Galatians: Predestination (Part 3)

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.
I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Galatians 1:11-14

The bible is not some made up fairy tale, it's not a ghost story told around a campfire. The bible is the God reveling himself through men.
Paul literally went blind from the majesty of God, from the holiness of God when he was going to Damascus. Paul knows that God is real because he experienced God's presence. Paul was a religious leader, until God turned his whole world upside down. Paul knows that he is not making up what he is writing.

But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased
to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being.
Galatians 1:15-16

Before we are even born, God had already selected me to be a Christian, to do his work. God has everything worked out for good. God is in control!
I know that some of my reads might doubted that God does indeed predestine humans. Know that if you're already christian, we you became one, it was entirely your choice. God did not force you into become one of his children, but it's more like this:
If you were to adopted a child, you would pick one child to take home from the orphanage. All the orphans need a home, but you can only take one. You love them all, you want them all to have a family, but you cannot take ever orphan home.
Likewise, God loves everyone. He wants everyone to be a part of his family, but not everyone can come to heaven.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will
Ephesians 1:5

In Ephesians, Paul also brings up the idea of predestination.
I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days.
I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.
I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.
Then I went to Syria and Cilicia.
I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.
They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
And they praised God because of me.
Galatians 1:17-24

The bible is not a joke, it's the God inspired book written of thousands of years by dozens of different authors.

I want you to know...the gospel I preached is not of human origin.I did not receive it

from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

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Photo Credit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Conversion_on_the_Way_to_Damascus-Caravaggio_(c.1600-1).jpg

Daily Reminders #23

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,
because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.
For we live by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:1-6

Photo Credit:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/115800519640825230217/albums/5895914968485270625/5895914969718262338?pid=5895914969718262338&oid=115800519640825230217

The Armor of God

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
Ephesians 6:10-11

I have read through Ephesians many times and I have covered it with highlighter, but Paul's last statements have to be my favorite. This conclusion is like most, it gives you the takeaway. Paul tells us if we remember nothing else, we should remember to be strong in the Lord.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:12-17

The conclusion of Ephesians is packed with information. It's easy to lose sight of Paul's purpose of in writing this.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

Our war is not against people, this world, or anything we can see...it's against Satan and his demons. With that in mind, let's look at how to fight the devil

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,

What was the purpose of the belt?
The belt is very important, it holds your scabbard and any of your weapons. If you forget your belt, you would also leave behind your weapon.

with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

What was the purpose of the breastplate?
The breastplate protects vital organs such as the heart and lungs. Without a breastplate, any attack could become fatal, but with a firm breastplate, those same attacks can be ineffective.

and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

What was the purpose of the shoes?
A soldier needs shoes. Battle can create debris. Even pebbles and twigs can be painful to the barefoot.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

What was the purpose of the shield?
Shields in the Roman army were three and a half feet tall and nearly three feet wide. This would offer a lot of protection from enemies.

Take the helmet of salvation

What was the purpose of the helmet?
The helmet protects the head from attacks

and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

What was the purpose of the sword?
The sword is the only thing Paul lists that can be used offensively. Without a sword, we are just well-armored moving targets.

The bible is the only offensive weapon given to us. That is why it is vital to use the bible when you trying to convert a nonchristian. You must fight for people with your sword, armor in place.

-Ruth

Sources
http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-teachings/armor-of-god-belt-of-truth.htm
http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-teachings/armor-of-god-breasplate-of-righteousness.htm
http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-teachings/armor-of-god-shoes-of-preparation-gospel-of-peace.htm
http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-teachings/armor-of-god-shield-of-faith.htm
http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-teachings/armor-of-god-helmet-of-salvation.htm
http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-teachings/armor-of-god-sword-of-spirit-word.htm

Photo Credit:
http://bloggingwithjames.jamesduncan-writer.net/2011/09/27/warriors-in-armor/

Visible v.s. Invisible

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18

God never said life would be easy, but, in a way, trails are good because they test us. They make us work and suffer, which helps us look forward to the "eternal glory." God wants us to have a rich inheritance in heaven.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:10-11

God wants us to receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord. He wants us to bear through the sufferings of life and then have the joy of rewarding us forever. Keep in mind that suffering does not always equal a heavenly reward. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen" We have to focus on Jesus when things get bad, not worldly things.
If you set your mind on yourself, your circumstances, or human wisdom you will only frustrate yourself. This kind of approach to life does not bring eternal blessings. We must focus on the unseen things because "what is unseen is eternal."

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,
2 Thessalonians 2:16

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

Unseen things are what God gives us through grace.
We have to depend on God. The Christian life is lived by faith in God. Our afflictions are turned into eternal glory by looking to the grace of God during our difficulties and having faith that he will help us.

For we live by faith, not by sight. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:7-8

Sources:

http://www.blueletterbible.org/devotionals/dbdbg/view.cfm

Photo Credit:
http://brotherdismas.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html

Is Grace Cheap or Costly?

One thing that Christians disagree on is whether grace is cheap or costly. First, what does this mean.
What is cheap grace?

• Commonly viewed as the grace of the gospel
• No strings attached
• No repentance is necessary 

What is costly grace?

• The grace of the gospel
• The bible say that we bought at a price. (1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Cor. 7:22-23)
• We have to repent to become a Christian.

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:25-27

This is what Jesus says we must do to become a Christian. This is the cost of becoming Jesus' disciple. Hat is strong wording for "you must love your family a lot less than you love God." Here is how Mathew wrote down Jesus' statement:

"Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Mathew 10:37-39

The two very condition for become a disciple are this:
1. Hate
2. Die
Hate is a strong way to say you must love yourself much less than you love Jesus and Take up your cross is a strong way to say that you must die to yourself.

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, 'This person began to build and wasn't able to finish.' "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won't he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Luke 14:28-33

The cross ought to be a living reminder of Jesus' suffering.
True disciple count the costs and consider Jesus worthy of their complete surrender
Count the cost before you call yourself Christs disciple.
1. Put Jesus above all other relationships
2. Bear your cross daily
3. Renounce your possessions  and repent of selfishness
To lose your life to Christ is to gain

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:7-11

Grace is not cheap. It's costly. Jesus paid for grace to be obtainable and if we understand what Grace really is, we will serve God. Not because we have to, but because we want to. Understand Grace means understanding that you can't repay God and because you can't repay God, you willing become his servant.

Men in the Bible: Jabez

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Jabez's story is right in the middle of 4 chapters worth of genealogies. Jabez's story doesn't seem to fit where it was placed. Here are a few things we can get out of these two verses.

1. He came into the world without a welcome.
Hopefully non of reader have a name that means pain or sadness or death. Most parents give their child a name with a pleasant meaning. For whatever reason, Jabez's mother received him with fear or sadness.
There are many reason this might be the case. It could have been the death of his father, financial difficulties, the child might have been shameful for whatever reason...we can only guess.
But while his mother was predicting a dark future, God was planning something better. And despite the his name Jabez became the most honorable of all his brothers.
2. Faith wins
Mothers are designed to nurture their children and to encourage them, but Jabez experienced quite the opposite. His mother gave him an awful name, one that would stick with him his whole life.
Jabez probably didn't have a lot of friend and he didn't have the support of his family. His family was expecting failure at everything he did.
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers because he has faith. He had faith that God would get him through.
Here is what Jabez prayed:

"Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain."

Jabez prayed to be free from pain. Jabez was probably talking about the pain of bearing his name I can say this because if he had an awful disease, he would not be ruler of a territory because in his times, anyone with a bad disease was sent away from the town and lived with others who had that disease. So this pain he speaks of is probably not from a disease, but more likely from how others look at him.
He wanted to be free from the doubt, from the those who were waiting for him to fail. He wanted success. And when Jabez prayed faithful, God answer. Jabez was better than his brothers because he had faith, even when the odds were against him.

Next: Ananias

Sources:
Men of the Bible: Some Lesser-Known Characters

David Chose Five Stones

"Is that why David took five stones from the brook? One was enough for Goliath."

-David C. Brown (Commenting to Goliath had a Brother?)

This is one things that the bible doesn't give any answer to, but by looking at a few verses, I can make a few guesses as to why he might have chosen to collect five stones instead of one using the info that I have been given.

Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
1 Samuel 17:40

While it is a popular belief that the remaining four stones were used for Goliath's brothers, there are a few problems with this idea.

1. Goliaths brother were killed  later on in David's lifetime, and it makes no since to keep those stones, waiting for killing the older brothers.
2. There are a total of 6 brothers mentioned in the two passages. (Ishbibenob, Sippai, Lahmi, Saph, the 12 fingered man, and Goliath) That would be a total of 6 stones if they were to represent Goliaths brothers.
3. David didn't kill ANY of Goliath's brothers. (David was only battle  were Ishbibenob died (2 Samuel 21:15-17). That means he didn't even see four of the giants die.)

Here are a few reasons that are more likely.

• Just in case...

I am sure David was scared before be killed Goliath. Yes, he was full of faith, but he could have a few extra rocks with him in case he missed. Even if he didn't have any doubt, he would still know that sometimes you have to hard fight to win. David might have been anticipating a miss or two. Or he might have several in case the first rock hit Goliath, but didn't take him down.

• Afterwards
  

Even if David knew he would kill Goliath on the first strike, there's still what happens after. He didn't know how the Philistines would respond to the death of their hero, and he might have had a few rocks on him just in case they tried to attack him.

• Five different stones types

Another thing I've heard before is that David selected five different types of rocks (Hard ones, softer ones, shinier ones, ones made of different substances etc.) and then trusted God to have him grab the type of rock God wanted into his sling.

I can't answer your question with a simple yes or no because the scripture doesn't say. As long as you idea is within what the bible tells us, anything goes for this particular instance. 

Photo Credit:
http://baptistsermon.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/11/

Baptism

These are the main verses used by people to say baptism IS needed for salvation

and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

1 Peter 3:21

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Romans 6:4

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38

This verse is often used to say that baptism is part of salvation, but we know from other scriptures that it is not, lest there be a contradiction.  What is going on here is simply that repentance and forgiveness of sins are connected.  In the Greek, "repent" is in the plural and so is "your" of "your sins."  They are meant to be understood as being related to each other.  It is like saying, "All of you repent, each of you get baptized, and all of you will receive forgiveness."

Taken from: http://carm.org/is-baptism-necessary-salvation

I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Matthew 3:11

I'll start with the big verse that says baptism isn't needed for salvation. This one pretty much says it all. These are clips from John three. So a Pharisee comes to Jesus and Jesus explain how to become a Christian.

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

John 3:3-6

If you just look at verses 5, you could say Jesus said baptism is needed for salvation,  but quite the opposite is true The following verse says "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." 

And then Jesus said:

that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.

John 3:15; 18; 36

3 verses uttered by Jesus say "Faith only"

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Baptism is a work.

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about--but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."

Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

Roman 4:1-11

Circumcision was the old testaments version of baptism. Faith is simple, and yet so incredibly complicated. All you have to do is believe. You don't need to be baptized or circumcised. Those are symbols. You just have to believe.

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Romans 6:3-8

Baptism is a symbol of being one with Christ.

for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Galatians 3:27

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

1 Corinthians 12:13

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Luke 23:39-43

This man was not baptized, and he is in heaven.

And then there's Acts 10.The holy spirit came upon Cornelius (Romans 8:9, 1 John 3:24) and his household and THEN they where baptized.

Baptism is clearly a symbol of faith, and not a part of it. If you believe baptism is necessary for faith, then you must ignore numerous passages that state otherwise.

Sources:

http://carm.org/is-baptism-necessary-salvation

http://www.gotquestions.org/baptism-1Peter-3-21.html

Photo Credit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jesus-army-baptism.jpg

2 Peter: Faith (Part 2)

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1:3

Everything means everything. God gives is EVERYTHING we need.
Life is hardly easy. We all face the challenges of life, but no matter what, God gives us everything we need for all of our life. We have everything we need to face life, and to honor God. And you'll begin to understand that when God is all you have, God is all you need.

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
2 Peter 1:4

Either a promise is true, or it isn't. 
God alone is my rock and my salvation (Psalm 62:1-2); or he isn’t. The Lord will fight for me (Exodus 14:14); or he won’t. The arm of the Lord is not too short to save (Isaiah 59:1); or it is. God takes hold of my right hand and says, “Do not fear; I will help you (Isaiah 41:13); or he doesn’t. God will never leave me nor forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:7-8); or he will.
Do you believe God's promises?

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
1 Peter 1:5-7

This is teaching us how to build up character one step at a time. All of your life should be dedicated to getting closer to Christ, but whether your removing a bad habit from your life or add a good habit to your life, it should be taken one step at a time. And this is exactly what Peter tells us to do, to take things bit by bit.
-Ruth

Sources:

http://ronmoore.org/living-hope-2-peter-13-devotional/

http://www.preceptaustin.org/2_peter_13-4.htm

http://ronmoore.org/living-hope-2-peter-14-devotional/

http://www.jesuswalk.com/2peter/2_adding.htm

Photo Credit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter

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Mythological? The Unicorn

For all of these verses, I'll put the KJV (Because that's the only version that has the word unicorn in it) and NIV (Because I think it's easier to understand).

God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
Numbers 23:22 KJV

God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox.
Number 23:22 NIV


The King James Version is the only version of the bible in English that mentions a unicorn, other translation use "wild ox". The unicorn can be used to say that the bible is a fairy tale because we think that unicorns don't exist, but did they? Are they extinct animals that once walked on earth?

The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
Psalm 29:5-6 KJV

The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.
Psalm 29:5-6 NIV

This psalm has real objects in it, that no one would doubt existed because they still exist. The cedar tree. A calf. And then a unicorn. Why is there doubt that a one horned beast exists, but we don't doubt a baby cow, and a tree...faith is believing in what we do not see (Hebrew 11:1). There are animals that no longer exist, like the dodo bird. And the unicorn is among those animals because the bible is the word of God, and God does not lie.

The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, [and] with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.
Isaiah 34:6-7 KJV

The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood, it is covered with fat--the blood of lambs and goats, fat from the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah and a great slaughter in Edom. And the wild oxen will fall with them, the bull calves and the great bulls. Their land will be drenched with blood, and the dust will be soaked with fat.
Isaiah 34:6-7 NIV

Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?  Wilt thou trust him, because his strength [is] great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather [it into] thy barn?
Job 39:9-12 KJV

Will the wild ox consent to serve you? Will he stay by your manger at night? Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness? Will he till the valleys behind you? Will you rely on him for his great strength? Will you leave your heavy work to him? Can you trust him to bring in your grain and gather it to your threshing floor?
Job 39:9-12 NIV

In Job 38-41, God is describing his awesome creations to Job. The constellations, lighting, lions, donkeys, unicorns, ostriches, horses, hawks, eagles, behemoths, and leviathans. I'll save behemoths and leviathan for another post. But all those other things are not questioned. We can see them, we can even touch a horse and a donkey. But that's not faith! Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see!

His glory [is like] the firstling of his bullock, and his horns [are like] the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they [are] the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they [are] the thousands of Manasseh.
Deuteronomy 33:17 KJV

In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh.
Deuteronomy 33:17  NIV

Why is the bible changing? Why don't we believe in unicorns? Why can't we trust the bible and God? 
Answers in Genesis also has something on their website about unicorns, if you want even more evidence for a unicorns existence, go here: http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/aid/v2/n1/unicorns-in-bible

Now faith is the assurance of

things hoped for, the conviction

of things not seen. Hewbrew 11:1 ESV

Want to read about more animals that aren't mythological?

Dragons

Behemoth

Leviathan

Mythological? The Leviathan and Dragons

Can you pull in the leviathan with a fishhook or tie down his tongue with a rope? Can you put a cord through his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he keep begging you for mercy? Will he speak to you with gentle words? Will he make an agreement with you for you to take him as your slave for life? Can you make a pet of him like a bird or put him on a leash for your girls? Will traders barter for him? Will they divide him up among the merchants? Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? If you lay a hand on him, you will remember the struggle and never do it again! Any hope of subduing him is false; the mere sight of him is overpowering. No one is fierce enough to rouse him. Who then is able to stand against me? Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me. I will not fail to speak of his limbs, his strength and his graceful form. Who can strip off his outer coat? Who would approach him with a bridle? Who dares open the doors of his mouth, ringed about with his fearsome teeth? His back has rows of shields tightly sealed together; each is so close to the next that no air can pass between. They are joined fast to one another; they cling together and cannot be parted. His snorting throws out flashes of light; his eyes are like the rays of dawn. Firebrands stream from his mouth; sparks of fire shoot out.  Smoke pours from his nostrils as from a boiling pot over a fire of reeds. His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from his mouth. Strength resides in his neck; dismay goes before him. The folds of his flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable. His chest is hard as rock, hard as a lower millstone. When he rises up, the mighty are terrified; they retreat before his thrashing. The sword that reaches him has no effect, nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin. Iron he treats like straw and bronze like rotten wood. Arrows do not make him flee; slingstones are like chaff to him. A club seems to him but a piece of straw; he laughs at the rattling of the lance. His undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge. He makes the depths churn like a boiling caldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment. Behind him he leaves a glistening wake; one would think the deep had white hair. Nothing on earth is his equal--a creature without fear. He looks down on all that are haughty; he is king over all that are proud."
Job 41

This is a very good description of the leviathan.

• It lives in the water (Can you pull in the leviathan with a fishhook) (Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?)
• The mere sight of him is overpowering.
• No one is fierce enough to rouse him.
• He has sharp teeth (Who dares open the doors of his mouth, ringed about with his fearsome teeth?)
• He has scales (His back has rows of shields tightly sealed together)
• His eyes are like the rays of dawn.
• He breaths fire (firebrands stream from his mouth; sparks of fire shoot out.) (flames dart from his mouth.)
• Smoke pours from his nostrils.
• Strength resides in his neck.
• The folds of his flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable.
• His chest is hard as rock
• Iron he treats like straw and bronze like rotten wood.
• Weapons do not effect him.
• His undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.
• Behind him he leaves a glistening wake
• Nothing on earth is his equal

Leviathan seems to be a sea dragon to him, but, despite popular legends, he does not have a tender underbelly. His undersides are jagged potsherds and His chest is hard as rock But leviathan is just a type of dragon, so there could be dragons with soft underbellies that inspired that thinking, or it a soft spot could simply be a legend.

My friend Kaycee told me about the 40 foot Sarcosuchus imperator.

This a a 21 foot crocodile. Imagine something twice its size...that's how big the Sarcosuchus imperator is.

Here's a crocodile skull and a Sarcosuchus imperator skull.

That's huge! "Nothing on earth is his equal--a creature without fear."

And I found out about the 82 ft. Liopleurodon.

Here's a Liopleurodon and a sperm whale and a sperm whale.

And here's a sperm whale.

Going by the bible, I think Leviathan is a Sarcosuchus imperator (Super croc). "His undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge" And if it leaves trail in the mud, it might be able go on land, or in a swamp. And I know that the picture of a Liopleurodon and what an artist thinks it looks like, but the Liopleurodon looks like it is built more for water and the super croc look like it could go in the mud and leave trail in it.

For God [is] my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, [and] gavest him [to be] meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness. Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
Psalms 74:12-15 KJV

In psalms, though, leviathan is mentioned as well as dragons, so there might be a difference between the two. If Leviathan was a a sea dragon, then why would God break the heads of both sea dragons and leviathan, but then again, nothing on earth is it's equal, so breaking the head of a leviathan is much more impressive than a sea dragon.

How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number--living things both large and small. There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
Psalm 104:24-26 NIV


In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that [is] in the sea.
Isaiah 27:1 KJV


In that day, the LORD will punish with his sword, his fierce, great and powerful sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea.
Isaiah 27:1 NIV

From Isaiah 27:1, the King James Version makes it sound like the leviathan might be evil and not coiling. And look at the last part, God could be slaying mutiple sea creatures, but by the wording, I think that Isaiah is still speaking of leviathan. If that is true, than the leviathan is a sea dragon.

And now to move more into Dragons. So why doesn't the bible mention dinosaurs? (Just in chase you didn't read my previous post)

That's why. the word wasn't inverted until the 1800s.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Psalm 91:13 KJV

The burden against the beasts of the South. Through a land of trouble and anguish, From which [came] the lioness and lion, The viper and fiery flying serpent, They will carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys, And their treasures on the humps of camels, To a people [who] shall not profit;
Isaiah 30:6 NKJV

And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
Revelation 13:1-2 NIV

You've probably heard this before, but dragons are dinosaurs. And the Leviathan is a Leviathan. Maybe Leviathan is a type of dragon, a sea serpent, or maybe not. Maybe Leviathan was a super croc, or a Liopleurodon. I have no way of prove what a Leviathan is, but I can tell you that dragons and the Leviathan exist because I have faith in the bible. And if you want even more evidence, go here: http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/nab/what-happened-to-the-dinosaurs

Now faith is the substance
of things hoped for, the evidence

of things not seen. Hebrew 11:1 KJV

Want to read about more animals that aren't mythological?

Unicorns

Behemoth

Demons and the Devil

You believe that God is one; you do well. 

Even the demons believe--and shudder!

James 2:19

John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not followig us." 

But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us.

Mark 9:38-40

And demons also came out of many, crying, "You are the Son of God!"

Luke 4:41a

• Demons shudder when they think of Jesus, as should any who is not for Jesus Christ.
• As it says in James 2:19, Demons shudder at the name of Jesus. They fear it. In Mark 9:40
  it says who ever is not for God is against him, so if you are not a Christian, then you are against God.
• Jesus is the opposing force and demons know that they don't stand a chance against him.
• Demons acknowledge God.
• With Faith you can do anything (Mathew 17:20 Mark 9:38)

Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
1 Corinthians 10:18-21



Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever.
1 Peter 5:9-11

• All False god's are demons.
• You cannot believe in God and demons.
• Satan is like a lion, and is ready to devour his prey. Be alert and stay close to God. " Resist him, standing firm in the faith".
• Every Christian is going through trials of there own.
• God " will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." Trails bring you closer to God.

Trees: The Fig

The fig tree is pretty cool, but yet can be used to represent sin. Even the very first sin ever.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened...they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Genesis 3:7

When Adam and Eve sinned, they wanted to cloth themselves, so they made there own clothing. They did things their own way. When Jesus walked on earth, he cursed a fig tree for not bearing fruit. God cursed Adam and Eve for sinned and later they let God do things his way, by killing a lamb to cover them.

That fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley, will be like a fig ripe before harvest--as soon as someone sees it and takes it in his hand, he swallows it.
Isaiah 28:4

Figs are hard to see until they are ripe.

There is one ripe fig in this picture and many unripened figs. I circled some figs (I didn't circle them all) just so you can see how hard it is to find unripened figs.

He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
Proverbs 27:18

Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered. Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.
Mathew 21:19; 32

At the end, Jesus starts talking about his second coming and signs of the end ages. And when Jesus cursed the fig tree, figs weren't even in season. I think Jesus did this to start a conversation about when he would return.

and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.
Revelation 6:13

(These are not a fig trees, but a palm trees. Look at comments to figure out why they are here.)

The Acacia
The Cedar
The Palm
The Fig
The Olive