Bible Reading Challenge, Accepted (Q&A)

See the Q&A Series here

Q: I accept your challenge to re-start reading The Bible again. I believe it is a book worth reading and studying. May I send you any questions I may have?

A: Thanks for accepting my challenge! Indeed, please feel free to share any questions you may have. I will do my best to address them and/or refer you to other possible answer sources.

God says (1) to seek Him ‘with all (our whole) our heart, soul and strength’, and that (2) we ‘should always pray’. I asked how in the world we could possibly do the latter. The unexpected answer I received in prayerful meditation is summarized in this poem. I suspect this answer may also relate to #1. Two Prayer Challenges (Poem)

There is no way we can do this, or anything else The Lord Jesus requires of us apart from deep knowledge and understanding of His Word, The Bible. It is His spiritual food that produces in us the spiritual energy of FAITH in Him, by which He requires us to live. Jesus, in Spirit, is present in every book, story, poem, letter and history recorded in The Bible. (There are several books and messages that affirm this.) He shows up in The Old Testament in various pre-incarnate forms (e.g., to Moses as a burning bush; to Enoch a walking friend; to Ezekiel in a mobile chariot; to Elijah as a fiery whirlwind; to Joshua as Captain of His invisible angelic army; and some say to Daniel as The Angel of The Lord). In The New Testament, He shows up in various post-incarnate forms (e.g., to Paul as a bright, blinding light; to early Christians as tongues of baptizing fire; and to the aged apostle John as the Alpha & Omega/First & Last, and The Almighty). Each time He shows up, He is affirming and/or performing some aspect of His declared modus operandi (M.O.) as He summarized to Jeremiah:

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory (boast) in (boast or be prideful about) his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising  (a) lovingkindness (Grace), (b) judgment (Justice), and (c) righteousness (according to His definition) in the Earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

Apart from The Bible, this is impossible to do, or to perceive Him at work throughout the Earth! With The Bible, we are so blessed to not only know what He requires of us, and to understand His operational methods in Earth, but we also perceive and learn well His heart (Spirit), nature, and mind.

Armed with this insight, hopefully you, too, will grow to ‘see His footprints in the sands of time’ as you read. Moreover, you will become more highly perceptive of His footprints in our current time. For me, this is where things get exciting. This is where I live, studying to perceive much more clearly into the prophetic (yet-to-happen) aspects of The Bible.

Again, praise The Lord for accepting my challenge. I look forward not only to hearing about what you ‘see’/perceive in this ‘heart-to-heart’ reading, but I’ll also be re-learning should I be blessed to address any questions you may have.

I encourage you to START with the end-point--the last 2 chapters of Revelation. The entire Bible, and all of creation is 'telelogic', meaning progressing towards a defined purpose and end point. With clarity about  that end point, we will more easily perceive the 'route' Heaven has pre-determined for us ALL (every person who will have ever lived) to get there, and be eternally assigned to one of 2 massive zones:

    • The GLORIFIED zone on a massive, new, eternal Earth--comprising the new Jerusalem and surrounding nations of The Lord's immortal saints from across history on this current version of Earth, and 

    • Likely, the brimstone-lit lake of fire into which every unredeemed/unrepentant sinner will spend their eternity for having rejected The Lord's Grace of salvation by faith in His redemptive work on the cross. 

Rich blessings!

What Original Bible Diet? (Q&A)

See the Q&A Series here

Q: What do you mean by ‘the original Bible diet?’ I have no clue what it is, but I hope it’s tasty! ;o)

A: Hello and thanks for your question.

The original, God-ordained diet for humans and animals alike is stated here:

And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is  life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. (Genesis 1:29-30)

Thus, I understand all pre-flood humans and animals were herbivores. I presume the diets were indeed tasty considering how pristine Earth and the climate were back then, compared to how acidic and polluted they are in our day.

For some strategic reason(s), after the global flood God purposely modified the diet for mankind to include meat, animal flesh:

So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. (verse 3) I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. (Genesis 9:1-4)

The following posts discuss and speculate on plausible links between the above verses and Genesis 6:1-8, in which God seemingly decrees a significant reduction in human life span from nearly a thousand years (Methuselah and Adam lived to 969 and 930 years, respectively!), to ~120 years. Some Bible scholars interpret the reference to 120 years as the time that remained before God would flood Earth. He is not a God of confusion. Examining the considerable, subsequent declines in post-flood life span leads me to believe the change in diet may have been a primary contributor. As noted in the below posts, there may be other reasons for the post-flood diet change. We also know many animals also became full carnivores, and others, like mankind, became omnivores.

Life Span – How Long?

When Lions Ate Straw

What I find keenly interesting is how God twice predicts lions will once again eat straw and seemingly that humans may once again live long lives:

The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. (Isaiah 11:7)

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” Says the Lord. (Isaiah 65:25)

No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; for the child shall die one hundred years old, but the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. (Isaiah 65:20)

When comparing and contrasting Genesis 9:30 with Isaiah 11:7 and 65:25, do you perceive an inference that the changes in diet may apply to both humans and animals, as did Genesis 1:29-30??

Which Bible Version and Understanding? (Q&A)

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Q: I have started my study of the Bible. I already have a question. Since the Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, what version or translation of the Bible do you use? Since there are no two translations that are identical or without error, how do you make sure that your interpretation and understanding is correct, accurate, and true to the original intent of the Bible?

A: Thanks for your question.

I have copies of several popular versions of The Bible, but my personal preference over the decades has been The New King James Version. (NKJV) While this is the first one I reach for, whenever I encounter sections that require clarification, pondering or deeper reflection and study, I consult BibleGateway.com, which has dozens of English translations of The Bible. In that app, I usually turn to The Amplified Bible, The King James Version, and especially Young’s Literal Translation and Wycliff Bible.  As time and interest permit, I may check a few of the more modern versions, some of which only focus on the New Testament. Finally, for tough sections or concepts, I search the web for commentaries by scholars around the world. The diversity of views on this matter is considerable. There are numerous Bible reading and commentary websites and apps.

As you read, consider this idea as an alternative viewpoint. The Lord God has a strategic spiritual message for us humans, and In His wisdom, He’s decided to convey His spiritual message to us via a book, comprised of history, poetry, prophecy, letters and prose. Then He offers His Holy Spirit (via the process of being ‘born’ into His Kingdom) to help those who ask, with their ability to perceive, understand and prosper from His strategic message that is 'hidden for us', not 'hidden from us' who diligently seek Him. So knowing this, consider reading His message from the perspective of you being there with Him in Heaven over the ages, looking over His shoulder as He stimulates the human writers of the 66 books in The Bible, to actually write in such a way as to convey HIS consistent, over-arching strategic spiritual message. Doing this without a myopic focus on books, chapters and verses will greatly help. Try to perceive His message across all the verses, chapters, books, history, writing styles, and ages. As you read, try to perceive what The Lord says about the past, current and predicted future ages.

He fully knew human social cultures would morph over time, and would actually devolve and deteriorate to their worst states by the end of this current age. Thus, He structured His message, His Book, in such a way to convey its core points across evolving times and ages. So don’t get too dragged down in the nitty-gritty issues of socio-cultural norms across the thousands of years over which The Bible was written. Keep your focus on hearing His core strategy.

If you may be skilled in reading strategically, e.g., with deeper understanding, read to be able to summarize succinctly to others your understanding of The Lord’s strategy, from start-to-end. I believe the 14 points noted in this blog post capture His strategy as I understand it. How to be Spirit-Led

Great question about confidence in my understanding. My reply is largely based on what Jesus, Himself, iteratively says in St. John 10 and 15:1-17 namely that,

My sheep know, hear and follow My voice. (John 10)

They abide in Me, bear fruit, and have full joy. (John15)

In John 10, Jesus effectively released His faith regarding all future believers who would fully embrace His salvation. As we similarly release our faith in response to His, The Holy Spirit triggers His works in and through us, building our confidence that we are indeed learning to know, hear and follow His voice.

In John 15, Jesus commands us to abide in Him, and then promises some glorious rewards. I perceive increased confidence in hearing His voice is implicit therein. I understand abiding in Him to mean meditating, musing -pondering, praying and practicing His Word, and also practicing His presence in our lives.

I hope this is helpful, and is not overly prescriptive. It’s a synthesis of what I have learned. Other readers may contribute their insights.

Post-script: Please see this series written June 2024:

Missed Insights About Revelation (Series)

Love in Man's DNA? (Q&A)

See the Q&A Series here

Q: To save both Him and humans of all the angst, why didn't The Creator simply create a version of man that was wiser, kinder, and more loving? Why not put loving your neighbor in man’s DNA and make him sin proof?

A: Thank for your question. I, too, have long questioned this option. Here’s the answer I perceive.

Rather than a bunch of robotic-like creations who are ‘hard-wired’ to obey, in His Grace-filled nature, God apparently loves and respects ‘free will’. To us, it appears to be a big, fat risky gamble to give free will to His angels, 1/3 of whom then revolted and became demons, and then to also give free will to humans!!! But it was no risk to Him, as He knows the future.

Secondly, God IS Love. He doesn’t just love, but He IS Love, itself. Love loves, and desires Love in return, in the form of self-induced, passionate, intimate relationships, not any kind of ‘programmed love’ that is independent of the lover’s will.

I trust this is clear and helpful. Perhaps other readers may add to this reply .

An Idiot-Proof Bible? (Q&A)

 

See the Q&A Series here

Q: In writing Bible, why didn't the almighty, all knowing God, write a book that was easy to understand and idiot proof? An easy to understand, idiot proof Bible would have helped humanity avoid a lot of wasted time, suffering, confusion, fights, destruction, and missteps. Writing an idiot proof Bible should have been be easier than easy for the almighty creator.

A: Thank you for your question. I do not mind Bible questions at all as they provide excellent opportunities for me to review and re-learn key points I learned as a lad, and to integrate these into what I am learning today. Rest assured, if I do not know the answer, I will say so. Before answering, I ask The Lord how would He direct me to answer. Then I listen patiently until, in my spirit, His wisdom in me is stirred. My job then is to organize the insights I receive, and pray they are beneficial.

Before answering your ‘idiot proof’ question, permit me to ask you a question. Is there a book, or could you write one if none exists that shows me a ‘very quick, idiot proof’ way to become a millionaire? While there are many ‘get rich quick’ books on the market, the ones I have browsed don’t fit my bill for ‘quick idiot proof’! It takes dedication, focus, energy, discipline, research, patience, fortitude not to quit in the face of downturns, etc. Moreover, it takes TIME.

Well, my Friend, consider Heaven and its wisdom and glory as a bi-zillion times more valuable than simply becoming a millionaire in man’s paper or e-money system. Would you trust handing all of this over to folk who simply wanted an ‘idiot proof’ way to get their hands on it?? If you answer,‘Yes, if I really wanted them to get my points!’, then please stop and take a quick peek at Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. God Almighty, who is smarter than you, me and all humans combined, first coded His key points in these verses (the first recorded time after He told Adam not to eat the fruit of a particular tree), and He did so in what most might say is an ‘idiot proof’ manner. Thus He’s ‘been there, done that’. Now look across the horizons of human history, and across the world today. Where are the benefits you seem to believe would/should accrue from that approach?

Still not satisfied? Then go to the Books of The Law, written by Moses. (Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) This was God’s second, e-x-p-a-n-d-e-d codification of His requirements. This time, they were targeted to one people, Abraham’s descendants through Isaac and Jacob. Reading through the historical accounts of the ancient Jewish nation (in 1^st/2^nd Samuel, Kings and Chronicles) you will quickly understand what happened to this expanded and targeted ‘idiot proof’ version of God’s message.

Still not satisfied? Then take a quick peek at John 3:16. This one, clear verse is yet another ‘idiot proof’ version of God’s key message, without the ‘do this, don’t do that’ detail of the prior version noted above. But this one verse clearly infers something to do, namely believe on Jesus as Christ, accept Him as Savior, and love God back in a manner acceptable to Him. Now look once more across the horizons of human history, and across our world today. Where are the benefits to this third idiot-proof version of God’s message?? In fact, The Bible predicts there will be only a tiny minority of humans who will ‘get it’ and benefit from the incalculable glory and rewards He is offering us in the Person, Jesus Christ…forever!

I hope these examples shed light on what Father God and Jesus The Lord have indeed done in an idiot proof manner to get our attention to understand, and then perform up to His expectations.

Beyond that, it is important to note the following points as you continue your exploration of The Bible:

1.  It was written, by God through men, to speak to humanity across the span of some 6,000+ years (during satan’s lease on Earth, given to him by Adam’s sin); across cultures, languages, social mores, economic climates, etc., as the overall spiritual condition of mankind steadily deteriorated towards His predicted climax – the coming tribulation judgments. Voila! What an incredible challenge to accomplish in just 66 books.

2.  Idiot proof versions of His message did not explain ‘how to perform’ His expectation to His standards, nor did they elaborate the consequences of not so performing. Perhaps in response to our responses to His idiot proof versions, He elaborated in His Book many how-to do’s, many examples of right(eous) performance of His expectations, many more examples of poor or non-performance, and a seemingly unlimited supply of examples of the consequences of both excellent and abysmal performance of His expectations. Can you perceive with me that this challenge required some volume?

3.  Moreover, He sprinkled a generous supply of ‘relevant, easy-to-imagine object lessons’ to amplify and sharpen the focus on His expectations. Take a peek at the many live object lessons The Lord prompted Jeremiah and Ezekiel to perform before the people during the last few years of the existence of Judah, the two break-away southern tribes of ancient Israel. Then consider the many object lesson parables Jesus taught. PowerPoint, audio podcasts and video messages were not yet available, so these object lessons were delivered ‘in living person’, so to speak!

4.  Using poetry, historical accounts, prophecy, etc., God filled His Bible with good, wholesome, idiot proof lessons, even lessons from fools, from which we are to extract and learn from righteous truths hidden therein, not to repeat what the fools did simply ‘because it's in the Bible.’

5.  Four times, God says for us to live by faith in Him, in Who He is, and what He has promised to anyone He calls ‘righteous’. Despite the many admonitions, examples, object lessons about good and bad results, we flipped this to mean live by faith in the evil we can get away with. The more we get away with, the worst our sinfulness becomes …until sins reach His ‘boiling point’, triggering severe judgments, per Jeremiah 9:23-24.

6.  In order to prove to us that Jesus (God in human flesh) is (a) the Messiah/Savior, (b) the idiot proof result of God’s promise to satan in Genesis 3:15, (c) and the result of God’s deep friendship with and promises to Abraham, God’s Bible elaborates Jesus’ pedigree, His heritage over millennia. The time lapse alone meant the Bible would be somewhat voluminous, not short.

7.  To help us believe HE ALONE IS GOD, He patiently and iteratively, over long spans of time, demonstrates His ability to predict the future. Again, this alone suggests a short version of His message would not do.

8.  The Bible invites us into eternal citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, those whom He calls righteous (born again, Holy Spirit filled Christians who are walking out their faith), have dual citizenship. Just as our earthly nations have constitutions, God has essentially coded in His Bible the closest thing we have to His Kingdom Constitution. He expects the righteous to perceive, live by, and benefit from it during our earthly lives, and moreover, to look forward to living under it with Him forever. Covering and iterating such detail similarly requires volume, not a short book.

9.  To help encourage us to develop sufficient faith to live/perform to His expectations, He also elaborates His nature, His character, and His heart. The idiot proof versions of His message did not include these. In this verse, He literally bears His broken heart to Ezekiel:

Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations where they are carried captive, because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot (spiritually) after their idols; they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations.” (Ezekiel 6:9) 

No idiot proof, shorter version of The Bible could convey the full range of God’s incredible emotions.

10.Since exercising faith is a form of energy – spiritual energy, He designed His Bible to serve as ‘spiritual food’ adequate to generate such energy to believers across all of human history, including for baby believers and mature believers alike. My, my, what an awesome, incredible feat!

No quick, idiot proof version of The Protestant Bible could do all of these things. I count it as a miracle that all of this, and much more, is packaged in 66 ‘books’ of The Bible. I prefer to refer to each book as really being a chapter in a God-inspired BOOK.

I hope this elaborated answer to your question is helpful, and will encourage you to look for the above noted aspects as you continue reading through the best ever Book ever written and preserved for us humans.

Mankind,

Please Me.
LIVE BY FAITH!!!!
Here’s how to, and here’s how not to.

Here are the corresponding blessings and curses.

Your call…

Signed: GOD

A People, Un-walled (Poem, Part 1)

See the series here

See the Israel series here

Walls, walls…

With great walls, history is certainly replete.

Problems without or within, they’re built to defeat.

From things without, walls provide a certain deterrent,

But to things within, they may ensure staunch confinement.

As with everything in this life, temporal,

All walls will someday become untenable.

Just before this, they’re breached, climbed over

or dug under.

What’s inside will be freed, and what’s outside will enter. 

Ponder how the walls of Jericho were knocked down, flat; ¹

Jerusalem’s walls dismantled – gold for a fat cat; ²

The fortified walls of Babylon,

wittingly crossed under; ³

The Berlin wall fell as thousands grabbed

…a chisel or hammer. ⁴

In these places and elsewhere where walls were vast,

It was cities that walls have encompassed.

So if you hear of an ‘un-walled people and nation,’

Pray tell, what comes to your mind,

what concept or notion??

In that case, don’t think of some structure that’s physical,

But ponder the notion of a wall, conceptual.

Walls are just things that keep things

in-or-out, functionally,

Things folk may look upon favorably or fearfully.

Walls, walls…

For modern nations, three key components comprise walls,

Essentials that stay on-call, guarding against downfalls:

First is a government, plus a military or militia.

Then other nation alliances complete this ‘wall trifecta’.

Without this basic defensive trifecta,

Nations today are un-walled. What a stigma!!!

Yet it is in the world’s not-to-distant future,

That this is what God calls Israel, with fervor!!! ⁵

What??!! Situated in a rowdy ‘hood,

With tough neighbors who her presence withstood,

Israel is now ‘very well walled’ on every hand:

Government, military and friends who with her stand.

In Israel’s ‘former life’, she was also well walled,

Walled cities and villages, enemies to forestall.

Military alliances she then negotiated,

Stirred The Lord’s anger until He was so infuriated! ⁶

Yet The Lord God is He who shapes our history,

And many would say ours is indeed His-story!

So we are only left to imagine,

How Israel’s ‘now’ may morph into her …‘then’.

---------- 

¹ This fascinating historical account is summarized in The Bible’s Book of Joshua, chapter 6. Check it out in BibleGateway.

² See: Melted Gold in the Destroyed Temple. Indeed, Jesus predicted the temple’s stones would be dismantled one-by-one. (See: Matthew 24:2)

³ See: The Fall of Babylon. Indeed, The Lord God also predicted so many details of this exceptional story, including calling King Cyrus, of Medo-Persia, by name before his birth, predicting his conquest over Babylon and also his future decision to release the Jewish remnant from their 70-year Babylonian captivity. (See: The Bible’s Books of Isaiah chapters 13, 14; Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51, especially verse 36; and Daniel chapter 5.)

⁴ See: How the Berlin Wall Worked

⁵ See: Ezekiel 38:11. Imagine that! Strangely, this chapter follows Ezekiel 37, the chapter that predicted the re-establishment of the nation of Israel, which happened in May 1948! That was a mere seed to something SO MUCH BIGGER and BETTER to come. For more on this, see: Ezekiel's Prophetic 'Quadfecta' (Series), and Tribulation Age Precursors: Degrading Militaries (Poem). 

⁶ See: ‘Out of My Way, USA!’ (Poem)

Pic background courtesy of PaintingGallery.com

Your Victor’s Roar (Poem)

Are the imaginations of your heart and mind,

Disciplined enough to ‘see’ your problems resolved,
Even while navigating twists and turns that bind?
Ponder their key role in making problems …dissolve.

When with problems we are ‘obese’,
With Godly faith, we are not fit.
On life, problems ‘extend their lease’,
And make us a ‘faith hypocrite’.

Here is God’s best way for us to win this fight:
Reverse gears from fear-to-faith,
By igniting imagination’s Son-light,
Light that changes problems’ face.

‘Imagination’s Son-light?!’, you exclaim?

Here is a tip that will give you a good edge.

Between your mind and heart, this I acclaim:

Imagination serves as a two-way bridge.

To traffic on this bridge, there is no limit.

And never is there any obstruction.

Motives control what will enter and exit.

To this traffic, God pays close attention. ¹

Since the heart is where God sets up His throne,

He intends righteous hearts to discipline carnal minds.

But because to sinfulness we are prone,

We all have reversed the roles that He assigns.

So when problems against us assail,

It’s natural to fill our heart with negativity.

Since the heart is our belief chamber and scale,

It returns deeply held fears, stifling creativity.

Reversing the roles as God to us has assigned,

Flips on The Glory Light of His on-board Son,

Igniting faith’s imaginations in your mind,

Putting faithlessness and all fears …on the run!

If you’ll allow, His Glory Light is strong enough,

To discipline your thoughts and tame your tongue,

Enabling you to stand-up against problems’ bluff,

And in your heart’s eyes, to ‘see’ …victory won!

So, between your righteous heart and your carnal mind,

Which one’s in charge, the one always taking the lead,

Notably on problems that put you in a bind?

From the darkness of your carnal mind, may you be freed.

Be sure it’s by a heart of faith your tongue is bridled,
If to any listener you may clearly signal,

Your desire to share problems that around you circle,

Lest your problems bask in …palaver that’s carnal. ²

Be sure it’s God’s Word in your heart you store,

Fuel for His Glory Light and much more!

With it, above all problems you will soar,

And, in faith, you’ll sound your victor’s ROAR.

But if you put your victor’s roar on hold,
Please receive from me this gentle reminder:
Don’t wait for victory your eyes to behold.
It’s our <<ROAR>> that frees us from problems’ grinder. ³

God’s Word fuels faith-filled imaginations,

That discipline our carnal minds,

And to problems, birth Grace-filled solutions,

That from problems’ >>tight grip<< …unbinds.

----------

¹ See: Genesis 8:21 and Luke 1:51

² Profuse and idle talk; chatter

³ We ROAR as we verbally declare God’s relevant promises over and above our problems. God calls it ‘FAITH’ when we do this before seeing or experiencing physical manifestations of our prayers.

Shake, Rattle ‘n Rule (Poem)

See the series here

Shake, Rattle ‘n Roll…

A very popular blues-rock song,

Back when Rock ‘n Roll was idolized,

About a fellow who realized,

His lover had been doing him wrong. ¹

‘You wouldn’t do nothin’ to save your doggone soul!’

Spurned by his lover, he takes no blame,

Casting upon her all of the shame.

That is the blues, to the swing of rock ‘n roll.

Shake, Rattle ‘n Roll…

Hey, does this sound like the news headlines of today?

All across our world, folk’s lives are being upended,

Previously rejected norms, are now defended,

Things once unimaginable are now …OK.

Such was the case for Israel in days-of-old.

So far had they strayed from what God required,

That His Grace to them finally expired.

Most folk 'wouldn’t do nothin’ to save their doggone souls!

Shake, Rattle ‘n Roll…

That’s exactly what God promised, then prepared,

Lives and systems, shaken!

Hopes for escapes, darkened!

By two invading nations, folk were ensnared.

But get this. Even in the midst of their destruction,

Folk doubled-down on their God-insurrection.

Other lovers had captured their affection.

Worshiping their idol gods, they would not abandon.

Shake, Rattle ‘n Roll…

That is what’s happening to our lives today.

Israel’s past, serves as a microcosm for us,

Portending today when, toward God, folk are callous.

We’re on slippery slopes to our own doomsday!

The Lord twice promised once more to shake,

ALL things in, on and those pertaining to Earth.

To a brand-new age, His shaking will give birth. ²

At this time, there’ll be great heartache!

Shake, Rattle ‘n Roll…??

The rattling that will follow His great earthquake,

May echo all across our solar system.

Never before will a time be so gruesome,

As lands, nations and all systems are reshaped.

Yep, God has promised all Earth to shake and rattle,

But rather than ‘roll’, He’s decided to ‘rule’,

Over survivors who will have played the fool. ³

This is the rock ‘n rule I see in The Bible.

Shake, Rattle ‘n Rule…

Friend, are you prepared and ready for it,

In your body, soul and spirit?

Your reply God will elicit,
Your eternal life to gain ...or forefit.

----------

¹ A song, written in 1954 by Jesse Stone under his assumed songwriting name Charles E. Calhoun. It was originally recorded by Big Joe Turner, and subsequently by a host of popular artists.

² “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land…’” (Haggai 2:6) “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” (Hebrews 12:26 and Revelation 16:17-21)

³ See: Zechariah 14 and Revelation 20