Monday, January 27, 2014

False Gestures/Jesters of Peace

Joseph Herrin (01-27-2014)

















A profound parable was observed yesterday when at the conclusion of the Vatican’s annual  Caravan of Peace event two doves were released and immediately attacked by a crow and a seagull.


















The crow grabbed one of the doves in flight. It also pecked at it and tore feathers from its body.

















The seagull similarly harassed the other peace dove that had been released in what proved to be a stunningly symbolic visual testimony of the false posturing of world religious and political leaders who purport to be men of peace.


















I had reported last year that a very similar event took place when Pope Benedict released a single white dove from the same balcony window and a seagull at once attacked the dove. In the post titled The Darkness Draws Nearer - Part Two, I commented on a photo that the world media used to introduce Jorge Mario Bergoglio to the world. This is the name of the man now known to the world as Pope Francis I. Below is the photo that was printed in the global media which is controlled by the masters of the New World Order.
















Why did the Illuminati controlled media choose this particular photo to show to the world the face of the new Pope? Bergoglio is clothed completely in black and his hand is hidden inside of his coat. Compare this image to that of the Pope standing at the balcony window at the top of this post. In the image from yesterday he is clothed all in white. Even as he has been given a new name, he has also been given a new image. The truth remains, however, that Pope Francis I is none other than Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a Jesuit priest who now shares the same name as Francis Xavier, one of the founders of the Jesuits. A study of the Jesuit order reveals that they have been one of the most violent, wicked, cunning, and deceptive organizations the world has known since their founding in 1540 A.D.. It was the Jesuits who were behind the Gunpowder Plot (1605 A.D.) that attempted to blow up the British House of Lords when the King James I and parliament were to be gathered there.

The Gunpowder Plot is also known as the Jesuit Treason. All of the main actors in this attempted act of murder and destruction were members of The Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Though many people do not recognize the source of the following image, it is traceable back to this act of Jesuit treason.


















Guy Fawkes Mask

Interestingly, Fawkes and Fox are phonetically identical. The fox is renowned for its cunning, and so are the Jesuits. Guy Fawkes was given charge of the gunpowder that was smuggled underneath the House of Lords as he had ten years of military experience. He was discovered at midnight on November 4, 1605 guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder, enough to reduce the House of Lords to rubble and to kill everyone inside.

I find it very significant that the Guy Fawkes mask has become a cultural symbol of anonymity. Guy Fawkes, a member of the Jesuit Treason, was a worker of evil, violence and deception while pretending to be a follower of Jesus. The actions of these Jesuit men were not those of Jesus. They were of the same spirit as those who came to arrest the Son of God in the Garden of Gethsemane. That spirit is the spirit of antichrist and of Satan. These were not men of peace. They were men of violence who clothed themselves in darkness.

Luke 22:52-53
And Yahshua said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as against a robber? While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours."

Observing the image of Pope Francis I standing on the balcony at the Vatican, a person could rightly ask, “What do you have to do with peace, for you are a man of deception, darkness, violence, wickedness and intrigue?” Yet, here is the man under a new name, garbed in white from the cap on top of his head all the way down to his feet. He fulfills the warning of the apostle Paul for the true disciples of Christ to not be deceived by men who are evil workers.

II Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds.

The Oxford Dictionary lists the word “equivocating” as a secondary meaning of the word Jesuit. One who equivocates uses ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in an attempt to mislead others. The Jesuits have been condemned for their penchant for employing casuistry, which is unsound rational arguments to support unjust actions or false doctrinal positions. Pope Francis is no stranger to the use of casuistry. Since his election to Pope of the Roman Catholic Church a number of staged encounters have been reported where he has given what seem to be spontaneous comments to reporters that are afterwards qualified and explained by employees of the Vatican.

A case in point is his statement to reporters on board a flight returning from Brazil to Rome. When asked about the subject of homosexuals serving as priests, Bergoglio/Francis declared, “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” This is an example of Jesuit casuistry. It is false reasoning and it opens the door for homosexuality to eventually be normalized by the Roman Catholic Church. It is not Christians who “judge” that homosexuality is deviant moral behavior. This is God’s judgment, and it is stated plainly in the Scriptures. It is the responsibility of Christians to align themselves with the judgment of Yahweh, not to make judgments independent of God through the reasoning of their own soul.

The media has not given this much positive attention to an individual since Barack Obama first ran for President of the United States. The Illuminati controlled media is pulling out all stops in their drive to present Pope Francis I as a humble, compassionate, and righteous man. He was recently named Time Magazine’s Man of the Year. The global media has swooned over his every act of self-righteous posturing, from his decision to not live in the Papal palace, to his washing the feet of prisoners, to choosing a 1984 model Renault for his personal transport (when he is not using the mass transit system). NBC Worldnews provided the following glowing testimonial of Pope Francis.

"He has rebranded the church as welcoming, compassionate, a church for the poor as opposed to a church that nags people and is worried about rules and regulations," said Reese, author of "Inside the Vatican."

"The analogy I love to use is when you go home for Christmas, what you want is a hug from your mom. You don't want to be asked about your nose ring, or why you dyed your hair, or who are you sleeping with now? He is trying to turn the church into a loving parent, not a nagging parent."
[Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/12/22/21984495-who-am-i-to-judge-the-popes-most-powerful-phrase-in-2013?lite]

In Pope Francis, I am reminded of the media adoration of Barack Obama. Prior to his election as President, Barack Obama aligned himself with the mainstream views of the majority of Americans. He famously declared that he believed that marriage was defined as the union of a man and a woman. The global powers continued to build up the saintly persona of this man, even awarding him the Noble Peace Prize in 2009 when he had done nothing of note to deserve it.























Although the media has clothed Obama in the garb of a peacemaker, he has been just the opposite. He failed in his promise to immediately remove U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and to shut down the prison at Guantanamo. He has been instrumental in sowing racial strife in a number of high profile cases since his election. He has assented to the overthrow of the sovereign government of Libya and the violent public murder of the Libyan’s elected leader. He has fomented civil unrest and supported government oppression in Egypt. He has additionally been agitating for American military involvement in Syria. He is no dove. He is a hawk, and a servant to the military industrial complex.

Barack Obama has proven to be a liar (“If you like your healthcare policy, you can keep it.” “If you like your doctors, you can keep them.” etc.) He is also a deceiver. Once he was securely in office he began to reveal his true character as the greatest promoter of homosexuality that America has ever known. He justified his endorsement of homosexual marriage by stating that he has “evolved” in his thinking on the subject. Obama betrayed the American people who believed his lies when he was campaigning. His behavior is not the result of evolution, it is an act of treason.

People of God, we live in an hour where men are assuming personas as righteous workers who care for the common man, but their true character is quite different. To see the disparity between what these men say and what they actually do, I recommend the following page that includes short video clips of Obama’s many lies.

http://www.endalldisease.com/obama-lies/

We are now observing a similar work of deception being carried out around the character of Pope Francis I. The whitewashed image being present to the public in the global media is of a humble, compassionate, man of peace. Nothing is further from the truth. Following is an excerpt from the post titled The Darkness Draws Nearer - Part Two which warned of what we could expect from this man.
---
Seagulls are vicious birds that are known to attack other birds and to eat them. I see in this a testimony of this unclean bird that is Rome, attacking the Spirit led saints of Christ who are symbolized by the dove. This event takes on further significance due to something that was observed on the day Pope Francis’ election was announced. There is a chimney at the Vatican that is used to signal whether the Cardinals (also the name of a bird) have elected a new Pope. The ballots are burned after each vote. If a Pope has not yet been chosen chemicals are added to the fire to produce black smoke from the chimney. If a new Pope has been elected, a different combination of chemicals is added to make the smoke appear white.

Thousands were gathered at the Vatican, and all eyes were upon the chimney at the Sistine Chapel watching for the smoke signal when a seagull came and alighted on it.



















This occurred on March 13, 2013, just prior to the election of the new Pope being signaled. This seems to be a foreboding sign of a much more predatory spirit being observed in the church in coming days.
[End Excerpt]

The ravenous, violent, unclean seagull represents the nature of the man elected to be Pope as well as the character of the leadership of this worldwide religious institution. Don’t be fooled by the mask he is wearing, the image that the global media has painted of him.























This is NOT a man of peace. Yahweh has shown us the man’s true nature as the predatory seagull attacked the dove of peace.
---
I would make mention of what I perceive to be a related story in the news. It is that of the upcoming Super Bowl. The two teams that will be meeting will be the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos.


















Here is a further testimony of that predatory spirit that is loosed upon the earth at this time. It is coupled with the image of the horse, of which Denver is famous for more than one. When the Denver International Airport was constructed, a sculpture of a Mustang was commissioned for $300,000. The sculpture has become known as the “Devil Horse,” “DIAblo,” (DIA capitalized for the name of the airport), and “Satan’s Stallion.” Because of its blue coloration, some locals also refer to is as “Blucifer.” It is uncharacteristic for a publicly awarded sculpture, being grotesque and very evil in appearance.























The sculpture shows veins and ribs bulging. The artist even emphasized the anus of this beastly creature, giving it a raging, violent and grotesque aspect.














Those familiar with the Denver Airport recognize it as an Illuminati showplace. It is adorned with murals of bizarre scenes of death and violence. There was a great controversy over the cost overruns which ran into the billions of dollars, and there is evidence that a secret underground installation was constructed during the building of the airport. Some have suggested that it will be used as a sanctuary for the global elite in a time of worldwide distress and upheaval.

http://vigilantcitizen.com/sinistersites/sinister-sites-the-denver-international-airport/

For a time, Blucifer even had Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead, to keep it company.

http://youtu.be/lnLADVWNjJM



This seems fitting since in a further bizarre event, the sculptor Luis Jimenez, was killed when the statue fell over and crushed him against a wall in 2006. The horse wasn’t unveiled until 2008, eventually costing $650,000, more than twice its original commission price.

As I have considered the spiritual implications of the upcoming Super Bowl, I was mindful that just a few days prior to the event the Chinese Year of the Horse begins. To be specific
2014 is the Chinese year of the Wood Horse. When I think of wooden horses I am reminded of the Trojan Horse.



















For those unfamiliar with the Trojan War, the Trojan horse represented a turning point in a ten year battle between the Greeks and the city of Troy. Not having been able to conquer Troy after many years, the Greeks resorted to subtlety and deception to accomplish what might alone could not do. They built a great wooden horse, a symbol venerated by the people of Troy, and pretended to sail off, leaving it behind as an offering to the goddess Athena, whose temple the Greeks had desecrated at Troy. The Greeks burned their tents and then sailed off, leaving one man behind outside, while an elite force also hid within the hollow innards of the great statue.

The man left outside pretended to have been abandoned by his people. He explained to the citizens of Troy that the horse was built to win the favor of Athena and to secure a safe passage home for the Greeks. Despite warnings from those with insight in the city, the great wooden horse is wheeled inside the city gates. In the night the Greek warriors exited the horse, slew the guards at the gates of the city, and opened the city gates to the Greek army who had sailed back under cover of darkness. The entire tale is recounted in Virgil’s Aeneid. Following are a few key lines.

What a thing was this, too, which that mighty man wrought and endured in the carven horse, wherein all we chiefs of the Argives were sitting, bearing to the Trojans death and fate!...

But come now, change thy theme, and sing of the building of the horse of wood, which Epeius made with Athena's help, the horse which once Odysseus led up into the citadel as a thing of guile, when he had filled it with the men who sacked Ilion.

The Trojan horse is described as “carven” like the sculpture in Denver. It is also referred to as “a thing of guile.” It was presented as a gift, but was actually an instrument of treachery and death. Troy fell that night as the mighty walls of their city were breached through this act of deception.

The suggested link I see between men like Pope Francis, Barack Obama and the Broncos playing in the Super Bowl and the Chinese year of the wood horse, is that all of them point to a false and deceptive outward appearance. Inside the Trojan horse were deadly enemies of the people of Troy. Yet outwardly it appeared to be a gift. From this event came the famous phrase, “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.”

The Christian would be wise to heed this ancient proverb. It puts me in mind of a similar admonition from the Son of God that also relates to doves.

Matthew 10:16-17
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves. But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in their synagogues...”

The true disciples of Christ are symbolized by doves in their innocence. Though the disciples of Christ are to be harmless in their words and actions toward others, they are admonished to behave wisely and to “beware of men.”

There is much that is false and deceptive in this hour. Men who pretend to be workers of light and truth are in actuality full of darkness and deceit. Things that are offered to humanity in this hour as gifts (Obamacare for example) actually contain the seeds of death and enslavement to this world’s global masters.

Beware of that which is presented to man as something that is beneficial. Whether it be the latest vaccine that promises protection from disease, or some financial benefit from the government, beware. Death and tragic loss is lurking.

I recently read an article that related how under Obamacare changes have been quietly made to Medicaid as millions of Americans are being led to enroll in this greatly expanded government health service. Hidden among the fine print is the statement that those receiving medical care through Medicaid will have a lien placed upon their property which upon their death will give the government legal authority to seek reimbursement for all medical expenses before any inheritance is disbursed to the family or loved ones of the deceased. This will result in the impoverishment of millions of American families as their wealth is no longer passed along to their descendants, but is confiscated by the government. Interestingly, this truth was first reported in the Seattle Times newspaper.

seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022469957_medicaidrecoveryxml.html

What I am discerning through these many signs is that it is a time for Christians to act with great wisdom and shrewdness, being wary of the posturing and pretensions of political and religious rulers who say one thing but mean another. Beware of those who offer gifts that outwardly appear attractive, but inwardly contain a snare.

We live in that hour when men are proclaiming “Peace, Peace,” but there is no peace. Even as the doves released by Pope Francis were attacked by the crow and the seagull, the people of God must be wary for the Devil has many disciples who are waiting with predatory hearts to pounce upon the naive and unwise.


Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws    

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com    

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Updates to the Heart4God Website

Updates to the Heart4God Website

I have added a number of teachings to the Heart4God website. The recently completed Yahweh’s Book can now be found as a PDF file on the Book page.



















Additionally, I posted the series The Hearing Ear to the Articles page. It can be found at the bottom of the list of Serial Writings.    Also added to the Serial writings section is The Darkness Draws Nearer.



















I also added the writing Wreck-It Ralph, Sympathy for the Devil as it has proven to be a popular writing. It can be found under the Articles page where it is listed alphabetically.

May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days,

Joseph Herrin


Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws    

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com    

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Yahweh's Book - Use It or Lose It!


















In 2013 the American Bible Society commissioned the Barna Group to conduct a survey. The focus of the survey was American’s attitudes and actions relating to the Bible. The results were published under the title The State of the Bible, 2013. The report reveals a tremendous disparity between what people say, and what they actually do, when it comes to the Bible. For example, although 88% of American adults reported that their household contained a Bible, and on average there were 4.4 Bibles per household, only half of those surveyed were characterized as Bible readers. This designation was itself rather generous considering that among the 50% of American adults characterized as Bible readers, 9% said they read the bible no more than 3 to 4 times a year, and an additional 7% read it on average once a month.

The Barna Group survey reported that 47% of Americans STRONGLY AGREE that the Bible contains EVERYTHING a person needs to know to live a meaningful life. Additionally, more than half of adults (56%) believe the Bible has too little influence in U.S. society today. Nevertheless, only 13% of those surveyed said they read the Bible daily. Another 20% stated that they are weekly Bible readers.

It may sound impressive to hear that a full third of American adults read their Bibles either daily, or weekly, but it should be kept in mind that among religiously minded people there is a tendency to dramatically overstate their actual participation in spiritual activity. As a case in point, among those deemed to be “Bible readers,” the survey reported that 13% could not identify the Bible version they read and 39% (more than a third) of those who identified themselves as practicing Protestants could not name the first five books of the Bible. The survey also reported that 58% of Americans wrongly thought that John the Baptist was one of the twelve apostles. (Protestants did no better than Catholics on this question.) These facts reveal a very low level of familiarity with the Scriptures among a significant number of people identified as Bible readers.

Not surprisingly, the survey reported that the number one frustration relating to the Bible was not having enough time to read it. The complete survey can be viewed at the following link.

http://www.americanbible.org/uploads/content/State%20of%20the%20Bible%20Report%202013.pdf

As I reflected upon the results of this survey I was reminded of the following words of Christ.

Matthew 6:21
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

If you want to know the true value a person places upon something, do not listen to their claims, instead observe their actions. The person making the loudest and boldest declaration of their love and reverence for the Bible may in fact spend very little time reading and meditating upon the Scriptures. Yahweh sees beyond the boasting of man’s speech. As the saying goes, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Intentions are not actions.

When Christ addressed the churches of Asia Minor in the opening chapters of Revelation, He began His comments with the repeated statement, “I know your deeds.”

Revelation 2:1-2
To the angel of the church in Ephesus write... “I know your deeds...”

Revelation 2:18-19
"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write... “I know your deeds...”

Revelation 3:1
And to the angel of the church in Sardis write... “I know your deeds...”

Revelation 3:7-8
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write... “I know your deeds.”

Revelation 3:14-15
And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write... “I know your deeds...”

To the church in America Yahshua will judge no differently. He will not judge the church in America, or any other nation, on its confession. He will judge them on their deeds. When Yahshua reveals that which His people deemed to be valuable, He will look at where they focused their time and attention.

Some years back an e-mail began circulating that posed the question, “What if we began to treat our Bibles the way we treat our cell phones?” This was followed by additional questions.

•    What if we carried it with us everywhere?
•    What if we turned back to get it if we forgot it?
•    What if we checked it for messages throughout the day?
•    What if we used it in case of an emergency?
•    What if we spent an hour or more using it each day?





















Like the cell phone, the Bible is a communication device. It is called “the word of God” for good reason. The Bible is one of the chief instruments Yahweh uses to speak to His people. Much is revealed as a person compares their behavior regarding their cell phone and that regarding their Bible.

Recognizing that a cell phone allows an individual to stay in communication with other people, and the Bible assists them in staying in touch with God, which one do you grab before you go out the door in the morning? If you have previously experienced God speaking to you through the pages of Scriptures, would you not want to check the Bible often to see if Yahweh has some new message for you? Are not Yahweh’s messages more important than those received from friends, family, and other people?

When was the last time you turned back to get your Bible when you realized you did not have it with you? Have you ever turned back to get your cell phone when you realized you did not have it on your person? If you encountered an emergency situation, would you be more likely to call out to God first, or reach for your phone and call somebody to help you?

When was the last time you received a word from the Father as you read the Bible? When was the last time you received new revelation when meditating upon a passage of Scripture? When did you last sense your heavenly Father speaking as the Bible was opened before you? Is it possible that there is a correlation between the time you spend in the word of God and the frequency with which you hear His voice?
           
Have you ever heard God speak something to you that you did not want to hear, or hear Him give you some direction you did not want to obey, so you tuned Him out? Do you avoid reading the Bible because it might lead to conviction that God wants to change things in your life? I admit that I am at times prone to silencing my phone when someone calls me and I do not want to talk to them at the moment. Have you considered that an absence of Bible reading is man’s way of silencing God’s voice? It is like setting your cell phone to mute.




















There can be no more effective way to mute the voice of the Holy Spirit in the Bible than to not read it. Leave the Bible on the shelf to collect dust and it will speak to no one.

One attribute of those whom the Father has used in spiritually powerful ways is that they meditated regularly on the words of God recorded in Scripture.

Psalms 119:24, 99
Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors... I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.

The apostle Paul gave the following wise encouragement and counsel to Timothy.

II Timothy 3:14-17
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Yahshua. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work

Paul himself remained an avid student of the Scriptures until the end of his life. In the same letter, Paul instructed Timothy to bring him the Scriptures he had left in Troas.

II Timothy 4:13
When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.

Seeing that the Bible holds so much potential for advancement to spiritual maturity and understanding of the ways of God, should Christians not clamor out for it as if it were a great and valued treasure? A recent phenomenon has been observed as people line up outside of stores selling the latest iPhone or Android based smart phone. Some camp out for days in anticipation of a new model phone being released. What if people showed the same enthusiasm for purchasing a new Bible? What if crowds clamored with outstretched hands, pleading to be given a copy of the word of God?


















I began this teaching series by sharing about my delight and excitement at having received my first Bible in my youth. That little, brown, leather bound KJV Bible was treasured by me. I always knew where it was at. I carried it with me more than any other possession I owned at the time. I read it often and considered myself fortunate to have received such a valuable and useful gift.

When in recent years I was twice put in jail my great desire was to have a copy of the Scriptures to read as I spent 20 hours a day in a cell. When the Father led me through many distressing experiences, fears, and trials, beginning in 1999 and continuing for a period of years, my prize possession was my Bible. In it I sought comfort, encouragement, strength, wisdom, and direction. Through many wilderness journeys I have kept Yahweh’s Book close at hand. It is the nearest tangible connection I have to the One who created me. It is a book I have loved and treasured from my youth and I continue to treasure it to this day. It is my prayer that you might as well.


Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws    

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com    

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Reflections From Jekyll Island

Joseph Herrin (01-15-2014)


















Champ on the Beach, Jekyll Island, Georgia
(Click on any image to view larger)

My time on Jekyll Island is drawing to a close. I will be pulling up stakes and returning to Central Georgia on February 1st. Champ and I have about two weeks left here. It has been a memorable, and pleasant time, notwithstanding my bicycle wreck and broken ribs. There was grace even for that experience, and it seemed to have passed quickly. Yahweh was very kind to permit me these four months here at the Jekyll Island Campground. He knows that I enjoy the peace and solitude of the island and find much delight in riding the bike trails. Champ also seems to find island living suitable.

I thought I would share a few photos from my time here on the island. You can get a sense of the serenity of the island from the photo above. It is taken from close to the extreme north end of Jekyll Island looking south. The Atlantic Ocean is lapping gently against the shoreline. I would like to allow Champ to run free on the beach, but the entire island is a state park and there is a leash law for pets.


















The View From Where I Sit

I will provide a pictorial view of a course Champ and I have walked a number of times since we have been here. It begins at the campground. The photo above is taken from my dining table in my bus. The table also serves as my desk. It is where I do all of my writing. I can look out my front window and see a portion of the campground and watch people go by, many of whom are walking their dogs.


















Horseback Riders Along Clam Creek Road

Directly across from the entrance to the campground is a road that leads down to the fishing pier. The road is bordered by Live Oaks that are heavy with Spanish Moss that hangs from the branches. We walk past Clam Creek, and a paddock where horses are kept to offer visitors horseback rides on the beach. Champ has lots of scents to stop and sniff along the way. It is about 3/4ths of a mile from the campground to the pier.


















Jekyll Island Pier

If you turn right just in front of the pier, you can either access the Clam Creek bike trail, or get on the beach. Champ and I have done both. I will show you our walk along the beach. The pier is not on the Ocean. It is located on the north end of the Island on a body of water known as the St. Simon’s Sound. From the pier you can look west and see the city of Brunswick and the majestic Sidney Lanier Bridge, or you can look north and see St. Simon’s Island.

After getting on the beach by the pier, you initially begin walking north, but after a few hundred yards you are at the very northern point of the island and begin walking east toward the Atlantic Ocean. After about 3/4ths of a mile you are on the Atlantic side of Jekyll Island and turn south. There is about 8 miles of beach along the Atlantic. At high tide there are sections where the beach is completely covered by water, but when the tide is out a person could walk, or bike the entire length of the island. On this walk Champ and I only go about 2 miles south, where we exit and return to the campground. This gives us a walking loop of about 4 miles.


















Champ on North End of Jekyll Island

The sudsy looking stuff on the beach is not due to pollution. It is the blown spume that gets whipped up from the water on a breezy day. Whenever I see spume on the beach I am reminded of the poem Sea Fever by John Masefield. When I was in sixth grade I had to memorize this poem and recite it before the class. It is probably the only reason I know what spume is.

Sea Fever
By John Masefield
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

I guess I have felt the allure of the sea ever since learning that poem many years ago. At times I wonder what it would be like to work as a seaman on an ocean going vessel. Champ and I saw one such vessel gliding by us as it was leaving the port of Brunswick, traversing the St. Simon’s Sound on its way out to the Atlantic.


















The Polaris Ace

I was walking down the beach and noticed that Champ had stopped. He was staring out at the water, so I turned to see what he was looking at. Just a few hundred yards off the shore was this large vehicle transport ship gliding swiftly, and quietly by. The ships offload cars in Brunswick then go to pick up some more.


















Champ Near Where We Saw the Polaris Ace

After we made it around to the Atlantic side of the island, Champ began discovering mysterious creatures on the beach. He is wary of things he doesn’t recognize, and approaches with great caution.


















Champ and the Shell of a Horseshoe Crab


















Getting a Little Closer

As we walked a little further along, we also came across a blue crab on the beach. It wasn’t alive, but Champ wasn’t taking any chances.


















Champ and the Blue Crab

About a mile south on the Atlantic side of Jekyll Island one comes to Driftwood Beach. This is the most scenic beach area on the island. Storms and tides have eroded the ground in the maritime forest that borders the beach. As the soil was washed away some of the trees were no longer in the forest, but found themselves on the beach. It is an unusual spectacle to see pine and oak trees standing upright in the middle of a sandy beach. The roots of the trees have been laid bare, like fingers trying to maintain a hold upon the earth so they can remain upright. It is a very intriguing sight to behold and I never get tired of it.


















Pine Tree on Driftwood Beach



















Lonely Sentinel on Driftwood Beach

As the beach walker progresses southward they begin to spot an isolated tree here and there. Some have toppled over and they seem fairly well preserved, evidently due to the salt in the water. Some are polished smooth from wave action. Proceeding further south the trees on the beach become more numerous until you have to wend your way through them as if finding your way through a maze. It is an odd sight to see so many trees with no soil grass, ferns, or other plants around them. The ocean has stripped all away leaving this portion of the island forest exposed and lonely on the sandy beach.


















Driftwood Beach

It’s a lot of fun riding a bike down this section of the beach, weaving in and out among the trees. I haven’t take my Catrike on the beach, and don’t intend to, as I don’t want to get salt water on the chain and cables. Salt water and steel produce rust almost instantly, so I have used only one bike on the beach and I rinse it off with fresh water afterwards.

The island has not changed much in the years since I first visited at the age of 16. Bike trails have been added, and in the last decade the old convention center was replaced with a new one. Groundbreaking took place about a month ago for a new shopping center to replace the 1960s era strip shopping center that was torn down about five years ago.

The photo below shows me sitting on the Jekyll Pier in 1984 when I was 23 years old. I will save you the trouble of doing the math. I am 52 years old now.


















The image quality is not very good as this was taken as a snapshot of a printed photograph. They did not have digital cameras in 1984.

Champ and I look to make the most of our last two weeks here on the island, then The Dreamer bus must pack up and follow the pillar and the cloud to our next resting spot.


Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws    

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com    

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Yahweh's Book - Unlocking the Bible


















Divine truth is exceedingly precious. In the same way that man places his treasures under lock and key, so does Yahweh. The treasures of the kingdom of God are not carnal things like silver, gold, and precious gems. In the treasury of heaven are hidden divine mysteries and the knowledge of the Holy One. Yahweh does not permit anyone to stroll into His treasure house and freely take what they will. The entrance into the storehouse of wisdom, knowledge, and divine secrets is a guarded one.

Having read the previous two chapters, it would be a mistake to conclude that all that is needed to obtain spiritual wisdom and the understanding of divine mysteries are the Scriptures and various tools to aid in their study. If that were true, Bible Colleges and Seminaries would be able to offer a money-back guarantee that all students who pass through their doors will leave possessing the great truths, and divine treasures, of the kingdom of God. The evidence proves such a thought to be a lie. There is great apostasy among the institutions of Biblical learning. Men who spend years learning about Biblical exegesis (critical explanation) and Scriptural hermeneutics (the science of interpretation) often come away doubting even the divinity of Christ, the virgin birth, the resurrection of the Son of God from the dead, and other seminal truths of the faith. How can this be?

Yahweh has linked together obedience to His will and access to His storehouse of truth. Just as there are laws that govern nature, such as the law of gravity, there are inviolable laws in the kingdom of God. One of these laws is expressed in the following words of the Messiah.

Luke 8:18
"So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him."

If God has given you truth and you have obeyed the truth, conforming your life to the light you have received, Yahweh will grant you access to more truth. However, if you have disobeyed the truth then further truth will be withheld from you. In fact, those who are hearers, but not doers, of the word of God will find that even that which they once possessed will be taken from them.

Have you ever observed the life of a carnal believer who is living an unholy life, justifying his/her actions despite what they know to be the will of God? Have you never observed such an one come to a point in their life where they deny the truth they once possessed, even turning away from their profession of being a Christian? Those who are given the light of truth, but choose to walk in disobedience will find that their understanding will become darkened. The knowledge of God will be restricted. They will never advance past elementary truths, and they will be in danger of losing those as well.

The Bible reveals that spiritual truth comes from the Father. To some men truth it is withheld, while to others free access is granted. Those who are outside the kingdom of God, strangers to the Holy Spirit of promise, are unable to understand, or receive, spiritual truth.

I Corinthians 2:12-14
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

Being born of the Spirit of God is a prerequisite for receiving the thoughts of God. Yet, spiritual birth alone is insufficient to guarantee that the Christian will be granted access to divine truth. If a Christian walks like a natural man, they will be treated like a natural man. The mysteries of God will remain mysteries to them. Carnal Christians often behave as scoffers when divine truth is spoken to them.

In the book of Isaiah, the prophet declared to the people of Israel that Yahweh had removed from them discernment and wisdom because they were walking in sin and had embraced idolatry.

Isaiah 29:10-14
For Yahweh has poured over you a spirit of deep sleep, He has shut your eyes, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, the seers. And the entire vision shall be to you like the words of a sealed book, which when they give it to the one who is literate, saying, "Please read this," he will say, "I cannot, for it is sealed." Then the book will be given to the one who is illiterate, saying, "Please read this." And he will say, "I cannot read." Then the Lord said, "Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be concealed."

Yahweh will do the same thing to Christians who do not surrender their lives to follow the path He has chosen for their perfecting. There are myriads of Christians who seek to serve both God and mammon. Having come to confess faith in Christ, there is little fundamental change in the course of their lives. They continue to pursue the desires of their soul. They work where they choose, live where they choose, date or marry whomever they please, pursue worldly entertainment as they did before coming to Christ, spend money on whatever their soul desires. They then wonder why the Bible remains such a closed book to them.























Worse yet, many who have rejected Christ’s invitation to “take up YOUR cross and follow Me,” gravitate to preachers and churches that teach falsehood, where there is no mention of the cost of discipleship. They are self-deceived, believing that the no-cost Christianity, and materialistic doctrine of personal fulfillment and prosperity they are hearing are “the deep things of God.” These are blind followers of blind leaders.

Matthew 15:14
“And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

It is both just and wise for Yahweh to withhold truth from those who are unfaithful. Yahweh will always bring to a Christian some test of truth to see whether they will obey, accepting the consequences no matter how costly. For some, the test may be something as simple as separating themselves from cultural holidays that are pagan in origin. Year after year the Spirit of Christ has directed me to teach publicly about the idolatrous origins of Christmas and the traditions that are associated with it. It is quite costly for a Christian to separate themselves from idolatry when it is something their soul loves. It is all the more difficult when one recognizes that a spouse, children, or other family members, friends, work associates, or fellow Christians will object, sometimes vehemently. Following Christ in the way of truth often leads to separation from those close to our hearts.

Luke 14:25-27
Now great multitudes were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

Matthew 10:34-38
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;  and a man's enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”

I have people write to me frequently who declare the Bible to be a closed book to them. They relate to me how they can read Scriptures and not get anything out of them. Some sit down to study the Scriptures and cannot even recall the passage they just read. In such cases I never ask the person if they are using the best Bible study tools. The issue is not one of access to the right information. It is a matter of having a veil over one’s understanding, placed there because of some failure to obey the truth that God has already given to them.

Many Christians would vociferously deny that there is any link between participating in Christmas festivities and their ability to glean truth from the Scriptures. Yet, if God has called you to separate yourself from that which is unclean, and you refuse to do so, He is both just and wise to withhold from you further truth.

Many men and women have married a person that the Holy Spirit told them not to marry. Some have adopted a lifestyle that is sinful. It is reported that a large percentage of Christian men are viewing pornography regularly on the Internet, or on television. When Christians walk as natural men, engaging willfully in sinful behavior, Yahweh will treat them as natural men. Access to His most holy things will be restricted from them.

Jeremiah 29:13-14
“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you,” declares Yahweh, “and I will restore your fortunes...”

Yahweh never intended all mankind to be granted understanding of His word. We see this clearly in the ministry of Christ. Yahshua knew who the Father had given to Him to be His disciples, and who had not. Though all the Jews were religious and claimed to be followers of Yahweh, the Son of God made a clear demarcation between His disciples and the rest of the Jews.

Matthew 13:10-11
And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” And He answered and said to them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.”

Christ spoke all things to the multitudes in parables. Similarly, the Bible has been given to the masses of humanity, but it is a veiled book. During the years of His ministry Yahshua would take His disciples apart to some private place and explain to them the meaning of the parables. The masses of people who heard the parables got no such explanation.

Mark 4:33-34
And with many such parables He was speaking the word to them as they were able to hear it; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.

A critical matter is revealed when one understands the criteria for being a disciple. Yahshua spelled out the qualifications for being His disciple so that no one would be in doubt.

Luke 14:26-27
“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

Luke 14:33
So then, any of you who does not forsake (renounce, surrender claim to, give up, say good-bye to) all that he has cannot be My disciple.
[Amplified Bible]

Being a disciple is a costly proposition. A man or woman must yield the control of their life to Christ. They must agree to go where He says go, and to do what He says do. They cannot claim anything in this world as their own. All they possess, their very life, must be placed in the hands of God for Him to determine what to do with it.

It was men and women who had embraced the cost of discipleship that He took aside to explain to them the mysteries of His kingdom. It is such men and women who continue to be granted access to God’s most holy things today.




















It has ever been a remnant who have heeded the invitation to “Come, take up your cross, and follow Me.” These are accounted as true disciples. To such ones the Bible is a rich banquet. They are given permission to eat from a table of truth and divine mysteries that is restricted to others.

Hebrews 13:9-10
Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefitted. We have an altar, from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Note how the apostle compares doctrines to food. He then states that the altar of divine truth is restricted. “Those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat” from this altar. This is a parable, for the tabernacle is a symbol for man’s body.

I Corinthians 6:19
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit...

Those who “serve the tabernacle” are those who serve the flesh. If you would dine on the truths of Yahweh’s kingdom, if you would be a partaker of His holy things, you must crucify the flesh with its passions and desires. You must accept the invitation of Christ and follow in His steps.

The pride of man would entertain the thought that anyone can be a possessor of divine truth. It is nothing more than humanism to believe that all one needs is a Bible, some tools and some training, and they can plumb the depths of the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Yahweh’s kingdom does not function along such lines. Yahweh grants wisdom and understanding to whom He pleases, and He withholds the same from those He has determined should not have access to His divine mysteries.

If you love truth you will show your love by your willingness to suffer for it. If you are faithful with the little you have been given, Yahweh will give you more.


Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws    

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com    

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Yahweh's Book - Knowledge Will Increase

















Accordance Bible Software Screen Shot
(Image shows Accordance Bible study software with Bible passage, commentary, Greek New Testament, Brown Driver Briggs Lexicon, map, geographic coordinates, and personal notes panes open.)

Daniel 12:4
“But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”

The introduction of the computer has revolutionized man’s pursuit of knowledge in all fields of study. This is as true of the study of the Scriptures, as it is of the fields of biology, physics, or mathematics. Computer based tools have been developed that would inspire awe in the passionate Bible student of past centuries. No longer do men and women need to travel the world to study in the great libraries of universities, or the museums of nations. Nor do they have to pore over faded manuscripts by the light of a candle, or lantern. Gone are the days when a Bible scholar such as Erasmus was fortunate to have access to only a handful of incomplete manuscripts to create a translation into another language. Computer based Bible study resources are readily available today that bring together vast volumes of literature, commentary, and reference material on the Scriptures. Such a collection, though common today, would have been the envy of many ancient ecclesiastical schools. Neither is this material so expensive as to be out of reach of the majority of people. There are excellent computer based resources that are freely distributed at no cost to the user.

My own study of the Scriptures took a leap forward when I acquired my first copy of the program PC Study Bible from Biblesoft back in the 1990s. I continue to use this program, having upgraded it when each new version has come out (the current version is PC Study Bible 5). Not only did this computer based Bible software make it much easier for me to locate passages of Scripture by searching on a word or two, to find passages on a specific topic, and to access Strong’s Greek and Hebrew definitions more easily, but it brought to me study resources I did not previously possess.

One of the tools that has most transformed my personal study of the Scriptures is the Interlinear Bible on computer. Now, when I am studying a passage of Scripture, I can quickly switch to the Interlinear view and see what Hebrew and Greek words correspond to the English text.















PC Study Bible 5 with Interlinear Bible Pane Opened
(Click on any image to view larger)

In the screen shot above I have opened the Interlinear Bible to display the Scripture from Daniel 12:4 that is cited at the beginning of this post. You will note that the English text is displayed. Underneath each English word is the Strong’s Concordance number. Below the Strong’s number is a transliteration of the Hebrew or Greek word into English. With this view opened, I can click on any of the Strong’s numbers and the entry for that word will be opened in another pane.

Also, by right clicking any of the Strong’s numbers, a pop-up menu appears that provides me with a number of other tools. Among the most useful of these tools, and the one I use most often in my studies, is the Englishman’s Concordance Search. By choosing this option I can see a list of every place in the Bible where a specific Hebrew or Greek word occurs. This is a valuable tool, for it permits me to see whether the word in question has other shades of meaning, and whether the Bible translators rendered it consistently into English.
















Interlinear View Showing Pop-Up Menu Options

There are times when the Strong’s dictionary definition of a word contains some error, or is deficient in not showing the full range of meaning of a specific Hebrew or Greek word. This makes it necessary for the student of the Scriptures to look at all of the occurrences of a Hebrew or Greek word in order to establish its meaning from the context in which it appears. For example, yesterday a brother in Christ e-mailed me regarding the Strong’s definition for the Greek word “aionios” found in Jude 1:7.

Jude 7
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
KJV

In the original Greek, the word translated as “eternal” in the KJV Bible is “aionios.” Following is Strong’s definition.

NT:166
aionios (ahee-o'-nee-os); from NT:165; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well):
KJV - eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).

Readers who are familiar with my book God’s Plan of the Ages will realize that I teach that this is an errant translation of this Greek word. If I relied solely upon the Strong’s definition of this word, I would be hindered from arriving at the truth. There are other resources available, however. I mentioned in the previous chapter that,  prior to James Strong producing his concordance, Robert Young published Young’s Analytical Concordance of the Bible. Young provides a very different definition for this Greek word. Following is his concise entry.

aionios, Age lasting

The discerning student will recognize at once that not only are Strong’s and Young’s definitions different, they are contradictory. Something cannot be “perpetual,” which is to say “never ending,” and also be “age lasting.” An age has a definite beginning and an end. Robert Young also produced a Literal Bible translation. Following is the verse as it appears in his Bible version.

Jude 7
as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them, in like manner to these, having given themselves to whoredom, and gone after other flesh, have been set before — an example, of fire age-during, justice suffering.
[Young’s Literal Translation]

Everywhere throughout Young’s Literal Translation, Robert Young has consistently rendered the Greek word “aion” and its variant forms as indicating an age. The Bible student is therefore left with a quandary. Is James Strong’s definition correct, or is Robert Young’s definition correct, or are both wrong? Not being a Greek scholar, how would a Christian test the matter? One way to do so is to look at every place in the Bible where the word “aion” and its variants occur, and see what is revealed. It should become apparent from the context in which the word is found whether one, or both, of these definitions are inaccurate. I examined the Scriptures to see where this word occurred, listing the results of my study in the book God’s Plan of the Ages. Consider how nonsensical the following Scriptures would be if we use Strong’s definition of aion to mean “a period of time without end,” or “eternal.”

Ephesians 2:7
That in the eternities (aions) to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
  
Colossians 1:26
Even the mystery which hath been hid from eternities (aions) and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints...
  
Ephesians 2:2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the eternity (aion) of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.
  
Hebrews 1:2
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the eternities (aions)...

John 9:32
Since the eternity (aion) began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

If, however, we use Robert Young’s definition of aion as denoting an “age” then the verses above become intelligible.

This reveals an issue that Bible students need to bear in mind. Even as men have introduced errors into the Scriptures over the millennia, they have also introduced errors into their commentaries and Bible study resources. In my reply to the brother who wrote to me yesterday, I shared the following comment.
---
I would make mention of the fact that Mr. Strong was a Methodist minister. No doubt, had he embraced, and taught, the doctrine of the reconciliation of all men, he would not have remained a Methodist minister very long. I am not suggesting that Mr. Strong compromised truth to maintain his standing with the Methodists. What I would suggest, however, is that Mr. Strong was influenced by, and aligned with, Methodist doctrine, and this doctrine rejected the reconciliation of the creation back to God the Father. Denominationalism is a great snare. It leads to factions, and causes men to be fitted with blinders, unable to receive any teaching or doctrine outside of that which is endorsed by their particular sect of Christianity. Paul condemned such divisions in the church in his first letter to the Corinthians.
---
To be clear, James Strong did concede that some forms of the word “aion” do mean an age. In fact, the root word of aionios, and all similar variants is the Greek word “aion.” Mr. Strong has given us this definition of the word.

NT:165
aion (ahee-ohn'); from the same as NT:104; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); by implication, the world; specially (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future):
KJV - age, course, eternal, (for) ever (-more), [n-] ever, (beginning of the, while the) world (began, without end).

James Strong declared that the proper meaning of the Greek word aion is “an age.” Nevertheless, he was not consistent in acknowledging this fact when providing definitions for the variant forms of this word.

One of the immense benefits of having Bible study tools readily available on the individual level is that the student of the Scriptures is set free from denominational and doctrinal bias. Rather than having to attend seminary, or Bible college, and have a professor tell them how the Bible should be rightly interpreted, the man or woman who yearns for spiritual truth is able to investigate matters themselves.

In addition to the tools already listed that are part of the PC Study Bible software program, I have a number of different Bible dictionaries to choose from. It can prove profitable to check the entries in these dictionaries to ascertain the meaning of a word. Following are some examples.

Age
an indefinite period (Ephesians 2:7 Ephesians 3:5,21; Colossians 1:26)...
(Easton's Bible Dictionary)

AGE
A period of time characterized by a certain stage of development of God's grand scheme of redemption (aion) (Ephesians 2:7; 3:5).
(Fausset's Bible Dictionary)

AGE
we have the plural as the translation of aion, properly "duration," "the course or flow of time," "an age or period of the world..."
(International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia)

AGE
An era or specified period of time during which certain related events come to pass. As used in the New Testament, age generally refers to the present era, as opposed to the future age. According to the apostle Paul, Satan is "the god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4). But the age to come will belong to Jesus Christ and His rule of justice and righteousness (Hebrews 6:5).
(Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

Although one of the common features of Bible study software are the commentaries, and PC Study Bible comes with a number of them, I rarely refer to them in the course of my research. In general I have not found them helpful. They rarely contain deeper spiritual insights into the word, and are far more likely to contain personal opinion and denominational bias than some of the other Bible study tools.

Maps, and photographs of places and objects named in the Bible are a common feature of many Bible study programs. Additionally, one may find a large number of other features that vary from one software suite to another. A final tool I will make mention of that has been of great help to me is The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Whenever I have a verse from the Bible pulled up, I can click on the link for The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and I will be shown a list of phrases from the verse along with numerous references to other Bible passages that are related in topic. This provides a quick method to find other passages of Scripture on a specific subject.

Although I use PC Study Bible as my software of choice, it is not necessarily the best program available. Other programs may be more suitable to an individual depending on their specific needs and their budget. Two highly regarded programs are Accordance, which was originally developed for the Apple Macintosh, and Bibleworks which was developed for Microsoft operating systems. Accordance has recently come out with a native version of their software that runs on Windows, and BibleWorks can be run on Macintosh computers by using an emulator. Both are reportedly excellent products offering full-featured suites that are priced around $350 dollars. The price will be higher or lower depending upon which level of the product one chooses.

One of the recent additions to BibleWorks 9 is their BibleWorks Manuscript Project. Following is a press release on this offering.












BibleWorks 9 on Tablet Computer

BibleWorks 9 Exegetical Software Offers Breakthrough Resources
NORFOLK,Va June 28 - Bible students, teachers, pastors and scholars are in for a treat with the launch of BibleWorks 9. It introduced one of the most comprehensive resources for studying the original texts of the Greek New Testament -- the BibleWorks Manuscript Project.

The first installment of the BibleWorks Manuscript Project contains new e-transcriptions and complete image sets of seven of the most widely studied Greek New Testament manuscripts -- Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Alexandrinus, Bezae, Washingtonianus, Boernerianus and GA1141. The images of these ancient copies of the New Testament are also hot-linked -- allowing users to quickly find specific verses -- giving unprecedented access to the early text. The morphological tagging of manuscripts is an ongoing project and updates will be provided to users as they become available.

BibleWorks 9 also includes several important Greek e-texts and revisions – all enhanced for computer analysis. They include the Robinson-Pierpont Byzantine text with Robinson 2010 morphology; Westcott-Hort with diacritics, variant readings and morphology; Scriveners with diacritics, variant readings and morphology, Trinitarian Bible Society Greek New Testament, and the Tregelles New Testament. With a click of the mouse button, BibleWorks users can quickly highlight differences between Greek texts in the main window.

“BibleWorks 9 takes a giant leap forward in terms of opening up the world of textual variants and text criticism,” said Dr. David deSilva, the Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary. “Even more exciting, the transcribed texts of the major uncial witnesses can be selected as display versions. I can read the critical text, Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, Vaticanus, and others side-by-side, such that the historic witnesses come alive as real texts, and not just as symbols at the bottom of the page of the print edition of the critical text.”

BibleWorks has also added the exhaustive New Testament Critical Apparatus from the Center for New TestamentTextual Studies (CNTTS). In BibleWorks, when studying any New Testament Greek text in the main window, the information from the Critical Apparatus updates allows users to see minor and major differences between hundreds of manuscripts dating from the 2nd through 15th centuries. Plus, in the BibleWorks version, every manuscript is categorized in easy-to-read matrixes by Aland categories and time periods.
[End Excerpt]

Not every student of the Bible would make use of this exceptional feature of BibleWorks 9, but for those doing exegetical studies, or developing new Bible translations, such a tool is a remarkable development. Of course, any student of the Scriptures may make use of this tool. If they wanted to compare variants in the ancient manuscripts of the Bible there is no better tool I am aware of to do so. Following is a video illustrating some of the features of this program.

http://youtu.be/hCFZdSGzlus



You can also view features of Accordance Bible software in the following video.

http://youtu.be/tV9AqD0A4kE



The Bible study software that will work best for you will depend on your specific needs. You should clearly identify what you want to do with the software, and make your purchase choice accordingly. There are many Bible Study software programs available. The following is not an exhaustive list, but it does include the best known titles.

Computer Based Bible Study Software

Accordance
http://www.accordancebible.com/index.php

BibleWorks
http://www.bibleworks.com/

e-Bible by Thomas Nelson
http://www.thomasnelson.com/reference/bible-software/essential-bible-study-library.html

Logos Bible Software
https://www.logos.com/

PC Study Bible
http://store.biblesoft.com/

Quickverse
https://www.wordsearchbible.com/qv10

SwordSearcher
http://www.swordsearcher.com/

Wordsearch
https://www.wordsearchbible.com/ws10

Free Bible Study Software

BibleAnalyzer
http://www.bibleanalyzer.com/

e-sword (Windows)
http://www.e-sword.net/

PocketBible
http://www.laridian.com/content/platform_win.asp

The Sword Project for Windows
http://www.crosswire.org/sword/software/biblecs/

Free Internet Bible Study Resources

Bible Gateway
http://www.biblegateway.com/

Blue Letter Bible
http://www.blueletterbible.org/

StudyLight
http://www.studylight.org/

Unbound Bible
http://unbound.biola.edu/

Most of the software programs listed above have additional resources (Bible versions, commentaries, etc.) that can be added to them at cost. This is true even of the free programs listed above. Although the core program and a substantial set of resources are included with the free programs, many Bible and reference work publishers will not allow their books to be distributed free of charge. Therefore, this additional material may be acquired for a fee determined by the publisher and the software distributor.

Additionally, it should be noted that many of the programs listed have versions of their software available to run on multiple platforms including Windows, iOS (Macintosh, iPad, iPhone), Android, and Linux. Not all software vendors support all of these platforms. To find if your device has a program available, check with the software developer.

We live in an hour when knowledge of all kinds is increasing, and is being made readily available to the individual. When it comes to having access to a wealth of Biblical translations and study tools, this generation is truly rich. How much value you place on the knowledge of God and His holy word will determine the amount of time you invest in the quest for truth.


Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws    

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com    

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063