5-4-22,  Jesus said: '...Shall confess me.' —Literally, make his confession in and for Me; and so in the corresponding verse. The promise points forward to the great day when the Lord Jesus shall be enthroned in His kingdom, before His Father and before the angels of God (Luke 12:8). He shall acknowledge His faithful servants; those who deny Him will also be denied and the words are remarkable: (1) in their calm assertion of this final sovereignty and (2) in extending the scope of the discourse beyond the apostles themselves to all who should receive their witness in the future. Matthew 10:32-33; Luke 12:8-9; Mark 8:38; 1 John 2:22
biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/10.htm

ANGELS: GOD'S SECRET AGENTS
5-4-22, The late Rev Billy Graham's 175 page book written in 1975 about 'Angels' is really fantastic. I took a couple photos of pages from my copy here:

God's word has much to say about angels; here's a few verses:

• 1 Chronicles 21:15 And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was destroying .
• 2 Samuel 24:16 But when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented
• Luke 2:13 Birth of the Savior: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God…
• Acts 12:8 Angel told Peter: "Get dressed and put on your sandals..."
• Revelation 7:2 The Apostle John said: Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given ...9:14 saying to the sixth angel with the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at ... It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet…

More here: https://biblescan.com/search.php?q=ANGEL

You can buy a copy of the book from Amazon for $10 in Kindle version or $200 collector item here: 
https://www.amazon.com/Angels-Billy-Graham-ebook/dp/B007FZXEI8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2C5MZDAT5AAF6&keywords=angels+gods+secret+agents+by+billy+graham&qid=1651702222&s=digital-text&sprefix=angels+god+s+secret+agents+by+billy+graham%2Cdigital-text%2C106&sr=1-1

Jacob's dream, Genesis 28:12: "​And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it."

Jesus said: 'You will see angels descending and ascending..." John 1:51

5-2-22, At Bethany when the Lord Jesus spoke to the Father, many people heard Him and the reply and were afraid.  Jesus’ general petition was such as all our requests must be reduced to, “if they be according to Thy will and glorify Your name!” The Father’s voice from heaven: “I have glorified it; and will glorify it again!” By Jesus the Father's glory will be published and proclaimed throughout the world, by His preaching, miracles, His death, resurrection from the dead and by the Gospel being carried to the ends of the earth.” John 12:27-36 – Matthew Poole’s Commentary, https://biblehub.com/commentaries/poole/john/12.ht

5-1-22, Today, the first day of the month, Christian churches worldwide commemorate &  honor the Lord Jesus by holding a ‘Communion’ service aka ‘The Lord’s Supper.’  Just before the Lord's crucifixion the Lord planned a 'last supper' with His apostles [Luke 22:9-11]. During the event He admonished them to remember Him as often as they repeated it. He took the bread saying: ‘This is My body’; that is, spiritually, it ‘represents’ His body & the wine represents His blood. He gave thanks & the command: “Drink ye all of it.” The Lord’s sacrifice is for the pardon of sin of all true repentant believers and He also sais: ‘I will not drink of this fruit of the vine again until I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.’ Matthew 26:26-30; 1 Corinthians 11:25; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:16-20 – Matthew Henry Commentary https://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhc/matthew/26.htm
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Many people partake of the Communion Table online
​ Pastor JD Farag has a service the first Sunday of each month... you can see it here: 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvDXfiNI4rQ&t=11s

4-29-22, We are told in seven examples, in Matthew 6 & 13, what the Kingdom of Heaven is ‘like.’ The last illustration is that “the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net.” The net in this case is not the hand-net of Matthew 4:18, but a great drag-net which drew in a larger haul of fish. The teaching ends in an easy lesson - as in the parable of the “Tares” [weeds Matthew 13:24]. The main thoughts are, (1) the mingling of the evil with the good in the visible kingdom of Christ on earth and (2) the ultimate separation of the two that each may receive according to Divine law. Therefore, those who are “bad” are so by the result of their own will by no acceptance of Christ nor repentance of their sin and obedience to Him. Luke 13:3; Matthew 6:20, 13:31-50, Elliott’s Commentary, https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/13.htm

Also, Matthew 25:1-12 Virgins and oil lamps
and Traveling man money (talents) to servants for investing Matthew 25:13-30

Also like virgins oil lamps Matt 25:1-12 …. And man traveling giving money to servants Matt 25:13-30 God expects His servants to …. Also like virgins oil lamps Matt 25:1-12 …. And man traveling giving money to servants Matt 25:13-30 God expects His servants to ….

4-27-22, Barnes Commentary expounds on Mark 13:34-35, 37 where the Lord Jesus proclaims:
'I say unto all, Watch and pray.' Mark 14:38; Matthew 24:42
This command was proper, not only for those who were expecting the calamities that were soon to come upon the Jews, but for all who are soon to die and to go to the judgment. We know not the time of our death or how soon we shall be called to the judgment. King Jesus may come at any moment; therefore we should be ready. If we have repented of our sins, believed on Him, are leading a holy life in obedience to Him, we have been renewed and pardoned [John 3:3, 7]; we are ready. If not, we are unprepared and soon - probably while we are not expecting it - the cold hand of death will be laid on us, and we shall be hurried to the place where is weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth [Matthew 25:30; Luke 13:28]. Oh how important it is to be ready to escape the awful sufferings of an eternal hell! -- biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/mark/13.htm

4-26-22, We see in Matthew 7:16; Luke 6:43-45 the Lord Jesus describing what we may understand judging a person's faith by his/her 'fruit.' What are the fruits? Is it the practical outcome of doctrine in life, character and deeds? Or considering that good works may be but the sheep’s clothing hiding the heretic wolf. The familiar phrases speaking of good works as the fruits of faith are, it is believed, the fruits repentance and obedience [Luke 13:3; Matthew 3:8]. In the long-run we are to judge by a person's morals, deeds and obedience to the Lord Jesus who said: 'If you love Me - obey Me." John 14:15; Matthew 12:33; 24:24; 1 John 3:6

Jesus said: 
"Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say? 
"Whosoever cometh to Me and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great." Luke 6:46-49

4-24-22, The most common scripture describing the Lord Jesus coming is in 1 Thessalonians 4:17; but it’s also reported in Revelation 1:1-7. He cometh with clouds, in a glorious manner with power. [Matthew 24:30-31; Revelation 19:11] Holy angels and ten thousand of His saints with Him. [Jude 1:14] Every eye shall see Him; He shall come visibly as He went back to Heaven [Acts 1:11; Isaiah 40:5]. And they also who pierced Him shall look on Him [Zechariah 12:10]. And all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him; not with a mourning of repentance, the time for that will be past, but with a wailing of despair and horror. Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:1-7 – Matthew Poole’s Commentary, https://biblehub.com/commentaries/poole/revelation/1.htm

Amazon's 'HELIX BUILDING:' DESIGN WITH MESOPOTAMIAN ROOTS
2-10-21, Amazon has just unveiled the plans for its second corporate headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, directly across the Potomac River from Washington DC;  less than four miles from the Capitol Building. Scholars of ancient history and the Holy Bible readily recognize the ancient model for the design: the Tower of Babel [Genesis 11:1-9].  Construction is expected to begin in 2022; completed in 2025 at a cost of $2.5 billion. See 1.5 min video here

More here: ​https://katachriston.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/was-the-tower-of-babel-a-ziggurat/

4-23-22, Matthew Henry reports on Matthew 6:6: It is taken for granted that all who are disciples of Christ pray. You may as soon find a living man that does not breathe, as a living Christian that does not pray. If prayerless, then graceless. Christ spoke of the Scribes and Pharisees who were guilty of two great faults in prayer: vain-glory and vain repetitions. Verily they have their reward; if in so great a matter as is between us and God, when we are at prayer, we can look to so poor a thing as the praise of men. It is called a reward. So far is God from being wrought upon by the length or words of our prayers, that the most powerful intercessions are those which are made with groanings that cannot be uttered. [Romans 8:26] We should not seek the praise of men; but the acceptance and possible reward of almighty God. Matthew 6:2, 5-6, 16 https://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhc/matthew/6.htm

4-22-22, Gill's Exposition Commentary reports on Luke 13:3: Jesus said: "I tell you, nay." They were not greater sinners than others of their neighbors, nor is it to be concluded from the bloody slaughter that was made of them; others might be much more deserving of such an end than they, who yet escaped it: but except ye repent; of sin, and particularly of the disbelief of the Messiah: "ye shall likewise perish;" or perish, in like manner, as these Galileans did: and so it came to pass in the destruction of Jerusalem, that great numbers of the unbelieving Jews, even three hundred thousand men were destroyed at the feast of passover and that for sedition, as these men very likely were. [Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:`5, 6:12; Revelation 2:5 -- ​https://biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/luke/13.htm

4-21-22, Elliott's Commentary explains that "To him that overcometh ..." He will share Christ’s throne as Christ shared His Father’s throne. Here are two thrones mentioned - My throne, saith Christ: this is the condition of glorified saints who sit with Christ in His throne. “But My Father’s (i.e., God’s) throne is the power of divine majesty.” Herein none may sit but God and the God-man Jesus Christ. The promise of sharing the throne is the climax of an ascending series of glorious promises, which carry the thought from the Garden of Eden (Revelation 2:7) through the wilderness (Revelation 2:17), the temple (Revelation 3:12), to the throne. The promise bears marked resemblance to the language of the apostle Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 2:6). This crowning promise is made to the most unpleasing of the churches. However, it is well that thus the despondency which often succeeds the sudden collapse of self-satisfied imaginations should be met by so bright a prospect. Though their "religion" has been proven an empty thing, there's a hope which may well drive away despair. “The highest place is within the reach of the lowest; the faintest spark of grace may be fanned into the mightiest flame of divine love.” [John 3:16] -- biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/revelation/3.htm

4-20-22, The Lord Jesus said: “I am the Way.”—The pronoun is emphatic. “I, and none besides Me.” He and He only is the means through which men can approach the Father.  [John 1:18, 1 Timothy 2:5] He is The truth and The life. He is Himself the Eternal Truth. He is Himself the Source of eternal life. [John 1:14, 17, 6:50-51, 11:25-26] He said: “No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” The thought of heaven is not of a place far above, or of a time far before, but of a state now and hereafter. To receive the Truth and the Life revealed in the presence of the Son is to come to the Father by the only Way.  John 1:18, 3:13 – Elliott’s Commentary, https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/john/14.htm

4-19-22, Matthew Poole’s Commentary on John 5:22-29: Jesus said that not all would be made partakers of eternal life and glory; there shall be a resurrection unto life with God, which only they shall obtain who have done good, repentant sinners now walking in obedience to the commandments of God; not because they have done good, as if their goodness had merited any such thing, for eternal life is the gift of God. [Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 6:23]. But others, who have, wrought iniquity and died without repentance and faith in Me, shall arise, that the justice of God may, by Me the Judge of the quick and the dead, be exceeded upon them unto eternal condemnation. This in Daniel 12:2 our Savior calls it everlasting punishment. John 3:36, 5:22-29; Matthew 5:46
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/poole/john/5.htm

Planets Venus, Mars and Jupiter align over the Isle of Portland Dorset England in the U.K. 
4-11-22, LIVE SCIENCE -- Five planets, visible to the naked eye, are poised to line up and march across the sky this summer in an unusual alignment that will be graced by the light of the moon. Alignments of the five planets visible without the aid of telescopes or binoculars occur irregularly only every few years. The last time it happened was in 2020 and, before that, in 2016 and 2005, Michelle Nichols, director of public observing at Chicago's Adler Planetarium, said: "We don't always get this opportunity; sometimes, it's one or two in the sky; a lot of times, it's none." 

​Why did God create planets?
If stars are meant to give us “light” what about other stellar phenomena such as nebulae and black holes? There seems to be a perfectly natural explanation for almighty God's creation of the heavenlies. [..] He created the conditions which ultimately produced Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and so forth. Good evidence shows that the large planets such as Jupiter and Saturn provide gravitational protection for the smaller and more vulnerable inner planets against impacts of large objects such as asteroids. According to scientific discovery if it were not for Jupiter and Saturn, there probably would be no advanced life forms on the earth. According to the laws of physics, the existence of black holes are an inevitable consequence of the formation of certain types of very massive stars. It is now believed that the formation of galaxies depends on the presence of super massive black holes at the center of these swirling galaxies. If it were not for black holes, concentrations of stars with heavier elements (necessary to form life) would not have been created. More here
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Genesis 1:1, 2:4; Isaiah 42:5, 45:18; Deuteronomy 4:32; 2 Kings 19:15; Colossians 1:16; Revelation 10:6

Jesus Christ fulfilled over 300 Old Testament prophecies ... twelve follow: 

1.     He would make a triumphal entry in Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9, Psalm 118).
2.     He would be smitten like a shepherd (Zechariah 13:7).
3.     He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:1-13 and Psalm 41:9).
4.     He would be given vinegar and gall (Psalm 69:21).
5.     They would cast lots for His garments (Psalm 22:18).
6.     His bones would not be broken (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20).

4-16-22, The annual celebration of the Lord Jesus death and resurrection is tomorrow - we call it EASTER.  The testimonials from His apostles describing His crucifixion, burial and glorious resurrection prove it happened.

In the 1700s Matthew Henry said this:  “If Christ gave His life a ransom, and had not taken it again, it would not have appeared that His giving it was accepted as satisfaction. The love of Christ will make us to abound in every duty more than anything else." John 20:1-10

In 1 Corinthians 15:13-18 the Apostle Paul said:

“If there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” https://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhc/john/20.htm