The Birth of Jesus and Prophecy Fulfilled

The Birth of Jesus and Old Testament Prophecy fulfilled


The previous article looked at the birth of Jesus foretold in Prophecy in the Old Testament in the Bible many hundreds if not thousands of years before the birth of the Messiah. This article will focus on the fulfillment of those Old Testament prophecies in the New Testament in relation to his birth and see how close those prophecies were.

Many prophecies from the Prophets in the Old Testament not only predicted the birth of the Messiah, but also many other prophecies appeared which foretold what he would be like, who we actually was, what he would do, the purpose of his life, his ministry, his death or crucifixion and finally his resurrection. This article focuses on the birth aspect and not his life afterwards which would require a number of articles, to do it justification. One article out their on the web shows over 300 prophecies relating to Jesus, his birth, life and death and Resurrection.

The Birth of Jesus Story according to Matthew and Luke Video



God worked through the Prophets to reveal repeatedly that something never seen before was on it´s way in the future and the accuracy with which these prophecies foretold not only the arrival of the Messiah BUT how he would arrive, prove that God was working through these people quite strongly throughout the history of the Bible.

There are many Bible prophecies concerning the birth of Jesus, but the six main ones are listed below which show how the Old Testament prophecy and how it was fulfilled in the New Testament pretty much word for word.

The six main Bible prophecies that relate to the birth of Jesus.

1. Jesus would be Born in Bethlehem.

The Old Testament foretells of the messiah being born in Bethlehem.

Old Testament Prophecy
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

The story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem is told in the New Testament books of Mathew and Luke

Matthew 2:1. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Matthew 2:6. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

2. Jesus would be Born of a virgin.

Old Testament Prophecy
Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” The New Testament book of Matthew repeats this prophecy in a passage detailing Joseph’s encounter with an angel of the Lord, who tells Joseph that Mary’s child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and will save his people from their sins.

Prophecy confirmed in the New Testament
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Luke 1:27. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

3. The Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham

Old Testament Prophecy
Genesis 22:18: "And through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed."

The genealogy of Jesus is told in the book of Matthew, which refers to him as “the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

New Testament Fulfillment

Matthew 1:1
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

4. The Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob.
The genealogy of Jesus laid out in the book of Matthew details Jesus lineage through Isaac and Jacob with Matthew 1:16 giving the last lineage
Matthew 1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ

Old Testament Prophecy
Numbers: 24:17 says: "A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel."

New Testament Fulfillment
Matthew 1:2
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren

5. The Messiah would be called out of Egypt.

Most Christians believe the Old Testament foretells Jesus being called out of Egypt in Hosea 11

Old Testament Prophecy
Hosea 11:1: When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

The New Testament Fulfillment
Matthew 2:13-15 is believed to explain this prophecy: "An angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream.
13. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15. And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

6. The Messiah would be Born among sorrow
There are many parallels with the Birth of Jesus and the Prophecy of Jeremiah mentioned in Jeremiah 31:15. He would be born amongst sorrow and would live his life being despised and rejected by men. A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

Old Testament Prophecy
Jeremiah 31:15:
Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

This prophecy is repeated in the book of Matthew, which says that King Herod sought to kill Jesus.

The New Testament Fulfillment
Mathew 2:16
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

Other Prophecies Fulfilled

There are many other prophecies in the Old Testament that refer to his bloodline, who he would be and what he would say, the essential bloodline of David and The House of Judah, what his name would be and "The cornerstone"

The Seed of Judah.The Seed of Jacob
He is the physical descendent of David through his mother. He is the adopted son of David through his father, by an adoption consistent with the Christian message of our adopted sonship, and he also fulfilled the prophecy to be born of a virgin. David was of the House of Judah

Old Testament Prophecy
Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

New Testament Fulfillment
Luke 2:4-7
4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Galatians 4:4
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Sent by the Father to speak His word
Old Testament Prophecy: stated Jesus would speak directly God´s word to everybody that he was told to which was fulfilled in The New Testament.

Old Testament Prophecy
Deuteronomy 18:18
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

New Testament Fulfillment
John 8:28-29
28. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Davids Seed, Son of David
Referring to the fact that Jesus would be of the lineage of David not as in a direct son. The prophecy and fulfillment would be the genealogical proof that Jesus, in His humanity, was a direct descendant of Abraham and David through Joseph, Jesus’ legal father although not biological.

Old Testament Prophecy
2 Sam. 7:12
12. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

1 Chr. 17:11
And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

New Testament Fulfillment
Matthew 1:1,
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew 22:42-43
42. Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.
43. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

Matthew 9:27
27. And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.

Will be Born The Saviour
The birth of Jesus was prophesied to be the redeemer of sin and saver of souls hence the term "Saviour" which means somebody that can achieve salvation.

Old Testament Prophecy
Psa. 22:9-10
9. But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.

New Testament Fulfillment
Luke 2:7
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Emmanuel to be higher than earthly kings
The Old Testament Prophecy stated that he was God´s firs born who would be held in higher esteem than the kings of the earth at the time. This was confirmed in the New Testament

Old Testament Prophecy
Psa. 89:27
Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

New Testament Fulfilment
Luke 1:32, 33
32. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

A Servant from the womb.
This refers to the human nature of Christ formed in the womb of the Virgin by the Holy Ghost

Old Testament Prophecy
Isa. 49:5
And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.

New Testament Fulfilment
Luke 1:31
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

Philippians 2:7
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

The Messiah would be the Cornerstone
The Cornerstone in ancient building practices was the strongest and largest and most solid part of the building and the reference to the cornerstone in connection with Jesus in prophecy is he would be the cornerstone of the church, the body of believers that would be known as Christians

Old Testament Prophecy
Zech. 10:4
 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.

New Testament Fulfilment
Ephesians 2:20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Summary

The Birth of Jesus wasn´t something that just happened as a spur of the moment event in the New Testament, this was something that was foretold and planned  hundreds if not thousands of years ago going right back to the times of the Book of Genesis and Abraham. Many of the prophecies, not only were they fulfilled to the last detail, but some of the prophecies are so specific and difficult to recreate by mankind such as the virgin birth, it really illustrates, very clearly, that maybe the whole Bible was geared up to the birth of Gods only son and the salvation of mankind.

God working through various Prophets producing what were precise predictions made by the all-knowing all-seeing God of the Bible who repeatedly demonstrated that He has perfect knowledge of all past, present, and future events. All producing the miracle event that was the birth of Jesus, the Messiah.

This is a considerably condensed and simplified version on the vast topic of the Birth of Jesus and Prophecy fulfillment. There are huge debates on the blood lineage comparing what Luke states and what Matthew describes and the Jews and the Jewish faith have a completely different idea again on the blood line of Jesus and the The House of Judah according to their faith.

Further reading on the family tree of Jesus at Bible Study

The Birth of Jesus Foretold in the Old Testament

The Birth of Jesus foretold 


The Birth of Christ was foretold hundreds of years before the actual event took place by the major prophets including Isaiah, Jeremiah and Micah and other Books in the Old Testament including very early on in Genesis, in the Book of Numbers and the Second Book of Samuel.

Isaiah as many who read the Bible know, is one of the more profound books in the Bible, these prophecies read like the Book of Revelation, you have to read a number of times and cross reference to other Books to really understand what is being said. I would say Isaiah is one of the hardest Books to understand in the Old Testament, but if you understand that Book, it reveals another dimension to the Bible that makes you realise that it is more than just something you read like a novel.

The birth of Jesus is mentioned in Genesis, not really referring to his birth in prophetic terms, but just stating that something big is on it´s way in the future and it is stated that he will come from the Tribe of Judah. As we will see later this lineage or blood line is imperative in the creation of the Messiah. Judah was Jacob´s fourth son.

Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Note 2

Note 2 Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shiloh. From shalah; tranquil; Shiloh, an epithet of the Messiah

It was also mentioned in Prophecy terms in Genesis that the Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham as told in:

Genesis 22:18: 18. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. (When the Angel of the Lord spoke to Abraham)

References to the Birth of Jesus

The Prophet Isaiah

Isaiah wrote a prophecy about the Birth of Jesus about the mid 700 years before he was born. These two Bible verses from Isaiah 7 and Isaiah 9 state quite strongly and in detail how the birth of Jesus would come about.

A virgin shall conceive and bear a son

Isaiah. 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel Note 1

Note 1 "Immanuel" is a Hebrew word meaning "God with us" and expresses the wonder of the incarnation, that God "became flesh and made his dwelling among us"

Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

The Prophet Micah
Micah prophesies that Jesus will be born in Bethlehem which at the time was a small village of 300-1000 inhabitants in Judah and is referred in the New Testament as the City of David. He mentions that he will be born of a woman. This was written approximately 700 years before the Birth of Jesus.

Micah 5:2-4;
2. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
3. Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
4. And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.

He would be Jesse's descendant

David is a key part of the lineage of Christ. Jesse in the Bible is father of David and thus an important part of that lineage.

Isaiah 11:1-10

1. And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2. And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
3. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
4. But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
5. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
6. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
9. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
10. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

The Messiah would be a descendant of King David

The Prophet Jeremiah goes into more detail in his prophecy that the bloodline of the Messiah would be a descendant of King David who was Head of the House of David which is is the head of the Tribe of Judah, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The hereditary bloodline of King David was the the only legitimate royal bloodline in Jewish history. From David will come all the future kings of Judah and ultimately the Messiah himself hence the importance of this bloodline. Saul was removed as King and David was placed in his place and as the Bible states in Acts David was described as a man after his own heart, hence the favour.

Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

One of the main reasons for the importance of the David/Judah blood line.

Jeremiah 23:5-8
5. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth.
6. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
7. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
8. But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land

The Book of Numbers

The Book of Numbers from the Old Testament was written at the time of Chapter 1 about 1444 years BC and spans over 30 years. The events of the book began in the second year after the Israelites departed Egypt, as they camped at Mount Sinai. This Prophecy speaks again of something way off in the future.

Numbers 24:17
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

The line of kings from David would endure forever

The birth of Jesus was mentioned in the Second Book of Samuel which was composed in the period around 630–540 BC

2 Samuel 7:12-16
12. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
13. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
14. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
15. But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
16. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

Summary.

The Birth of Jesus was part of Gods plan via the virgin birth that the Messiah was to be born of God according to God’s will.......... not man’s will. It is also a fulfillment of God’s promise to Eve that her descendant would destroy the serpent and the seed of the serpent (sin) Genesis 3:15,  thereby preparing the way for salvation of mankind from his fallen state.

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Further reading on why God chose Mary and the Judah Blood Line which is a whole topic and book in itself that arouses huge debate, but here are a couple of links that go into some detail..

The Blood line of Judah

Why did God choose to bring Jesus into the lineage of David through his mother Mary?

What was the Star of Bethlehem mentioned in Matthew 2?

What was the Star of Bethlehem?



There are many theories and astronomical and scientific explanations as to what the mystery of the "Star of Bethlehem" that appeared around the time of Jesus´s birth mentioned in Matthew 2 and what it actually was. Some say it was a comet, others a conjunction between Jupiter and Venus or a Triple conjunction with an extra planet. Others say it may have been a Super Nova. All would produce the effect of a huge bright star, but which one of these was it, or was it something else? The reason for this article is obviously we are on the run up to Christmas but also recently there was an incredibly bright star and rare event on 30 June 2015. I saw that star.

My views on the Star of Bethlehem and the Bright Star I saw on 30 June 2015



Firstly lets take a look at the Bible Verses in Matthew 2 and see what is said.

Matthew 2:1-12
1. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2. Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
12. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.


Unlike the Crucifixion of Christ which was written about in all four of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Birth of Christ is only recorded in 2 Gospels which is Matthew and Luke. Matthew mentions the star four times that was seen by the Wise Men known as the "Magi", Luke doesn´t mention the star at all. The star isn´t described in great detail, jut the direction it was shining.

Can the Famous Christmas Carol "We Three Kings of Orient Are" which refers to those wise men mentioned in Matthew 2 shed any more light on the subject, here are the lyrics.

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light


A little more detail from this carol but not much more. Nemesis Maturity produced this video going into great detail about an event that was going to happen on 30 June 2015, which was a much brighter than usual Venus/Jupiter conjunction.




This conjunction happens every year and cycles through brighter phases over longer time periods but this particular event was to be the brightest seen for a long period of time, some saying it was the return of the star of Bethlehem after 2000 years. I saw this star and there will be a few words on this in an upcoming video over at The Twelve Gates You Tube later this week. It had a profound effect on me, I had never seen anything like it, whether it was the return of "The Star of Bethlehem" though is open for debate. One thing for certain, you couldn´t miss it, but strangely I know nobody personally that saw it, but it is mentioned in numerous headlines below on Google, so it was there. Most of the shots in the RT headline are Venus and Jupiter visibly apart, the star I saw was the two together which was way brighter about quarter of the size of a full moon!

'Double star' moment for Jupiter and Venus in the night sky via CNN


Stargazers’ stunner: Thousands catch Jupiter, Venus forming super bright ‘Star of Bethlehem’ (PHOTOS, VIDEOS) via RT


After a deeper search through a number of websites looking more from an astronomy or scientific angle on the web and not really coming up with much more information, I stumbled upon a website called Mark Kidger`s Comet and Asteroid Observing Website with the title "Observations of comets and asteroids by Spanish amateur and professional astronomers." This old school looking website (apparently under construction) which states he has been interested in the subject for nearly 30 years and has studied it for more than 20 delves into the possibilities of The Star of Bethlehem. He mentions what the star could have been and what it definitely wasn´t. He come up with some interesting answers.

What the Star of Bethlehem could not have been
Venus (on it´s own), Comet Halley, Super Nova Bethlehem, A Meteor and Uranus.

What the Star of Bethlehem might have been
Conjunction such as Venus and Jupiter the two brightest planets after the Sun and Moon. A Triple Conjunction, An Occultation (when one celestial object is hidden by another one), Comet or a number of Comets, A Nova (a star showing a sudden large increase in brightness and then slowly returning to its original state over a few months.

With the increasing use of forecasting models for planetary activity and the stars and software such as Stellarium (Free) we can look forward and backwards to see what the Planetary and star positions were right down to the last second at any point in time and with all the possibilities mentioned including Comet´s, Nova´s, Conjunctions, Occultation´s and Conjunctions can be seen at around the time of Christs Birth.

Many of the strong possibilities come close, very close to within a couple of years of Christs Birth but NONE at the exact time of his birth. Which brings us full circle even in this modern sophisticated hi-tech day and age to where we started and the mystery remains as to "What the Star of Bethlehem" really was.

Here´s some other thoughts taken from Comments from the Nemesis Maturity video

This "Bethlehem star" is a regular cycle between Venus and Jupiter that occurs every 24 years.

The star of Bethlehem was the triple conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in 6 BCE. The third conjunction of the two planets was highlighted when Mars became part of the conjunction in 5 BCE.

The "Wise men"from the east, Were astrologer's,so whatever the event they had already charted it,and went to the spot where it would most matter.It was not an anomaly like a comet or supernatural event.It was one the astrologer's from ages before it happened,knew it was coming.


Summary
Which leaves us with the final conclusion, maybe Luke didn´t write about the star for some mysterious reason while Matthew quite confidently did OR the Star of Bethlehem was a Supernatural Event OR there was no star. To say there was NO star would be saying the Bible is incorrect and why would Matthew write quite clearly about this star four times if there wasn´t one, it would put the whole Bible into question, something I don´t think he would do. Only the "Wise Men" or "Magi" are mentioned as actually seeing and following this star. If it was the result of an astronomical event or anything else , it would have been seen by many more? If it would have been seen by the masses, the masses would have been led to where Jesus was born, but that clearly was not the Stars intention or the case, only a select few were present to see the newly Born Jesus?

Where do I stand on this?
None of the above explanations satisfy or explain how the star “went ahead of” the magi or how it magically “stopped where Jesus was".” No known natural or celnestial phenomenon would be able to stand over Bethlehem for any significant period of time. All celestial bodies such as stars (conjunctions or Nova´s or otherwise) continually move, due to the rotation of the earth. They also appear and rise in the east and they also set in the west. There is no mention or indication in the Bible that this star was a natural phenomenon or event.

In Summary I believe there was a star, it was not a normal or super rare celestial event, it was a Supernatural event. If God created the universe, he can create a star in the sky that has no scientific explanation to this day..............that´s a definite! It´s God Created the Universe and The Big Bang Theory all over again, but this time it´s not the Universe but a singular star and again as always...... Science doesn´t have the answers.

Check out this superb website for further details on The Star of Bethlehem at this Spanish Website Observadores-Cometas Form your own opinion.

The Cashless Society and Revelation Prophecy

How Cashless Payments fit in with Revelation Prophecy?


This article is a Part 2 to an original article The Orwellian Cashless society is getting closer? My personal experience! This looks at a more recent personal experience and what I think is a sign of what is heading our way in the not too distant future.

The famous Bible quote that even Non Believers are familiar with in the form of Revelation 13 describes The Beast System that will separate those who are part of the system and those who are not. Those who are not, will be marginalised and will exist on the edge of society. I´ve thought about this a lot recently and everybody knows that this Beast system is designed to marginalise Christians and in my opinion it´s starting to happen now with the rapidly accelerating cashless society that is being thrust upon us.

The Future Cashless Society and Revelation Prophecy



Revelation 13:16-17
16. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

The Guardian in a recent article about The Future Cashless Society had this to say

"The head of Apple, Tim Cook, says all payments could soon be via smartphone apps. But there’s a sinister side to this vision, that would lead to us losing our freedom"

My personal experience No2.
A cheap supermarket in my area has recently closed down with not much notice which seems to be an emerging trend these days, the only real other alternative that is of Supermarket size instead of corner store size is a Store beginning with W that is a bit on the expensive side and to be honest is not my scene at all, but left with no alternative I go there on occasion. This is also happening with Bank Branches. Again similar to the last experience there are about a dozen all new shiny cashless checkout machines that take Card or Mobile Payments ONLY. If you are paying by cash you have to go to a normal till and the queue for this can be long at times and only half are manned. What is annoying yet again only a handful of people are paying via Card or Mobile, but again cash is being squeezed out of the equation very gradually. It just looks like a deliberate attempt to get you to ditch cash and go the faster cashless route. So what am I doing? You guessed it, I will continue stubbornly to use cash for smaller items until there is no other way to pay for it.

Where we are heading?
For stores and banks, cashless is cheaper, involves less handling, needs no transportation, restocking of notes and change and doesn´t wear out. Sweden is quietly leading the way in this ID and Cashless Society Revolution where even the homeless and beggars on the streets now use and take plastic. India is also making inroads with this form of payment and is following Sweden´s model. Many other countries are also making inroads into this form of payment becoming 100% reality. On the surface it all sounds great, smaller wallets, faster payments, no bulky change, instantly convertible when you are travelling, quicker supermarket checkouts, skipping past people like me who are paying by old traditional cash.

The Surveillance Nature of Cashless
Yes the future looks great, and it´s called "Cashless" but it does come with a sinister side. Using cashless payments does leave a trail, a digital trail of information that reveals your sometimes very personal habits. At present people don´t worry about the uses to which that information could one day be put, if not by authoritarian governments here or abroad, now or in the future, then by hackers. But with the second Yahoo Account hack to the value of 1bn being a reality, it is becoming blatantly clear that this form of payment is not without it´s severe disadvantages. When you lose cash you just lose the physical amount you had in your wallet. When you lose money in a cashless society, your whole account can be wiped out in the blink of an eye.

Sacrifice of Freedom and Spending Habits and Budgeting
You also sacrifice a lot of freedom that you have with cash which is Anonymous with a Capital A and leaves no trail apart from when you withdraw it from the cash machine. Finally cash is tangible, it´s a hard copy, if your wallet is empty you realise you have no money. With cashless you just wave a card in the air, insert in a reader or wave your mobile and it gives a feeling that you have unlimited funds which money does not give, when in fact you still have a finite supply as before. This convenience is designed to turn people into spending machines if you are not careful.

The Cashless Society and Bible Prophecy.
Which brings me back to my original though whilst standing in a Supermarket that begins with W. The Future Cashless Society is getting closer every day with some countries near or over 90% of payments are made cashless. 100% is not far off and this form of payment reminds me of the Beast System which very clearly looks to be a digital cashless economy. If you are cashless, you can buy or sell, if you are not, then you are on the fringes of society and marginalised. I liken cash payments today as the Christian form of payment and Cashless as the Beast System. That´s the way it feels to me, it remains to be seen whether this actually is the system mentioned in Revelation, or whether it will be something else. This new system is not geared up to the consumer, it is ultimately geared up to the Big Banks, Big Corporates, Big Governments and ultimately the New World Order that this will seamlessly fit into mentioned in the Agenda 2030 which is where we are obviously heading.

Conclusion
The ultimate aim of Revelation 13 is to shut out Christians and as mentioned in the video I strongly feel that this will lead to an alternative black market economy and also true believers going underground and going back to the Old Original Church that was mentioned many times in the Bible all those thousands of years ago and not the current multitude of Church denominations and buildings which we see today. This not Prophecy on my part, nor Dreams and Visions but what is becoming increasing reality with each passing day.

The Dangers of our Modern Screen Based Society


Where is our modern screen based society heading?


A completely right out there topic based on modern technology that a few people may be aware of and many are not, or just choose not to be aware, and that is our Modern Screen Based Society and our increasing dependency on it. What on earth has this got to do with End Times or even the Bible and Book of Revelation and End Times Prophecy. It has a lot to do with it.............intrigued...... better read on.

This article was inspired like most of my articles by some unusual circumstances which bumped into me literally. Walking down Oxford Street you notice most people these days are completely engrossed looking at their mobile screens and walking down the road not looking where they are going and even crossing the street whilst checking their emails or Twitter completely oblivious to the world around them and nearly getting run over. Ten years ago this would have been classed as completely mad and psychotic behaviour, but now in our high tech mobile age this is classed as normal behaviour. In fact I would go as far as to say, if you are not doing this...... then you are totally Uncool.

One day, (recently)I got so fed up walking round people who were potentially just going to walk straight into me with their faces looking down at their screens, I decided to keep walking in a straight line just like the good old days and see what happens heading for a collision course for one of these what I call "zombie apocalypse" types. Within a micro distance (we´re talking a hands length) this particular one suddenly, looked up, stopped, changed direction just in time and looked at me, sort of emitted a grunt, like I was interrupting what he was watching or doing and sort of silently said "why don´t you look where you are going" and "it´s your responsibility to get out of the way because I´m checking my mobile and you are not"?. Is this the NEW really Cool Hipster Highway Code??

Lets switch back a couple of months to a video that had a big impact on me, (don´t see many of those) and that is one about The Times of Noah produced by Barney Winner 5 at You Tube. Many things were discussed in that video on how the times we are in now are very similar to the times back in the day when Noah was around..... just before The Flood. He covers a vast number of topics including the Nephilim and others, all related to this End Times Scenario (the video is 1 hour long) but mentions some initially bizarre things which eventually click into place and one of those topics is strangely..........Entertainment.

He raises a very interesting scenario about how do you keep someone distracted from what is going on around themselves to the point that they do not notice anything else. You entertain them.....it´s......that simple. Hollywood knows this, the music industry knows this, so does the media and guess who owns all of them.The word you are thinking of begins with I. Also most of this entertainment these days tends to be screen based. Everything we do is based on a screen. Checkouts at Supermarkets, Banking, Communication, Computer Gaming, Video Billboards and Advertising, In Car Navigation, Video calls, PC/Laptop, TV, Photography and Video.

With an increasingly screen based world, we are becoming more and more dependent on them, to the extent that many prefer the virtual world presented on the screen rather than the real world that we actually live in. People are spending more and more time interacting with screens and less and less time interacting with people as in human beings. What finally prompted me to write this article was a Tweet I saw this morning from a Tech Twitter feed called Quartz @QZ of a couple in bed facing away from each other checking their mobiles but the picture has been edited where the mobiles have been deleted and all you see is their hands minus mobiles. Check it out....this is what our world is heading towards.....very sad indeed. This reminds me of another famous example, which is a Banksy Artwork called Mobile Lovers from way back in 2014 as shown at the Blog post photo at the top, showing a couple in an embrace both looking over their partners shoulder and looking longingly at their mobiles. This another example how screen based technology is taking over our lives.

What is rapidly happening in our world is instead of loving people and having relationships with them, we are starting to love our technology more and have relationships with these things instead at the expense of our relationships with people. We are moving away increasingly from a Christian world to a more Demonic world.

https://twitter.com/qz/status/808921969185947648

Yes this is all very interesting but what does this have to do with End Times and Bible Prophecy. It has everything to do with it. There is a spiritual battle currently underway. It is a global one, it is happening right under our very noses, and it is not one that is in the headlines. Very few are aware of it, but those who are aware including myself do not spend their lives being distracted by screens If they use them it is to raise awareness, like with this article, that something is going down. Amazing advances in technology that some wonder how on earth did mankind come up with such ideas and why has there been a massive acceleration almost out of nowhere in the last 20 years or so. Why....because we haven´t been watching what is going on around us, we have been too busy being entertained by screens and been distracted from these new things slipping into our world under our very noses.

The Screen or Digital Society is the front runner to the emerging New World Order as mentioned in the Agenda 2030 and as has been mentioned many times on this website before ties in very closely with the society that will emerge called The Beast System mentioned in Revelation 13. How do you introduce a system that takes away privacy, results in central control and monitoring, erodes civil rights and results in loss of freedoms reducing the human condition to just a number and destroying Christian values, as so brilliantly demonstrated in the Orwellian Film 1984. How do you introduce such a system without people noticing, without much in the way of resistance..............it´s simple..............you keep them entertained and staring at their screens!

Times may have changed since The Times of Noah but in real terms nothing has changed and God never changes. We are in exactly the same situation again as we were back then just before the Wrath of God and the Global Reset called The Great Flood. Only this time the judgement will not be the total flood of the planet, this time around the judgement will be The Book of Revelation.

Bible Quotes:

Luke 17:26
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

Luke 17:27
They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Isaiah 10:15
Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.

Ecclesiastes 1:9
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Daniel 12:4
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

1 Corinthians 6:12
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

The Twelve Gates News December 2016

The Twelve Gates News December 2016


The Latest news for The Twelve Gates, December and the run up to Christmas and the New Year for all the websites including the official website here, over at Twitter, You Tube, Google Plus and the New Facebook Page. A look back over the year, as this website had it´s first Birthday this year as I bought the domain thetwelvegates.org on 30/10/2015, the first post was a couple of days afterwards.

The December You Tube News and Latest Developments Video

Christmas Period Updates. Applies to all websites. I need a break people from all this doom and gloom but back to normal in the New Year. Here´s what´s happening update wise on the run up to Christmas over the Christmas Period and New Years.

12-18 December Usual Updates
19-23 December Usual Updates
24-26 December No Updates
27 December Limited Updates
28 December Limited Updates
29 December Limited Updates
30 December Limited Updates
31 December Limited Updates
1 January No Updates
2 January No or Limited Updates
3 January Usual Updates and Back to Normal

Website News:

Visitor numbers have ballooned on this website in just the last couple of months? We are talking about 5 times the normal average amount?? Thought it might be something to do with the US Elections, but I wasn´t writing anything about it, gave a brief mention around about the time of the results, that was it. The election has been and gone and the visitors levels are still the same, for whatever the reason? Have to say not complaining! Probably a Google thing giving the website a thumbs up....who knows? A US University (not Harvard or Yale) has recently linked to one of The Twelve Gates articles..........could be that, which has made Google sit up and raise it´s eyebrows. Again, who knows??

Business as usual until the end of the year at the official website, over the Christmas period will probably do some staring out of the window and have a few pipe dreams and see what happens, but at present why change a winning formula. The website design also will remain the same, it works, looks good, and easy to find your way around....if it isn´t broken, don´t fix it. BUT..... there could be a few new ideas springing up in 2017?

Twitter News

Again not blowing my trumpet here but for an End Times website The Twelve Gates Twitter seems to be growing steadily and close to hitting the 20K level which is again quite an achievement for such a specialised topic feed. Seems to be more involvement at the latter part of this year with regard to retweets..... that´s good. Again no plans to change a winning formula, but some new ideas may come into the mix. Currently looking at more reliable news sources with the current "Fake News Websites" headline running riot, but will continue to use the more non mainstream news sources that do not have an agenda, as long as what they are saying is real and checks out. A lot of the topics covered by The Twelve Gates are so specialised and low volume in readership, they are of no interest to the mainstream media anyway.

Google Plus News

This was started after Twitter and again over the last few of months has nearly doubled in followers or Circles which again is good news. Google Plus seems to be a lot slower and have more involvement than Twitter in general, but is a smaller platform. I like it. All posts and video updates will continue to appear over at The Twelve Gates Google Plus. Again some new experimental ideas may appear in 2017, as always watch for further news on that.

Facebook News

Was started a couple of months ago amid a lot of initial interest and hundreds of likes in a couple of weeks, only to come crashing down and see them deleted to about 9 likes and a similar number of followers??? Not sure what happened there, but I have a sneaking suspicion either Facebook is not keen on Religious and maybe Christian websites, or they are keen on getting you to pay to advertise and increase exposure of posts and get likes as that seems to be in your face every time you log into the control panel. As The Twelve Gates website is a "Not for Profit" website, that will not be happening any time in the near future, so 9 likes and a similar number of followers it is. I have no intention to pay for followers or likes on Facebook or anywhere else. Basically with The Twelve Gates Facebook Page which is called "thetwelvegatesmedia" it currently features exclusively video content only with a few words, so if you are on Facebook you don´t have to keep checking over at YouTube to see what the latest update is, if you are more a Fan of Facebook than You Tube.

No current plans to do anything radically different over at Facebook, I´ve never been that keen on it and the first couple of weeks over there has only reinforced that view further! Prefer Twitter, it´s way more suited to the fast paced End Times News environment. Will just continue to plod along with Facebook and provide an alternative source/platform for those who love Facebook and want to get The Twelve Gates over at that social media website. Again watch for further developments in 2017 but I will need to see stacks more in the way of numbers, before that gets developed or pushed any harder. I´m not one for flogging a dead horse!

You Tube News
Last but not least the head scratching You Tube channel. A separate video link here will be appearing giving the latest news over at that Channel and  will be embedded here later, explaining what will be happening in the coming months, as that is a whole different animal.



To summarise, I Love You Tube, and I am pushing hard over at that channel and giving it a kick up the rear quarters on a daily basis to wake it up. About 4-5 videos will be made every week until the channel hits 50 or by the end of the year, whichever is sooner. Then I will be looking at the numbers and reviewing where to go next in 2017. So far the results have been luke warm at best, but the religious topics are slow burners and Bible Prophecy seems by far and away the topic that generates the most interest. Exciting times over at You Tube, I have a feeling it could blow up some time in the near future, it will eventually.... just like the website... it´s just a question of when and not if.. The Twelve Gates at You Tube just gives another angle and dimension to the blog posts over at the website as well, so it will become increasingly important in 2017 and beyond....IF WE ARE STILL HERE?

As always keep checking back for the latest news updates.

The Deadly Sin of Envy

The Deadly Sin of Envy


The final in the 7 part Series of the Seven Deadly Sins and that is Envy . It´s a sort of jealousy but on steroids. This is an all consuming sin that eats away internally at it´s owner and just like the other 6 Deadly Sins it will take you on a journey that will lead you to exactly the same place, but just via a different route. The place you end up will be your ultimate destruction. Once that is achieved it will have achieved it´s objective and just move onto it´s next victim and repeat the process all over again.


The Oxford Dictionary Definition

NOUN

1 [mass noun] A feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck:
‘she felt a twinge of envy for the people on board’

VERB

[WITH OBJECT]
1 Desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable thing belonging to (someone else):
‘he envied people who did not have to work at the weekends’
[with two objects] ‘I envy Jane her happiness’

Modern Day Society and Envy



Examples of How Modern Day Society generates Envy.

1. Mac Book Pro Owner 2016 V New Macbook Pro Owner with TOUCHBAR (latest reviews say this NEW machine is a lemon)
2. Car Registrations especially here in the UK. You have the 16 Mar 2016 Plate Latest Model your neighbour has gone one better with the 66 Sep 2016 Plate with Deluxe Alloy Wheels, New Shape Rear Funky LED Lights and Blacked out Celebrity looking Rear Windows as optional extras ALL for FREEEEE
3. The Rich and Famous and Celebrity Lifestyles are being bombarded into our lives via the Media and TV, The Glossies and with Reality Shows. Also Vloggers with their perfect and desirable lifestyles. People wonder why isn´t my life like that?
4. Promotions and Career You have been working for 10 years at XYZ Co and never been promoted, whereas Flashy Suit Jim gets promoted in 2 years and ends up as your BOSSSSS
5. Technology You´ve just bought the Samsung Galaxy S7 (exploding fire hazard battery model) and initially impressed the living daylights out of your friends only to find Annoying Rat Race Rebecca, has just gone one better and bought the Samsung Galaxy S7X with non exploding battery with FREE Beats by Dr Dre TOP of the range headphones and free Gym membership for a year at The Platinum Exclusive Fitness Club (non riff raff allowed) with FREE Personal Trainer 1 day a week.
6. Education. You´ve studied hard and got 5 Straight A grades and are over the moon, only to find Clever Clogs Celine has just got 6 A PLUS Grades and a special invitation to the A Plus Club and a mention in the HALL OF FAME at the University.
7. Beauty Your friend eats like a horse and is a constant Size 8, you have been dieting for years and you are still a Size 14, eat normally and you are Size 18 overnight?
8. Family Life and Lifestyle You´ve got 2 kids that are constantly screaming the place down, whereas your friend Nirvana Nicky has two kids and they are good as gold and angelic and quiet as mice? (when you see them anyway)
9. Holidays You go on holiday twice a year in the UK and sit in your Caravan and it always rains....ALWAYS. Your friend LUCKY LISA has four holidays a year on tropical islands living like the stars and comes back with a glorious tan and a big smile every time and has the cheek to ask how was your caravan holiday.
10. Employment You work in McDonalds part time and just make ends meet whereas your friend works full time in a posh and swanky restaurant mixing with the elite and gets MEGA tips.

We could go on here but you get the idea. Stick the word ENVY or ENVIOUS or GRRRRRR at the end of each sentence and you will get a good idea what envy is all about and I would say Envy is promoted by Modern Day Society. There is no rest with Envy, no peace, just inner turmoil. It´s what advertisers love and embrace and promote and it keeps the economic wheels turning, gets people spending, creates jobs, boosts the economic numbers to give us a feeling of prosperity and well being, so Envy is good RIGHT?

Where does Envy Lead?

Envy is a strange one, because the actual act of being envious doesn´t give a buzz, kick or short lived happiness or euphoria On it´s own it just gives a festering, internal rotting and there is no pleasure in that. BUT Envy will lead to one of the other Seven Deadly Sins which are normally Lust, Greed or Vanity. Wrath can surface as a result of Envy as well. Sloth and Gluttony are not really bed fellows of the Sin of Envy but in rare cases they can be. This one will lead to the same place as others, maybe not death but certainly can lead to loss of job, financial problems, homelessness, health problems that arise from this internal eating away such as Cancer. Ultimately though, just like the others it can lead to death in extreme cases. It´s the same destination but just a different journey to end up at the same place. All the Seven Deadly Sins overlap, if you suffer from one, it´s guaranteed that another is not far behind..

What does the Bible say about Envy?

All the Seven Deadly Sins will lead either directly or indirectly to breaking one of the Ten Commandments. For example Lust could lead to adultery. Greed could lead to theft or stealing, Wrath could lead to killing or Murder. Of all the Seven Deadly Sins though Envy is the only one that is mentioned as one of the Ten Commandments and is mentioned as Coveting in Exodus

Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

What´s the cure?
Modern Society yet again is geared up to the Seven Deadly Sins and simply turning and looking the other way will not solve the problem because it is everywhere and you will eventually become an Envy victim and turn into that green eyed monster, sooner rather than later. Everybody else is doing it so it must be OK??

All the Seven Deadly Sins are the desire of the Flesh and as a Christian you will be aware of these cardinal vices and will avoid them like the plague in the first place. If you are indwelt with the Holy Spirit you will not desire these things and will have the spiritual vision to see, whereas the rest of the world are Spiritually blind. You know you are on a different journey from the WORLD, a holy one that requires you to stay on that straight and narrow way......no matter what!

Matthew 7:13-14
13: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.


Conclusion
The Seven Deadly Sins represent the Broad Way and the Road to destruction. The trick is seeing and resisting them in the first place, seeing through the bright lights, special offers, the myriad of multi coloured balloons, the sugar coated and candy wrapped scenarios and other trickery. But if you do not have the Holy Spirit and are spiritually blind you cannot see and you will fall for these tricks, time and time again.

Bible Quotes:

Proverbs 14:30 - A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
Proverbs 23:17 - Let not thine heart envy sinners: but [be thou] in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

Galatians 5:19 - 5:22
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

1 Peter 2:1 - Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

Galatians 5:26 - Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Proverbs 24:1 - Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

Titus 3:3 - For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.

1 Corinthians 13:4 - Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

James 3:16 - For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

1 Timothy 6:4 - He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

Mark 7:20 - 7:23
20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

The Deadly Sin of Sloth

The Deadly Sin of Sloth or Laziness


Sloth or Laziness is the Sixth in the Series of the Seven Deadly Sins and this one stands out from the rest as it is a bit different, and initially quite comical, but it´s just as deadly as the others. Whilst most of the Deadly Sins are hot in nature such as Wrath, Lust, Vanity or Pride and Greed which are all characterised by immorality and activity, Sloth is cold in nature, the exact opposite characterised by inactivity but not always. It creeps in the same way just as the others and will lead exactly to the same place, it´s the route you will take that will be the only difference.

The Definition according to the Oxford Dictioanry:

NOUN

1[mass noun] Reluctance to work or make an effort; laziness:
‘he should overcome his natural sloth and complacency’
More example sentences Synonyms
2A slow-moving tropical American mammal that hangs upside down from the branches of trees using its long limbs and hooked claws.



The Deadly Sin of Sloth



Many people when they think of Sloth think of the incredibly slow moving animal or tie up this deadly sin with laziness which most people will think is pretty harmless. In most parts they would be correct but it´s where this can lead is where the problem lies. This tricky one can also manifest itself in other ways including indifference and a couldn´t care less attitude. It can also take another form of avoidance of issues by being overly busy in another area of your life such as a workaholic, this is a bizarrely another form of Sloth. This is mentioned very clearly in the following Bible verse

2 Thessalonians 3:11. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

Modern Society yet again encourages us to be slothful with technology and services willing to do everyday menial tasks for us (at a price) so that we have more free time to be more productive and do meaningful things, or so they would have us believe.

There is an old saying that "An Idle Mind is the Devil´s Workshop" which rings very true with this Deadly Sin.

1 Timothy 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

Here´s some Modern Day Examples of Sloth being forced upon us in our everyday lives in these Modern Times

Dog Walkers. Can´t be bothered to walk your dog.........pay somebody else to do it for you.
Personal Trainer. Not motivated enough to go out everyday to run and do excercises....pay somebody that will be there rain or shine.
Taxi´s Can´t be bothered with the hassle of driving in the city and can´t handle public transport. Get somebody else to drive you for a price.
Valet Can´t be bothered to park your own car....get somebody else to park it while you go shopping or while staying at a hotel..
Concierge. Carrying suitcases from your car to the hotel room just isn´t you.....get the hotel concierge to carry it but again they will expect a hefty tip
Gardening Bending down and getting your hands dirty and doing the gardening or cutting the grass .... pay someone to do it for you
Nanny Too busy working to look after your kids ................get a nanny to look after them and also get the shopping
Cleaner Is cleaning just too much of a pallava and beneath you.... get a cleaner to do the washing up, make your bed, hoover the house, do the washing but again it comes at a price
Coffee or Tea Can´t be bothered to make coffee or tea in the morning go to a coffee shop who will make it for you and put it in a fancy paper cup and treat you like a celebrity
Painting and Decorating Paint Brushes and Rollers make you nervous and it´s all just too messy for you.........pay a professional to do it
Food for Work Just can´t handle the hassle of making a couple of sandwiches for work or making up a salad.......pay over the odds for an eat in or take away meal and get someone else to do it for you
Sickies: Just can´t face going to work today and you´re not sick...........just throw a sickie and say you are sick and head in the following day
Duvet Day: On the weekends is fine but during the working week .......see above.
Automatic Cars Can´t be bothered to change gear in a car......get an automatic and let the car do it for you.
Ebay Listings. Want to sell something on Ebay but can´t be bothered with the hassle.....new firms will do it for you and list your item...but it´s not free
Servicing the Car. Just a bit too greasy, oily and confusing. Pay a garage to do it for you.
Cycling ...............too much effort to move those pedals on a bike...........get an electric one
Can´t even be bothered to work..........claim state benefits and have a lie in every day of the week.
Christmas and Birthday Presents. Not very good at wrapping Christmas presents or even buying them in the first place......... just can´t be bothered.....there are people out there that can help?
Electric Doors, Lifts, Elevators, Self Raising Boots and Tail Gates on Cars, Supermarket Shopping Delivery the list just goes on and on.

Sloth and The Modern Day Society Problem

Modern Day Society encourages Slothfulness with  all it´s pampering and laziness, it´s good for the economy, creates jobs, gets people spending and makes people feel important and frees up valuable time to do more important things? in this fast paced hard working Western Culture that we live in these days. But the consequences of Sloth are just as deadly as the others  as mentioned in the accompanying Sloth Video , it can lead to a dark place such as ill health due to inactivity, loss of your job, homelessness, financial problems. In extreme cases it can lead to death because Sloth by it´s very nature is "loss of interest in life".

Proverbs 21:25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

Other examples of Sloth can be the avoidance of helping others in need but expecting those to help you or just indifference to people in general.

Where can Sloth lead?

Just like all the other deadly sins, this one can lead to the other Deadly Sins and they all overlap in some shape or form. So on the surface Sloth looks like one of the not so destructive versions of the Seven Deadly Sins, BUT it can lead to the other more vicious and destructive and cyclical versions and all the Deadly Sins lead to the same place ........... that is your ultimate destruction.

This is one that even True Born Again Christians can find creeping into their faith if they are not careful but keeping a rigid schedule and not straying from it will ensure that this doesn´t get a foot hold in your life. This Deadly Sin just like the others is creeping in nature and will start with the words like "Delegation" or "outsourcing" of some menial task, you´ll think you are being clever and quickly this  becomes addictive.

It can lead to Vanity and Greed and using these labour saving devices or people as some form of status symbol just like wealthy people have an army of Butlers, Nannies, Cooks and Security etc. The problem is they have vast financial resources to pay for these things whereas the normal person in the street earning 25-35K a year and paying half that in rent will hit financial problems if this Deadly Sin of Sloth is embraced fully on a permanent basis. We live in a day and age now where if you have the money, you would never have to leave your house, you could stay in bed all day and just get up to answer the front door for deliveries. It´s all very tempting but just like all the other deadly sins...... it will lead you to a  very dark place eventually.

Yet another clever, cunning and deceptive Deadly Sin, Sloth is up there with the rest with the capacity to derail your life....... in extreme cases for good!

Bible Quotes:

Romans 12:11 11. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Proverbs 13:4 - The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 - For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Proverbs 12:24 - The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Colossians 3:23 - And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Proverbs 15:19 - The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

Proverbs 21:25-26 - 25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

Proverbs 24:30-34 -
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

Ecclesiastes 10:18 - By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

Matthew 25:26 - His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Proverbs 18:9  He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

The Deadly Sin of Gluttony in our Modern Society


The Deadly Sin of Gluttony

Gluttony is another one of the Seven Deadly Sins, on the surface it doesn´t sound that deadly, but delve deeper, just like all the other Deadly Sins and you realise this is another sin that creeps up on you and gradually takes over your life, just like all the others. Gluttony is derived from the Latin Word to Gulp down. Gluttony normally applies to excessive eating of food or drink as defined in the Oxford Dictionary


Gluttony Oxford Dictionary Definition Noun: Habitual greed or excess in eating



The classic view of Gluttony
The classic view of Gluttony is somebody that is absolutely huge and stuffing their face continually, just for the pleasure of it. Although this is one case of Gluttony, this Deadly Sin doesn´t always work that way. Chris Donato of Trinity International University has this to say on the subject

Two mistakes accompany most discussions on gluttony. The first is that it only pertains to those with a less than shapely waistline; the second is that it always involves food. In reality, it can apply to toys, television, entertainment, sex, or relationships. It is about an excess of anything.

How Gluttony ties in closely with Greed
Gluttony ties in very closely with the other Deadly Sin of Greed and works in a similar way, but Greed is more concerned with Wealth, Money and Materialism to excess, a different sort of consumption but it can be applied to food and drink as well. The Deadly Sin of Gluttony is characterized by a limitless appetite for food and drink and overindulgence to the point where one is no longer eating just to live, but rather living to eat. Compulsive eating disorders are a modern day version that results in uncontrollable gluttony!

Gluttony from a Christian Perspective
However when we look at this Deadly Sin from a Christian Perspective it has a broader concept and can include not just food but alcohol and even substance abuse as in drugs so can cover addictions such as alcoholism and the modern equivalent of Binge Drinking and Drug addiction in it´s myriad of forms.

Where does it lead?
As with all of the Seven Deadly Sins, Gluttony will lead you down exactly the same initially bright road with short term pleasure and buzz, but the road you will end up on will get gradually darker and darker. The problem is you will not notice that this is happening as it will be a very slow process, but everybody else will. Eventually it will take over your life, you will become a slave to it, and it will be just you and your Deadly Sin as companion and nothing else. If you have ever watched the film Seven with Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, the man that got killed for Gluttony... that will give you a good idea what this one is all about in it´s extreme form. Nothing else will matter in your life except fulfilling this deadly desire which will never get fulfilled.

It´s the same old cycle as the other Deadly Sins with the familiar short lived buzz, euphoria then the crash down to earth, the guilt and shame, then the low and depression which then comes full circle to deal with this low and the whole process starts again. This is particularly true of Alcohol and Drugs and the same principle can be applied to Food. All people that embrace Gluttony will eventually hit problems in some shape or form. The common ones being extreme health problems, family problems, loss of job, loss of friends and a general sense of lack of control of your life. In extreme cases if help isn´t found in time, just like the others it can lead to death and not a pleasant one at that.. Gluttony nowadays is seen as an emotional cry for help and a way to fill a big hole or void in a persons life that will never get filled, not with this anyway.

Modern Day Society doesn´t help.
Our fast paced and over indulgent lifestyles don´t help with fighting off Gluttony. Being bombarded with special offers with Buy One Get One Free, Happy Hours, 6 cans for the price of 5, half price today only, buy 1 case and get a free bottle of Bubbly. TV Advertising is also guilty. With cheap drugs it´s the same. On the drug scene Crack Cocaine and the new Zombie Drug on the streets called Flakka come into this category, they are dirt cheap, highly addictive and have scary after effects, especially Flakka where people go into a wild Zombie like rage where it takes 4 full grown men or more to bring such a person under control.

What´s the answer to overcoming this Deadly Sin
Just like all the others, these Deadly Sins play on the carnal primitive emotions of mankind and they are at the base level and simply pure evil. You can try self help, alcholics anonymous, drug rehab, eating disorder clinics, all of these have varying degrees of success. To truly conquer this one, just like the others, firstly you have to recognise you have the problem in the first place and secondly you need something to give you the power to truly overcome this Deadly Sin and not gradually slip back to your old ways. With our modern day society pressures in the form of advertising, marketing, media and peer pressure from friends it will be very difficult to stay clean unless something fundamental changes in your life that gives you the power to see this thing coming. It´s called being Born Again and Saved. This is yet another Deadly Sin you will not beat on your own!

Gluttony in the Bible

Gluttony and Drunkards are mentioned many times in the Bible

Proverbs 23:20-21
20. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
21. For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.


Philippians 3:18-19
18. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Luke 7:34
34. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

Dueteronomy 21:18-20
18. If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
19. Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
20. And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.


1 Corinthians 5:11
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Proverbs 23:1-3
1. When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
2. And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
3. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.


Proverbs 25:16 - Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

1 Corinthians 6
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

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