**
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Chapter 11
1 On the second night I had a dream: I saw rising from the sea an eagle that had twelve feathered wings and three heads.
2 I saw it spread its wings over the whole earth, and all the winds of heaven blew upon it, and the clouds were gathered around it.
3 I saw that out of its wings there grew opposing wings; but they became little, puny wings.
4 But its heads were at rest; the middle head was larger than the other heads, but it too was at rest with them.
5 Then I saw that the eagle flew with its wings, and it reigned over the earth and over those who inhabit it.
6 And I saw how all things under heaven were subjected to it, and no one spoke against it—not a single creature that was on the earth.
7 Then I saw the eagle rise upon its talons, and it uttered a cry to its wings, saying,
8 ‘Do not all watch at the same time; let each sleep in its own place, and watch in its turn;
9 but let the heads be reserved for the last.’
10 I looked again and saw that the voice did not come from its heads, but from the middle of its body.
11 I counted its rival wings, and there were eight of them.
12 As I watched, one wing on the right side rose up, and it reigned over all the earth.
13 And after a time its reign came to an end, and it disappeared, so that even its place was no longer visible. Then the next wing rose up and reigned, and it continued to reign a long time.
14 While it was reigning its end came also, so that it disappeared like the first.
15 And a voice sounded, saying to it,
16 ‘Listen to me, you who have ruled the earth all this time; I announce this to you before you disappear.
17 After you no one shall rule as long as you have ruled, not even half as long.’
18 Then the third wing raised itself up, and held the rule as the earlier ones had done, and it also disappeared.
19 And so it went with all the wings; they wielded power one after another and then were never seen again.
20 I kept looking, and in due time the wings that followed also rose up on the right side, in order to rule. There were some of them that ruled, yet disappeared suddenly;
21 and others of them rose up, but did not hold the rule.
22 And after this I looked and saw that the twelve wings and the two little wings had disappeared,
23 and nothing remained on the eagle’s body except the three heads that were at rest and six little wings.
24 As I kept looking I saw that two little wings separated from the six and remained under the head that was on the right side; but four remained in their place.
25 Then I saw that these little wings planned to set themselves up and hold the rule.
26 As I kept looking, one was set up, but suddenly disappeared;
27 a second also, and this disappeared more quickly than the first.
28 While I continued to look the two that remained were planning between themselves to reign together;
29 and while they were planning, one of the heads that were at rest (the one that was in the middle) suddenly awoke; it was greater than the other two heads.
30 And I saw how it allied the two heads with itself,
31 and how the head turned with those that were with it AND DEVOURED THE TWO LITTLE WINGS THAT WERE PLANNING TO REIGN TOGETHER.
32 Moreover, this head GAINED CONTROL OF THE WHOLE EARTH, AND WITH MUCH OPPRESSION DOMINATED ITS INHABITANTS; IT HAD GREATER POWER OVER THE WORLD THAN ALL THE WINGS THAT GONE BEFORE.
33 After this I looked again and saw the head in the middle suddenly disappear, just as the wings had done.
34 But the two heads remained, which also in like manner ruled over the earth and its inhabitants.
35 And while I looked, I saw the head on the right side devour the one on the left.
36 Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Look in front of you and consider what you see.’
37 When I looked, I saw what seemed to be a lion roused from the forest, roaring; and I heard how it uttered a human voice to the eagle, and spoke, saying,
38 ‘Listen and I will speak to you. The Most High says to you,
39 “Are you not the one that remains of the four beasts that I had made to reign in my world, so that the end of my times might come through them?
40 You, the fourth that has come, have conquered all the beasts that have gone before; and you have held sway over the world with great terror, and over all the earth with grievous oppression; and for so long you have lived on the earth with deceit.
41 You have judged the earth, but not with truth,
42 for you have oppressed the meek and injured the peaceable; you have hated those who tell the truth, and have loved liars; you have destroyed the homes of those who brought forth fruit, and have laid low the walls of those who did you no harm.
43 Your insolence has come up before the Most High, and your pride to the Mighty One.
44 The Most High has looked at his times; now they have ended, and his ages have reached completion.
45 Therefore you, eagle, will surely disappear, you and your terrifying wings, your most evil little wings, your malicious heads, your most evil talons, and your whole worthless body,
46 so that the whole earth, freed from your violence, may be refreshed and relieved, and may hope for the judgement and mercy of him who made it.”’
Chapter 12
1 While the lion was saying these words to the eagle, I looked
2 and saw that THE REMAINING HEAD HAD DISAPPEARED. The two wings that had gone over to it rose up and set themselves up to reign, and their reign was brief and full of tumult.
3 When I looked again, they were already vanishing. The whole body of the eagle was burned, and the earth was exceedingly terrified. Then I woke up in great perplexity of mind and great fear, and I said to my spirit,
4 ‘You have brought this upon me, because you search out the ways of the Most High.
5 I am still weary in mind and very weak in my spirit, and not even a little strength is left in me, because of the great fear with which I have been terrified tonight.
6 Therefore I will now entreat the Most High that he may strengthen me to the end.’
7 Then I said, ‘O Sovereign Lord, if I have found favour in your sight, and if I have been accounted righteous before you beyond many others, and if my prayer has indeed come up before your face,
8 strengthen me and show me, your servant, the interpretation and meaning of this terrifying vision so that you may fully comfort my soul.
9 For you have judged me worthy to be shown the end of the times and the last events of the times.’
10 He said to me, ‘This is the interpretation of this vision that you have seen:
11 The eagle that you saw coming up from the sea is the fourth kingdom that appeared in a vision to your brother Daniel.
12 But it was not explained to him as I now explain to you or have explained it.
13 The days are coming when a kingdom shall rise on earth, and it shall be more terrifying than all the kingdoms that have been before it.
14 And twelve kings shall reign in it, one after another.
15 But the second that is to reign shall hold sway for a longer time than any other one of the twelve.
16 This is the interpretation of the twelve wings that you saw.
17 ‘As for your hearing a voice that spoke, coming not from the eagle’s heads but from the midst of its body, this is the interpretation:
18 In the midst of the time of that kingdom great struggles shall arise, and it shall be in danger of falling; nevertheless, it shall not fall then, but shall regain its former power.
19 As for your seeing eight little wings clinging to its wings, this is the interpretation:
20 Eight kings shall arise in it, whose times shall be short and their years swift;
21 two of them shall perish when the middle of its time draws near; and four shall be kept for the time when its end approaches, but two shall be kept until the end.
22 ‘As for your seeing three heads at rest, this is the interpretation:
23 In its last days the Most High will raise up three kings, and they shall renew many things in it, and shall rule the earth
24 and its inhabitants more oppressively than all who were before them. Therefore they are called the heads of the eagle,
25 BECAUSE IT IS THEY WHO SHALL SUM UP HIS WICKEDNESS AND PERFORM HIS LAST ACTIONS.
26 As for your seeing that the large head disappeared, one of the kings shall die in his bed, but in agonies.
27 But as for the two who remained, THE SWORD SHALL DEVOUR THEM.
28 For the sword of one shall devour him who was with him; but he also shall fall by the sword in the last days.
29 ‘As for your seeing two little wings passing over to the head which was on the right side,
30 this is the interpretation: It is these whom the Most High has kept for the eagle’s end; this was the reign which was brief and full of tumult, as you have seen.
31 ‘And as for the lion whom you saw rousing up out of the forest and roaring and speaking to the eagle and reproving him for his unrighteousness, and as for all his words that you have heard,
32 this is the Messiah whom the Most High has kept until the end of days, who will arise from the offspring of David, and will come and speak with them. He will denounce them for their ungodliness and for their wickedness, and will display before them their contemptuous dealings.
33 For first he will bring them alive before his judgement seat, and when he has reproved them, then he will destroy them.
34 But in mercy he will set free the remnant of my people, those who have been saved throughout my borders, and he will make them joyful until the end comes, the day of judgement, of which I spoke to you at the beginning.
35 This is the dream that you saw, and this is its interpretation.
36 And you alone were worthy to learn this secret of the Most High.
37 Therefore WRITE ALL THESE THINGS that you have seen in a book, put it in a HIDDEN PLACE;
38 and you shall teach them to the wise among your people, whose hearts you know are able to comprehend and keep these secrets.
39 But as for you, wait here for seven days more, so that you may be shown whatever it pleases the Most High to show you.’ Then he left me.
40 When all the people heard that the seven days were past and I had not returned to the city, they all gathered together, from the least to the greatest, and came to me and spoke to me, saying,
41 “How have we offended you, and what harm have we done you, that you have forsaken us and sit in this place?
42 For of all the prophets you alone are left to us, like a cluster of grapes from the vintage and like a lamp in a dark place and like a haven for a ship saved from a storm.
43 Are not the disasters that have befallen us enough?
44 Therefore if you forsake us, how much better it would have been for us if we also had been consumed in the burning of Zion.
45 For we are no better than those who died there.” And they wept with a loud voice. Then I answered them and said,
46 “Take courage, O Israel, and do not be sorrowful, O house of Jacob,
47 for the Most High has you in remembrance, and the Mighty One has not forgotten you in your struggle.
48 As for me, I have neither forsaken you nor withdrawn from you, but I have come to this place to pray on account of the desolation of Zion and to seek mercy on account of the humiliation of our sanctuary.
49 Now go to your homes, every one of you, and after these days I will come to you.”
50 So the people went into the city, as I told them to do.
51 But I sat in the field seven days, as the angel had commanded me, and I ate only of the flowers of the field, and plants were my food plants during those days.
***
Apocrypha -- 2 Esdras Chapters 11-14 & 2; Isaiah 19th Chapter; Haggai 1-2
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Cold-Blooded-Excitement! (Psalm 69:9)
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Re: Apocrypha -- 2 Esdras Chapters 11-14; Isaiah 19th Chapter
**
Chapter 13
1 After seven days, I had a dream during the night.
2 I looked and saw a wind rising from the sea and stirring up all its waves.
3 As I watched, this wind made something like the figure of a man come up out of the heart of the sea. That man was flying among the clouds of heaven. Wherever he turned his face to look, everything that fell under his gaze trembled.
4 Wherever an utterance came from his mouth, all who heard his voice melted as wax melts when it feels the fire.
5 I kept watching these things, and an innumerable multitude of people came together from the four winds of heaven to fight against the man who had come up from the sea.
6 I watched as he carved a great mountain for himself and flew onto it.
7 I tried to see the region or place from which the mountain was carved, but I couldn’t.
8 After this I looked and I saw that all who had gathered to do battle against him were sorely afraid, yet they dared to fight.
9 When he saw the rush of the multitude coming, he didn’t raise his hand or hold a spear or any weapon of war. Rather, I saw
10 something like a wave of fire shoot forth from his mouth, and a breath of flame from his lips, and a storm of sparks from his tongue. All these things—the wave of fire, the breath of flame, and the mighty storm—mixed together
11 and fell upon the crowd that was rushing forward, prepared to fight. It burned them all up so that suddenly nothing was seen of the innumerable mob except the dust of ashes and the smell of smoke. I saw this and was amazed.
12 After these things I saw the same man coming down from the mountain and calling to himself another crowd—a peaceful one.
13 Many people came to him. Some were rejoicing and some were sad, some were even tied up, while some were bringing other people as an offering.
I woke up in great fear and pleaded with the Most High. I said,
14 “From the beginning you showed your servant these wonders, and you considered me worthy that you should receive my prayer.
15 Now show me also the interpretation of this dream.
16 As I turn it over in my mind, I think: How terrible it will be for those who will be left in those days, and how much worse for those who aren’t left!
17 Those who aren’t left will be full of sorrow,
18 since they now know what lies in store for the last days, but they won’t live to see them. But how terrible it will be also for those who are left,
19 for that very reason! They will see great dangers, and there will be many kinds of distress, as these dreams show.
20 Yet it is better to encounter these things, even incurring danger, than to pass from the world like a cloud and not see what happens at the end.”
21 He answered me, “I will tell you the interpretation of the dream as well, and I will explain to you the things you spoke about.
22 As to what you said about those who are left, this is the interpretation:
23 He who brings the danger at that time will himself guard those who fall into danger, who have works and faith in the most mighty one.
24 Know, therefore, that those who are left enjoy greater privilege than those who have died.
25 The interpretations of the vision are as follows: “In that you saw a man going up from the heart of the sea,
26 that is the one whom the Most High has been keeping for many ages. He will liberate God’s creation all by himself, and he will put in order those who are left.
27 “In that you saw something like wind and fire and storm go out of his mouth,
28 and that he didn’t hold a spear or weapon of war, yet destroyed the rush of that multitude that had come to fight him, here is the interpretation:
29 Look, the days are coming when the Most High will begin to rescue those who are on the earth.
30 Those who live on earth will go out of their minds.
31 They will plan to wage war against each other, city against city, place against place, nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
32 When these things happen, and the signs that I showed you before take place, then my Son will be revealed, whom you saw as a man rising up.
33 When all the nations hear his voice, then each one will leave its own region and will leave off the wars they were waging against each other.
34 An innumerable mob will be gathered together, as you saw, wanting to come and fight against him.
35 But he will take his stand on the summit of Mount Zion.
36 Zion will come and will appear to all, built and ready, as you saw a mountain carved without hands.
37 My Son himself will indict the assembled nations for their impious deeds—these things were indicated by the storm. He will scold them for their evil plans and reveal the torments with which they are about to be tortured. These things correspond to the flame.
38 He will destroy them without effort by the Law, which was indicated by the fire.
39 “As to the fact that you saw him collecting to himself another peaceful multitude,
40 these are the ten tribes that were taken captive from their land in the days of King Hoshea, whom King Shalmaneser of the Assyrians took across the river as a captive. They were taken into another land,
41 but they made this plan for themselves: They would leave the multitude of the nations and go into a more remote region, where the human race had never lived.
42 There they would be able to observe their customs, which they hadn’t kept in their own region.
43 They went in through the narrow passages of the Euphrates River.
44 Then the Most High gave them signs and stopped the flow of the river until they had passed.
45 They made a long journey through that region for a year and a half, and that region is called Arzareth.
46 They lived there until the last time, and now they begin again to return.
47 The Most High will once again stop the flow of the river so that they can cross. These people make up the multitude gathered in peace,
48 along with those who are left of your people, who are found within my holy boundaries.
49 Then when he begins to destroy the multitude of the nations that are gathered, he will protect the people who have survived.
50 Then he will show them many more signs.”
51 I said, “Supreme Lord, show me why I saw a man rising up from the heart of the sea.” He said to me,
52 “Just as no one can seek out or know what is in the depth of the sea, so no one on earth can see my Son or those who are with him, except in that time when his day has come.
53 This is the interpretation of the dream that you saw, which has enlightened you alone of all people.
54 You have abandoned your own affairs and occupied yourself with mine, and you have sought out my Law.
55 You have given your life to wisdom, and have called understanding your mother.
56 Because of this, I have shown you these things, for you have a reward with the Most High. After three days I will tell you more and explain to you weighty and wonderful things.”
57 I went out from there into a large field, glorifying and praising the Most High for the wonders he performed over time,
58 and because he governs the times and all that comes about in its time. I stayed there for three days.
***
Chapter 13
1 After seven days, I had a dream during the night.
2 I looked and saw a wind rising from the sea and stirring up all its waves.
3 As I watched, this wind made something like the figure of a man come up out of the heart of the sea. That man was flying among the clouds of heaven. Wherever he turned his face to look, everything that fell under his gaze trembled.
4 Wherever an utterance came from his mouth, all who heard his voice melted as wax melts when it feels the fire.
5 I kept watching these things, and an innumerable multitude of people came together from the four winds of heaven to fight against the man who had come up from the sea.
6 I watched as he carved a great mountain for himself and flew onto it.
7 I tried to see the region or place from which the mountain was carved, but I couldn’t.
8 After this I looked and I saw that all who had gathered to do battle against him were sorely afraid, yet they dared to fight.
9 When he saw the rush of the multitude coming, he didn’t raise his hand or hold a spear or any weapon of war. Rather, I saw
10 something like a wave of fire shoot forth from his mouth, and a breath of flame from his lips, and a storm of sparks from his tongue. All these things—the wave of fire, the breath of flame, and the mighty storm—mixed together
11 and fell upon the crowd that was rushing forward, prepared to fight. It burned them all up so that suddenly nothing was seen of the innumerable mob except the dust of ashes and the smell of smoke. I saw this and was amazed.
12 After these things I saw the same man coming down from the mountain and calling to himself another crowd—a peaceful one.
13 Many people came to him. Some were rejoicing and some were sad, some were even tied up, while some were bringing other people as an offering.
I woke up in great fear and pleaded with the Most High. I said,
14 “From the beginning you showed your servant these wonders, and you considered me worthy that you should receive my prayer.
15 Now show me also the interpretation of this dream.
16 As I turn it over in my mind, I think: How terrible it will be for those who will be left in those days, and how much worse for those who aren’t left!
17 Those who aren’t left will be full of sorrow,
18 since they now know what lies in store for the last days, but they won’t live to see them. But how terrible it will be also for those who are left,
19 for that very reason! They will see great dangers, and there will be many kinds of distress, as these dreams show.
20 Yet it is better to encounter these things, even incurring danger, than to pass from the world like a cloud and not see what happens at the end.”
21 He answered me, “I will tell you the interpretation of the dream as well, and I will explain to you the things you spoke about.
22 As to what you said about those who are left, this is the interpretation:
23 He who brings the danger at that time will himself guard those who fall into danger, who have works and faith in the most mighty one.
24 Know, therefore, that those who are left enjoy greater privilege than those who have died.
25 The interpretations of the vision are as follows: “In that you saw a man going up from the heart of the sea,
26 that is the one whom the Most High has been keeping for many ages. He will liberate God’s creation all by himself, and he will put in order those who are left.
27 “In that you saw something like wind and fire and storm go out of his mouth,
28 and that he didn’t hold a spear or weapon of war, yet destroyed the rush of that multitude that had come to fight him, here is the interpretation:
29 Look, the days are coming when the Most High will begin to rescue those who are on the earth.
30 Those who live on earth will go out of their minds.
31 They will plan to wage war against each other, city against city, place against place, nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
32 When these things happen, and the signs that I showed you before take place, then my Son will be revealed, whom you saw as a man rising up.
33 When all the nations hear his voice, then each one will leave its own region and will leave off the wars they were waging against each other.
34 An innumerable mob will be gathered together, as you saw, wanting to come and fight against him.
35 But he will take his stand on the summit of Mount Zion.
36 Zion will come and will appear to all, built and ready, as you saw a mountain carved without hands.
37 My Son himself will indict the assembled nations for their impious deeds—these things were indicated by the storm. He will scold them for their evil plans and reveal the torments with which they are about to be tortured. These things correspond to the flame.
38 He will destroy them without effort by the Law, which was indicated by the fire.
39 “As to the fact that you saw him collecting to himself another peaceful multitude,
40 these are the ten tribes that were taken captive from their land in the days of King Hoshea, whom King Shalmaneser of the Assyrians took across the river as a captive. They were taken into another land,
41 but they made this plan for themselves: They would leave the multitude of the nations and go into a more remote region, where the human race had never lived.
42 There they would be able to observe their customs, which they hadn’t kept in their own region.
43 They went in through the narrow passages of the Euphrates River.
44 Then the Most High gave them signs and stopped the flow of the river until they had passed.
45 They made a long journey through that region for a year and a half, and that region is called Arzareth.
46 They lived there until the last time, and now they begin again to return.
47 The Most High will once again stop the flow of the river so that they can cross. These people make up the multitude gathered in peace,
48 along with those who are left of your people, who are found within my holy boundaries.
49 Then when he begins to destroy the multitude of the nations that are gathered, he will protect the people who have survived.
50 Then he will show them many more signs.”
51 I said, “Supreme Lord, show me why I saw a man rising up from the heart of the sea.” He said to me,
52 “Just as no one can seek out or know what is in the depth of the sea, so no one on earth can see my Son or those who are with him, except in that time when his day has come.
53 This is the interpretation of the dream that you saw, which has enlightened you alone of all people.
54 You have abandoned your own affairs and occupied yourself with mine, and you have sought out my Law.
55 You have given your life to wisdom, and have called understanding your mother.
56 Because of this, I have shown you these things, for you have a reward with the Most High. After three days I will tell you more and explain to you weighty and wonderful things.”
57 I went out from there into a large field, glorifying and praising the Most High for the wonders he performed over time,
58 and because he governs the times and all that comes about in its time. I stayed there for three days.
***
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Re: Apocrypha -- 2 Esdras Chapters 11-14; Isaiah 19th Chapter
**
Chapter 14
1 On the third day I was sitting under an oak tree
2 when a voice came out of a bush opposite me and said, “Ezra, Ezra!” I said: “I’m here, Lord!” and I got up on my feet. He said to me:
3 “I revealed myself in a bush and spoke to Moses when my people were enslaved in Egypt.
4 I sent him and brought my people out of Egypt, and I led him to Mount Sinai, and I kept him with me for many days.
5 I told him many wondrous things and showed him the secrets of the times and the end of the times. I commanded him, saying,
6 ‘You will make these words public, but you will keep these other words secret.’
7 Now I say to you,
8 the signs that I showed you, the dreams that you saw, and the interpretations you heard—place them in your heart!
9 You will be taken from among human beings, and you will associate from now on with my Son and with those who are like you until the times are finished.
10 The age is no longer young, and the times are beginning to grow old.
11 The age is divided into twelve parts. Nine parts and half of the tenth part have already passed.
12 Two parts in addition to half of the tenth part remain.
13 Now then put your house in order; give solemn instruction to your people. Console the humble among them, and instruct those who are wise.Renounce now this corruptible life,
14 put away short-lived thoughts, cast off from yourself human burdens, strip off your weak nature, push aside the thoughts that most trouble you, and hasten to depart from these times.
15 As for the evils that you have now seen happen, people will yet do worse than these.
16 The weaker the world becomes because of old age, the more will evils multiply upon those who dwell in it.
17 Truth will depart and falsehood will come near. Even now the eagle, which you saw in your vision, hastens to come.”
18 I answered: “I will speak in your presence, Lord!
19 Look, I will go as you commanded me and warn the people who are now living. But who will warn those who will be born in the future?
20 The world is in darkness. Those who live in it have no light,
21 because your Law has been burned, and so no one knows what things you have done or what works are about to come to pass.
22 If then I have found favor before you, send a holy spirit into me, and I will write everything that has happened in the world from the beginning, the things that were written in your Law, so that human beings can find the path, and those who want to live in the last days may live.”
23 He replied to me: “Go, gather the people and say to them that THEY SHOULDN'T SEEK YOU FOR FORTY DAYS.
24 Gather up many writing tablets, and take with you Sarea, Dabria, Selemia, Ethanus, and Asiel, these five, who are trained to write fast.
25 Come here, and I will light in your heart the lamp of understanding. It won’t be extinguished until you have written everything down.
26 When you are finished, you will make some things public, others you will transmit secretly to the wise. You will begin to write tomorrow at this time.”
27 I did as he commanded me. I gathered all the people and said,
28 “Hear these words, Israel.
29 At first our fathers lived as strangers in Egypt, and they were liberated from there.
30 They received the Law of life, but they didn’t keep it, and you also transgressed after them.
31 You were given land by allotment in the region of Zion. You and your fathers did evil and didn’t keep the ways that the Most High had commanded you.
32 Since he is a just judge, in time he took away from you what he granted.
33 Now you are here, and your relatives live even farther away.
34 If then you will rule your mind and instruct your heart, you will be kept alive, and after death you will attain mercy.
35 Judgment comes after death, when we are restored to life, and then the names of the just will appear and the deeds of the wicked will be exposed.
36 But let no one approach me now or come looking for me for forty days.”
37 I took the five men, as he had commanded me, and we went out into the field and remained there.
38 So it happened to me on the next day that a voice called me: “Ezra, open your mouth and drink what I give you to drink.”
39 So I opened my mouth, and a full cup was set before me. It was full of something like water, but its color was like fire.
40 I took it and drank, and when I had drunk it my heart poured forth understanding, and wisdom increased in my heart, for my spirit retained memory.
41 My mouth was opened and wasn’t shut anymore.
42 The Most High, moreover, gave understanding to the five men, and they wrote in turns what was dictated, in characters that they didn’t know, and they sat for forty days. They wrote by day,
43 but by night they ate bread; however, I spoke by day and wasn’t silent by night.
44 Ninety-four scrolls were written in the forty days.
45 Then when the forty days were completed, the Most High said to me, “Make public the ones you wrote first so that the worthy and unworthy may read them.
46 But keep the last seventy so that you may transmit them to the wise among your people.
47 In these are the fountains of understanding, the source of wisdom, and the river of knowledge.”
48 And so I did.
***
Chapter 14
1 On the third day I was sitting under an oak tree
2 when a voice came out of a bush opposite me and said, “Ezra, Ezra!” I said: “I’m here, Lord!” and I got up on my feet. He said to me:
3 “I revealed myself in a bush and spoke to Moses when my people were enslaved in Egypt.
4 I sent him and brought my people out of Egypt, and I led him to Mount Sinai, and I kept him with me for many days.
5 I told him many wondrous things and showed him the secrets of the times and the end of the times. I commanded him, saying,
6 ‘You will make these words public, but you will keep these other words secret.’
7 Now I say to you,
8 the signs that I showed you, the dreams that you saw, and the interpretations you heard—place them in your heart!
9 You will be taken from among human beings, and you will associate from now on with my Son and with those who are like you until the times are finished.
10 The age is no longer young, and the times are beginning to grow old.
11 The age is divided into twelve parts. Nine parts and half of the tenth part have already passed.
12 Two parts in addition to half of the tenth part remain.
13 Now then put your house in order; give solemn instruction to your people. Console the humble among them, and instruct those who are wise.Renounce now this corruptible life,
14 put away short-lived thoughts, cast off from yourself human burdens, strip off your weak nature, push aside the thoughts that most trouble you, and hasten to depart from these times.
15 As for the evils that you have now seen happen, people will yet do worse than these.
16 The weaker the world becomes because of old age, the more will evils multiply upon those who dwell in it.
17 Truth will depart and falsehood will come near. Even now the eagle, which you saw in your vision, hastens to come.”
18 I answered: “I will speak in your presence, Lord!
19 Look, I will go as you commanded me and warn the people who are now living. But who will warn those who will be born in the future?
20 The world is in darkness. Those who live in it have no light,
21 because your Law has been burned, and so no one knows what things you have done or what works are about to come to pass.
22 If then I have found favor before you, send a holy spirit into me, and I will write everything that has happened in the world from the beginning, the things that were written in your Law, so that human beings can find the path, and those who want to live in the last days may live.”
23 He replied to me: “Go, gather the people and say to them that THEY SHOULDN'T SEEK YOU FOR FORTY DAYS.
24 Gather up many writing tablets, and take with you Sarea, Dabria, Selemia, Ethanus, and Asiel, these five, who are trained to write fast.
25 Come here, and I will light in your heart the lamp of understanding. It won’t be extinguished until you have written everything down.
26 When you are finished, you will make some things public, others you will transmit secretly to the wise. You will begin to write tomorrow at this time.”
27 I did as he commanded me. I gathered all the people and said,
28 “Hear these words, Israel.
29 At first our fathers lived as strangers in Egypt, and they were liberated from there.
30 They received the Law of life, but they didn’t keep it, and you also transgressed after them.
31 You were given land by allotment in the region of Zion. You and your fathers did evil and didn’t keep the ways that the Most High had commanded you.
32 Since he is a just judge, in time he took away from you what he granted.
33 Now you are here, and your relatives live even farther away.
34 If then you will rule your mind and instruct your heart, you will be kept alive, and after death you will attain mercy.
35 Judgment comes after death, when we are restored to life, and then the names of the just will appear and the deeds of the wicked will be exposed.
36 But let no one approach me now or come looking for me for forty days.”
37 I took the five men, as he had commanded me, and we went out into the field and remained there.
38 So it happened to me on the next day that a voice called me: “Ezra, open your mouth and drink what I give you to drink.”
39 So I opened my mouth, and a full cup was set before me. It was full of something like water, but its color was like fire.
40 I took it and drank, and when I had drunk it my heart poured forth understanding, and wisdom increased in my heart, for my spirit retained memory.
41 My mouth was opened and wasn’t shut anymore.
42 The Most High, moreover, gave understanding to the five men, and they wrote in turns what was dictated, in characters that they didn’t know, and they sat for forty days. They wrote by day,
43 but by night they ate bread; however, I spoke by day and wasn’t silent by night.
44 Ninety-four scrolls were written in the forty days.
45 Then when the forty days were completed, the Most High said to me, “Make public the ones you wrote first so that the worthy and unworthy may read them.
46 But keep the last seventy so that you may transmit them to the wise among your people.
47 In these are the fountains of understanding, the source of wisdom, and the river of knowledge.”
48 And so I did.
***
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Re: Apocrypha -- 2 Esdras Chapters 11-14; Isaiah 19th Chapter
**
Chapter 2
1 “Thus says the Lord: I brought this people out of bondage, and I gave them commandments through my servants the prophets; but they would not listen to them, and made my counsels void.
2 The mother who bore them says to them, ‘Go, my children, because I am a widow and forsaken.
3 I brought you up with gladness; but with mourning and sorrow I have lost you, because you have sinned before the Lord God and have done what is evil in my sight.
4 But now what can I do for you? For I am a widow and forsaken. Go, my children, and ask for mercy from the Lord.’
5 I call upon you, father, as a witness in addition to the mother of the children, because they would not keep my covenant,
6 that you may bring confusion upon them and bring their mother to ruin, so that they may have no offspring.
7 Let them be scattered among the nations, let their names be blotted out from the earth, because they have despised my covenant.
8 “Woe to you, Assyria, who conceal the unrighteous in your midst! O wicked nation, remember what I did to Sodom and Gomor′rah,
9 whose land lies in lumps of pitch and heaps of ashes. So will I do to those who have not listened to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
10 Thus says the Lord to Ezra: “Tell my people that I will give them the kingdom of Jerusalem, which I was going to give to Israel.
11 Moreover, I will take back to myself their glory, and will give to these others the everlasting habitations, which I had prepared for Israel.
12 The tree of life shall give them fragrant perfume, and they shall neither toil nor become weary.
13 Ask and you will receive; pray that your days may be few, that they may be shortened. The kingdom is already prepared for you; watch!
14 Call, O call heaven and earth to witness, for I left out evil and created good, because I live, says the Lord.
Exhortation to Good Works
15 “Mother, embrace your sons; bring them up with gladness, as does the dove; establish their feet, because I have chosen you, says the Lord.
16 And I will raise up the dead from their places, and will bring them out from their tombs, because I recognize my name in them.
17 Do not fear, mother of the sons, for I have chosen you, says the Lord.
18 I will send you help, my servants Isaiah and Jeremiah. According to their counsel I have consecrated and prepared for you twelve trees loaded with various fruits,
19 and the same number of springs flowing with milk and honey, and seven mighty mountains on which roses and lilies grow; by these I will fill your children with joy.
20 Guard the rights of the widow, secure justice for the fatherless, give to the needy, defend the orphan, clothe the naked,
21 care for the injured and the weak, do not ridicule a lame man, protect the maimed, and let the blind man have a vision of my splendor.
22 Protect the old and the young within your walls;
23 When you find any who are dead, commit them to the grave and mark it, and I will give you the first place in my resurrection.
24 Pause and be quiet, my people, because your rest will come.
25 Good nurse, nourish your sons, and strengthen their feet.
26 Not one of the servants whom I have given you will perish, for I will require them from among your number.
27 Do not be anxious, for when the day of tribulation and anguish comes, others shall weep and be sorrowful, but you shall rejoice and have abundance.
28 The nations shall envy you but they shall not be able to do anything against you, says the Lord.
29 My hands will cover you, that your sons may not see Gehenna.
30 Rejoice, O mother, with your sons, because I will deliver you, says the Lord.
31 Remember your sons that sleep, because I will bring them out of the hiding places of the earth, and will show mercy to them; for I am merciful, says the Lord Almighty.
32 Embrace your children until I come, and proclaim mercy to them; because my springs run over, and my grace will not fail.”
Ezra on Mount Horeb
33 I, Ezra, received a command from the Lord on Mount Horeb to go to Israel. When I came to them they rejected me and refused the Lord’s commandment.
34 Therefore I say to you, O nations that hear and understand, “Await your shepherd; he will give you everlasting rest, because he who will come at the end of the age is close at hand.
35 Be ready for the rewards of the kingdom, because the eternal light will shine upon you for evermore.
36 Flee from the shadow of this age, receive the joy of your glory; I publicly call on my Savior to witness.
37 Receive what the Lord has entrusted to you and be joyful, giving thanks to him who has called you to heavenly kingdoms.
38 Rise and stand, and see at the feast of the Lord the number of those who have been sealed.
39 Those who have departed from the shadow of this age have received glorious garments from the Lord.
40 Take again your full number, O Zion, and conclude the list of your people who are clothed in white, who have fulfilled the law of the Lord.
41 The number of your children, whom you desired, is full; beseech the Lord’s power that your people, who have been called from the beginning, may be made holy.”
42 I, Ezra, saw on Mount Zion a great multitude, which I could not number, and they all were praising the Lord with songs.
43 In their midst was a young man of great stature, taller than any of the others, and on the head of each of them he placed a crown, but he was more exalted than they. And I was held spellbound.
44 Then I asked an angel, “Who are these, my lord?”
45 He answered and said to me, “These are they who have put off mortal clothing and have put on the immortal, and they have confessed the name of God; now they are being crowned, and receive palms.”
46 Then I said to the angel, “Who is that young man who places crowns on them and puts palms in their hands?”
47 He answered and said to me, “He is the Son of God, whom they confessed [acknowledged] in the world.” So I began to praise those who had STOOD VALIANTLY FOR THE NAME OF THE LORD [JEHOVAH].
48 Then the angel said to me, “Go, tell my people how great and many are the wonders of the Lord God which you have seen.”
***
Chapter 2
1 “Thus says the Lord: I brought this people out of bondage, and I gave them commandments through my servants the prophets; but they would not listen to them, and made my counsels void.
2 The mother who bore them says to them, ‘Go, my children, because I am a widow and forsaken.
3 I brought you up with gladness; but with mourning and sorrow I have lost you, because you have sinned before the Lord God and have done what is evil in my sight.
4 But now what can I do for you? For I am a widow and forsaken. Go, my children, and ask for mercy from the Lord.’
5 I call upon you, father, as a witness in addition to the mother of the children, because they would not keep my covenant,
6 that you may bring confusion upon them and bring their mother to ruin, so that they may have no offspring.
7 Let them be scattered among the nations, let their names be blotted out from the earth, because they have despised my covenant.
8 “Woe to you, Assyria, who conceal the unrighteous in your midst! O wicked nation, remember what I did to Sodom and Gomor′rah,
9 whose land lies in lumps of pitch and heaps of ashes. So will I do to those who have not listened to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
10 Thus says the Lord to Ezra: “Tell my people that I will give them the kingdom of Jerusalem, which I was going to give to Israel.
11 Moreover, I will take back to myself their glory, and will give to these others the everlasting habitations, which I had prepared for Israel.
12 The tree of life shall give them fragrant perfume, and they shall neither toil nor become weary.
13 Ask and you will receive; pray that your days may be few, that they may be shortened. The kingdom is already prepared for you; watch!
14 Call, O call heaven and earth to witness, for I left out evil and created good, because I live, says the Lord.
Exhortation to Good Works
15 “Mother, embrace your sons; bring them up with gladness, as does the dove; establish their feet, because I have chosen you, says the Lord.
16 And I will raise up the dead from their places, and will bring them out from their tombs, because I recognize my name in them.
17 Do not fear, mother of the sons, for I have chosen you, says the Lord.
18 I will send you help, my servants Isaiah and Jeremiah. According to their counsel I have consecrated and prepared for you twelve trees loaded with various fruits,
19 and the same number of springs flowing with milk and honey, and seven mighty mountains on which roses and lilies grow; by these I will fill your children with joy.
20 Guard the rights of the widow, secure justice for the fatherless, give to the needy, defend the orphan, clothe the naked,
21 care for the injured and the weak, do not ridicule a lame man, protect the maimed, and let the blind man have a vision of my splendor.
22 Protect the old and the young within your walls;
23 When you find any who are dead, commit them to the grave and mark it, and I will give you the first place in my resurrection.
24 Pause and be quiet, my people, because your rest will come.
25 Good nurse, nourish your sons, and strengthen their feet.
26 Not one of the servants whom I have given you will perish, for I will require them from among your number.
27 Do not be anxious, for when the day of tribulation and anguish comes, others shall weep and be sorrowful, but you shall rejoice and have abundance.
28 The nations shall envy you but they shall not be able to do anything against you, says the Lord.
29 My hands will cover you, that your sons may not see Gehenna.
30 Rejoice, O mother, with your sons, because I will deliver you, says the Lord.
31 Remember your sons that sleep, because I will bring them out of the hiding places of the earth, and will show mercy to them; for I am merciful, says the Lord Almighty.
32 Embrace your children until I come, and proclaim mercy to them; because my springs run over, and my grace will not fail.”
Ezra on Mount Horeb
33 I, Ezra, received a command from the Lord on Mount Horeb to go to Israel. When I came to them they rejected me and refused the Lord’s commandment.
34 Therefore I say to you, O nations that hear and understand, “Await your shepherd; he will give you everlasting rest, because he who will come at the end of the age is close at hand.
35 Be ready for the rewards of the kingdom, because the eternal light will shine upon you for evermore.
36 Flee from the shadow of this age, receive the joy of your glory; I publicly call on my Savior to witness.
37 Receive what the Lord has entrusted to you and be joyful, giving thanks to him who has called you to heavenly kingdoms.
38 Rise and stand, and see at the feast of the Lord the number of those who have been sealed.
39 Those who have departed from the shadow of this age have received glorious garments from the Lord.
40 Take again your full number, O Zion, and conclude the list of your people who are clothed in white, who have fulfilled the law of the Lord.
41 The number of your children, whom you desired, is full; beseech the Lord’s power that your people, who have been called from the beginning, may be made holy.”
42 I, Ezra, saw on Mount Zion a great multitude, which I could not number, and they all were praising the Lord with songs.
43 In their midst was a young man of great stature, taller than any of the others, and on the head of each of them he placed a crown, but he was more exalted than they. And I was held spellbound.
44 Then I asked an angel, “Who are these, my lord?”
45 He answered and said to me, “These are they who have put off mortal clothing and have put on the immortal, and they have confessed the name of God; now they are being crowned, and receive palms.”
46 Then I said to the angel, “Who is that young man who places crowns on them and puts palms in their hands?”
47 He answered and said to me, “He is the Son of God, whom they confessed [acknowledged] in the world.” So I began to praise those who had STOOD VALIANTLY FOR THE NAME OF THE LORD [JEHOVAH].
48 Then the angel said to me, “Go, tell my people how great and many are the wonders of the Lord God which you have seen.”
***
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Re: Apocrypha -- 2 Esdras Chapters 11-14; Isaiah 19th Chapter
**
A Prophecy Against Egypt
Chapter 19 A PROPHECY AGAINST EGYPT:
Verses 1-25
1
See, the Lord rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt with fear.
2
“I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian — brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.
3
The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists.
4
I will hand the Egyptians over to the power of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
5
The waters of the river will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and dry.
6
The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up.The reeds and rushes will wither,
7
also the plants along the Nile, at the mouth of the river. Every sown field along the Nile will become parched, will blow away and be no more.
8
The fishermen will groan and lament, all who cast hooks into the Nile; those who throw nets on the water will pine away.
9
Those who work with combed flax will despair, the weavers of fine linen will lose hope.
10
The workers in cloth will be dejected, and all the wage earners will be sick at heart.
11
The officials of Zoan are nothing but fools; the wise counselors of Pharaoh give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise men, a disciple of the ancient kings”?
12
Where are your wise men now? Let them show you and make known what the Lord Almighty has planned against Egypt.
13
The officials of Zoan have become fools, the leaders of Memphis are deceived; the cornerstones of her peoples have led Egypt astray.
14
The Lord has poured into them a spirit of dizziness; they make Egypt stagger in all that she does, as a drunkard staggers around in his vomit.
15
There is nothing Egypt can do — head or tail, palm branch or reed.
16
In that day the Egyptians will become weaklings. They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the Lord Almighty raises against them.
17
And the land of Judah will bring terror to the Egyptians; everyone to whom Judah is mentioned will be terrified, because of what the Lord Almighty is planning against them.
18
In that day five cities in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord Almighty. One of them will be called the City of the Sun.
19
In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the Lord at its border.
20
It will be a sign and witness to the Lord Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them.
21
So the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the Lord. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the Lord and keep them.
22
The Lord will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the Lord, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.
23
In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together.
24
In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth.
25
The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.”
***
A Prophecy Against Egypt
Chapter 19 A PROPHECY AGAINST EGYPT:
Verses 1-25
1
See, the Lord rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt with fear.
2
“I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian — brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.
3
The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists.
4
I will hand the Egyptians over to the power of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
5
The waters of the river will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and dry.
6
The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up.The reeds and rushes will wither,
7
also the plants along the Nile, at the mouth of the river. Every sown field along the Nile will become parched, will blow away and be no more.
8
The fishermen will groan and lament, all who cast hooks into the Nile; those who throw nets on the water will pine away.
9
Those who work with combed flax will despair, the weavers of fine linen will lose hope.
10
The workers in cloth will be dejected, and all the wage earners will be sick at heart.
11
The officials of Zoan are nothing but fools; the wise counselors of Pharaoh give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise men, a disciple of the ancient kings”?
12
Where are your wise men now? Let them show you and make known what the Lord Almighty has planned against Egypt.
13
The officials of Zoan have become fools, the leaders of Memphis are deceived; the cornerstones of her peoples have led Egypt astray.
14
The Lord has poured into them a spirit of dizziness; they make Egypt stagger in all that she does, as a drunkard staggers around in his vomit.
15
There is nothing Egypt can do — head or tail, palm branch or reed.
16
In that day the Egyptians will become weaklings. They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the Lord Almighty raises against them.
17
And the land of Judah will bring terror to the Egyptians; everyone to whom Judah is mentioned will be terrified, because of what the Lord Almighty is planning against them.
18
In that day five cities in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord Almighty. One of them will be called the City of the Sun.
19
In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the Lord at its border.
20
It will be a sign and witness to the Lord Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them.
21
So the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the Lord. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the Lord and keep them.
22
The Lord will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the Lord, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.
23
In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together.
24
In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth.
25
The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.”
***
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Re: Apocrypha -- 2 Esdras Chapters 11-14; Isaiah 19th Chapter
**
Chapter 1
The Command to Rebuild the Temple
1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:
2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.”
3 Then the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying:
4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?
5 Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared.
6 You have sown much and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn wages earn wages to put them into a bag with holes.
7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared.
8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord.
9 You have looked for much, but it came to little, and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because my house lies in ruins, while all of you hurry off to your own houses.
10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce.
11 And I have called for a drought[a] on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the soil produces, on humans and animals, and on all their labors.”
12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people feared the Lord.
13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, saying, “I am with you, says the Lord.”
14 And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people, and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,
15 on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month.
***
Chapter 1
The Command to Rebuild the Temple
1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:
2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.”
3 Then the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying:
4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?
5 Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared.
6 You have sown much and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn wages earn wages to put them into a bag with holes.
7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared.
8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord.
9 You have looked for much, but it came to little, and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because my house lies in ruins, while all of you hurry off to your own houses.
10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce.
11 And I have called for a drought[a] on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the soil produces, on humans and animals, and on all their labors.”
12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people feared the Lord.
13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, saying, “I am with you, says the Lord.”
14 And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people, and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,
15 on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month.
***
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Re: Apocrypha -- 2 Esdras Chapters 11-14; Isaiah 19th Chapter
**
In the second year of King Darius,
1 in the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying:
2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, and say:
3 Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing?
4 Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts,
5 according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear.
6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land,
7 and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts.
9 The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts, and in this place I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.”
A Rebuke and a Promise
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai, saying:
11 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests for a ruling:
12 If one carries consecrated meat in the fold of one’s garment and with the fold touches bread, or stew, or wine, or oil, or any kind of food, does it become holy?” The priests answered, “No.”
13 Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered, “Yes, it becomes unclean.”
14 Haggai then said, “So is it with this people and with this nation before me, says the Lord, and so with every work of their hands; what they offer there is unclean.
15 But now, consider what will come to pass from this day on. Before a stone was placed upon a stone in the Lord’s temple,
16 how did you fare?[a] When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty.
17 I struck you and every work of your hands with blight and mildew and hail, yet you did not return to me, says the Lord.
18 Consider from this day on, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider:
19 Is there any seed left in the barn? Do the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree still yield nothing? From this day on I will bless you.”
God’s Promise to Zerubbabel
20 The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month:
21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: I am about to shake the heavens and the earth.
22 and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations and overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders shall fall, every one by the sword of a comrade.
23 On that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, son of Shealtiel, says the Lord, and make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you, says the Lord of hosts.”
***
In the second year of King Darius,
1 in the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying:
2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, and say:
3 Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing?
4 Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts,
5 according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear.
6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land,
7 and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts.
9 The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts, and in this place I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.”
A Rebuke and a Promise
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai, saying:
11 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests for a ruling:
12 If one carries consecrated meat in the fold of one’s garment and with the fold touches bread, or stew, or wine, or oil, or any kind of food, does it become holy?” The priests answered, “No.”
13 Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered, “Yes, it becomes unclean.”
14 Haggai then said, “So is it with this people and with this nation before me, says the Lord, and so with every work of their hands; what they offer there is unclean.
15 But now, consider what will come to pass from this day on. Before a stone was placed upon a stone in the Lord’s temple,
16 how did you fare?[a] When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty.
17 I struck you and every work of your hands with blight and mildew and hail, yet you did not return to me, says the Lord.
18 Consider from this day on, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider:
19 Is there any seed left in the barn? Do the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree still yield nothing? From this day on I will bless you.”
God’s Promise to Zerubbabel
20 The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month:
21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: I am about to shake the heavens and the earth.
22 and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations and overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders shall fall, every one by the sword of a comrade.
23 On that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, son of Shealtiel, says the Lord, and make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you, says the Lord of hosts.”
***
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Re: Apocrypha -- 2 Esdras Chapters 11-14 & 2; Isaiah 19th Chapter; Haggai 1-2
**
A PERSONAL LETTER FROM DONALD C. BURNEY TO ALL JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, EX-JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, THE NATION OF JAMAICA, & ALL OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES
ATTENTION: The "Small Horn" Of Bible Prophecy Emerges!!!
Hi all,
The great scientist Albert Einstein once said:
"The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education." -- Albert Einstein
Ohhhhhhh yes ... I've found this quote to be quite true, in my lifelong journey in gaining true knowledge and understanding from God's Word the bible. To be sure, after many years of bible study on my part, I've found the things that have proved to be the greatest hinderance to my "learning" on religious matters over the years, have been organized religion itself, church organizations, with their iron-clad creeds and rigid traditions...their unchangeable "dogmas" of belief. Fortunately, it was only by unshackling myself from their "dogmatic" viewpoints, I was able to free myself from unreasonable, inflexible ideas that do not make sense even, to the average person on the streets, the novice of scriptural study.
The following information, deals with just such a teaching, namely ... identifying the "Small Horn" of bible prophecy, in whom we believe to be, none other than Osama bin Laden. (Discussed within Daniel 7th and 8th chapters.)
"SHUTTING ONES EYES" TO THE TRUTH ... THE CONSEQUENCES -- Isaiah 6:9, 10; Acts 28:27
Currently as I write this Special Personal Letter, the 5th day of May in the year of 2005, we are all following certain news reports that have truly captivated our interest, concerning the great unrest in the Middle East. We wait with keen interest on the outcome of the turmoil experienced there, in light of what we already know of bible prophecy, as the YORWW Congregation.
Well on that note, I have a new development for us to consider.
In fact I'd say, if the following information does not absolutely prove Jehovah God is feeding the YORWW Congregation important details, key "insider" information (Amos 3:7), actual true "bread" [Eze. 44:3] of understanding ... well, if you don't believe that after reading the following, then no doubt we can say you are showing great disrespect for "REVEALED" Bible Truth in our modern times!!! -- Daniel 2:28
Albert Einstein also, once said:
He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.” ~ Albert Einstein
By close examination, could not we also say, these words sound very much like the words of the ancient prophet Isaiah, as quoted by Paul, when he said:
"For the heart of this people [God's Name People, Israel] has grown unreceptive, and with their ears they have heard without response, and they have SHUT THEIR EYES; that they should never see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn back, and I should heal them." -- Acts 28:27 New World Translation
Then too, we are reminded of the prophet Isaiah's words:
"And he went on to say: Go, and you must say to this people, 'Hear again and again, O men, but do not understand; and see again and again, but do not get any knowledge.' " -- Isaiah 6:9 New World Translation
In both verses above, we notice these individuals WOULD NOT be permitted to gain a true "knowledge" nor "understanding" of God's Message, in their unrepentant state. It was the exact same way for those in whom Jesus preached. (John 12:39, 40) Thus in this way, these ones would become exactly like the wicked demons, wicked spirit forces, who have been delivered unto "pits of dense darkness" for all to see. -- 2 Peter 2:4 New World Translation
In fact there can be no question, the following information submitted below, absolutely proves the validity of such a point made above!
We remember God's Word always recommends for us to NOT become "blind" willingly ... deliberately "closing our eyes" to the truth, just as so many others have done in the past, to their own downfall. Ohhhh yes, even today, many are not heeding this divine warning, even as we speak. All members of the YORWW Congregation, know all too well the truth of such words, yes, from years and years of preaching to those who willingly 'shut their eyes' to the truth, over and over again. Oh yes.
So now, let's examine the key prophecy in question.
First...please read over Daniel 7:24 and then, ask yourself what is the all-important fulfillment of this mysterious prophecy!!!
Well, as I write this I recall, it was just today, I was musing over this particular verse, (Daniel 7:24) saying to myself...I wonder how...just how does "Osama" play into this particular fulfillment???
A WARNING EXAMPLE TO ALL: QUESTION,
WHAT HAPPENS TO ANY OF GOD'S NAME PEOPLE ... PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, AND YET DECIDE TO "SHUT THEIR EYES" TO THE TRUTH FROM THE ALMIGHTY ... WHAT ALWAYS HAPPENS TO THESE TYPE OF PEOPLE...IN THE END???
Isaiah 65:1,2 tells us:
"I have let myself be searched for by those who had not asked [for me]. I have let myself be found by those who had not looked for me. I have said, 'Here I am, here I am! to a nation that was not calling upon my name. I have spread out my hands all day long to a stubborn people, those who are walking in the way that is not good, after their thoughts;" -- New World Translation
These sacred, inspired words have much meaning for us today, as Jehovah's "Name" People...Jehovah's Witnesses. -- Numbers 6:27; Acts 15:14
As many may already know and many are beginning to find out, regrettably there exists a "CLOSED DOOR" of opportunity which has been put up, barricading ALL ... and that's ALL ex-Jehovah's Witnesses with no exceptions, and barring a very large majority of active Jehovah's Witnesses themselves from ever gaining entrance in the YORWW Congregation, AKA, the "Kingdom of God" upon earth! -- See Daniel 2:44; Matt. 6:10.
This deliberate action on our part, has been aimed particularly toward those Jehovah's Witnesses (and ex-Jehovah's Witnesses), who even today, yes, continually REFUSE TO REPENT OF THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS ... TRANSGRESSIONS FOR WHICH IN THE END, THEY MUST BE "JUDGED BY RIGHTEOUS" ONES [YORWW Congregation], (See Ezekiel 23:36, 45.) and thus face the bitter final consequences of their actions, in fulfillment of Luke 13:24-30.
(See also CrossingEuphrates "Mission Statement" for more details.)
Therefore, in this abandoned state before God Almighty, Jehovah's Witnesses (and numerous ex-Jehovah's Witnesses) can never, ever gain an enlightened, true understanding of bible prophecy, by way of their own personal bible study, independent of the YORWW Congregation. And of course some would ask, why would the YORWW take some drastic action???
Well, this is true because the Jehovah's Witnesses (as a whole) did not, for many years, respond well to our message or show proper appreciation for it, as prophecy foretold. (Luke 17:25) All of which means, no more do they have immediate access...access to Sacred "Bread" from the "East Gate" that I (as the "Chieftain" of God's Newly Established Earthly Temple) have miraculously received from Jehovah Himself. Yes, that's inspired information. (Ezekiel 44:2, 3) No, God's sacred message, they cannot have. Because that special time of "invite" has regrettably passed for that. Indeed, it can be truthfully said, Jehovah's Witnesses are "NOT WORTHY" of such a special calling as this. (See Matthew 22:8.) That's right, they along with numerous ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, in fact viciously "hated" our message, as prophecy would indicate, and thus did not respond well to our special message. (See Psalms 25:19; Psalms 35:19; John 15:25.) No, but instead, they continually chided us, ridiculed and mocked us, made fun of us incessantly, did they not? And with what resulting outcome for them, we ask ... with what result to themselves, one could ask? -- See Acts 13:40,41.
Resulting in ohhhhhhh yes, ... A MORE OBEDIENT NATION OF PEOPLE BEING CHOSEN BY JEHOVAH, one that would willingly bear the desired "fruits," a nation and people like this, would now REPLACE THEM, exactly as Jesus promised. -- See Matthew 21:43.
Additionally, what happens to them (Jehovah's Witnesses) also, will be the opposite ... yes, the opposite of what happens to the YORWW Congregation (if we remain faithful, of course). They will receive NO LIGHT from God!
Yes, that's because as we advance into greater "light," ... the Jehovah's Witnesses go, unfortunately, into greater "darkness." Yes, that is the result of such disobedience. Remember, Jesus promised us all, we would be "judged by the word," in the "last day." One would advance into greater "light," while the other would exist in utter "darkness." Bible prophecy indicates this outcome. -- See Isaiah 2:5-17; John 12:48.
This is a fact, that we simply cannot ignore. -- 1 Corinthians 14:38
So what you will read below then, is a STARK EXAMPLE of us (YORWW Congregation) attaining to greater "Esoteric [secret] Knowledge" from Jehovah and, everybody else being left out, in utter "darkness"...pits of dense darkness in fact! (Please examine Jeremiah 23:18, 22 & Amos 3:7 carefully.)
So, back to Daniel 7:24 ... Okay, in the "East Gate" this particular information or explanation of this verse was revealed to me, personally... [Y.O.R, my foretold name, per Jeremiah 23:6] just today... I believe, this is undeniable proof, Jehovah is backing the YORWW Congregation, in my humble opinion!!! (But again, I would personally like to know exactly....what do you guys think??? In other words, do we have a correct understanding of Daniel 7:24 or not...which? In other words, are we in the "light" ... or not, which??? Also, did Jehovah reveal this to us ... before...before these events took place on the earth???
Here is the news item that "caught my eye":
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news ... rugs-video
Remember, I was just wondering today, just how Osama bin Laden, the one whom we [YORWW Congregation] believe will become the genuine fulfillment of the mysterious "Small Horn" of bible prophecy, and just how he actually played into this drama. I wondered, just how does he personally fit into the DOWNFALL of these "kings" ... the "humiliation" [New World Translation] of these particular "kings," and lo and behold, this particular news item appears for us all to see. -- Please note carefully Daniel 7:8, 20, 24 which is quoted below.
Daniel 7:8 -- "I kept on considering the horns, and, look! another horn, a small one, came up in among them, and there were three of the first horns that WERE PLUCKED UP from before it. And, look! there were eyes like the eyes of a man in this horn, and there was a mouth speaking grandiose things." -- New World Translation
Daniel 7:20 -- "and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other [horn] that came up and before which THREE FELL, even that horn that had eyes and a mouth speaking grandiose things and the appearance of which was bigger than that of its fellows." -- New World Translation
Daniel 7:24 -- "And as for the ten horns, out of that kingdom there are ten kings that will rise up; and still another one will rise up after them, and he himself will be different from the first ones, and three kings HE WILL HUMILIATE." -- New World Translation
Yes, we can convincingly say, it would be real fulfillment of bible prophecy, for sure ... which should help all of us acknowledge the GREATNESS OF JEHOVAH GOD, in what He is doing on His "Great Day," Yes, the time we live in, the "Great Day of Jehovah"!!! -- Please carefully examine Zephaniah 1:1-18.
This Personal Letter Was Written May 5th, 2005 by: Donald C. Burney ... aka "Y.O.R." "Yah Our Righteousness" per prophecy found at Jeremiah 23:6.
***
"SHUTTING ONES EYES" TO THE TRUTH ... THE CONSEQUENCES! --
(Isaiah 6:9-10; Acts 28:27)
(Isaiah 6:9-10; Acts 28:27)
A PERSONAL LETTER FROM DONALD C. BURNEY TO ALL JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, EX-JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, THE NATION OF JAMAICA, & ALL OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES
ATTENTION: The "Small Horn" Of Bible Prophecy Emerges!!!
Hi all,
The great scientist Albert Einstein once said:
"The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education." -- Albert Einstein
Ohhhhhhh yes ... I've found this quote to be quite true, in my lifelong journey in gaining true knowledge and understanding from God's Word the bible. To be sure, after many years of bible study on my part, I've found the things that have proved to be the greatest hinderance to my "learning" on religious matters over the years, have been organized religion itself, church organizations, with their iron-clad creeds and rigid traditions...their unchangeable "dogmas" of belief. Fortunately, it was only by unshackling myself from their "dogmatic" viewpoints, I was able to free myself from unreasonable, inflexible ideas that do not make sense even, to the average person on the streets, the novice of scriptural study.
The following information, deals with just such a teaching, namely ... identifying the "Small Horn" of bible prophecy, in whom we believe to be, none other than Osama bin Laden. (Discussed within Daniel 7th and 8th chapters.)
"SHUTTING ONES EYES" TO THE TRUTH ... THE CONSEQUENCES -- Isaiah 6:9, 10; Acts 28:27
Currently as I write this Special Personal Letter, the 5th day of May in the year of 2005, we are all following certain news reports that have truly captivated our interest, concerning the great unrest in the Middle East. We wait with keen interest on the outcome of the turmoil experienced there, in light of what we already know of bible prophecy, as the YORWW Congregation.
Well on that note, I have a new development for us to consider.
In fact I'd say, if the following information does not absolutely prove Jehovah God is feeding the YORWW Congregation important details, key "insider" information (Amos 3:7), actual true "bread" [Eze. 44:3] of understanding ... well, if you don't believe that after reading the following, then no doubt we can say you are showing great disrespect for "REVEALED" Bible Truth in our modern times!!! -- Daniel 2:28
Albert Einstein also, once said:
He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.” ~ Albert Einstein
By close examination, could not we also say, these words sound very much like the words of the ancient prophet Isaiah, as quoted by Paul, when he said:
"For the heart of this people [God's Name People, Israel] has grown unreceptive, and with their ears they have heard without response, and they have SHUT THEIR EYES; that they should never see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn back, and I should heal them." -- Acts 28:27 New World Translation
Then too, we are reminded of the prophet Isaiah's words:
"And he went on to say: Go, and you must say to this people, 'Hear again and again, O men, but do not understand; and see again and again, but do not get any knowledge.' " -- Isaiah 6:9 New World Translation
In both verses above, we notice these individuals WOULD NOT be permitted to gain a true "knowledge" nor "understanding" of God's Message, in their unrepentant state. It was the exact same way for those in whom Jesus preached. (John 12:39, 40) Thus in this way, these ones would become exactly like the wicked demons, wicked spirit forces, who have been delivered unto "pits of dense darkness" for all to see. -- 2 Peter 2:4 New World Translation
In fact there can be no question, the following information submitted below, absolutely proves the validity of such a point made above!
We remember God's Word always recommends for us to NOT become "blind" willingly ... deliberately "closing our eyes" to the truth, just as so many others have done in the past, to their own downfall. Ohhhh yes, even today, many are not heeding this divine warning, even as we speak. All members of the YORWW Congregation, know all too well the truth of such words, yes, from years and years of preaching to those who willingly 'shut their eyes' to the truth, over and over again. Oh yes.
So now, let's examine the key prophecy in question.
First...please read over Daniel 7:24 and then, ask yourself what is the all-important fulfillment of this mysterious prophecy!!!
Well, as I write this I recall, it was just today, I was musing over this particular verse, (Daniel 7:24) saying to myself...I wonder how...just how does "Osama" play into this particular fulfillment???
A WARNING EXAMPLE TO ALL: QUESTION,
WHAT HAPPENS TO ANY OF GOD'S NAME PEOPLE ... PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, AND YET DECIDE TO "SHUT THEIR EYES" TO THE TRUTH FROM THE ALMIGHTY ... WHAT ALWAYS HAPPENS TO THESE TYPE OF PEOPLE...IN THE END???
Isaiah 65:1,2 tells us:
"I have let myself be searched for by those who had not asked [for me]. I have let myself be found by those who had not looked for me. I have said, 'Here I am, here I am! to a nation that was not calling upon my name. I have spread out my hands all day long to a stubborn people, those who are walking in the way that is not good, after their thoughts;" -- New World Translation
These sacred, inspired words have much meaning for us today, as Jehovah's "Name" People...Jehovah's Witnesses. -- Numbers 6:27; Acts 15:14
As many may already know and many are beginning to find out, regrettably there exists a "CLOSED DOOR" of opportunity which has been put up, barricading ALL ... and that's ALL ex-Jehovah's Witnesses with no exceptions, and barring a very large majority of active Jehovah's Witnesses themselves from ever gaining entrance in the YORWW Congregation, AKA, the "Kingdom of God" upon earth! -- See Daniel 2:44; Matt. 6:10.
This deliberate action on our part, has been aimed particularly toward those Jehovah's Witnesses (and ex-Jehovah's Witnesses), who even today, yes, continually REFUSE TO REPENT OF THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS ... TRANSGRESSIONS FOR WHICH IN THE END, THEY MUST BE "JUDGED BY RIGHTEOUS" ONES [YORWW Congregation], (See Ezekiel 23:36, 45.) and thus face the bitter final consequences of their actions, in fulfillment of Luke 13:24-30.
(See also CrossingEuphrates "Mission Statement" for more details.)
Therefore, in this abandoned state before God Almighty, Jehovah's Witnesses (and numerous ex-Jehovah's Witnesses) can never, ever gain an enlightened, true understanding of bible prophecy, by way of their own personal bible study, independent of the YORWW Congregation. And of course some would ask, why would the YORWW take some drastic action???
Well, this is true because the Jehovah's Witnesses (as a whole) did not, for many years, respond well to our message or show proper appreciation for it, as prophecy foretold. (Luke 17:25) All of which means, no more do they have immediate access...access to Sacred "Bread" from the "East Gate" that I (as the "Chieftain" of God's Newly Established Earthly Temple) have miraculously received from Jehovah Himself. Yes, that's inspired information. (Ezekiel 44:2, 3) No, God's sacred message, they cannot have. Because that special time of "invite" has regrettably passed for that. Indeed, it can be truthfully said, Jehovah's Witnesses are "NOT WORTHY" of such a special calling as this. (See Matthew 22:8.) That's right, they along with numerous ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, in fact viciously "hated" our message, as prophecy would indicate, and thus did not respond well to our special message. (See Psalms 25:19; Psalms 35:19; John 15:25.) No, but instead, they continually chided us, ridiculed and mocked us, made fun of us incessantly, did they not? And with what resulting outcome for them, we ask ... with what result to themselves, one could ask? -- See Acts 13:40,41.
Resulting in ohhhhhhh yes, ... A MORE OBEDIENT NATION OF PEOPLE BEING CHOSEN BY JEHOVAH, one that would willingly bear the desired "fruits," a nation and people like this, would now REPLACE THEM, exactly as Jesus promised. -- See Matthew 21:43.
Additionally, what happens to them (Jehovah's Witnesses) also, will be the opposite ... yes, the opposite of what happens to the YORWW Congregation (if we remain faithful, of course). They will receive NO LIGHT from God!
Yes, that's because as we advance into greater "light," ... the Jehovah's Witnesses go, unfortunately, into greater "darkness." Yes, that is the result of such disobedience. Remember, Jesus promised us all, we would be "judged by the word," in the "last day." One would advance into greater "light," while the other would exist in utter "darkness." Bible prophecy indicates this outcome. -- See Isaiah 2:5-17; John 12:48.
This is a fact, that we simply cannot ignore. -- 1 Corinthians 14:38
So what you will read below then, is a STARK EXAMPLE of us (YORWW Congregation) attaining to greater "Esoteric [secret] Knowledge" from Jehovah and, everybody else being left out, in utter "darkness"...pits of dense darkness in fact! (Please examine Jeremiah 23:18, 22 & Amos 3:7 carefully.)
So, back to Daniel 7:24 ... Okay, in the "East Gate" this particular information or explanation of this verse was revealed to me, personally... [Y.O.R, my foretold name, per Jeremiah 23:6] just today... I believe, this is undeniable proof, Jehovah is backing the YORWW Congregation, in my humble opinion!!! (But again, I would personally like to know exactly....what do you guys think??? In other words, do we have a correct understanding of Daniel 7:24 or not...which? In other words, are we in the "light" ... or not, which??? Also, did Jehovah reveal this to us ... before...before these events took place on the earth???
Here is the news item that "caught my eye":
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news ... rugs-video
Remember, I was just wondering today, just how Osama bin Laden, the one whom we [YORWW Congregation] believe will become the genuine fulfillment of the mysterious "Small Horn" of bible prophecy, and just how he actually played into this drama. I wondered, just how does he personally fit into the DOWNFALL of these "kings" ... the "humiliation" [New World Translation] of these particular "kings," and lo and behold, this particular news item appears for us all to see. -- Please note carefully Daniel 7:8, 20, 24 which is quoted below.
Daniel 7:8 -- "I kept on considering the horns, and, look! another horn, a small one, came up in among them, and there were three of the first horns that WERE PLUCKED UP from before it. And, look! there were eyes like the eyes of a man in this horn, and there was a mouth speaking grandiose things." -- New World Translation
Daniel 7:20 -- "and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other [horn] that came up and before which THREE FELL, even that horn that had eyes and a mouth speaking grandiose things and the appearance of which was bigger than that of its fellows." -- New World Translation
Daniel 7:24 -- "And as for the ten horns, out of that kingdom there are ten kings that will rise up; and still another one will rise up after them, and he himself will be different from the first ones, and three kings HE WILL HUMILIATE." -- New World Translation
Yes, we can convincingly say, it would be real fulfillment of bible prophecy, for sure ... which should help all of us acknowledge the GREATNESS OF JEHOVAH GOD, in what He is doing on His "Great Day," Yes, the time we live in, the "Great Day of Jehovah"!!! -- Please carefully examine Zephaniah 1:1-18.
This Personal Letter Was Written May 5th, 2005 by: Donald C. Burney ... aka "Y.O.R." "Yah Our Righteousness" per prophecy found at Jeremiah 23:6.
***