What the Bible Says About Sabbath

    For today’s topic: the Sabbath-is it still relevant today; we will be looking at what does the Bible say, and we begin with Colossians 2:14 “blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/COL.2.KJV Ephesians 2:15 “having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EPH.2.KJV Let’s compare scripture with scripture to find the answers, what is the “handwriting of ordinances?” What was “nailed to the cross”? And what “sabbath days are a shadow of things to come”? 

    What are the ordinances and what was nailed to the cross? Hebrews 9:1 “Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. 6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20 saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/HEB.9.KJV Numbers 9:12 “They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it.  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/NUM.9.KJV 1 Corinthians 5:7 “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1CO.5.KJV We don’t sacrifice animals because Jesus IS our sacrifice!   

    What was a shadow of things to come? Leviticus 23:4 “These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. 5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's Passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. 7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. 25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 26 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. 31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LEV.23.KJV  Notice the feast fell on the specific days of the month. That day could be a Tuesday or any other day, but still they were called sabbaths and treated like sabbaths.  Deuteronomy 31:9 “And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel. 10 And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, 11 when all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/DEU.31.KJV The law on the SIDE of the Ark was basically the whole book of Deuteronomy and to do with the feasts. We also don’t send every male to Jerusalem three times a year. Hebrews 10:1 “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (In the volume of the book it is written of me,) To do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, And in their minds will I write them;   https://www.bible.com/bible/1/HEB.10.KJV New covenant is God writing His laws on our hearts. Matthew 27:51 “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.27.KJV The way to the Father is through the Son, not a sheep or a goat. Deuteronomy 10:1 “At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood. 2 And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark. 3 And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand. 4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/DEU.10.KJV The TEN commandment law was placed inside the Ark of the covenant. Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAL.3.KJV If God could change then satan would be correct in saying that God is not fair. Neither God nor His laws are changeable. You will find The Sabbath at creation. Genesis 1:31-2: 3 “31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.1.KJV https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.2.KJV There were no Jews at creation, so it isn’t a “Jewish” Sabbath. The ten commandments were spoken by God Himself and written with His finger in Exodus chapter 20, so it’s very curious that Exodus 16 says, in verses “4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. 5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. 23 And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. 24 And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. 25 And Moses said, Eat that today; for today is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field. 26 Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EXO.16.KJV Ezekiel 20:11 “And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. 12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EZK.20.KJV Observance of God’s Sabbath is a SIGN between Him and His people. Jesus observed the Sabbath. Luke 4:16 “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.4.KJV The apostle Paul and the other disciples kept the Sabbath. Acts 13:14 “But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. 27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. 44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ACT.13.KJV Acts 17:2 “and Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ACT.17.KJV The disciple John in Revelation 1:10 says, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.1.KJV Matthew 12:8 “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.12.KJV So the “Lord’s day” is the Sabbath of the Bible. Revelation 14:12 “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.14.KJV James 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JAS.2.KJV Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.5.KJV Isaiah 42:21 “The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.42.KJV Jesus did not do away with the ten commandments he expounded upon them; magnified them. Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.66.KJV We will be keeping the Sabbath in Heaven.  Which day is the Sabbath? Which day did Jesus raise from the dead? Matthew 28:1 “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.” The Christian world celebrates His resurrection on Sunday, according to the Bible that is the first day of the week. How do we keep the Sabbath? Isaiah 58:13 “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 14 then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.58.KJV Isaiah 56:6 “Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD , to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD , to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7 even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.56.KJV Matthew 12:1 “At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. 10 and, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. 13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.12.KJV 1 Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1PE.2.KJV 

A little "rant"

 Dear women everywhere, These are underwear: 

They are NOT "Wal-Mart" attire. But you say, "My bikini shows more than that." Let me tell you something you may not know. Men are stimulated sexually by what they can see. When you dress immodestly it physically does something to most men. Exodus 20:14 "Thou shalt not commit adultery. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EXO.20.KJV Matthew 5:27 "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.5.KJV By your dress, if you are inviting men to ogle your body then you are as guilty as they are for their thoughts AND any actions that they might take. There is NEVER an excuse for rape. I was married to a man who unbeknownst to me had raped a 14 year old virgin. I DO NOT condone any such behavior. The chances of a scantily clad female being raped have got to be way higher than that of a modestly dressed female. (I'm not saying it doesn't happen, obviously it does) What I am saying, is that if you dress modestly then the men can't use your lack of dress as an EXCUSE for wrong behavior.

I am not saying that we have to dress in religious habits: 

nor: Amish dress

nor: Hijab 

If a man takes advantage of a woman dressed like any of these it won't be because he was visually aroused! We need to be Christlike in our dress, and in our characters. 1 Corinthians 6:18 "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1CO.6.KJV Romans 14:13 "Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.14.KJV 1 Corinthians 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1CO.3.KJV

https://youtu.be/WVGdQB3AmUs?si=TmkCl_WDDF2fIvpr

The arm of flesh

 Jeremiah 17: 5 “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JER.17.KJV 2 Corintians 11:13 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/2CO.11.KJV Psalm 146:3 “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, In whom there is no help.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.146.KJV 

I was the child of a minister. My parent’s fought a lot and eventually divorced. Sometimes my father would have a sermon about love and marriage. I would come home and play a record with a song that had the lyrics, “Practice, practice what you preach. I’m here to tell you that it’s what you do not what you say that’s going to count on judgment day.” Dad got the point. 

My father was a very dynamic minister. Whenever we were somewhere the congregation would grow large, but when we moved, the church would fall apart. Basically, people were following him rather than following Jesus. Over the last several years, I have been following an online minister. I have met the man a handful of times as well. He and his wife have led me to many wonderful biblical truths. Recently my heart has been broken upon learning some devastating news with regards to this preacher, and I was reminded of the above texts. “The quote ‘If it weren’t for Christians, I’d be a Christian’ is attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, the prominent Hindu leader and advocate of nonviolence in India. According to the widely recounted story, Gandhi, who was a practicing Hindu, was deeply intrigued by Christianity and the teachings of Jesus as presented in the Gospels. He reportedly attempted to attend a Christian church service in Calcutta but was turned away at the door because the church was restricted to high-caste Indians and whites, a practice he found deeply offensive. This experience of exclusion, which he associated with the caste system and racial segregation, led him to reject Christianity as a faith practiced by the church he encountered. Consequently, he later stated that his negative experience with Christians was the reason he did not become one himself.” https://search.brave.com/search?q=who+said+that+they+would+be+a+christian+if+it+weren%27t+for+Christians&summary=1&conversation=8f952b22244f0e29d56440The third commandment in Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EXO.20.KJV reminds us not to take God’s name in vain. This applies not only to not literally speaking God’s name in vulgar language, but also to taking the name of “Christian” and then not living as Christ did. 

Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.7.KJV God did not say to not to help your brother get the speck out of his eye, but to first clean up your own eye.  When a preacher is continually working on their “brother’s eye”, it behooves the question, what is in your own eye pastor? Jesus was once asked, what is truth? But the person who asked the question didn’t wait or listen for a response.

Supposedly “secret” sins have a way of coming into the light. 2 Samuel 12:9-10. "Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. [10] Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife." https://bible.com/bible/1/2sa.12.9-10.KJV 2 Samuel 12:12 KJV "For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. " https://bible.com/bible/1/2sa.12.12.KJV Ecclesiastes 12:14 KJV "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." https://bible.com/bible/1/ecc.12.14.KJV  Numbers 32:23 “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.” https://bible.com/bible/1/num.32.23.KJV Luke 12:2 “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.” https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.12.2.KJV. Just because you repeat the phrase, “forgive me of all my sins,” does not mean that you are forgiven.  When you cover up your sins and blame others instead of taking responsibility God will not forgive you. See: https://iodtiger.blogspot.com/2025/06/prayers-god-doesnt-listen-to.html Adam and Eve played the blame game; God gave each of them a specific curse for their actions. David took responsibility and was forgiven. He was called a man after God’s own heart. Judas was sorry that he betrayed innocent blood, but he did not repent. Peter was truly repentant and was restored to a right relationship with God. You cannot be restored while blaming someone else for your sins. You cannot be restored by merely saying, “God forgive me”.  Matthew 5:23-24  "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; [24] leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.5.23-24.KJV Acts 22:16  “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” https://bible.com/bible/1/act.22.16.KJV Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” https://bible.com/bible/1/act.2.38.KJV Acts 3:1 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” https://bible.com/bible/1/act.3.19.KJV 

new testimony

My friend David and I have been working together to help spread the gospel. Last Monday he had both a stroke and a heart attack. Last night I was having trouble sleeping so I went and got my phone and noticed that a good friend of mine had sent me two videos. I glanced at the first and started listening to the second. After hearing the second I decided to look at the first one. It was by CD Brooks about demons attacking.  https://youtu.be/Ip_3W6hZHoc The thought hit my mind about the story of Job.  Then another thought crossed my mind, something David had said about the devil not liking the work that we have been doing to spread the gospel and that he would attack us in any way possible. That's when it hit me like a ton of bricks, David's health issues were an attack of satan to stop our work. I did not want to be like Job's wife and speak negatively. I realized that my thoughts had been ones of despair instead of faith. I rushed out of my apartment and down the stairs. David was also awake so I went straight to over him, spoke some words of faith over him and then went back upstairs and promptly fell asleep. David told me this morning that after I left, he felt the Holy Spirit breathing life back into his body. He has been up and ate breakfast and even riding the lawn mower this morning. He still feels somewhat weak, but his countenance looks just like it did before, and I know that God is healing him.

The second beast of Revelation 13

 Because we have looked at the first beast in Revelation 13, it begs the question then who is this second beast? Let us begin by looking at the characteristics and the timing of when this beast arises. Revelation 13:11 "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.13.KJV This beast is like a lamb at first, but then begins to speak as a dragon. How does a nation speak? A nation speaks with it's laws and armies. The beast comes up after the first beast has made war with the saints. "Which nation was predicted to arise around the time the papacy was receiving its deadly wound? The beast of Revelation 13:11-18 symbolizes America.  “I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon” (Revelation 13:11). Prophecy predicted that America would arise from a sparsely settled area. (the beast rising out of the sea represented a system that arose from a densely populated area Revelation 17:15 "And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.17.KJV therefore a beast arising out of the earth is a relatively sparsely populated area) Answer: The papal captivity mentioned in verse 10 took place in 1798, and the new power (verse 11) was seen emerging at that time. The United States declared its independence in 1776, voted the Constitution in 1787, adopted the Bill of Rights in 1791, and was clearly recognized as a world power by 1798. The timing obviously fits America. No other power could possibly qualify.

Horns represent kings and kingdoms or governments (Daniel 7:24 "And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/DAN.7.KJV; 8:21 "And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king." ) https://www.bible.com/bible/1/DAN.8.KJV  In this case, they represent the United States’ two governing principles: civil and religious liberty. These two principles have also been labeled “republicanism” (a government without a king) and “Protestantism” (a church without a pope). Other nations since ancient times had taxed people to support a state religion. Most had also oppressed religious dissidents. But the United States established something entirely new: freedom to worship without government interference. Absence of crowns signifies a republican form of government, rather than a monarchy. Lamb-like horns denote an innocent, young, non-oppressive, peace-loving, and spiritual nation. (Jesus is referred to as a lamb 28 times in Revelation.)

Special Note: How we wish we could stop right here in Jesus’ description of the United States—but we can’t, because He didn’t stop. What comes next might be jolting. The United States is a great country, with its freedom of conscience, press, speech, and enterprise; its opportunities; its sense of fair play; its sympathy for the underdog; and its Christian orientation. It is not perfect, but even still, a host of people from around the world seek to become its citizens every year. Sadly, this richly blessed country will change drastically. (Over the last few decades these freedoms have been stripped away one by one)

What does Revelation 13:11 mean when it says the United States will speak “like a dragon”? Answer:  ..., the dragon is Satan, who works through various earthly powers to establish his own kingdom and to crush God’s church by persecuting and destroying God’s people. Satan’s aim always has been to usurp God’s throne and to force people to worship and obey him... So, speaking as a dragon means the United States (under the influence of Satan) will, in the end time, force people to worship contrary to conscience or be punished.

What specifically will the United States do that will cause it to speak as a dragon? Answer:   Notice these four crucial points: A. “Exercises all the authority of the first beast” (Revelation 13:12) The United States will become a persecuting power that will force people to go against their conscience, as did papal Rome—which is portrayed in the first half of Revelation chapter 13. B. “Causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed” (Revelation 13:12). The United States will lead the nations of the world in forcing allegiance to the papal antichrist. The issue is always worship. Who will you worship and obey? Will it be Christ, your Creator and Redeemer, or antichrist? Every soul on earth will finally worship one or the other. Satan’s approach will appear to be deeply spiritual, and incredible miracles will be seen (Revelation 13:13, 14)—which will deceive billions (Revelation 13:3). Those who refuse to join this movement will be considered divisive, stubborn, radical, and unpatriotic. Jesus labeled Protestant America of the end time a “false prophet” (Revelation 19:20 "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.19.KJV ; 20:10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.20.KJV), because it will appear spiritual and trustworthy but instead will be satanic in its conduct. All this may seem impossible, but Jesus’ words are always reliable and true (Titus 1:2 "in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;")  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/TIT.1.KJV He foretold the rise and fall of the four world empires and the antichrist (Daniel chapters 2 and 7) at a time when such predictions seemed outlandish and incredible. But all came to pass precisely as predicted. His warning to us today regarding prophecy is, “And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. ” (John 14:29.)  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.14.KJV C. “Telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived” (Revelation 13:14). The United States will make an image to the beast by legislating religious practice. It will pass laws requiring worship and force people to either obey them or face death. This action is a copy—or “image”—of the church-state form of government the papacy ruled with at the height of her power during the Middle Ages, when millions were slain for their faith. The United States will combine civil government and apostate Protestantism in a “marriage” that will support the papacy. It will then influence all the nations of the world to follow her example. Thus, the papacy will gain worldwide support. D. “And cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (Revelation 13:15). The United States, as head of this international movement, will next influence the nations of the world to impose a death sentence upon all who refuse to worship the beast or his image. Another name for this worldwide coalition is “Babylon the Great.” ... This worldwide alliance will, in the name of Christ, substitute the policeman’s power for the Holy Spirit’s gentle persuasion—and it will force worship." Mostly quoted from:  https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/study-guide/e/4998/t/the-usa-in-bible-prophecy Links for each biblical reference added by me.