Cyrus of Persia to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, ch 44 which happens later under Ezra and Nehemiah
- The Gentile nations will become part of the children of Israel, ch 54, also echoed through out the New Testament, eg. Galatians 3

Ch 1 - The children of Israel have rebelled and have become worse than Sodom in God's eyes. Their sacrifices and prayers mean nothing to Him now.
Ch 2 - Concerning the last days. The day of the Lord and a time when the Lord will judge among the nations.
Ch 3 - Judgement against Judah and it's rulers who cause the people to go into error. They are going to fall to the sword.
Ch 4 - The day that comes, women will be desperate for a husband because so few men are alive.
Ch 5 - Parable of a vineyard.  Instead of grapes, it brought forth wild grapes. Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil. The nations are being sent against the children of Israel.
Ch 6 - King Uzziah dies, Isaiah is shown the glory of the Lord on His throne. Is told to go and tell the people. Isaiah responds, here am I, send me. He is to go unto the people until men be carried away and the cities are wasted. A remnant will return and among them, the holy seed, from which will come the messiah.
Ch 7 - Israel and Ephraim was confederate with Syria and they come to invade Jerusalem but fail.  See II Kings ch 15 and 16. The alliance wanted to set the son of Tabeal as king of Judah. The Lord tells Isaiah to go with his son to meet Ahaz, king of Judah to tell him not to be afraid, and the Lord will give them a sign of a virgin that conceives and his name shall be called Emanuel. The context of who is speaking is not immediately clear in verse 10, but elsewhere in the Bible like  Hebrews 1:1, we see that the Lord often spoke through the prophets to the people. God will use the Assyrians to take away the northern kingdom and make it desolate.
Ch 8 The Lord tells Isaiah to write the name of a child as Mahershalalhashbaz that is born to a prophetess. Before the child knows to cry, his (Isaiah) father and mother and the riches of Damascus will be taken by the king of Assyria. The children whom the Lord had given to him are for signs.
Ch 9 Unto us a child is born, foretelling of a coming messiah. The Lord will use Manasseh and Ephraim to smite Israel.
Ch 10 Woe unto them that decree unrighteousness. The Assyrian is coming to spoil Israel. When the Lord is finished with judging both Israel and Jerusalem, he will punish Assyria.
Ch 11 A rod shall come forth from the stem of Jesse. See Ruth ch 4 & Luke 3. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb and the lion shall eat straw, foretells the time of the 1000 year reign of Christ.
Ch 12 It will be a day of joy when the messiah and Holy One of Israel comes. See John 4, Romans 10:13, Mark 1:24, Luke 3:34, Acts 2:27, Acts 3:14, Acts 13:35 ,1 John 2:20 
Ch 13 Babylon  will be made desolate in the day of the Lord - both the Babylon of that day and the one to come. Sun darkened and moon shall not give its light. See Rev 6, Matt 24, Luke 21
Ch 14  The Lord will have mercy on Jacob. Is what happened in 1948 with the founding of Israel a fulfillment of this? In John 3:36 the Bible says those who don't believe on the Son, the wrath of God is on them. This is likely speaking of the return from captivity. Satan is to be cast out of heaven (see Ezekiel 28, Rev 12, 13). Those who were their captors shall be their captives and servants. Likens the king of Babylon unto Lucifer.  Palestina (Palestine? Exodus 15:14) told not to rejoice as their judgement is coming too. 
Ch 15 & 16 Moab is to be laid waste. Land of the Moabites. See Genesis 19 where we find Moab. Within 3 years, Moab and its glory will be held in contempt and there will be few left.
Ch 17 Damascus will be a city no more. The cities of Aroer are forsaken. Verse 3 "they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel" is not a positive thing, because Israel is to be brought low.
Ch 18 Woe unto Ethiopia
Ch 19 Egypt to be burdened, then healed. Yet, they will come to know the Lord and the Lord will know them.  A highway out of Egypt to Assyria. Lot of parallels with Revelation 9, 14, and Isaiah 13. Note the same language in verse 1 with Revelation 1:7. Then inn verses 20 and 21, we see the Egyptians doing sacrifices unto the Lord, strangely similar with passages in Ezekiel chapters 40-48 concerning the temple that involve sacrifices and priests. However, in this passage in Isaiah this could be referring to a time when either Ptolemy or Alexander the great relieved Egypt from the Assyrians, but also a future fulfillment with the gospel and the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ. Paul speaks on the subject of Prophecy in I Corinthians 13, as seeking through a glass darkly. Also note Hebrews 7:12, there has been a change in the priesthood and the law. Also note the highway out of Egypt also mentioned in chapter 11.
Ch 20 Tartan, king of Assyria comes against Ashdod (city in Israel). Isaiah was to walk naked and barefoot 3 years as a sign against Egypt and Ethiopia. They were both to be lead away captive naked by the Assyrians. They (Ashdod and the children of Israel) were not going to be able to look to the Egyptians for help against the Assyrians.
Ch 21 The Medes are coming and Babylon is to fall. See Daniel ch 5,6,7, also Jeremiah 50,51. Verse 9 uses similar language with Revelation 18:2.  Romans 4:17, God speaks of things that are not, as if they were. Also the burden of Dumah (Idumea), down near Edom, see also Joshua 15. Burden of Arabia, see also Jeremiah 25.
Ch 22 This chapter along with most of the 1st half of Isaiah is mainly concerned with the judgment coming upon the children of Israel. The phrase "valley of vision" is used nowhere else in the Bible, but this chapter is foreshadowing the last days as well as the judgments coming in the immediate future. Valleys are often where battles are fought and Joel ch 2 mentions a term "valley of decision" and is a clear reference to the day of the Lord.
24 Burden of Tyre. For 70 years Tyre would sing as a harlot but then commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the earth. Land of the Chaldeans was founded by the Assyrians.
Ch 25 Isaiah gives God praise, and speaks of a time when we will say this is our God, we have waited for him and he will save us.
Ch 26 The righteous shall sing a new song and the righteous dead shall rise and sing also. Come into thy chambers and shut thy doors for a little while until the indignation be overpast. 
Ch 27 God will make Israel shall blossom and bud and leviathan (the devil) the serpent destroyed (see Rev 12:9, 19:15, 20:2)
Ch 28 Woe to the drunkards of Ephraim. Scornful men rule the people in Jerusalem.
Ch 29 Speaking of a city named Ariel, which is most likely referring to Jerusalem and God's people (see Galatians 3). In verse 4 it seems is speaking of when Jerusalem is destroyed, its story becomes as foreboding as someone with a familiar spirit. Isaiah is looking forward to a later time here. Nations are going to be made as if they are in a deep sleep, drunk but not of wine, to gather against Jerusalem. There are different types of unbelievers. They can not simply read the Bible and get saved, Acts 8. See also II Thessalonians 2 - in the last days, God is going to send a strong delusion to a world that refused to receive the truth, but the day of the Lord will not come until the man of sin is revealed.  Also Jeremiah 6:30 concerning reprobates, those who God has rejected. See also I Cor 2:14 unbelievers cant receive the Spirit of God. Jesus refers to this refers to this passage in Matthew 15. Verses 18 & 19 speak of the coming messiah who will heal the deaf and blind.
Ch 30 Woe to the rebellious children of Israel.  They take counsel but not of the Lord and seek help from Egypt against the Assyrians, but Egypt will not prevent whats coming.  The Lord alone will beat down the Assyrians.
Ch 31 Again, woe to those that do evil and seek help from Egypt, both will fall. The Lord Himself will defend Jerusalem. Is this speaking of a near or far future time, since we know between the time Isaiah spoke this, Jerusalem has fallen.
Ch 32 A king shall rule. Men shall be scarce. The liberal shall be called vile.
Ch 33 While speaking before the captivity begins, seems to be speaking of a time much different than when the return from exile takes place
Ch 34 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies
Ch 35 The wilderness will blossom, the Lord comes with a vengeance. The lame will walk and the dumb sing.  Clearly this is still talking about the kingdom to come.
Ch 36 This chapter and the next is also mentioned in II Kings 18 & II Chronicles 32. The king of Assyria sends Rabshakeh with a great army against the cities of Judah and takes them (except for Jerusalem), but first accuses them of relying on Egypt even though Hezekiah had not, and then mocks the Jews and their trust in God in verse 7. This part seems at first to say Rabshakeh is stating the Hezekiah has done something against the Lord, but we know from II Kings and II Chronicles that Hezekiah done good in tearing down the alters to false gods and the high places. So in vs 7, it is actually blaming Hezekiah for tearing down these high places as if that was a bad thing. A similar story in Judges 17 where a man makes a molten image in the name of God, which was the wrong thing to do, but on the surface it might seem to some that they were worshiping God.
Ch 37 Hezekiah hears the message and sends word to Isaiah, who replies with a message to not be afraid of the words of the Assyrians that they have said and have blasphemed the Lord. The Lord tells Isaiah that the king of Assyria will return the same way he came and will not take Jerusalem. The Lord smote 185,000 Assyrians in their camp. King Sennacherib then departs the same way he came, goes to Nineveh where his two sons kill him, just as the Lord had told Isaiah (verse 7)
Ch 38  Hezekiah is deathly sick and prays. The Lord tells Isaiah that Hezekiah will get 15 more years and will yet deliver the city the Assyrians and as a sign, a sun dial will be made to go backwards 10 degrees. Isaiah told them to lay a lump of figs as a plaister (a plaster or paste) on the boil of the king.
Ch 39 The king of Babylon sends a letter and then his son to visit Hezekiah after hearing that he was sick, who then shows him all of his treasure and armor.  Isaiah informs Hezekiah that all that he has will be carried into Babylon and that his sons (not yet born) will become eunuchs. Hezekiah replies that at least he will have peace in his days, seemingly being self-centered.
Ch 40 A message of comfort for God's people and a reminder of God's power and might, nothing else compares to Him. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness.
Ch 41 God telling Isaiah to consider who it is that has done the things He has done and to put their trust in Him. He is the first and the last. 
Ch 42 Behold my servant who will bring judgement to the Gentiles. See Matthew 12:14-21. Who is this 'mine elect' being referred to in verse 1?  The physical nation Israel and the Jews?  See Galatians 3:14-16. He will make the lame walk and the blind to see. 
Ch 43 Israel has been redeemed, they are told to remember who has done it. The people shall be gathered from all directions.
Ch 44 God calls to the people as Jacob His servant and Israel His chosen, that He has blotted out their sins and calls them to return unto Him. The decayed places will be raised up and the temple built.
Ch 45 Cyrus, king of Persia will subdue the nations. God has girded up Jacob even though they did not know Him. The Egyptians and Sabeans shall come unto Israel in chains and praise them saying surely God is in thee. Israel is to be saved with an everlasting salvation.
Ch 46 Also concerns bringing the Persians and compels the children of Israel to return unto the Lord, who declares the end from the beginning.
Ch 47 Judgement coming upon Babylon, referred to as a lady. See also  Revelation 19
Ch 48 God's message for Jacob, called Israel, who make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth. He has refined them in the furnace of affliction. The Lord does this so that His name is not polluted.
Ch 49 Isaiah tells us that The Lord had called him to be a preacher. Verse 6 & 7 are prophetic of the coming messiah, Jesus Christ. Judgement comes for those that oppress the children of Israel.
Ch 50 Message to the children of Israel, that for their own transgressions have they been sold and their mothers put away (symbolic). Isaiah says that the Lord has given him the tongue of the learned.
Ch 51 God calls those that seek righteousness to look unto Him and promises to comfort Zion. The Lord promises to make the desert like the garden of eden, this hasn't happened yet.  Obviously referring to the millennial kingdom, see Isaiah 11 and 43:18,19. God is promising to return His people and take away the cup of affliction and give it to those that have afflicted them.
Ch 52 The Lord is telling the people they will be set free, that no uncircumcised or unclean thing will enter Jerusalem from henceforth. 
Also mentioned in Isaiah 66, Rev 21,Galatians 4 (esp vs 24-31) this chapter is speaking of a distant event and a future Jerusalem.  Has this been fulfilled yet - No.
Ch 53 The coming messiah.  See also John 12 (esp vs 38-40). Some Jews and skeptics claim this chapter is referring to Israel, but it is clearly speaking in the singular and of an individual, even in the same sentence that includes the people. It's worth noting that many Jews today have come to accept Jesus as Lord from this very passage, and that many Synagogues when they begin reading Isaiah, will skip this chapter. 
Ch 54 Fear not, God is going to bless the people with children. Their seed (Christ, see Galatians 3:16) shall inherit the Gentiles, making another prophetic statement of a time when the Gentiles would be grafted in (see Romans 11:17). This and the next few chapters, some will claim that the Bible is telling us the Jews are going to rule the world. Yes and no.  Yes, in that the saved and redeemed will be priests and kings (Rev 1:6, 5:10) and rule in a kingdom that is to come.  Yes also, in that Jesus Christ who is the physical seed of Abraham will rule with a rod of iron. No, in that the Jews as the physical seed of Abraham are not going to rule the world as a people, simply because they are Jews (see Matthew 21:43).
Ch 55 God calling people to return unto Him and for an everlasting covenant, including the mercies of David, of whom the messiah would come and eventually rule over an everlasting kingdom.
Ch 56 A call to those outside the physical lineage of Israel to call upon the lord and keep His covenant. Especially verse 8. Another example is Acts 10:34, God is not a respecter of persons. Rebuke and condemnation of the watchers (the religious leaders), Hebrews 13:17
Ch 57 When the righteous perish, none lay it to heart that they are taken away from the evil to come. Rebuke of the wicked. He that putteth his trust in the Lord shall inherit the land.
Ch 58 Verse 1 is a call to preach strongly and to call out sin, unlike how some will say that preachers shouldn't raise their voice or be too negative.
Ch 59 The Lord can still save and hear, but our iniquities separate us from Him. Shedding innocent blood (eg. abortion). The Redeemer shall come to Zion. Verse 21 is yet another promise to preserve His Word from generation for ever.
Ch 60 Another message about the Gentiles will come to know the God of Israel. Verses 11 & 12 is referring to a time of the new Jerusalem. At no time has Israel ever been a place of righteousness, yet it will one day when the son of David, Jesus Christ rules in Jerusalem. Verse 18 & 19 are clearly a case of this, as this has never happened - yet and is hard to fathom the light of the Lord replacing the light from the sun.
Ch 61 Isaiah proclaims the spirit of the Lord is upon him to preach good tidings to the meek who are captive. Continuation of ch 60
Ch 62 The Lord will give us a new name, Rev 2:17, Jerusalem and God's people will be redeemed. 
Ch 63 God will have vengeance and the winepress of his wrath will flow, see Rev 14
Ch 64 Isaiah cries out to the Lord to restore his people and his city, Jerusalem. The mountains will flow and the nations tremble at His presence. See Rev ch 6
Ch 65 God says he has stretched out His hand all day long and provoked Him to anger, yet will the Lord be found by those that sought not for Him. See also Romans 10:1 (esp vs 20,21) and continues in Romans 11, also Galatians 3.  Notice verse 9 mentions the seed of Jacob, see Galatians ch 3. God's elect, see Isaiah 42, Romans 8:33
New heavens and a new earth. Valley of Achor see Joshua 7
Verse 12 God calls but not all answer, bye bye Calvinism.
Ch 66 The people have chosen their own ways, yet God will choose their delusions and fears, because when He called, none answered. God opens and closes the womb. Verse 11 likens how He will comfort them like the milk from the breasts of a mother as consolations, see I Peter 2:2, John 1:1.  Behold the Lord is to come with fire and chariots and by fire and sword will He plead with all flesh (see Rev 19 & II Thess 1). Nations and tongues shall be gathered and will see the glory of the Lord. The city of Jerusalem and nation of Israel was not then, nor is it now a holy place. The "holy land" is anything but holy. There will be new heavens and a new earth and will look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against the Lord, see also Mark 9:44-46 (which counterfeit bibles such as the the NIV omits). Amen

On Divorce and Re-marriage

  The Bible is clear that marriage has been from the beginning, intended to be between one man and one woman, for life.  God made woman as a help meet for man. It is something I struggled to reconcile with as well. I Corinthians 7 is the most common passage people will turn to (or be taught by someone) in order to justify divorce and remarriage. Paul is making it clear that it his opinion he is giving (and NOT from the Lord), regarding not being under bondage, but peace for us regarding the unbelieving spouse departing.  There is no mention of being free to remarry in I Corinthians 7.  This would contradict what Jesus taught in Matthew 5, 19 (see also Mark 10 and Luke 16).  Paul also speaks on this in Romans 7.

Now some will point out that the passages in Matthew 5 & 19 give an exception for fornication.  This is yet another reason to look into why some zealots like myself adhere to the King James Bible, for being based on the Textus Receptus, not the Sinaiticus & Vaticanus.  I'm speaking of the books like ESV, NIV and the rest. The ESV uses "sexual immorality" in place of fornication, where the NIV just uses adultery.  So why does the King James use term fornication?  There is a difference - one is done within a marriage and the other is outside of marriage.  

The book of Matthew addresses a mostly Hebrew audience that would have been more familiar with the Mosaic law.  Under mosaic law, you didn't divorce your adulterous wife, but rather she was to be put to death.  Fornication however, was something that involved sexual activity before marriage. That was the exception Jesus was speaking of.  See Deuteronomy 22 & 24.  Paul, having been once a Pharisee would have had been well schooled in the Mosaic law.  And no we are not still under the law, and Jesus was not contradicting the law.  He says in that same part of Matthew 5, that He came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill.  

The passage in Matthew 19 is where the pharisees are tempting Jesus into contradicting the law or Moses regarding divorce.  He puts them to silence and merely reminds them that from the beginning that God's original plan was for one man and one woman - for life.  This is yet another reason that we, as believers need to be very careful who we choose for a spouse.  In Judges chapter 11, a man named Jephthah makes a vow to the Lord he regrets, but has to adhere to it.  

So the options for someone whose spouse might or has left them
(1) try to stay with them or reconcile the marriage
(2) remain unmarried until the departing spouse dies

Between Two Creeks

Water is water? 

Psalms 1

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Most people have their own set of interests and concerns. Things that fall outside those areas are either ignored, skipped or relegated to occasional attention. Such is life and we only have so many hours in the day.  We don't need to understand how water is bottled before drinking it.  Many self-professing Christians are the same way regarding the Scriptures. Many see the various books that claim the title "Bible" and only see differences in wording and phrases. Occasionally a friend might suggest they need to stop drinking the water they have and drink from another bottle. Some of those will shrug and not see the need or care to be bothered with this. Oh well, water is water, right? Some will want to know why.  Of those, fewer still will bother look into the matter.

Between two creeks

In the days of the kings, there was a prophet named Elijah.  The children of Israel had again strayed into idol worship, yet they still claimed the title of having the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but some still feared Him. Elijah confronted the people and asked them in I Kings 18:21, "And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word."

When I was young I often walked the creeks hunting for squirrels.  There was one creek in particular however where I spent most of my hunts. Many times I would enjoy just being out there, listening to the water flow down the creek and seeing the wheat fields on either side. There is something very soothing to seeing a field of green wheat blowing in the winter breeze that is like watching the waves on a lake. I came to know the types of trees and plants that grew along the creek. I knew the bends in the creek and where the big trees were that I had seen raccoons going into.

Let's imagine for a moment you were with a group of people in an area with two creeks, one to your right, the other a little ways off to your left. The one on your right just happens to be the one you drink from and always have, never bothering to explore the other. You also know others who drink from the creek on your left and some of them have never bothered to drink from your creek.  Regardless, few give it more than a passing thought when someone suggests there is a difference in the water. A few however want to know more to see if there is something to this idea of the water being different.  

A Walk upstream

One day you decide you want to know more about the other creek as well as the one you are most familiar with.  So you take the suggestion of some to walk upstream and explore.  Both creeks seem to be coming from the same general direction. The further you go, you notice the trees and plants along the bank of each creek are different. The clarity of the water seems different as well, or maybe you just never paid much attention before. A little further and the creeks both seem to get narrower and closer together.  At some point you notice what appears to be something foul in the creek on the left, but you leave it be for now. You have traveled quite a ways already.  You never noticed much of a difference in the creek in the left before that might suggest the water might be fouled. Finally you reach the headwaters where the creeks originate from, high up in a mountain.  The one creek on the right is flowing from a solid rock, the other from what appears to be a hole in the ground under your feet. Then you notice what appear to be footprints coming from the creek on the right, headed in the direction of the creek on the left. You can't really tell who made them or when they were made, but they are obviously made by someone. It seems as though someone was at your creek and started the other creek by digging the hole.

Coming back down the mountain

On your way back, you stop where the creek that had something foul in it.  It isn't just one thing, but multiple dead animals and runoff from factories are flowing into that creek. You found nothing like that in the creek you have been drinking from. When you get back to the others you were with, they are busy with their own interests. Nobody wants to hear about the journey you just had, let alone what you found.  One thing is for certain - you don't want to drink from that other creek.  The one you have been drinking from all this time was the best.

Such as it was with my own journey, following the trail from the King James Bible and the other books claiming to be the Bible, back through time.  I wanted to follow this trail for myself, not just take someones word for it.  For a glimpse of what I discovered, see these notes I made a while back - The King James Bible Stands Alone.  I make no claim to being a Bible scholar.  Just a whosoever, that delights in the Law of the Lord. 

Ezekiel a summary

Overview
The prophets known as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel were alive and preaching during different kings.  The books containing their prophecies detail the words and visions given to them from the Lord concerning not only the children of Israel (both kingdoms) but also the other nations around them. It can be a challenge of understanding when, where and to whom one prophet is speaking compared with the others.


Who and When
The table below is my attempt at showing who the prophets were relative to who the king of Judah was at the time and who the corresponding king of Israel was.  I will leave the dates to historians, but it's the relative timing of when these prophets were being discussed that is what I'm trying to show in the table below, based on what the Bible says in the first chapter of each book. 

Israel	Prophet(s)	Judah
Jehoahaz	Isaiah	Azariah(Uzziah)
Joash(Jehoash)	Isaiah	Jotham
Jeroboam	Isaiah	Ahaz
Zachariah	Isaiah	Hezekiah
Shallum		Manasseh
Menahem	Jeremiah	Amon
Pekaniah	Jeremiah	Josiah
Pekah		Jehoahaz
Hoshea	Jeremiah, Daniel	Jehoiakim
	Jeremiah, Ezekiel	Jehoiachin
	Jeremiah	Zedekiah

Major prophecies
- Visions of cheribums and the glory of God and His throne
- Prophecies of judgement coming upon the children of Israel
- Judgments against the nations around Israel - Egypt, Tyre and others, with Pharaoh and Tyre used as a picture of the devil and how he will ultimately be cast down.
- Gog and Magog, a final battle when the enemies of the children of Israel are destroyed.  This happens at a time when Israel is dwelling safely in the land, in the millennial kingdom, when Jesus Christ is ruling from Jerusalem with a rod of iron.
- Visions of a new temple, large and more elaborate than even Solomon's temple? Note the temple is rebuilt later under Ezra and Nehemiah, but in Haggai there is a passage where the older people wept because they had seen the 1st temple and the new one was not even close, so the one Ezekiel is shown can't be that one either.
- The ending of the book is very similar to the ending of the book of Revelation, with the tree of life and river of life. Ezekiel is even told that the leaves of the trees along the river are for medicine, just like in Revelation 22:2. Finally he is told the name of the new city would be 'The LORD is there', see also Revelation 21:3


Ezekiel overview

About 600 BC to 550 BC
Ch 1 Priest and prophet, son of Buzi. During reign of Jehochin, just before Zedekiah. Was among the captives in Babylon. Given visions of 4 creatures and the likeness of the glory of the Lord on His throne. See also Psalms 137 river Che-bar, Rev 4:6-9 the 4 beasts, Isaiah 6 the throne of the Lord, seraphims which have 6 wings
Ch 2 God tells Ezekiel that he is being sent to the children of Israel who are rebellious and whether they listen or not they will know that a prophet has been among them.
Ch 3 Ezekiel told to eat the roll of words. God tells him not to be dismayed at the hard looks the children of Israel will give him.
We should defend the Word as strongly as the world hates it.
In verse 15, Ezekiel sets down with them where they were. See I Corinthians 9:19, we need to have compassion on those without Christ. A watchman must give warning of danger. Acts 20:31
See also Psalms 19:7,10, 119:89,103, Jeremiah 5:16, I Peter 2:2, Matthew 4:4,13:57,15:24, I Samuel 8:6,7
Ch 4 Already in exile, God gives Ezekiel a prophecy of another wave of captivity and siege against both Israel(390 years) and Judah(40 years). Told to bake bread with dung and eat it in their sight as an example of how the Lord sees how the children of Israel have defiled themselves. Famine to come. Ezekiel told to put a pan between his face and them as a sign that God will not hear them, see Isaiah 59:2
God also tells him to lay on his left side one day for of the number of years of iniquity of each Israel(390) and then Judah(40), representing the time that they have been rebellious.
Ch 5 Judgement against all of Israel in 3 parts. Famine, pestilence and the sword, even cannibalism. Will be made an reproach unto all the nations.
Ch 6 Idols and high places to be laid waste with the slain falling among the idols, but the Lord will leave a remnant that will be scattered among the nations.
Ch 7 An end is come: it waiteth for thee. No pity. Those that escape shall mourn. The shall seek peace and not find it (ref Matt 24?). The law will perish from the priests and counsel from the ancients.
Ch 8 Parallel with the end times. Ezekiel sees the likeness of one being on fire from his loins downward as amber and brightness. This likeness lifts Ezekiel by the hair and takes him to Jerusalem and shown successively greater abominations the people were doing. The image of jealousy - foreshadows the abomination of desolation.
Ch 9 The likeness then cries out to the rulers of Jerusalem to draw near and to bring their slaughter weapons. One of these men had a writers horn and dressed in linen. This man was told to make a mark on the foreheads of those that cried out about the abominations. These were the good guys, the ones that were not in agreement with the evil abominations being done. The ones that did not receive the mark were to be slain. See Revelation 7:3, 94, Daniel 11:31, 12:11
Ch 10 Ezekiel sees above the head of the cherubims, a throne like a sapphire. These were the same living creatures he seen by the river Che-bar.
Ch 11 The Spirit of the Lord takes Ezekiel to the east gate in Jerusalem and tells him to prophesy against Israel and the princes of the people, who had told those of the captivity to forget the Lord and they were the ones who God favored since they were left and still in the city. The Lord will gather those that have been scattered. The jews have prided themselves in 3 different covenants - Abraham, Moses and David. Verse 19 likely refers to the new covenant but also seems to point to the time under Ezra and Nehemiah. See also Jeremiah 29, 30:9, 31:31,32:38, John 3:9, I Cor 6:19, 1:11, 3:3
Ch 12 The Lord tells Ezekiel to remove stuff by day as a sign for the people that they will be carried off into captivity, including the prince (king) among them. Also, the Lord will leave a few so they might tell of their abominations among the heathen. Also tells Ezekiel to eat and drink with trembling as a sign of famine to come and that their proverbs they have made up will be said no more.
Ch 13 Prophesy against the false prophets of Israel who have daubed the walls with untempered mortar, and against the daughters who prophesy out their own hearts (women preachers). The women are trying to cause to be slain those who should not die and save those should not live as well engaging in divination (witchcraft).
Ch 14 Some of the elders of Israel come to Ezekiel. The Lord tells Ezekiel to say unto the people to repent and turn from their idols and the false prophets will be cut off. When the land sins are grievous, the Lord will stretch out His hand and send famine and cut off (kill) man and beast. The Lord tells Ezekiel that that He will send four judgements against Jerusalem - the sword, famine, beasts and pestilence, yet He will leave a remnant.
Ch 15 Parable of the vine tree, referring to the children of Israel. See also Isaiah 5:7, Deuteronomy 7:6. The jews have started to see themselves as better than all the other nations and look down on other nations.
Ch 16 The Lord tells Ezekiel a parable of a whore. He says to say unto the people all the ways they have played the harlot with false gods and idols, even sacrificing their children in the fire, and that He is angry. The Lord will deliver them into the hands of those they have committed whoredoms with, the Assyrians and Egyptians. The Lord tells him to say that even the sins of Sodom and Samaria were not as great as what they have done, nevertheless, the Lord says He will establish an everlasting covenant and in verses 53-55 that only when Sodom and Samaria return to their former estate that they (the children of Israel) will return their former estate. He is likely speaking of a millenial reign. See also Matthew 19:28
Ch 17 The parable of the two great eagles and the vine, against Jerusalem for seeking help from Egypt against Babylon. The last section seems to be referring to a coming messiah
Ch 18 God tells Ezekiel they will no more be able to use the proverb of "sour grapes". The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, nor the father of the son. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked.
Ch 19 A lamentation for the princes of Israel and the proverb of the two lions, representing Israel and Judah who are taken captive at different times.
Ch 20 Elders of Israel come to Ezekiel to enquire of the Lord. The Lord tells him that he will not be enquired of by them He recounts to Ezekiel how they rebelled against Him.
Ch 21 God tell's Ezekiel to sigh before the people of Israel and to smite his thigh because he sees a sword that is sharpened and given into the hand of the slayer. The king of Babylon will come by two different ways. Verse 26,27 refers to the messiah to come, see also Genesis 49:10, Shiloh. God also promises Ezekiel He will finish off the Amonites. When God judges nation, He does it indiscriminately see Matthew 5:45
Ch 22 God tells Ezekiel that Jerusalem (the city), because of her abominations, will be mocked of those countries far and near. God will scatter them among the heathen. They will be melted in the furnace of God's fury as silver, brass and tin. God sought for a man to stand in the gap but found none.
Ch 23 The sisters Aholah and Aholibah, the lewd women, as the names of Samaria and Jerusalem, who have committed whoredoms with the Assyrians, will God deliver into the hands of their lovers - the Babylonians and Assyrians. They shall cut off their noses and ears. Some had even slain their children to idols then came into the Lords house the same day. In verse 47, God says He will cause them to be stoned them with stones, then dispatched with swords, their sons and daughters will be slain, then their houses burned. America, maybe you need to pay attention?
Ch 24 Parable of the pot. Woe to the bloody city. God is going to clean the pot with a hot fire to burn up the scum and filth.
Ch 25 God tells Ezekiel to prophesy against the Amonites because they have been glad at the captivity of Israel and they will be delivered into the men of the east also. The Amonites will not be remembered among the nations.
Ch 26 God tells Ezekiel that many nations will come against Tyre because they have been glad that the children of Israel were conquered. She will be scraped clean like the top of a rock. Up to verse 7, we are told that its Nebuchadnezzar is to come against Tyre. In verse 12, the prophesy switches from "he" to "they". Remember, it is many nations that will come against Tyre. When they do fall, the princes of the sea will lament for Tyre and they shall never be found again. We can read in history books about Nebuchadnezzar's campaign that failed to take the whole of Tyre. Later came the Persians. A few hundred years after Ezekiel's prophecy, around 332 BC, Alexander the Great came against Tyre. Unlike the conquests of others before him, they took the remains of the old part of the city and built a long causeway out to the island and used that to take the walled city there, something Nebuchadnezzar failed to do. Ezekiel didn't name Alexander by name, but his actions are unique in the way the Bible describes, laying the stones, dust and timber in the sea...to make a causeway out to the island to lay siege to it...all of it God showed to Ezekiel hundreds of years before.
Ch 27 Descriptions of the rich trading merchants of various kingdoms that dealt with Tyre. All their riches, men of war and merchandise will fall into the midst of the sea in the day of their ruin and all the merchants will will weep for them.
Ch 28 God tells Ezekiel that because of the pride of Tyre, that He will send strangers to draw the sword upon them. However, it's done in a way that references both the prince of Tyre and the king of Tyre. This is describing both the antichrist (the prince) and the devil (the king). How do we know this isnt strictly discussing the physical king of Tyre? Who else was in the garden of Eden besides Adam and Eve? Now look at verse 13. It was pride that caused Lucifer to fall. Ref: II Thess 2:1-4, Gen 3, Tyre is sarcastically compared to Daniel (who was alive and preaching then) as if he knows more than him. God also tells Ezekiel to prophesy against Zidon via pestilence and the sword, a coastal area north of Tyre for being a thorn in the side of Israel.
Ch 29 God tells Ezekiel to prophesy against Pharaoh and all Egypt. Reference Deuteronomy 8:1-18. Egypt thinks the river is their own and they have brought their own blessings, just as the children of Israel had their hearts lifted up when things were going well. The Egyptian rulers believed it was crucial that their bodies were cared for when they died with mummification etc. God is telling Pharaoh that he will be left dead in an open field. The Bible speaks elsewhere of dragons. See Job 41. It will be made desolate for 40 years and disperse them through the countries and after 40 years they will be brought back but will no more rule over other nations. It will also no more be the confidence of the house of Israel. Nebuchadnezzar was to take Egypt and use the wages for his army and in that day, God will let Ezekiel be heard among the children of Israel that they may know that He is the Lord.
Ch 30 Prophesy against all the nations round about and in league with Egypt, will fall by the sword and thrown down. God will make the rivers dry in Egypt.
Ch 31 God tells Ezekiel to speak unto Pharaoh and remind them about the Assyrian how He gave him into the hand of the heathen (Nebuchadnezzar actually his father? in about 600 BC). He also paints the Assyrian as an image of the devil - how his heart was lifted up and made more more fair than all the trees of Eden. Finally, the Lord tells Ezekiel that what has happened to the Assyrian is what will happen to Pharaoh.
Ch 32 Continuation of previous chapter, prophesy against Pharaoh. Pictures the end times when the sun and moon going dark as Pharaoh and Egypt is destroyed. See Matthew 24, Revelation 6, Joel 2:31 and the hearts of many people will be vexed at their fall. A picture of end times Babylon.
Ch 33 God gives Ezekiel a parable of the watchman. God has set Ezekiel as a watchman to the house of Israel. The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression. How sins can be forgiven. Isaiah 43:25, Psalms 103:12, Romans 8:1
The Lord tells Ezekiel to prophesy against those that remain in Israel who look to Abraham as their justification for them being in the land, yet they do all kinds of abominable things. The sword are coming for them also. The Lord tells Ezekiel that the people come to him (Ezekiel) to hear his words, but do them. When the things the Lord has told them come true, then will they know that a prophet has been among them.
Ch 34 Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. The Lord Himself will search out the lost sheep and the shepherds will be no more. Matthew 10:6, 18:12 God tells Ezekiel that David His servant will be their shepherd.
Ch 35 Prophesy against mount Seir and Idumea because of what they did to the children of Israel in the time of their calamity. Mount Seir was the place where Esau made his home, just to the south of Judah see Genesis 36:9 and this was also the general area of Idumea which is another name for Edom. A lesson for us not to be hateful or gloat when bad things happen to our enemies.
Ch 36 Prophesy unto the mountains of Israel that they have borne the shame of the heathen but the Lord will lift up His hand against the heathen that they shall bear their shame and He will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. He will bring the people back, not for their sakes but for His holy name's sake, which they profaned. The lord will give His people a new heart and a new spirit, ref II Corinthians 6:16, Ezekiel 11:17, speaking of regeneration, and Jeremiah 31:31 and this is one reason Jesus was frustrated with Nicodemus in John 3 that he couldn't understand this. Ezekiel is being told that the children of Israel are going to be brought back into their land, but there is also a time coming that it will be like the garden of Eden. That hasn't happend...yet, but it will.
Ch 37 Prophesy of the dry bones that live again - the whole house of Israel. This refers to the resurrection, spoken of in Daniel 12. Prophesy of the bundle of sticks as one, each with a name of a tribe on it. The Lord shall bring them back into their land and they shall have David as their king.
Ch 38 Gog and Magog. In the latter days they, along with the armies of Persia, Libya and Ethiopia and will come into the land that has been brought back. They will come to take a spoil. Then the fury of the Lord will come. There will be a great shaking and all men and beasts will quake at His presence. See also I Chronicles 5:4
Ch 39 Gog shall fall upon the mountains of Israel. God will send a fire upon them and be eaten of the birds and beasts of the field and that He will not let His holy name be polluted anymore. They will take the weapons of Gog and burn them with fire 7 years. A valley on the east of the sea( dead sea?) is where they are to be buried. The smell will be horrible to those passing by. The valley will be called valley of Hamongog and a city called Hamonah, and it will take 7 months to bury all the dead. The children of Israel will dwell safely in their land and none will make them afraid.
Ch 40 Note 40-48 deal with the same vision and there is a lot of debate among Christians concerning this. In the 25th year of captivity, Ezekiel receives visions. This high mountain mentioned, see II Chronicles 3:1 mount Moriah, where David bought the threshing floor and also Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac. This man that appears to Ezekiel looks like brass, see also Daniel 10:5,6, and Revelation 1:12-17 description sounds very similar. This man has measuring tools. A cubit in the Bible is about the space between a mans elbow and the tip of the hand. The measurement here is about a cubit and a hand breadth.
Ch 41 Ezekiel is given the measurements and features of the temple and the different parts - the gates, the walls, porches and the holy place. Some say this is a symbolic temple, but this passage here and in the next few chapters are way too specific. It must be a literal temple.
Ch 42 More descriptions of the temple, rooms for the priests, upper and lower chambers. So far, just going by the measurements, this temple is pretty big, much bigger than what was built under Ezra and Nehemiah. In Ezekiel 41:8, the wall is 500 reeds square(each reed is 6 great cubits or about 9 feet). The "great" cubit having an additional hand breadth in length. In Ezra 3, toward the end in verse 12, when the foundation of the 2nd temple has been laid, there were some old men there who had seen the first temple and they wept with a loud voice. The temple that Ezekiel is describing a temple bigger than Solomon's. Haggai 2:3, those looking at the 2nd temple who also seen the 1st see it as nothing. Also, both with Solomon's temple and Ezekiel's temple, fire comes from heaven and the glory of the Lord fills the temple. None of this happens with the 2nd temple under Ezra and Nehemiah. This 2nd temple is the one that is around and later Jesus comes to, throws out the money changers and points out the stones.
Ch 43 The glory of God comes to the temple, through the eastern gate. God says this is the place of my throne and shall be defiled no more. It was like the vision when he came to destroy the city.
So is this the tabernacle of God AFTER the millennial reign described in Revelation 21 that comes down as some say? At this point in the book of Revelation, the events of the end times are well along - past the tribulation, rapture, battle of Armageddon, millennial reign and the battle of Gog and Magog. This temple of Ezekiel can't be the same as God's tabernacle, look at Revelation 21:22, John sees that there is NO temple in it, because "for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it."
Ch 44 The Lord tells Ezekiel that the gate shall be shut and no man shall enter into it. It is for the prince to enter it. Some are to be excluded from the temple - strangers, uncircumcised. Now the Levites are to bear their shame, but they are to be keepers of the house. They have basically been demoted. The priests and sons of Zadok are the ones that are to minister unto the Lord. Then clothing and hair standards are mentioned for the priests. Who they're allowed to marry, their work and inheritance of the priests.
So is this the temple of the millennial reign? Hmm, Ezekiel's temple has animal sacrifices and keeping the sabbath. In Hebrews 7:12, 9:9-12 the priesthood and law has changed. This is usually the dispensation view. What changed in the law from OT to NT? - meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances. Everything else remains the same in the NT - its still sin to commit adultery, to murder, to lie etc.
Ch 45 Dividing the land by lots. One portion of the land is to be kept aside and holy will be for the priests and their houses and the sanctuary. Details for the offerings during the feasts new moons etc, for the temple.
Ch 46 The prince and how he will enter the gate and go into the temple.
Ch 47 Water flows from under the right side of the house (the temple) toward the east and flow into the sea. The waters of the sea (the dead sea?) are healed and have trees on either side and the sea will have fish as the great sea but the marshes and mirey places will be given to salt. The trees will be never be without meat (fruit for eating) and the leaves will be for medicine. This is the tree of life. See Revelation 22:2 Also, the dividing the land unto the twelve tribes and the strangers that sojourn among them.
Ch 48 The allotments of the land to the tribes, the prince, the city and the sanctuary. The name of the city is to be 'The Lord is there'




Ezekiel's Temple
In chapters 40-48, there are very detailed descriptions that God shows and explains to Ezekiel about a new temple.  There are some things that are not easy to understand.  This is one of those areas.
In I Corinthians 13:12 we are told that we see through a glass darkly and in Deuteronomy 29:29 the secret things belong unto the Lord.  There are at least 4 different ideas about this temple.
1. its the temple in the millennial reign and the old law, levitical priests and sacrifices return
2. its symbolic (see ch 41)
3. It is the temple rebuilt during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. 
4. It's an eternal temple, in a time after the millennial reign that comes down with down with the new heaven and earth

Consider these these things about God
- God knows the end from the beginning.  Isaiah 46:9,10
- God knows the consequences of your decisions. I Samuel 23:7-13
- We spend our time in a tale that has already been told Psalms 90:9
- God knows our thoughts Psalm 139:1-6
- God gives us the free will to make our own choices, He does not make those choices for you Deuteronomy 30:19
- God has made an ending for every decision II Samuel 12:8

Notes on the covenants
- The Old Covenant was meant to take the children of Israel thru the end times.  Numbers 18:19, Numbers 23:19, 25:11-13
- The old covenant was canceled and replaced by a better covenant Hebrews 8:6
- The old covenant was not replaced because of a problem with the covenant, but because faults of the people. Hebrews 8:7-9

Ezekiel's temple might be...
- These passages might be describing what the end times would have been like IF the children of Israel had not broken the old covenant.

See Ch 43, especially
- It might be, that because the old covenant was cancelled, and replaced with a new covenant, Ezekiel's version of the temple was cancelled also 

The short answer is - I don't know what the temple that Ezekiel is shown represents, but I can say what I think it is not.
- It is definitely NOT Ezra & Nehemiah's temple
- It is definitely NOT a temple in the 1000 year kingdom because there are priests and sacrifices being performed
- It is definitely NOT a temple in the eternal era after the 1000 year period
- It is definitely NOT figurative or symbolic, as it is far too specific and detailed

Reasons why this temple was conditional and will never be, is for no other reason than the priests and sacrifices mentioned. These things have been done away with.
- Jesus is our high priest, Hebrews 4:14-16
- Jesus has changed the law and the priesthood, Hebrews 7:12
- Jesus was and is our sacrifice, done once for all, Hebrews 10:10

I found the following video interesting, if for nothing else, than that there are those in Israel now that have at least as one of their designs for rebuilding the temple using the descriptions given to Ezekiel. This is mentioned at about the 2:00 mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCFJJ57WUKs

If you have read through Daniel and Revelation, we know there will be another temple built someday, but the one who enters in and declares himself God, will instead be the antichrist.

Until Shiloh come - fulfillment of the law foretold in the Old Testament

The Jews accused both Jesus and His disciples of contradicting the mosaic laws on numerous occasions.  There are those today that claim Christians still need to keep the dietary laws, the sabbath, keeping the feast days and others.  Paul dealt with some of this in book of Galatians. There are some today that go so far as to claim that the New Testament doesn't teach that the law should not be observed, or that the King James Bible is mis-translated.  They typically will reference passages in the Old Testament, ignoring the clear teachings of Jesus. 

So what does the Bible say regarding the mosaic law for a Christian?  
Jesus speaking in Matthew 5
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  

Paul was originally a Pharisee and knew the law very well.
Galatians 3
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Hebrews 7
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

There are many more, but I want to get to the point of this post - if you have believed on the name of Jesus and someone tells you that Jesus and/or Paul were contradicting the law, or that the Bible doesn't really teach that we are no longer under the law, then keep reading.  If they reject the doctrine of the New Testament that we are no longer under the law, then lets look in the Old Testament to see where this time was foretold to come.  Surely the Old Testament would speak to this.  Surely this change would be foretold, as did the coming of the messiah was foretold.  

In Genesis 49, Jacob is old, his eyesight failing and is calling for his sons to his side so that he can bless them. 
10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

The name Shiloh here is referencing a person. However, all other mentions of Shiloh in the Bible, it is the name of a place.  It is a location where the tabernacle was setup.  Oh no, here come the skeptics again to tell us of yet another error in the Bible! What they are missing is that Jacob is telling his people of a coming messiah, and He would come from the tribe of Judah. He is also telling us that something was going to change when Shiloh came.  Not destroyed, but changed. Later, the tabernacle was setup at a place called Shiloh in Joshua 18, which was later replaced with the temple starting in I Chronicles 28.  There again, there was a change - from the tabernacle to a permanent temple.  In John 2, when Jesus had just finished running off the money-changers from the temple and the jews asked Him for a sign of why He did these things, he replied
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

Here, Jesus makes a connection with Himself and the temple. However, he was actually referring to His body. The final words of Jesus as he hung on the cross, in John 19

30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

So now we come back to Jacob and his prophecy of one unto whom the gathering of the people would be - Shiloh. He had finally come and brought the change that was foretold by Jacob.  So when someone tells you that the mosaic laws still apply, tell them Shiloh has come and there has been a change!

US History since about 1850

Just a few events covering 150+ years of US history.  I may add a few more things as time permits.


1859 Charles Darwin writes "On the Origins of Species"
1861 South Carolina along with 6 other states secede from the Union, quickly followed by 6 other states
1861 US Civil war begins at Fort Sumter
1861 Julia Ward Howe, a Unitarian, writes the lyrics to Battle hymn of the Republic, still sung in most Baptist churches
1863 Battle of Gettysburg, Union victory
1863 Seventh Day Adventist movement begins
1865 Confederate general Robert E Lee surrenders to Union general Grant at Appamattox courthouse
1881 Westcott & Hort Greek new testament
1881 Charles Taze Russel founds the Watchtower tract society, later to be known as Jehovas Witnesses
1901 Revised Version and ASV (American Standard Version) bible
1913 Federal Reserve act passes over Christmas break in the US Congress
1914 Jehovas Witnesses failed prophecy of the end of the world
1914 World War one begins in Europe
1917 US enters WWI on the side of England
1919 Enfranchisement of women begins with 19th amendment to the US Constitution
1918-1919 Spanish flu kills tens of millions. More Americans die than in all of WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam wars, combined.
1929 Black monday, stock markets crash in the US, ushering in the great depression
1930 Sacred Name movement begins, leading to modern-day Hebrew roots movements
1962 Supreme court case  Engel v. Vitale effectively ends prayer in school
1965 Hart-Cellar act passes, fundamentally changing US immigration laws, opening the flood gates to non-Europeans
1994 Dont ask, dont tell policy on homosexuals in the US military
2002 Glassroth v Moore, Ten Commandments taken out of Alabama state courthouse.
2015 Homosexual marriage accepted in all 50 US states

False Doctrine

Answering False Prophets

Below are a few sections of notes made over the years on various groups and their doctrine or beliefs. My position on any one issue or the other is to see if it lines up with Scripture and if not, to rebuke it and those who promote it.

On what authority do you say these things? What is false doctrine?  It is something that teaches a way contrary to what the Word of God teaches. It's been with us since the beginning when the devil questioned the very things God had told Adam and Eve. The devil caused them to doubt. It worked.

So how does one know truth from error?
Acts 17:11
...and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 

Do we need to buy some mans book to unlock the truth? Can we know truth from error on our own?

I John 2:27
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 


Catholic
There are variations among them, but generally the following represent their teachings:
- Teach "purgatory" as an intermediate place before heaven or hell. What does the Bible say? Hebrews 9:27
- Claim Mary was the "mother of God", wrong! John 1:1
- Mary was not a perpetual virgin, because Jesus had brothers and sisters.
- Refer to a priest as "father".  What does the Bible say? Matthew 23:9
- Baptism is necessary for salvation.
- Generally, that the priests are the authority on what the Scriptures say.  What does the Bible say? I John 2:27
- Priests should not marry.  What does the Bible say? Peter, who they say their church is founded on, had a wife Matthew 8:14- The Eucharist (their name for the Lord's supper) is the very flesh and blood of Jesus

Lutheran
Again, there are variations among them, just as there are variations among Baptists, but Lutherans split from the Catholic church starting with Martin Luther. Their teachings:
- Baptism is necessary for salvation. Wrong! John 14:6, Luke 23:39-43, Acts 8:36-38
- Baptism through sprinkling. Wrong! Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12
- You can loose your salvation.  Wrong! I John 5:13, John 3:16, Matthew 28:20
- Infants must be baptized as well.  This is one area that caused division among churches very early (see Baptist history), see II Samuel 12:23 David when his son with Bathsheba dies says he could not bring him back but that he would go to him. How would this happen if the child had not been baptized? One of the thieves on the cross (see Luke 23) trusted the Lord and was told he would be with Him that day in paradise, yet he was never baptized.
- The Eucharist (their name for the Lord's supper) is the very flesh and blood of Jesus, more or less the same as the Catholics.  Wrong!  They are taking verses about the Lord's supper literally.  This is the same thing that sodomites and liberals do with such passages as Galatians 3:28 that says there is neither male nor female, and interpreting that there is no difference between man and woman. So in scriptures such as Luke 22:17-23, John 6:32-58 and others was Jesus using a metaphor or he was literally changing the bread and wine into his flesh and blood? This is a perfect example of how false doctrine is started - taking verses out of context or taking literally something that is not meant literally. Wrapping a kernel of truth in fifty pounds of lies.
 
Jehovas Witness
Started by a man named Charles Taze Russell.  Russell taught that Jews should not convert to Christianity. They generally teach the following:
- There is no hell.  Wrong! Matthew 5:29, Revelation 20:2, Psalms 9:17, Hebrews 9:27
- After you die, your soul goes to sleep. Wrong Hebrews 9:27
- Jesus was a created being. Wrong! I John 5:7, John 10:30-37 
- Several times since the 1900's they have prophesied the end of the world. The Bible speaks about false prophets in Deuteronomy 18:21-22
- They have their own "unique" bible translation called the "new world translation" and the text lines up with the NIV
Mormons
Starting with Joseph Smith in 1820, who claims to have been visited by none other than God the Father and Jesus together in the woods, then in 1823 by an angel "Moroni" who gave him golden plates with the history of an ancient American civilization. These plates, once translated were to become the book of mormon. Strangely enough, many Mormons also use the King James Bible.
- They claim the Book of Mormon be just as important as the Bible. False, Isaiah 8:20, John 1:1
- They promote the idea of the deity of man but not Jesus. Wrong! Jesus allowed Thomas to address him as “My Lord and My God”,  John 1:1, John 20:28
- They think God is an exalted, glorified man. Wrong! John 1:1, Isaiah 44:6
- They baptize the dead. Wrong! Hebrews 9:27

Bhuddist
Something like 500 million followers, starting somewhere between 600 and 400 BC.  Many Americans think its "cute" to put a little Bhudda statue in their flower bed.
- They teach reincarnation. Wrong! Hebrews 9:27
- Many will speak favorably of Jesus as a "good man", similar to the way Muslims will also refer to Jesus as a prophet. Wrong! He is not just another man that happened to say good things. John 14:6
- Many will also claim they follow "the commandments", referring to the 10 commandments of Exodus 20.  Nope, following the ten commandments wont keep you from going to hell, Galatians 3

Islam
There are variations with the two primary being Sunni and Shia. The split arose over arguments of who was to succeed Mohamed.
- Their book called the "Quran" is divided into 114 chapters called Suras and Jesus is mentioned in several places included Sura 2,3, 4 and 5. Yet they reject His Word
- They teach that God does not beget nor is He begotten. Jesus said in John 3:16 that God had sent His only begotten Son.
- They teach that the Bible is "one of their holy books", but Jesus said a man cannot serve two masters, Matthew 6:24
- Muslims claim the Bible has been corrupted and that is understandable, given the state that Christianity is in and the numerous counterfeit bibles in circulation, yet God promised to preserve His word, Psalms 12:6,7, Deuteronomy 4:2 and is not the author of confusion I Corinthians 14:33

On the Quran
(1) Claims to be a continuation of the things Moses taught and that Jesus was given the truth, Sura 2:87 Wrong! Jesus is not the continuation of the truth He IS the Truth, John 14:6
(2) Claims to be a “continuation” of previous scriptures, Surah 2:97
Sura 2:25, The “good news” is to them that believe AND do righteous deeds.  The good news of the gospel of Christ is that we are saved by grace, not by our works (Ephesians 2:8,9)
(3) They bowed down to Adam, Sura 2:34, why?  Supposedly Brigham Young who founded the Mormons, also taught that Adam was God.  Strange similarities.
(4) Many of today’s Muslims will claim that the Bible has been corrupted, yet their Quran tells Christians to uphold their Gospel and what is revealed to you from the Lord, Sura 5:68
(5) The Quran claims that you will find Mohamed their prophet in the Bible if it wasn't corrupted and it is he who directs them to righteousness, see Sura 7:157 and this is one area that Many Muslims will use to “prove” that the Bible is corrupted.  However, the Bible was written long before the Quran and Mohamed is nowhere to be found. God promised to preserve His Word (Psalms 12:6,7).
(6) The Quran claims that there will be a day when no ransom will be accepted and no intercession made for any soul (Sura 2:122-123).  So on judgement day there will be nobody to stand up for you. Yet the Bible tells us that Jesus WILL be that intercession for us (Isaiah 53:12) and was a ransom for many Hosea 13:14, Matthew 20:28, I Timothy 2:26

Judaism (and Zionism)
I've heard professing Christians say that the Jews believe in God the Father, just not Jesus. What does the Bible say? John 3:17-18, 14:6, I John 2:23, 5:12, Galatians 3 & 4, Romans 9
 
Hebrew Roots & the "Yeshua" crowd
There are variations among these groups, but most will advocate the following:
- Must use the name Yeshua instead of Jesus. What does the Bible say? You can point them to Acts 4:12, Luke 1:31 & Philippians 2:10 but then some will start to question the King James Bible as being not translated correctly, strangely similar to Mormons and Muslims.
- Some will claim that the King James Bible as well as others are mis-translated and Jesus is just another name for the Greek god Zeus. In the 1611 version of the KJV used the name Iesus which is the Greek name for Jesus.  Sorry fellas, the NT manuscripts which originated in Antioch where Christians were first so named, were written in Greek, not Hebrew. We refer to these manuscripts as the "received text" or majority text.
- Keeping the sabbath, feasts and holy days.  What does the Bible say?   Colossians 2:16, Titus 3:9,10, Acts 15: 23-24, 28-29

Calvinism
T-U-L-I-P Calvinists and the 5 “points”
T = Total Depravity.  They say man has no free will and man is totally depraved. Deuteronomy 30:19-20, we must CHOOSE life.  I Timothy 2:4 God wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. The word “freewill” is in the Bible 17 times!
U = Unconditional election. Calvinists teach that before the foundation of the world, God chose people to be saved and there is nothing they can do about it.  Also look up the phrase “whosoever will”, 11 times it’s found in the Bible.
L = Limited atonement. Calvin teaches that Jesus only died for a limited amount of people. Lies, Jesus died for all, if we accept Him. Romans 5:8,9I = Irresistible grace
P = Perseverance of the Saints (endure to the end).  Wrong!  Once you are saved, you are sealed, I John 5:13, Matthew 28:20, John 3:16

Pentecostal
Originating with the early 20th century "Holiness" movement. Speaking in tongues, handling snakes, hooping and hollering.  Generally point to Acts 2 and the day of Pentecost for their foundational principals, when the Holy Ghost came upon the apostles. In verse 6 however, the multitude heard them in their OWN tongue, not some gibberish "heavenly language" as some of this group refer to. Many of them appear to have a "zeal" about them, but Paul said this concerning the Jews - For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge, Romans 10:2

Seventh Day Adventists 
- Originated somewhere during the early 1800's "Millerite" movement
- Emphasizes the observance of the sabbath on Sataurday. Nope, Matthew 12:8
- Some teach that a soul sleeps after death, Wrong! Hebrews 9:27
- Millerites came to believe that Jesus would return on October 22, 1844, Oooops!


Unitarian
- Rejects the Trinity. Wrong! I John 5:7
- Rejects the deity of Christ.  Wrong! John 10:30, 20:28
- Rejects the infallibility of the Bible.  Wrong!  Psalms 12:6,7, John 1:1, Malachi 3:6
- Julia Ward Howe, the composer of the famous song "Battle hymn of the Republic", along with her husband were Unitarians