Sure Word Prophecy

Apologies for the slight mistake in the last quiz. Esau was the son of Isaac of course, not Jacob. Jacob was the younger brother of Esau.

1 year ago | [YT] | 10

Sure Word Prophecy

Test your Bible knowledge. Which Canaanite nation descended from Jacob's son Esau?

1 year ago | [YT] | 12

Sure Word Prophecy

JACOB'S LADDER - THE STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

In Genesis chapter 28 we find the account of the patriarch Jacob, son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, fleeing from the wrath of his brother Esau. During his lonely journey he lay down to sleep one night and was given by God a vision in the form of a vivid dream. In this dream Jacob beheld a bright shining ladder, or stairway, with its base touching the earth and its top reaching all the way up into heaven, with angels of God ascending and descending upon it.

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

This ladder, or stairway, is a type or symbol of Jesus, who is Himself the Stairway to heaven, the connecting Link between earth and heaven, who by His atoning sacrifice on the cross opened anew the communication between heaven and earth which had been lost when Adam sinned and was cast out of the garden of Eden.

"And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." John 1:51

This ladder tells us that the holy angels of heaven have been given by God the honour of playing a part in the redemption of fallen humanity.

"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Hebrews 1:14

This ladder tells us that there is only one Way, only one Person, by Whom we can gain access to God and come into His very presence, and that is through Jesus. It tells us that Jesus is the only Channel of communication between the righteous holy God and fallen sinful human beings.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6

This ladder invites us to ascend by faith into the throne room of heaven, into the very presence of God Himself, where Jesus the Forerunner, our Savior and elder Brother, has gone before us to prepare the way and to intercede there for us.

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews 6:19-20 NKJV

This ladder is the assurance that there is no longer a separating veil between God and fallen humanity, that Jesus, through the shedding of His blood, has torn open the separating veil (Matthew 27:51) and has opened for us a new and living way into the very presence of the holy eternal God.

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;" Hebrews 10:19-20

This ladder is an assurance of God's unfailing mercy and compassion in the face of all our difficulties and trials.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

When life seems hard, when Satan succeeds in shutting out the light of God's glory from your vision and you feel, as Jacob did, surrounded by darkness, remember Jacob's ladder and its shining brightness, remember that Jesus has opened the way into the very presence of God for us, a way which no power in heaven or earth can block or prevent.

May each of us, like the holy angels, learn to daily by faith ascend that ladder, which is a symbol of Jesus, and come with confidence and assurance into the very presence of God, through Jesus, the Forerunner and only-begotten Son of God, our Redeemer and our righteousness...the Way, the truth and the life.

1 year ago | [YT] | 21

Sure Word Prophecy

THE TRANSFIGURATION

In Matthew chapter 17 we find the account of Jesus' transfiguration on the mountain, witnessed by His disciples.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus was transfigured? What purpose did this event serve? And why did Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus when he was transfigured?

The transfiguration was actually a type, or parallel, of Jesus' second coming...His second coming in miniature if you will. What happened on the mountain is a type, or parallel, of what will happen when Jesus returns to earth the second time.

Just as Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, likewise He will appear in His full divine glory when He appears the second time, no longer will He appear as merely a suffering Servant but this time as a divine conquering King in His full glory. His transfiguration on the mountain was a type of the divine glory with which He will appear when He returns the second time.

But what about Moses and Elijah? How and why were they present with Jesus?

Firstly, in order for Moses and Elijah to appear with Jesus they must both have been alive.

In the Bible it is recorded that Elijah was translated to heaven without dying (2 Kings 2). That explains how he could appear alive with Jesus, since he had up to that time been alive in heaven, he had never died and so was not resurrected from the grave.

But what about Moses? In the Bible it is recorded that Moses died and was buried on a mountain just before the Israelites entered the promised land of Canaan (Deuteronomy 34). So how could Moses have appeared alive with Jesus if he was dead?

In the Bible it is also recorded that Moses was resurrected (Jude 9). Therefore, like Elijah, he must have been alive in heaven before he appeared with Jesus at the transfiguration.

That explains how both Moses and Elijah could appear alive with Jesus. But why were they present? What purpose did their presence serve?

They could certainly have been there to offer Jesus comfort and encouragement during His earthly pilgrimage, especially in regard to His suffering and death on the cross. But there was a greater purpose to their presence with Jesus.

Just like Jesus' transfiguration was a type, or parallel, so Moses and Elijah were also both a type or parallel. But of what or whom?

We can answer that question by considering the difference between Moses and Elijah. Moses died and was resurrected and was taken to heaven. Elijah was translated to heaven without dying. Therefore Moses was a type of those believers in Jesus who die and are resurrected at His second coming. Elijah was a type of those believers in Jesus who do not die but live to see Jesus come.

The good news is that believers who die and are resurrected, and those believers who do not die but live to see Jesus come, will together receive new glorified bodies and rise to meet Jesus in the air when He comes again, before being taken to heaven to spend a thousand years there fellowshipping with God, Jesus, the holy angels, and the redeemed of all ages since Adam and Eve.

"13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NKJV

1 year ago (edited) | [YT] | 18

Sure Word Prophecy

Test your Bible knowledge. Which two old testament Bible characters appeared with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration?

1 year ago | [YT] | 8

Sure Word Prophecy

Test your Bible knowledge. What was the name of the soldier in king David's army whom David ordered killed and with whose wife David committed adultery and later married?

1 year ago | [YT] | 8

Sure Word Prophecy

Test your Bible knowledge. What is the original Hebrew name of the Jewish young woman known as Esther who became queen of Persia and prevented the genocide of the Jews?

1 year ago | [YT] | 12

Sure Word Prophecy

Test your Bible knowledge. Which Bible character was given the name Zaphnath-Paaneah?

1 year ago | [YT] | 10

Sure Word Prophecy

Test your Bible knowledge. What name was given to the place where Jesus was crucified?

1 year ago | [YT] | 5

Sure Word Prophecy

Test your Bible knowledge. What is the name of the bystander whom the Roman soldiers forced to carry the cross of Jesus as Jesus was being led to His crucifixion?

1 year ago | [YT] | 6