Life In Himself

From John 5:26-29

"..as the Father hath life* in himself, so He gave also to the Son to have life* in himself... the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and they shall come forth; those who did the good things to a rising again of life, and those who practised the evil things to a rising again of judgment."

"life" = #2222 in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance - "zoe" - "life, lit or fig, life" - "from #2198 - to live"

From John 10:15

"..I lay down my life* for the sheep."

"life" = #5590 - "pneuma" - "breath"

From 1 Corinthians 15:53,52

"..this mortal must put on immortality.. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

"..as the Father hath life in himself, so He gave also to the Son to have life in himself... the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and they shall come forth; those who did the good things to a rising again of life, and those who practised the evil things to a rising again of judgment."

Never Give In To A Bully

Concerning words.. And debate. One of the surest signs that you are the more accurate in a dialogue is when the other side displays a sort of bullying attitude. Instead of presenting points which support their view, the tactic is to belittle another's view. To intimidate.

Condescension is a close relative to this.

"Be gentle with all.. with a mild spirit.. forgiving one another.. pray for those who despitefully use you.."

A Rugged Realist?

Don't you think the Father Most High is a rugged realist? It's like He is saying to mankind you can't do such and such.. For it leads to death. So why would you do it? In the day that you do it, it will lead to death.

Don't, do it.

Of course all of us humans have been born into it! We're just naturally born imperfect. God is both life and perfection. That makes imperfection the opposite of life. We're not all evil, but the potential's there.. It's a veritable bottomless pit. History my dear proves that, over, and, over. Once a creature walks out of God's will and presence, they become imperfect. An irreparable state.

Irreparable for us, imperfect cannot make itself perfect. But not for Him. Because, of course, He did it. "Reconciled us to Himself while we were still yet sinners!" In the cosmic bank of what we owe, a sort of karma if you will, or just natural consequences and results, Jesus paid it all, including our death. Jesus on the cross. [For "death could not hold Him".]

"If I be lifted up from the Earth" Jesus said, "I will draw all to me". .."The mystery that's been hid for ages, Christ in you." .."Born again.." .."Behold I will make all things new".. "The lion will eat straw like the ox, the bear will graze with the cow." .."Eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, or heart imagined, all that He has prepared.."

Ragged Soul

An ode to lost loved ones..

In a piece of my heart,
There is a hole.

Too many friends and loved ones
Have left the fold.

They've passed away.
My spirit's cold.

But I have listened..
On the wind it's been told,
The first gene pool,
It shaped us all..
A shining perfection,
   .....A silent call.

Perfect makes no mistakes,
Loses nothing at all.

"The lion will eat straw like the ox,
The bear, will be seen grazing with the cow."

My heart is at peace.

But I miss them anyhow.

[Verse is Isaiah 11:7]

One Body One Faith

“..And to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed; not `And to seeds,' as of many, but as of one, `And to thy seed,' which is Christ ...There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
 ---
...That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel...to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.. ..Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
---
...For his body's sake, which is the church.. ..There is one body and one Spirit...  one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
---
...For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body... Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
---
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready and there was given to her that she may be arrayed with fine linen, pure and shining, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.'

(Individually, we are Christ's brethren. But collectively, now betrothed or engaged to Him, later union at the marriage supper of the Lamb.)
---
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

And lo, I tell you a secret; we indeed shall not all sleep, and we all shall be changed; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, in the last trumpet, for it shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we, we shall be changed: for it behoveth this corruptible to put on incorruption, and this mortal to put on immortality; and when this corruptible may have put on incorruption, and this mortal may have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that hath been written, `Death was swallowed up by victory; where, O Death, where is thy sting? where, O Hades, thy victory?' and the sting of death [is] sin ...thanks, to Him who is giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ; so that, my brethren beloved, become ye stedfast, unmovable, abounding in the work of the Lord at all times, knowing that your labour is not vain in the Lord.
----
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”
---
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Gal 3:16,28,29 --- Eph 3:6,19-21 --- Col 1:24; Eph 4:4-5 --- from Eph  5:23-32 --- Rev  19:7,8 --- 1 Thess 4:16-17 & 1 Cor 15:51-58 --- Rev 22:17 --- Eph 1:22-23

The Prophesied Spirit Of Elijah

It's not only that without God we die, cease to be, but on the way is depravity. All things move. There is constant motion and the motion toward extinction of life - without God's intercession - has got to become darker and darker, as that's the course one's on.


And so we all were, in all the different human degrees, but it was the same road all were on, when "Christ died for us" (in our place) ..and so the world is.

My alternate title for these thoughts was "worst case scenario". Anywhere, where there has been a worst case scenario possible, somewhere in the world and time, that scenario has played out.

I'm not trying to be negative. I'm a very optimistic person, even in the worst of times, God always has something, some blessings up His sleeve. It's just that we humans, I think, do not recognize the gravity of the situation. My daughter was talking about two teenage girls she knows, and her words reminded me of what sort of world some teenage girls are stepping off into.

Do you remember Jessica Lundsford? That's one story I'll never forget. It was so dark. It was so evil. So totally depraved. It represents it all to me, the sex slave trade, the wars, bags of tiny body parts in landfills.. So many would like to ignore the times, "let me live my life" they say (subconsciously?) ..Those folks acting up in the Middle East, they're deceived.. Sure! They're deceived, but they're also doing what they do because they want to.

If God's breath is a consuming fire, I think this world has been on borrowed time for some time now. And yet, although things are so messed up, they're perfect. All is perfect - God is letting things run their course, and using it to thoroughly prove what it is He is proving. (To “all in heaven and on earth.” Eph 1:10; Col 1:20)

And we.. ..are above it all! For we are “seated in heavenly places” because “He is in us and we are in Him” and He “sits at the right hand of the Father”. (Ephesians 2:6; Romans 8:2,10/Galatians 4:19; Hebrews 1:3)

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things God has prepared..” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

“The wolf and the lamb shall pasture together, the bear will graze with the cow.. the lion will eat straw like the ox” (Isaiah 11:6,7) “Everyone will live under their own vine and fig tree..” (Micah 4:4) ...are just glimpses.

“Of the increase of His government and peace, there shall be no end..” (Isaiah 9:7)

Spiritual Armor

We are seated above all principalities and powers. Also we are seated above all goings on, here on planet Earth. This is because we are "in Jesus" (Romans 8:1). And Jesus, "is sitting at the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1). So we are seated above all these things, for we are seated with Him, what with being "part of the body of which He is the head" (Ephesians 4:15,16).


Ephesians 6:10-18 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

10. As to the rest, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might;
11. put on the whole armour of God, for your being able to stand against the wiles of the devil,
12. because we have not the wrestling with blood and flesh, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, with the spiritual things of the evil in the heavenly places;
13. because of this take ye up the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to resist in the day of the evil, and all things having done -- to stand.
14. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about in truth, and having put on the breastplate of the righteousness,
15. and having the feet shod in the preparation of the good-news of the peace;
16. above all, having taken up the shield of the faith, in which ye shall be able all the fiery darts of the evil one to quench,
17. and the helmet of the salvation receive, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the saying of God,
18. through all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and in regard to this same, watching in all perseverance and supplication for all believers --

By The Sea

Mark 4:1
"And he began again to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea."

Later..

From John 21:1,6,8-9,12

"After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias... `Cast the net on the right side of the boat` ...the disciples ..dragged in the net full of fish.. and they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.  And Jesus said to them.. `Come and eat`.."

John 21:17,19 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

"He saith to him the third time, `Simon, [son] of Jonas, dost thou dearly love me?' ...`Feed my sheep`.. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, `Follow Me`.."

Beginning A Slow Paced Bible Prophecy Study

Here - http://bibleprophecy4today.blogspot.com/

[ Bible Prophecy For Today ]

They Missed The Boat

Luke 7:27-30

27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, which shall prepare the way before you.
28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 And when all the people heard Him,even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and scribes rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

So there they were, the religious leaders who had surely read the prophecies of - "a voice crying from the wilderness! Prepare the way of the LORD!" - when the wild figure of John the Baptist came in from the wilderness preaching a message of repentance by baptism, followed by the humble person of Jesus healing the lame and the blind - also prophesied (by Isaiah the prophet).

Romans 9:18

18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
Or as another version put it:
18 Everything depends on what God decides to do, and he can either have pity on people or make them stubborn.

Morning Meditation

The Mind Of Man

These days the mind of man is thought to be above the mind of God of the Bible. This results in the idea that the Bible should be "added to or taken from".

It all began with man's theory of evolution as to the origins of life. There is "natural selection" but only of what ability for adaptation is present in the DNA code. Man's theory is not only not proven and not observed, but is also outdated - by our looking into the basic cell, by the discovery of the DNA code in all living things, and by a lack of so many zillions of "missing links"/transitional life forms (if all life evolved from one). Yes there is adaptation, but only if the ability is present in the DNA. It is not true that those who believe in "Intelligent Design" of the universe and life, do not believe in "Natural Selection"!

This false teaching (teacher, prophet) of the origins of life, has turned Western Civilization on its ear. It's a strong delusion which changed Christendom and prepared the way for where the world has gone and is going.

Graves Like Seeds

The wrath of God is a natural occurrence because He is both Life & Perfection. (I.e. to be imperfect is the opposite of life.) But since He brought it about by endowing thinking ability, He built in the rescue/reconciliation from the beginning. This life is His teaching drama, proving you cannot wander from life and live. To die still in your sins/imperfect is not as joyful a resurrection, but after belief, will catch up. God can-only be perfect. Therefor the 'end' result can only be the best one possible. Can we mortals dream of, or envision, something better than God can?

The ancient Holy Days were built around two harvests, the grain harvest (of which Jesus was the "firstfruit") and the fruit harvest. The grain harvest of course involved the Spring Holy Days. And the fruit harvest, the Fall Holy Days.

Two harvests.. graves like seeds. Two harvests, the first resurrection and the second resurrection. If the millennium is 1000 years, then 'Judgment Day' (surprise, Day of Atonement) will surely be 500 years. The days between the first Fall Feast (Holy Day) being 10 days, and between the second and third Feast days being 5 days.

At the end of that 500 year long day "those not believing will go to the second death".j

The Ancient Holy Days Of Israel Describe Universal Reconciliation

I've been thinking on this (and talking about it) for a long time. I'm so happy, finally the words have come together into some sort of cohesive sense [1 Corinthians 14:7,33]. I hope!

The ancient Holy Days of God (Leviticus 23:1-44) describe UR! Otherwise known as universal Reconciliation and Redemption. [Jonah 2:9]
Each Holy Day represents Jesus (Messiah).
The Spring Holy Days:

[#1] He was and is the Passover (Lamb). [Leviticus 23:5, New King James Version - "On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover."

[#2] He is the Unleavened Bread. (The oven was "the grave").

[#3] After three nights and three days, "at even" as the weekly Sabbath day was ending...
        He is the "First Fruits unto God". [1 Corinthians 15:17,18 and 20] "First Fruits" is Thanksgiving for the entire (grain) harvest. [1 Corinthians 15:20,21,22]

Then fifty (pent) days later (was) the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God, wholly dependent upon the first three Holy Days earlier in the season. [Leviticus 23:1-22, the Spring Holy Days [#1-4] fulfilled by Jesus, it would seem, as His First Advent.]

There were two harvests in the land. The fruit of the land harvest is in..

The Autumn Holy Days:

[A] On the first day of the seventh month [Leviticus 23:24].. a blowing of Trumpets (also called New Year's).

[B] 10 Days (1000 yrs?) Later, The Day Of Atonement (DOA) - "Any person who is not humbled in this same day, shall be cut off from among his people." [Leviticus 23:29] "I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it.. ..And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and scrolls were opened, and another scroll was opened, which is that of the life, and the dead were judged out of the things written in the scrolls. -- according to their works; and the sea did give up those dead in it, and the death and the hades did give up the dead in them, and they were judged, each one according to their works; and the death and the hades" (place of the dead, the grave) "were cast to the lake of the fire -- this [is] the second death; and" (then?) "if any one was not found written in the scroll of the life, he was cast to the lake of the fire." (Who's, not going to "believe" after having been resurrected, etc?) [Revelation 20:11-15] "Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all." [1 Corinthians 15:28]

[C] 5 Days (500 yrs?) Later, The Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles/Tents) - the joyful observance of the vintage and fruit harvest. "Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine." [Deuteronomy 16:13] "And you shall take for yourselves, on the first day, the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days." [Leviticus 23:40]
   "..a statute forever..." [from Leviticus 23:41]
   "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth.. and..`Lo, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and He will tabernacle with them, and they shall be His peoples, and God Himself shall be with them" [Revelation 21:1-3]
   "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles." [Zechariah 14:16]

"..I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle or dwelling place also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people." [Ezekiel 37:26c,27]
The Fall Holy Days, A-C, fulfilled by Jesus' long 2nd advent, like His 1st fulfilled the Spring Holy Days(?)

In the middle of writing this, I found myself thinking about Ultimate Reality, God's blueprint, how things will be after all is accomplished. In my mind's eye I saw the family I married into blending with, becoming family, with the one I was born into. (Barely at all have the two met.) Now this may seem obvious, but I don't remember ever realizing it to this degree before. It started when I found myself thinking of my mother in law, who passed away a little over thirty years ago. I thought if my family likes my husband, which they do, they will just love.. my mother in law. Then in my imagination I started to think of some dear aunts.. and sisters in law. Brothers, sisters, cousins.. And so on... all the beautiful branches of families and races, all God's family.. All safe. All beloved of God.

Fuzzy Memories Of Eve?

Adam called Eve "the mother of all". The very oldest artifacts found by archeologists are rough hand held size carvings of a rather heavy woman. Found in all lands, some have been found as simply torsos, perhaps what a small babe would see if held under their mother's garment. Or perhaps the head and limbs of these fell off easily during the centuries before they were unearthed. These ancient hand held 'gods' could cause one to wonder if perhaps Eve didn't become a big lady during the course of her long life.

The mother of us all,
the oldest of all,
hard,
splendid as rock.
Whatever there is that is of the land
it is she
who nourishes it...
             ... A Homeric hymn (approx 750-800 B.C.?)

When Adam called Eve, "the mother of all" perhaps unknowingly he helped to create one of the first man made 'gods' for the Mother Goddess is a tale and religion which has been found in all lands, and which later became a major deity of Babylon, Semiramus, which eventually spread to other lands as the India Indus goddess, Isis in Egypt, Kwan-Yin in China, Aphrodite in Greece, and the Venus of Rome.

See more ancient artifact images here:
http://www.lunaea.com/goddess/creativity/ancient.html
http://www.arden.com/theartifact/aprehist1/
With some later images:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_goddess

THOSE PESKY INVADERS Part Two

Did you know there are highly invasive weeds whose mission in life is to be the only weed?

It seems most unfortunate, but throughout human history, there have been human beings who seem to have the same code imprinted upon them! And has made itself seen ever since Cain slew Abel. (A good reason to keep government powers in check, we always say.)

As I mentioned earlier, the community of "Inner-Monastery" (me, myself and I) began our annual scouting of he grounds for invaders of the vegetative kind. This always makes us think about certain truisms of life - like keeping the weeds of life in check. Don't let them grow huge.. nor take deep root!

After lengthy discussion, interspersed with a bit of debate, we decided to ascend to the ramparts and see if we could spot signs of encroaching invasion from on high.

I forgot the binoculars of course, being of an age of increasing forgetfulness. It was left up to Me to run back down and get them. After that it took us no time at all to spy a healthy crop nestling in the back corner.

So out we went armed with gloves, long sleeves and various gardening utensils and that old standby, the trusty shovel, ready to wage war against the most invasive culprit. We were later very happy for the long sleeves, having been reminded by Myself, as we were traversing the front hall toward the out of doors, how a few years back we had neglected this simple precaution, and came across a virulent case of wild rose menacing the blackberry bushes, and had to make the long trek back indoors to arm ourselves with long sleeves before risking life and limb to carry out our assault upon these hostile counterfeits. We slew dragons that day!! Yes, it's best to catch these ones early too! Very early!

After this days work we had to reflect upon the possible futility of our efforts, for looking up from our land clearing we noticed in the distance, the farmer who owns a field nearby, had many Garlic Mustard flower blooms blowing in the breeze! If these are allowed to seed, we will have to carry out our assault anew...

THOSE PESKY INVADERS Part One

Yesterday, one of our first warm Spring days of the year, the community of "Inner-Monastery" (that unruly bunch, me, myself and I) began our venture outside to scout the grounds for any of those 'malevolent' weeds we like to keep ahead of. At the top of our list, of course, were those weeds if left alone and allowed to multiply, will be very fruitful indeed! Until you will see them absolutely everywhere!

This is the varmint (highly invasive plant) we set off to find:

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria Petiolata)

                        ...To be continued..

Comparing Leaf To Leaf

So many people think that God is a myth. But if you really look at the so-called science of man's popular theory, there are a whole lot of loose ends.

If the second most held law of science, "the Second Law of Science", is the Law of Entropy, which means all matter is falling apart, how did matter do the exact opposite and improve to a level so much higher, namely life?

Some evolutionary scientists have answered that by saying "well, the sun entered the system long enough to suspend the Law of Entropy, we can see all plants and trees, etc. utilizing sunlight this way and improving/growing".

But, good fellows, (say the non evolutionary scientists) pluck a leaf off the tree, give it 24 to 48 hours, then compare it to a leaf still attached to the tree. In other words, as long as it is living and "alive" it can make use of sunlight to grow and make improvements. But when it is not alive, it cannot do this, indeed it burns up. This is why farmers and gardeners put their compost pile in the sunlight. Besides, how did the "system" come about in the first place, the highly organized, so perfectly balanced, it hangs on nothing, universe?

Newest Addition

Mission Statement / End Times in Brief Story Form
so I can move on to other things more often..

Finding The Quietness

It's not always easy.. finding the Quietness.. but it is in "entering His rest" that the God filled life is fulfilled. Jesus said "the scriptures speak of Me". Jesus, is our rest. Not only does our faith "rest" in the "finished work of Jesus" (we are declared righteous and innocent, setting us free to grow in the Lord, He is the vine, we are the branches). But we rest - in Jesus Himself. "Let God do what seemeth Him good.." (Let God do..)

Reading about King David, while he was still just a shepherd, it says "the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.." (1 Sam 16:13)

It takes the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost of God, to bring about in our lives the spirit of being an overcomer. As the world heads more and more towards, well, where it is rushing toward, it will require this Spirit all the more so. It's the key to the treasure! And it's the key to overcoming, and to the fruit of the Spirit maturing within us and within our life.

It's also "in His rest" that we most easily hear the still, small voice of God Almighty speaking. ("Be still. And know I am God." Psalm 46:10) And this is the rest which God's people enjoy. And all of us, like the psalmist says, thirst for this stream, as the deer thirsts for running water. Sometimes there are Goliaths in our way. And it's in this Rest of God that we can defeat them and vanquish them from off our path.

Joel prophesied a dark and smoky day.. Keeping with the spirit that the scripture is both literal and metaphor - having a spiritual meaning that lasts always.. As the days mature, the clouds of darkness and deception will become (surely?) thicker and thicker. Believers of the day will need to abide, live, tabernacle (often) in God's Rest, not just for peace and joy, but for survival and perception. (Of course our goal is to always abide in that rest.)

It's the mighty sWord of the LORD which cuts through all things, all clouds, darkness, and the untruth they rest upon. And it's the Spirit of God Almighty which opens our eyes and seals our forehead (to go along with the seal of God on our heart, which cries "abba, Father!" (2 Corinthians 1:22, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 1:13,14).

"Let God do what seemeth Him good". (1 Samuel 3:18)
Jesus tells us, "my yoke is easy, my burden is light". (Matthew 11:30)

"The works were finished from the foundation of the world.. Let us therefor be diligent to enter that rest.. for we have a great High Priest.. ..therefor come boldly to the throne of peace.." (from Hebrews 4:3,11,14,16)

Three Things To Prepare For Part One

A  STORY (Rev 12)

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman... being in labor to give birth..

[cross-ref - The Lord God then asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” And Jehovah God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed [art] thou above all cattle and every beast of the field: upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her-seed, He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” [Genesis 3:13-15]

[cross-ref - Therefore the Lord Himself gives you a sign, behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel, which means, “God with us”. [Isaiah 7:14]

...And there was seen another sign in the heaven, lo, a great red dragon.. stood before the woman to devour her Child as soon as it was born..

[cross-ref - When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. [Matthew 2:16]

And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to shepherd all the nations with a rod of iron ..the son was caught up to God and His throne ..

[cross-ref  - And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. [Matthew 1:21]

[cross-ref  - I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, "You are My Son, today I have begotten You, ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. Thou dost rule them with a sceptre of iron, As a vessel of a potter You shall shatter them like dishes of clay." [Psalm 2:7-9]

[cross-ref - The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek,” the Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. [Psalm 110:4,5]

[cross-ref - The Lord says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” [Psalm 110:1]

[cross-ref - So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. [Mark 16:19]

[cross-ref - In many parts, and many ways, God of old having spoken to the fathers in the prophets, in these last days did speak to us in a Son, heir of all things, through whom also He did make the ages.. ..when He had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. [Hebrews 1:1,3]

[cross-ref - Jesus said to him, “..hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” [Matthew 26:64]

[cross-ref - Then Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” [Acts 7:56]

[cross-ref - ..where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [Colossians 3:1]

And the woman did flee to the wilderness #1. And there came war in the heaven; Michael and his messengers did war against the dragon, and the dragon did war, and his messengers, and they did not prevail, nor was their place found any more in the heaven; and the great dragon was cast forth -- the old serpent, who is called "Devil," and "the Adversary," who is leading astray the whole world -- he was cast forth to the earth, and his messengers were cast forth with him.. And he pursued and persecuted the woman who had given birth to a son..

[cross-ref - For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us.. [Isaiah 9:6]

[cross-ref? - ...tortured.. and others ...mockings and scourgings did receive trial.. and imprisonment.. sawn asunder, they were tried..  [Hebrews 11:35-37 w/ Rev 13:2]

...but she was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly (sail?) from the serpent into the wilderness, to her place #2, where she is nourished a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. Then from his mouth the serpent poured water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood, and the land did help the woman, and the land did open its mouth and did swallow up the river, that the dragon did cast forth out of his mouth.

[cross-ref - And as they led Him away, having taken hold on Simon, a certain Cyrenian, coming from the field, they put on him the cross, to bear it behind Jesus.. Jesus turned to the women and said: "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, for, lo, days do come, in which they shall say, Happy the barren and.. to the mountains, fall on us, and to the hills, cover us; for if they do these things when the tree is green, what will be done in the dry?” (Joel's smoky day? aka, drought)  [Luke 23:26-31]

So the dragon was enraged and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, those keeping the commands of God, and having the testimony of Jesus (by now?)

[cross-ref - (Jesus' Lament over Jerusalem) - O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord'! [Matthew 23:37,39]

[cross-ref - ..the spirits of demons, doing signs -- which go forth to every king on earth, to bring them together for a war against God All-Powerful, to the battle of that great day of God the Almighty.. And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. [Revelation 16:14,16]

Just One Thing

Sometimes I feel like the Lord taps me on the shoulder (metaphorically of course) and reminds me "it's the fruit of the Spirit I'm after.. my fruits of the Spirit in you, is all I want.."
- Lack of the fruit of the Spirit upon Earth is what lets the iron grow.. the hard stuff, the lack of human kindness things..