Register | Sign In


Understanding through Discussion


EvC Forum active members: 59 (9164 total)
5 online now:
Newest Member: ChatGPT
Post Volume: Total: 916,923 Year: 4,180/9,624 Month: 1,051/974 Week: 10/368 Day: 10/11 Hour: 1/2


Thread  Details

Email This Thread
Newer Topic | Older Topic
  
Author Topic:   Who can explain following:
jaywill
Member (Idle past 1972 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 46 of 82 (371365)
12-21-2006 9:12 AM
Reply to: Message 44 by sidelined
12-21-2006 6:57 AM


Re: counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere
Not elitism but self deception perhaps.
Yep. Could be. Could be. It very well could be self deception.
And also maybe not. The Bible is a book about faith to those who have faith. With faith there is always an element of "Well, maybe it's not so."
That's part of the program. You get use to it and you live on - in faith.
Now let's get to the details of the vision of Ezekiel. What does it teach us?
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 44 by sidelined, posted 12-21-2006 6:57 AM sidelined has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 65 by sidelined, posted 12-21-2006 7:07 PM jaywill has replied

  
jaywill
Member (Idle past 1972 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 47 of 82 (371366)
12-21-2006 9:21 AM


What has Christ to do with it?
Here's one objection worthy of some attention. I wrote that Christ was the center and circumference of the Scripture. Sideline objects.
Well relating this to Ezekiel's vision, I still say Christ is the center and the circumference of the vision of Ezekiel. Why?
The details of the vision tell us that at the top of this strange technology is one like the appearance of a man on a throne. This is one like a man on the throne of God bearing God's glory.
Sideline says in essence "But we don't even know if history really had such a person as Jesus." Well, that is another debate - the historicity of Jesus of Nazareth. But ask most people, "who on the face of this earth if he did exist, behaved most like the God of authority?"
I think a fair number of people would vote for Jesus Christ. At least in the West history is divided AD and BC according to the birth and existence of Jesus of Nazareth. If there was a person who as a man bore the glory of God and seemed to coordinate and move in harmony with God - I think a few people would say Jesus was such a person.
So Ezekiel's vision of the four living creatures with the man on the throne of God bearing God's glory may well have something to do with this unique Person Christ.
So I stand by the statement that Christ is the center and circumference of the vision of Ezekiel as well as the whole divine revelation of the Bible.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

Replies to this message:
 Message 48 by Chiroptera, posted 12-21-2006 9:31 AM jaywill has replied

  
Chiroptera
Inactive Member


Message 48 of 82 (371367)
12-21-2006 9:31 AM
Reply to: Message 47 by jaywill
12-21-2006 9:21 AM


Re: What has Christ to do with it?
quote:
Well relating this to Ezekiel's vision, I still say Christ is the center and the circumference of the vision of Ezekiel. Why?
Because you can read whatever you want into oracles. That's what makes Macbeth so much fun.

Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied. -- Otto von Bismarck

This message is a reply to:
 Message 47 by jaywill, posted 12-21-2006 9:21 AM jaywill has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 49 by jaywill, posted 12-21-2006 9:50 AM Chiroptera has replied

  
jaywill
Member (Idle past 1972 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 49 of 82 (371370)
12-21-2006 9:50 AM
Reply to: Message 48 by Chiroptera
12-21-2006 9:31 AM


Re: What has Christ to do with it?
"Never believe anything in [theology] until it has been officially denied."
To paraphrase one of your favorite sayings.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 48 by Chiroptera, posted 12-21-2006 9:31 AM Chiroptera has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 50 by Chiroptera, posted 12-21-2006 10:34 AM jaywill has not replied

  
Chiroptera
Inactive Member


Message 50 of 82 (371378)
12-21-2006 10:34 AM
Reply to: Message 49 by jaywill
12-21-2006 9:50 AM


Re: What has Christ to do with it?
I take it that I made my point.

Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied. -- Otto von Bismarck

This message is a reply to:
 Message 49 by jaywill, posted 12-21-2006 9:50 AM jaywill has not replied

  
jaywill
Member (Idle past 1972 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 51 of 82 (371389)
12-21-2006 11:40 AM


A Few Helpful Points
Ezekiel's vision took place "while I was among the captives by the river Chebar"
If you know anything about the Bible you should know that God's people should not be in captivity in Babylon. That is an abnormal situation. They should be in the promised land of Israel in the holy city with the holy temple, not in the Babylonian captivity. This vision takes place at a national and theological low point for the Jews.
"by the river Chebar"(1:1) is striking. Chebar means strong, powerful. The symbolism is that Babylon was powerful to damage the nation of Israel. Babylon was a strong current to carry God's people away into captivity.
Some will object - "Oh, you just want to read that into the text" meaning that must be wrong. Since I want to read it into the passage it is wrong. Well, I want to derive as much help from the symbolism as is available to me. In my opinion the river Chebar symbolizes the strong Chaldean invasion to carry God's people away captive.
In fact in every age of the world the current of society always wants to carry people away from God and His will. Some of the opposing comments offered in this forum are just indications that the modern age as at the time of Ezekiel is always strong to try to carry people away from God and His purpose.
This is the first mention of a river in Ezekiel. This river is destructive towards God's purpose. The other river mentioned is the river that proceeds out of the house of God carrying healing life where ever it flows. This is the positive river signifying God's life. This river is flowing our of the temple in chapter 47. One river destroys (Compare Isa.8:7,8). The other river flows with God's life and builds up God's people.
"Oh, you just want to read that into the text!"
Well, it seems that the Scripture elsewhere has a similiar desire as mine:
Similiar symbolism is found where God's river or fountain is spoken of as God's blessing and bounty to His people.
(Rev.22:1,17; 21:6; 7:17; Gen. 2:10; Psa. 36:8; Isaiah 58:11)
"There is a river whose streams gladden the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High" (Psalm 46:4)
Two spiritual rivers exist in the Bible. One leads to the lake of fire and eternal perdition. The other leads to the eternal city of God and the temple of God. That is the dwelling place of God on the earth where His divine life flows out and pours out building man up in the divine life to be His corporate expression.
But Ezekiel is among the captives under God's temporary discipline. The heavens are opened to Ezekiel. Be cause he is a man of God and for God the heavens are opened to him. God opened the heavens for a number of prophets and Godly ones in the Bible. Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, and of course the Lord Jesus Christ. The heavens were also opened to Peter and to Paul -both men of God.
Because Ezekiel's heart is so towards God, even in captivity, God opens the heavens over his head to give him a glimpse into the divine realm.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

Replies to this message:
 Message 52 by Asgara, posted 12-21-2006 11:52 AM jaywill has replied

  
Asgara
Member (Idle past 2333 days)
Posts: 1783
From: Wisconsin, USA
Joined: 05-10-2003


Message 52 of 82 (371390)
12-21-2006 11:52 AM
Reply to: Message 51 by jaywill
12-21-2006 11:40 AM


Nitpicky Question
"by the river Chebar"(1:1) is striking. Chebar means strong, powerful. The symbolism is that Babylon was powerful to damage the nation of Israel. Babylon was a strong current to carry Gods's people away into captivity.
May I ask where you got your meaning of the name Chebar?
I see that Strong's disagrees with this meaning.
Outline of Biblical Usage
Strong's 03529
K@bar {keb-awr'}
Chebar = "far-off"
1) a Babylonian river near which many Israelite exiles settled; maybe the 'Habor' or the 'Royal Canal' of Nebuchadnezzar

This message is a reply to:
 Message 51 by jaywill, posted 12-21-2006 11:40 AM jaywill has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 53 by jaywill, posted 12-21-2006 12:29 PM Asgara has not replied

  
jaywill
Member (Idle past 1972 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 53 of 82 (371399)
12-21-2006 12:29 PM
Reply to: Message 52 by Asgara
12-21-2006 11:52 AM


Re: Nitpicky Question
I fail to see those words as of yet in my Strong's also. I'll have to look into that.
I am not confirmed at this point that I am correct to say Chebar means strong, powerful.
Until I can affirm this as accurate I take back that definition. However, "far off" would essentially give rise to the question of "far off" from where and from what standpoint?
The Jews hung up their musical instruments and sat down "by the rivers of Babylon" and wept. How could they sing the Lord's song in a foreign land? They were carried off. They were carried far off. (See Psalm 137:1-4)
Then again I just want to read that into the text. Maybe, I'm just out to get ya money !!
Good point. And thanks. Keep me in line here.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 52 by Asgara, posted 12-21-2006 11:52 AM Asgara has not replied

  
jaywill
Member (Idle past 1972 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 54 of 82 (371409)
12-21-2006 1:22 PM


More stuff I want to read into Ezekiel
The battle in the Bible is between God and Satan over man and the earth. Of course this seems like nonsense to many modern minds. We are accidently here as second rate animals on a second rate planet which circles around a second rate star we call the sun. It will extinguish, we will evolve into who knows what. And the whole thing will melt into dust so who really cares?
Well the Bible's view is different. Sorry. God created man for Himself and placed the creation under man's dominion. But man was deceived to join an opposition party against God. This disharmony caused the creation to collapse into a heap of near ruin also. The key to the recovery of the earth and of nature is the recovery of man back to God. This is a little window in the whole biblical scheme.
God tried to get through with the created race of Adam. He could not. So He initiated the "called" race of Abraham. He could not get through with the Adamic race so He initiated after Babel the Abrahamic race. But never forget, His intention is to reach the Adamic race through the Abrahamic race. He intends to bless the Adamic race by means of His work with the Abrahamic race.
Ezekiel is a low point. But customarily when we would think that God has given up, He affirms to His priests and prophets in captivity that He has no intention of giving up. And the highest and most profound visions of His eternal purpose are opened to some of His prophets.
So we come to Ezekiel amongst the captives in a far away land of idols. It is not hopeless. God carries Ezekiel in a spiritual way back in a vision to Jerusalem and shows him visions of the glory of God.
This glory of God is symbolic of God and man moving in perfect coordination and cooperation so that the wheel of the will of God could move on on the earth. To be in this move of God is to be full of vision and insight. Thus the wheels of the living creatures are full of eyes.
All seems discouraging with the Babylonian captivity. But to those consecrated to the eternal plan of God there is still insight, foresight, wisdom, and vision. They see all in relation to the great wheel of God's eternal plan moving in the coordination of God with His creature man.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

Replies to this message:
 Message 55 by ringo, posted 12-21-2006 1:39 PM jaywill has replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 55 of 82 (371411)
12-21-2006 1:39 PM
Reply to: Message 54 by jaywill
12-21-2006 1:22 PM


Re: More stuff I want to read into Ezekiel
jaywill writes:
... so that the wheel of the will of God could move on on the earth.
I think the wheel is a hard-drive - further proof that the ancient Hebrews had Windows 3.1.
Thus the wheels of the living creatures are full of eyes.
"Eye" ("i") is for "input".

Help scientific research in your spare time. No cost. No obligation.
Join the World Community Grid with Team EvC

This message is a reply to:
 Message 54 by jaywill, posted 12-21-2006 1:22 PM jaywill has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 57 by jaywill, posted 12-21-2006 1:55 PM ringo has replied
 Message 58 by jaywill, posted 12-21-2006 2:00 PM ringo has not replied

  
jaywill
Member (Idle past 1972 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 56 of 82 (371413)
12-21-2006 1:49 PM


More aspects of the Vision
Ezekiel sees this storm coming fromt north. I believe this means coming from God (Psalm 75:6-7a; Isa. 14:13).
"For neither from the east nor from the west, And neither from the south, does exaltation come; For God is the Judge: He puts this one down and exalts that one" (Psalm 75:6,7a)
The only direction not mentioned is north. In its place it says exaltation comes from God. So the storm coming from the north may signify coming from God.
Wind has negative and positive meanings in the Bible. In Acts 2:2,4 the mighty wind signifies the mighty Spirit of God coming upon the disciples of Christ.
Wind also can signify negative judgment from God upon man as in Jer. 49:26 and Revelation 7:1.
In its positive significance the wind means for God to send His Spirit to descend upon man to cause man to have His life (See Ezek. 37:9-10; John 3:6-8; Acts 2:22-21)). I think the wind here coming from the north speaks more of God sending His Spirit to man that man might have the life of God.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

  
jaywill
Member (Idle past 1972 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 57 of 82 (371414)
12-21-2006 1:55 PM
Reply to: Message 55 by ringo
12-21-2006 1:39 PM


Re: More stuff I want to read into Ezekiel
I don't know about hard drive. But Ezekiel evidently had Direct Access.
It was by the way, a wheel within a wheel. Here again is a picture of coordination. And inner wheel and an outer wheel.
I think it is very meaningful.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 55 by ringo, posted 12-21-2006 1:39 PM ringo has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 59 by ringo, posted 12-21-2006 2:12 PM jaywill has replied

  
jaywill
Member (Idle past 1972 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 58 of 82 (371415)
12-21-2006 2:00 PM
Reply to: Message 55 by ringo
12-21-2006 1:39 PM


Using the Bible to interpret the Bible
The difference between Ringo's interpretation and what I interpret is this - I am using the Bible to interpret the Bible.
I am using the Bible to interpret itself for the most part. Perhaps even to 100% I hope. I back up my interpretation with other portions of the Bible.
For the critics who cry "Pure Imagination!" I say this. Where else in the Bible do we find something similar? That is my method and rule of interpretation. This assumes of course that the Bible is one product and the scheme of one divine Author.
This using the Bible to interpret the Bible is different than Norstradomus or Jead Dixon style code finding or wild intepretation of sacred writings.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 55 by ringo, posted 12-21-2006 1:39 PM ringo has not replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 59 of 82 (371416)
12-21-2006 2:12 PM
Reply to: Message 57 by jaywill
12-21-2006 1:55 PM


Re: More stuff I want to read into Ezekiel
jaywill writes:
It was by the way, a wheel within a wheel.
Yes. My hard-drive is partitoned too.
I think it is very meaningful.
I was just trying to demonstrate that I can speak gibberish as fluently as you or Dongsheng Zhang.

Help scientific research in your spare time. No cost. No obligation.
Join the World Community Grid with Team EvC

This message is a reply to:
 Message 57 by jaywill, posted 12-21-2006 1:55 PM jaywill has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 60 by jaywill, posted 12-21-2006 2:40 PM ringo has replied

  
jaywill
Member (Idle past 1972 days)
Posts: 4519
From: VA USA
Joined: 12-05-2005


Message 60 of 82 (371419)
12-21-2006 2:40 PM
Reply to: Message 59 by ringo
12-21-2006 2:12 PM


Re: More stuff I want to read into Ezekiel
I was just trying to demonstrate that I can speak gibberish as fluently as you or Dongsheng Zhang
One of the limitations of this forum is that I have to have you read what I write as well as the one or few seeking readers of the Bible's truth. It is a limitation of the forum.
The Lord Jesus told us not to give holy things to dogs and not to cast our pearls before the hogs. They may turn and attack you after having trampled upon them.
I don't regard this passage as Christ's intention to insult anyone. I regard it as His intention that we be careful that some people devoured by the more evil side of their fallen nature will be agitated to attack the messenger of spiritual experiences and spiritual truths from the Bible.
I can't ask you to not read these posts of mine. But all I can do is assure you that not one word, not one letter, not one dot of my exposition of the Bible is written for your sake.
I can't stop you from standing by like a troll and insulting my labors. But know that I am not talking to you or for you or for your benefit. That is casting pearls before the hogs and giving holy things to dogs.
Whatever you reply you know I won't read it or anything else you write here in answer to me or anyone else.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.
Edited by jaywill, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 59 by ringo, posted 12-21-2006 2:12 PM ringo has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 61 by ringo, posted 12-21-2006 4:00 PM jaywill has not replied

  
Newer Topic | Older Topic
Jump to:


Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved

™ Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2024