Mystery (μυστηρίου) of God

Mystery (μυστηρίου) of God
Colossians 2:1-3
King James Version
For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
English Standard Version
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

μυστηρίου
Strong's Greek 3466

The mysteries of the kingdom of God
Matthew 13:11
King James Bible
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries (μυστήρια) of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
New American Standard Bible
Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.
Mark 4:11-12
King James Bible
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery (μυστήριον) of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
New American Standard Bible
And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN."
Luke 8:10
King James Bible
And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries (μυστήρια) of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
New American Standard Bible
And He said, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.

Romans 11:25
The Mystery of Israel's Salvation
English Standard Version
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Romans 16:25 N-GNS
GRK: κατὰ ἀποκάλυψιν μυστηρίου χρόνοις αἰωνίοις
KJV: to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret

1 Corinthians 2:7 N-DNS
GRK: σοφίαν ἐν μυστηρίῳ τὴν ἀποκεκρυμμένην
KJV: in a mystery, [even] the hidden

1 Corinthians 4:1 N-GNP
GRK: καὶ οἰκονόμους μυστηρίων θεοῦ
KJV: and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 Corinthians 13:2 N-ANP
GRK: εἰδῶ τὰ μυστήρια πάντα καὶ
KJV: understand all mysteries, and all

1 Corinthians 14:2 N-ANP
GRK: δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια
KJV: in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

1 Corinthians 15:51 N-ANS
GRK: ἰδοὺ μυστήριον ὑμῖν λέγω
KJV: I shew you a mystery; We shall not

Ephesians 1:9 N-ANS
GRK: ἡμῖν τὸ μυστήριον τοῦ θελήματος
KJV: unto us the mystery of his

Ephesians 3:3 N-ANS
GRK: μοι τὸ μυστήριον καθὼς προέγραψα
KJV: unto me the mystery; (as

Ephesians 3:4 N-DNS
GRK: ἐν τῷ μυστηρίῳ τοῦ χριστοῦ
KJV: knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Ephesians 3:9 N-GNS
GRK: οἰκονομία τοῦ μυστηρίου τοῦ ἀποκεκρυμμένου
KJV: [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which

Ephesians 5:32 N-NNS
GRK: τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο μέγα
KJV: is a great mystery: but I

Ephesians 6:19 N-ANS
GRK: γνωρίσαι τὸ μυστήριον τοῦ εὐαγγελίου
KJV: to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Colossians 1:26 N-ANS
GRK: τὸ μυστήριον τὸ ἀποκεκρυμμένον
KJV: [Even] the mystery which hath been hid

Colossians 1:27 N-GNS
GRK: δόξης τοῦ μυστηρίου τούτου ἐν
KJV: of this mystery among

Colossians 2:2 N-GNS
GRK: ἐπίγνωσιν τοῦ μυστηρίου τοῦ θεοῦ
KJV: the acknowledgement of the mystery of God,

Colossians 4:3 N-ANS
GRK: λαλῆσαι τὸ μυστήριον τοῦ χριστοῦ
KJV: to speak the mystery of Christ,

1 Timothy 3:9 N-ANS
GRK: ἔχοντας τὸ μυστήριον τῆς πίστεως
KJV: Holding the mystery of the faith in

1 Timothy 3:16 N-NNS
GRK: τῆς εὐσεβείας μυστήριον Ὃς ἐφανερώθη
KJV: great is the mystery of godliness: God

Revelation 1:20 N-NNS
GRK: τὸ μυστήριον τῶν ἑπτὰ
KJV: The mystery of the seven star

Mystery of lawlessness
2 Thessalonians 2:7
King James Bible
For the mystery (μυστήριον) of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
English Standard Version
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.
New American Standard Bible
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.
Revelation 17:5-7
King James Bible
And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery (μυστήριον), Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery (μυστήριον) of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
English Standard Version
And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations." And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly. But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.

Mystery of God fulfilled
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery (μυστήριον) of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:7 KJV)

Your Reaction Determines Your Destiny

I always tell my children, "Your life is not determined by events that happened to you, but by your reactions to the events." I searched the Bible, but could not find a verse that said something similar.

Then I searched the web and found similar quotes:
"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." - Charles R. Swindoll
"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." - Epictetus

Reaping And Sowing

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7 KJV)

I always tell my children, "Your life is not determined by events that happened to you, but by your reactions to the events." I searched the Bible, but could not find a verse that said something similar. Then I searched the web and found this website "Quote Investigator" and found some interesting quotes which I have heard previously:

"You sow an act, you reap a habit; you sow a habit, you reap a character; you sow a character, you reap a destiny."

The website also have this:

Plant a thought and reap a word;
plant a word and reap an action;
plant an action and reap a habit;
plant a habit and reap a character;
plant a character and reap a destiny.

W — Watch your Words.
A — Watch your Actions.
T — Watch your Thoughts.
C — Watch your Companions.
H — Watch your Habits.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. (Hosea 10:12 KJV)

Time

There is a season for everything.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 KJV)

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. (Hosea 10:12 KJV)

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. (Genesis 2:2 KJV)

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:11 ESV)

Time is limited and evil.
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
(Psalm 90:9-12 KJV)

O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! (Psalm 39:4-5 ESV)

Is not all human life a struggle? Our lives are like that of a hired hand, like a worker who longs for the shade, like a servant waiting to be paid. (Job 7:1-2 NLT)

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time. (Amos 5:13 KJV)

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17 KJV)

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. (Colossians 4:5-6 KJV)

God does not always take the shortest time and most efficient route.
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, "Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt" But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. (Exodus 13:17-18 ESV)

Time lost due to sin and consequences of sin.
And your children will be like shepherds, wandering in the wilderness for forty years. In this way, they will pay for your faithlessness, until the last of you lies dead in the wilderness. "'Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years--a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.' (Numbers 14:33-34 NLT)

Time is a perception.
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. (Genesis 29:20 KJV)

The Thousand Years
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8 KJV)

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. (Revelation 20:1-3 ESV)

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6 ESV)

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:7-10 ESV)

Conclusion about time.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)

The Incompleteness Theorem

The Incompleteness Theorem , proved by Kurt Gödel and published in 1931, actually showed that there exist logical statements whose truth value is undecidable, that is, they cannot be proved either true or false. The following was taken from the website "What is Incompleteness Theorem? - Definition from WhatIs.com".

QUOTE
The Incompleteness Theorem is a pair of logical proofs that revolutionized mathematics. The first result was published by Kurt Gödel (1906-1978) in 1931 when he was 24 years old.

The First Incompleteness Theorem states that any contradiction-free rendition of number theory (a branch of mathematics dealing with the nature and behavior of numbers and number systems) contains propositions that cannot be proven either true or false on the basis of its own postulates.

The Second Incompleteness Theorem states that if a theory of numbers is contradiction-free, then this fact cannot be proven with common reasoning methods.
UNQUOTE

Truth, Language and Paradox

I said in my haste, All men are liars. (Psalm 116:11 KJV)

Sometimes languages cannot express truth very well and lead to paradoxes. Statements like "I am lying" is both true and false at the same time. This is the liar paradox.

A true self-reference statement is always true, but a false self-referencing statement becomes a paradox. "I am a truth teller" is always true, but "I am a liar" becomes false if the statement is true.

Objectivity Of Truth

Truth or Reality exists independently of anyone's knowledge, experience, thoughts or perceptions of it. For example, gravity existed before Newton formulated the Law of Gravity. Truth is discovered, not invented. Truth can be witnessed or verified by one with the mean to verify. For example, the sky is blue may be true, but a blind person cannot verify this truth.

Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant makes a foundational distinction between the "objects" of "subjective experience" called "phenomena" and the "objects" of "reality" called "noumena".

Schopenhauer's critique
Schopenhauer claimed that Kant used the word noumenon incorrectly. The noumenon's original meaning of "that which is thought" is not compatible with the "thing-in-itself", the latter meaning things as they exist apart from their existence as images in the mind of an observer. But Kant who, in an unwarrantable manner, entirely neglected the thing for the expression of which those words phenomena and noumena had already been taken, now takes possession of the words, as if they were still unclaimed, in order to denote by them his things-in-themselves and his phenomena.

Conclusion
Absolute Truth - reality, "thing-in-itself", etc.
Objective Truth - Observable truth, perception, experience, etc.

Refer to an earlier blog post on Truth.

Characteristics of Truth

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? (John 18:37-38a KJV)

What is truth? Here are some characteristics of truth I got from various websites:

Absolute - not relative, exists independently of anyone's knowledge, experience, thoughts or perceptions
Objective - verifiable truth, if you do X, then Y occurs - always
Correspondent - corresponds to reality
Coherent - internal cohesion and consistency, not contradictory
Universal - applies equally, within a specific set of parameters (Mark 16:15)
Exclusive - narrow-minded, 1 + 1 = 2, one, John 14:6, Deuteronomy 6:4

I re-organized them as follow:

One - Exclusive, Universal, Absolute;

Objective, verifiable;

Consistent - Correspondent (not contradictory externally), coherent (not contradictory internally);

Immutable.

Refer to an earlier blog post on Truth.

Truth is an absolute, narrow minded dictator with universal control. He is also exclusive, discriminating and intolerant. He does not take no for an answer and does not allow choice. If you conform to him, your life will be free from contradiction.

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17 ESV)
You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32 HCSB)
The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever. (Psalm 119:160 HCSB)

God's Word is Truth

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17 KJV)

All of God's Word is truth.
Psalm 119:160
KJV
Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
ESV
The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
NASB
The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.
HCSB
The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.
NIV
All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
NET
Your instructions are totally reliable; all your just regulations endure.
NLT
The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.
YLT
The sum of Thy word is truth, And to the age is every judgment of Thy righteousness!
CUV
你話的總綱是真實； 你一切公義的典章是永遠長存 。
Hebrew word for word
Beginning Your word true, forever every one of Your judgments righteous.

God is Truth. Jesus is Truth. The Holy Spirit is truth.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. (Isaiah 40:8 NIV)

Chicken And Egg Problem Solved

And God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens." (Genesis 1:20 ESV)

It is now proven by science that the chicken came first, just as the Bible said. You can read about this in an article in Gizmodo.

But the unbelievers said and I quote from the same article in Gizmodo,
QUOTE
What they found was a specific molecule called ovocleidin which is a member of a family of C-type lectin-like proteins. These things are all over the place; they're cell adhesion molecules, some are involved in cell signaling, some function in modulating the immune system and blood clotting pathways. They're even found in snake venoms. They're found in everything from C. elegans to mammals. Their key property is that they bind calcium.

In birds, these proteins have been coopted to regulate egg shell formation. They bind calcium and can seed the crystallization of calcium carbonate, and also control the rate of crystal formation. Chickens have ovocleidin, but geese have an ortholog, ansocalcin, and ostriches have struthiocleidin. There seems to be a lot of lability in what particular calcium-binding protein is used in shell formation, and it's probably the case that most of the sequence is free to mutate without affecting the nucleating function.

You simply can't make the conclusion the reporter was making here. The species ancestral to Gallus gallus laid eggs, the last common ancestor of all birds laid eggs, the reptiles that preceded the birds laid eggs…the appearance of egg laying was not coincident with the evolution of ovocleidin. The first chicken that acquired the protein we call ovocleidin now by mutation of a prior protein also hatched from an egg.
UNQUOTE

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:5-6 ESV)

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 ESV)

The Definition of the Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D)

We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach people to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a reasonable [rational] soul and body; consubstantial [co-essential] with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the Manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; (ἐν δύο φύσεσιν ἀσυγχύτως, ἀτρέπτως, ἀδιαιρέτως, ἀχωρίστως – in duabus naturis inconfuse, immutabiliter, indivise, inseparabiliter) the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person (prosopon) and one Subsistence (hypostasis), not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten God (μονογενῆ Θεόν), the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets from the beginning [have declared] concerning Him, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us, and the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us.

Trinity In Old Testament

"Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together. Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them has declared these things? The LORD loves him; he shall perform his purpose on Babylon, and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans. I, even I, have spoken and called him; I have brought him, and he will prosper in his way. Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there." And now the Lord GOD has sent me, and his Spirit. (Isaiah 48:12-16 ESV)

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1-3 KJV)

Trinity In New Testament

Taken from this website:

QUOTE
Within the Godhead, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit share an equality of divine nature. It is noteworthy that, in the great trinitarian passages in the New Testament, the scriptures do not adhere to any rigid sequence when mentioning the divine persons, thereby avoiding any suggestion of superiority or inferiority within the Godhead. Indeed every possible arrangement of the divine names is found:
Father, Son, Spirit (Matthew 28:19)
Father, Spirit, Son (1 Peter 1:2)
Son, Father, Spirit (John 14:16; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
Son, Spirit, Father (Ephesians 2:18)
Spirit, Father, Son (John 14:26)
Spirit, Son, Father (John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6)
In every instance, there is a precise reason for the sequence in the context of the verse. The divine persons within the Godhead are the same in substance, equal in powder and glory.
UNQUOTE

Comma Johanneum

1 John 5:7-8
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (KJV)
For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. (ESV)
For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. (NASB)
For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood - and these three are in agreement. (HCSB)

The Comma Johanneum, also known as the Comma Johannine, is a textual variant in 1 John 5:7-8. The word comma simply means "short clause," and Johanneum means "pertaining to John."

This is the short clause: "three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost".

This only occurrence where God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is counted like discrete objects and assigned numerical properties of the natural number 3.

The Bible has always been very careful to present God as one, and that He is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. While God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is often seen simultaneously, interacting with one another, God is one.

In the Bible, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is always named distinctively, but never grouped or numbered, for example, like, "2 of the 3 persons of the Godhead" or "All the 3 persons of the Godhead".

Because of that, we can be sure that the Comma Johanneum is not part of the Bible, but inserted by theologians, who wanted to present God as 3-in-1, like some kind of coffee mix.

In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me." (John 8:17-18 ESV)

God Is One, Alone, Unique - 1

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 KJV)

Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. (Nehemiah 9:6 KJV)

I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:5-6 KJV)

For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. (1 Corinthians 8:5-6 NASB)

God Is Spirit

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24 ESV)

God is spirit. What is spirit? Is it solid, liquid or gas, or none of these state? Is it countable like large solid discrete objects? We do not know. Our knowledge of God comes from His revelation. There is no way the creature can know the creator, except by revelation from the creator. God is without comparison.

We are flesh and blood. We creates digital world in computers by our word. The digital creation will never understand what flesh and blood is. We are invisible to them in our essence.

But we can create a digital image of ourselves and put it into our digital creation.

And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 YLT)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (Colossians 1:15 HCSB)

We can never see God in His essence. But God became flesh and we can see Him.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17 KJV)

God Is Like Nothing On Earth

Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I am who I am.” And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I am has sent me to you.'" (Exodus 3:13-14 ESV)

To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:25 ESV)

When Moses asked God how to describe Himself so that he can report back to his people, God can only answer, "I am who I am." There is nothing in creation that God can be compared to. That is why idolatry is such a great sin.

To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble. (Isaiah 46:5-7 ESV)

Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (John 14:9 ESV)

For the entire fullness of God's nature dwells bodily in Christ, (Colossians 2:9 HCSB)

So whosoever wants to see God, or know how God is like, he can look to Christ.

The Empire Paul Built Through Christ

For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed, by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God's Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the good news about the Messiah from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum. (Romans 15:18-19 HCSB)

I stand amazed at what Paul the apostle had accomplished during his times when transportation was primitive and a day's journey by foot was probably about 40 km. Yet he was able to spread the gospel in about 12 years from Jerusalem to Illyricum (modern day Serbia / Croatia) via Syria and Galatia.

Found By Prayer

Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24 ESV)

Some time back, I wrote how I prayed when my daughter lost her keys and she found them.

A few days ago, I suddenly remembered about the hard disk which I store my photographs and videos. I went to the usual place to look for it but could not find. Then I started harassing my wife to ask her to help me find the hard disk. Still it could not be found and I was very upset. I tried to recall what I last did with the hard disk, but could not.

Yesterday evening, I was walking into my room, and I remembered how I found my daughter's keys by prayer and that I had not prayed for my hard disk. So while entering the room, I prayed to the Lord to help me recall where I kept the hard disk. Almost simultaneously, I suddenly remembered it could be in my drawer. I went to my desk and opened the drawer and the hard disk was right there.

The prayer was answered so fast that I did not have time to doubt.

The Beginning Of Grace

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Salvation can only be found in the Gospel.
This is the grace of God to everyone who heard the Gospel, believed and is saved:

1. God has placed you in a place where the Gospel can be heard;
2. God has given you a heart (or a state of mind) to receive the Gospel.

The grace of God is simply defined as an unmerited, undeserved favour.

Grace is, by definition, unfair. - Philip Yancey

Justice gives a punishment we deserve; mercy withholds a punishment we deserve; grace gives a blessing we don't deserve.

If someone dies without hearing the Gospel, he gets justice.
If someone hears the Gospel and rejects it, he also gets justice.
If someone hears the Gospel and believes, he gets grace and mercy.

Grace And Works

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:8-9 KJV)

If Noah is just and perfect, he did not need the grace of God. Why did the Bible wrote that Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD? Because God had put him in a place where he could be just and perfect.

The Great Tribulation

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27 KJV)
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1 KJV)
Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:7 KJV)
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22 KJV)

The Great Tribulation are for Israel. The Church should be raptured by then. But is this good news for Christians? No. Our Lord promised that Christians always have persecutions.

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (John 15:20 KJV)
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 KJV)
For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. (1 Thessalonians 3:4 KJV)
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12 KJV)
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (1 Peter 4:12-13 KJV)

Then the Christians said, "Well, at least it is not  the Great Tribulation." But the Great Tribulation is great toward the nation of Israel, in that many will be killed.

In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. (Zechariah 13:8 ESV)

As for the method of persecution, would you be happier if you are imprisoned for life, sawn asunder or beheaded in this Church age and not during the Great Tribulation?

Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11:36-38 ESV)

Marcus Aurelius, Good Roman Emperor, Persecutor of Christians

In Philip Schaff's History of the Christian Church, the persecution under the great philosopher-king Marcus Aurelius is described this way:

Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher on the throne, was a well-educated, just, kind, and amiable emperor, and reached the old Roman ideal of self-reliant Stoic virtue, but for this very reason he had no sympathy with Christianity, and probably regarded it as an absurd and fanatical superstition. He had no room in his cosmopolitan philanthropy for the purest and most innocent of his subjects, many of whom served in his own army. He was flooded with apologies of Melito, Miltiades, Athenagoras in behalf of the persecuted Christians, but turned a deaf ear to them. Only once, in his Meditations, does he allude to them, and then with scorn, tracing their noble enthusiasm for martyrdom to "sheer obstinacy" and love for theatrical display. His excuse is ignorance. He probably never read a line of the New Testament, nor of the apologies addressed to him. Belonging to the later Stoical school, which believed in an immediate absorption after death into the Divine essence, he considered the Christian doctrine of the immortality of the soul, with its moral consequences, as vicious and dangerous to the welfare of the state. A law was passed under his reign, punishing every one with exile who should endeavor to influence people's mind by fear of the Divinity, and this law was, no doubt, aimed at the Christians. At all events his reign was a stormy time for the church, although the persecutions cannot be directly traced to him. The law of Trajan was sufficient to justify the severest measures against the followers of the "forbidden" religion. It was during the reign of Marcus Aurelius that Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, was martyred. Later, there is record of "new decrees" making it easier for Christians to be accused and have their property confiscated. In 177, 48 Christians were martyred in the amphitheater in Lyons (modern France).

Ready in the Lord

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD. (Proverbs 21:31 ESV)

We were getting ready for production cut over of the system the next day, planning to put in the routing rules into the Production Server in the evening.

Then in the morning, a branch reported a bug, where they had created a message with a unit which was not supposed to create messages. There is supposed to be a routing rule that checked for the unit to prevent it. These were done in an earlier project.

I checked the rules and realized that for units that cannot create messages, we had prefixed them with a "z" to fix a complaint, but the routing rules continue to use the old unit name without the "z" prefix.

And for tomorrow's cut over, actually we also have two new units prefixed with "z", but I was not aware of this rule and did not add the two new units.

This bug report allows me to fixed the routing rules and also add my two new units, which would otherwise be omitted from the rules.

This is how God uses circumstances to alert me to things which I have not planned for.

Some people take pride in being well-prepared, planning for everything. I rather trust that my God is with me and guide me in all things.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm 20:7 ESV)

Quick And Alive

I always believe that the Bible should be translated into a language we use daily. But there are always those who believe in King James Version.

Let us look at this verse in KJV:
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 KJV)

For those who do not know, the word "quick" in the passage in the times of King James means "alive".

Let say a user of KJV Bible whose knowledge of Jacobean English is not good enough, when doing Bible study would have use the modern meaning of "quick", which is "fast". Then he would think that the speed of the Bible is very fast. Then he may link up with another word regarding speed, such as Isaiah 64:24, and come up with some wrong interpretation.

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24 KJV)

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NASB)

Bible's Profit To Us

The scripture is used teach us about God, guide us in His path, correct us when we deviate, encourage us when we are down.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4 ESV)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105 ESV)

Hermeneutics, Exegesis, Eisegesis and Exercise

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 HCSB)

Hermeneutics
Interpretation of text. There are two ways, exegesis and eisegesis.

Exegesis
To draw the meaning out of the text.

Eisegesis
To lead into the text, that is, to read your own meaning into the text.

For example, you believe that the earth is very old. So you try to read that meaning into the first chapter of Genesis, claiming that the word "day" is not literal day, but periods of time.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)

Exercise
But there is a third way, the best way, that it exercise it. Obey the word and do it. Here is an interesting article taken from the following website, "hermeneutical approaches - How to separate exegesis from eisegesis in this example - Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange" which highlight the importance of obeying and doing rather than exegesing and eisegesing.

QUOTE
There is a paper put on a table in a room with five doors, each taller than the one next to it. On the paper the text reads in an ancient Egyptian language:

"Behind the tallest door you will find the most precious stone."

A class of three literary students are asked to uses exegesis to determine what the stone is.

The first student argues that the word 'precious' used in the text (kariptka) is very similar in origin to the word 'kariptko' which means bright orange, derived from the use of a rare orange herb that was used to paint royal stripes on the faces of wealthy children. He says the intended meaning must therefore be gold.

The second student says one can't determine what stone is being referred to and is most likely merely representative of all valuable stones. The tallest door is an allegory for an opening extending to heaven. The statement simply means if you live a life that leads upwards it will bring you true riches.

The third student opens the tallest door and finds a large diamond inside. He takes the text to literally mean that there was a diamond placed in the room whose entrance had a tall door. The text called for external investigation and it was pretty obvious upon inspection.
UNQUOTE

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22 ESV)

The Word of God Proves True

Proverbs 30:5
King James Bible
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
English Standard Version
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
New American Standard Bible
Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
New International Version
"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
New Living Translation
Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.
NET Bible
Every word of God is purified; he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him.
Young's Literal Translation
Every saying of God is tried, A shield He is to those trusting in Him.

Men's words are a mixture of truth and error. But God's word always proves to be true.

The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. (Psalm 12:6 ESV)

Prayer and Strength of Desire

Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And Elisha said to him, "Take a bow and arrows." So he took a bow and arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, "Draw the bow," and he drew it. And Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands. And he said, "Open the window eastward," and he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot," and he shot. And he said, "The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them." And he said, "Take the arrows," and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground with them." And he struck three times and stopped. Then the man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times." (2 Kings 13:14-19 ESV)

King Joash wanted victory of Aram. But he was not so determined. It was reflected in his striking of the arrows. Elisha did not tell him how many times he should strike the arrows. If he had hated the Arameans at lot, he would had strike the arrows many times.

Prayer is like that. If we wanted something very much, we would pray intensely. Sometimes prayers are not answered, because we did not really wanted what we pray for.

Daniel Prayed Toward Jerusalem

When they sin against you (for there is no one who doesn’t sin) and you become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy who takes them away as prisoners to enemy territory, whether distant or nearby, if they change their heart in whatever land they are held captive, changing their lives and begging for your mercy, saying, "We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly!" and if they return to you with all their heart and all their being in the enemy territory where they've been taken captive, and pray to you, toward their land, which you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen, and toward the temple I have built for your name, then listen to their prayer and request from your heavenly dwelling place. Do what is right for them, and forgive your people who have sinned against you. Forgive all their wrong that they have done against you. See to it that those who captured them show them mercy. (1 Kings 8:46-50 CEB)

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. (Daniel 6:10 ESV)

During the dedication of the temple, Solomon prayed that when the Israelites sinned and were taken captive, and when they prayed to God toward their land, the city Jerusalem and the house that Solomon had built for His name, God would listened to their prayers and forgive them. Thus when Daniel prayed toward Jerusalem, he was doing what King Solomon had written.

Truth Is One, What About Path?

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

Mahatma Gandhi said, "Truth is one; paths are many." Jesus said, "Truth is one; path is also one". Who should we believe?

The answer is very clear. He who came from above is greater than he who came from below. He who came from above came from eternity, from beyond time, knows all that is above and below. He who came from below only knew the things of the earth. He is limited in time, knowledge and wisdom. How can he know whether the path is one or many?

He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. (John 3:31-33 ESV)

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. (John 3:13 ESV)

And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 YLT)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3 KJV)

Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity. (Micah 5:2 HCSB)

The Testimony of Jesus

"How can these things be?" asked Nicodemus.
"Are you a teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?" Jesus replied. "I assure you: We speak what We know and We testify to what We have seen, but you do not accept Our testimony. If I have told you about things that happen on earth and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven? No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. (John 3:9-15 HCSB)

The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The One who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. The one who has accepted His testimony has affirmed that God is true. For God sent Him, and He speaks God’s words, since He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:31-36 HCSB)

Nobody has been to heaven. But the one from heaven had come down to earth, yet we do not believe Him. We rather believe in those who were from earth, who speak of things of heaven as if they had been there.

God Is Truth

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? (Numbers 23:19 ESV)

"Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind." (1 Samuel 15:29 NASB)

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:13 NASB)

in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, (Titus 1:2 NASB)

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. (Hebrews 6:18 NLT)

God is Truth. There is no falsehood in Him and He cannot lie.

Jesus is Truth. Jesus is God. The Holy Spirit is Truth. The Holy Spirit is God.

Can God Choose Not To Perform Miracles?

And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (Matthew 17:14-20 KJV)

I come across this blog on the internet speaking of unbelief.

QUOTE
Imagine you had a successful ministry that saw you healing the sick and casting out demons everywhere you went. Then one day a father brings his son to you, the boy has a seizure right in front of you, and you can't heal him. How would you react? Would you;
(a) conclude that it's not God’s will to heal all the sick?
(b) tell the father that God can heal but He is not going to heal your son right at this moment - maybe in eternity?
(c) speculate that the son has some unconfessed sin in his life?
(d) declare that the boy is healed even though he is still writhing on the ground?
(e) be puzzled?
If you chose (a), then you've built a theology based on your experience that is contrary to the promises of God (Acts 10:38, 1 Peter 2:24). If you chose (b), then you've joined the ranks of those false comforters who say things like, "God used to heal in the Bible, but now He’s on a break." If you chose (c), then you're saying sin can stop the power of God, which it can't – otherwise no sinner could get saved. If you chose (d), the father would think that you're nuts. If you chose (e), then your reaction is the same as the disciples' when they were confronted with this situation.
UNQUOTE

The writer is quite obviously coming from a Charismatic view point. He went on to conclude that the reason why healing miracles do not happen is because of our unbelief.

I do agree that God does heal miraculously, but must He always do that? Can He do it through doctors? Can God choose not to perform miracles? Must God always heal, based on Acts 10:38 and 1 Peter 2:24?

You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38 NASB)

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24 ESV)

I read and read Acts 10:38 and 1 Peter 2:24, but I cannot see any support that God must heal, or He must perform miracles. Faith can move mountains, but it is subject to the sovereignty and the will of God.

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14 NASB)

God can perform miracles, but He is not obliged to perform it on call, like a performer. He is not our servant, He is our Lord. He does not always appear in an awesome earth shattering manner. He does not always heal in a dramatic way.

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11-20 KJV)

Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean." But Naaman was furious and went away and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.' Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage. Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, "My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" (2 Kings 5:10-13 NASB)

God is glorified, both in miracles and the mundane.

Obama In Islamic Prophecy

Here is an interest article I found in Forbes, written by Amir Taheri on 10/26/2008 at 1:33PM. I quote it in full below.
QUOTE
Obama and Ahmadinejad
Is Barack Obama the "promised warrior" coming to help the Hidden Imam of Shiite Muslims conquer the world?
The question has made the rounds in Iran since last month, when a pro-government Web site published a Hadith (or tradition) from a Shiite text of the 17th century. The tradition comes from Bahar al-Anvar (meaning Oceans of Light) by Mullah Majlisi, a magnum opus in 132 volumes and the basis of modern Shiite Islam.
According to the tradition, Imam Ali Ibn Abi-Talib (the prophet's cousin and son-in-law) prophesied that at the End of Times and just before the return of the Mahdi, the Ultimate Saviour, a "tall black man will assume the reins of government in the West." Commanding "the strongest army on earth," the new ruler in the West will carry "a clear sign" from the third imam, whose name was Hussein Ibn Ali. The tradition concludes: "Shiites should have no doubt that he is with us."
In a curious coincidence Obama's first and second names–Barack Hussein–mean "the blessing of Hussein" in Arabic and Persian. His family name, Obama, written in the Persian alphabet, reads O Ba Ma, which means "he is with us," the magic formula in Majlisi's tradition.
Mystical reasons aside, the Khomeinist establishment sees Obama's rise as another sign of the West's decline and the triumph of Islam. Obama's promise to seek unconditional talks with the Islamic Republic is cited as a sign that the U.S. is ready to admit defeat. Obama's position could mean abandoning three resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council setting conditions that Iran should meet to avoid sanctions. Seeking unconditional talks with the Khomeinists also means an admission of moral equivalence between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic. It would imply an end to the description by the U.S. of the regime as a "systematic violator of human rights."
Obama has abandoned claims by all U.S. administrations in the past 30 years that Iran is "a state sponsor of terrorism." Instead, he uses the term "violent groups" to describe Iran-financed outfits such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Obama has also promised to attend a summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference within the first 100 days of his presidency. Such a move would please the mullahs, who have always demanded that Islam be treated differently, and that Muslim nations act as a bloc in dealings with Infidel nations.
Obama's election would boost President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's chances of winning a second term next June. Ahmadinejad's entourage claim that his "steadfastness in resisting the American Great Satan" was a factor in helping Obama defeat "hardliners" such as Hillary Clinton and, later, it hopes, John McCain.
"President Ahmadinejad has taught Americans a lesson," says Hassan Abbasi, a "strategic adviser" to the Iranian president. "This is why they are now choosing someone who understands Iran's power." The Iranian leader's entourage also point out that Obama copied his campaign slogan "Yes, We Can" from Ahmadinejad's "We Can," used four years ago.
A number of Khomeinist officials have indicated their preference for Obama over McCain, who is regarded as an "enemy of Islam." A Foreign Ministry spokesman says Iran does not wish to dictate the choice of the Americans but finds Obama "a better choice for everyone." Ali Larijani, Speaker of the Islamic Majlis, Iran's ersatz parliament, has gone further by saying the Islamic Republic "prefers to see Barack Obama in the White House" next year.
Tehran's penchant for Obama, reflected in the official media, increased when the Illinois senator chose Joseph Biden as his vice-presidential running mate. Biden was an early supporter of the Khomeinist revolution in 1978-1979 and, for the past 30 years, has been a consistent advocate of recognizing the Islamic Republic as a regional power. He has close ties with Khomeinist lobbyists in the U.S. and has always voted against sanctions on Iran.
Ahmadinejad has described the U.S. as a "sunset" (ofuli) power as opposed to Islam, which he says is a "sunrise" (toluee) power. Last summer, he inaugurated an international conference called World Without America–attended by anti-Americans from all over the world, including the U.S.
Seen from Tehran, Obama's election would demoralize the U.S. armed forces by casting doubt on their victories in Iraq and Afghanistan, if not actually transforming them into defeat. American retreat from the Middle East under Obama would enable the Islamic Republic to pursue hegemony of the region. Tehran is especially interested in dominating Iraq, thus consolidating a new position that extends its power to the Mediterranean through Syria and Lebanon.
During the World Without America conference, several speakers speculated that Obama would show "understanding of Muslim grievances" with regard to Palestine. Ahmadinejad hopes to persuade a future President Obama to adopt the "Iranian solution for Palestine," which aims at creating a single state in which Jews would quickly become a minority.
Judging by anecdotal evidence and the buzz among Iranian bloggers, while the ruling Khomeinists favor Obama, the mass of Iranians regard (and dislike) the Democrat candidate as an appeaser of the mullahs. Iran, along with Israel, is the only country in the Middle East where the United States remains popular. An Obama presidency, perceived as friendly to the oppressive regime in Tehran, may change that.
Amir Taheri is the author of 10 books on Iran, the Middle East and Islam. His new book The Persian Night: Iran Under the Khomeinist Revolution will be published by Encounter Books in November.
UNQUOTE

What Will Jesus Do?

Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" (Luke 12:13-14 ESV)

We have many social issues today - climate change, racial discrimination, rich poor divide and so on. Some pastors have use the pulpit to talk about social issues, claiming that this is what Jesus would do if He were on earth today. But what does the Bible tell us about Jesus's action while He was on earth?

We know Jesus did not do these:
He did not lead an army to liberate the Jew from the Romans;
He did not start a movement to free the slaves in the Roman Empire;
He did not lead a protest against corruption and unjust tax collectors;
He did not even attempt to judge an individual's inheritance problem.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17 KJV)

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28 KJV)

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32 KJV)

This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" - and I am the worst of them. (1 Timothy 1:15 HCSB)

Jesus's primary purpose in His first coming is to save sinners.

To answer the question, "What Will Jesus Do?" in the context of today's social ills and personal injustice based on the Bible's description of Jesus, I believe He would say, "Repent! Change yourself, not the world."

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19 KJV)

Millennium, New Heaven and New Earth

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain," says the Lord. (Isaiah 65:17-25 ESV)

In the book of Isaiah, the millennium and new heaven and new earth is viewed as one.

Sun And Moon Unemployed

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. (Revelation 21:23 ESV)

The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. (Isaiah 60:19-20 ESV)

In the new heaven and new earth, the sun and moon will be retrenched. They will lose their job.

After Death

Many religions provide unprovable details on what happened after one died.

Chinese Pure Land Buddhism
Upon death, most people's consciousness will be in a limbo state for an indefinite period of no more than forty-nine days. In this state the consciousness experiences a floating sequence of scenes without the power to choose. Every seven days during this period the consciousness will experience a dying process. This period ends when the consciousness is drawn by its karma and takes rebirth in one of the six realms. According to this view, death may be considered as a gate through which the consciousness departs from one life and begins the journey to a new life. Buddhists believed in  超度 (deliverance or liberation ritual) which help the dead to reborn.

Below is a quote from Welcome to World Jenchen Buddhism on rebirth:
After a person dies, approximately how many days does it take for him to be reborn?
After a person dies, before he is reborn, he becomes a 中阴身. (Chung-ying-shen: It is an intermediate existence between death and rebirth to the next life. When ordinary people die, they are not immediately reborn. Between death and their next birth, there is a short period of one to 49 days, during which the soul is of a dank gaseous form. It is invisible to the ordinary people at large, and is a mind-consciousness without a physical body.) There is a 49-day period for rebirth. Although it is stated to be 49 days, it is not necessary that rebirth takes place only on the 49th day. A person who has great virtuous roots and has performed great virtuous deeds ascends immediately to the heavens as soon as he dies. If he had been a great sinner in his lifetime, he immediately descends to hell. During the 49-day period, the conditions for rebirth are not predetermined for the average person who neither was virtuous nor evil in his lifetime. Such a person will search for the condition for his rebirth within the 49 days. The 49-day period is divided into terms of 7 days. If the condition for rebirth arises during any of these 7-day terms, he can be reborn into one of the 6 realms, depending on his conduct during his lifetime. If all seven 7-day terms expire but he still finds no condition for rebirth, then he naturally enters into the realm of ghosts.

Roman Catholics
Roman Catholics do not believed that Christ's atonement alone is sufficient for the average believers. Thus after death, they would end up in a temporary place called Purgatory, which will purged them of the rest of their sins through suffering. However, they also believed that the saints have more than enough merit for their salvation. These merits are deposited with the Church, which have the authority to release them to those suffering in Purgatory, to meet the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven and cut short their suffering. To do so, the Church also commends alms giving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead.

Bible
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV)

... The rich man also died and was buried. While being tormented in the place of the dead, he looked up and saw Abraham at a distance with Lazarus at his side. (Luke 16:22-23 CEB)

The Bible tells us that the soul of a believer goes immediately to the presence of God and the soul of an unbeliever goes immediately into conscious torment. Does the Bible give a lot of details on what happen after death? Surprisingly, the Bible gives minimal detail about what happen after death. Why?

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (John 3:11-13 KJV)

Many people do not believe in what the Bible says about provable things on earth. How will one believe if the Bible tells of unprovable things after death?

No one has gone up to heaven except Jesus who came down from heaven. No one has come back from the dead, except Jesus. Yet many people rather believe in those who do not come from heaven and who never come back from the dead. They claimed that they are somebody and had been beyond death but unlike Jesus, there are no witnesses or documentary proof. These are the people that provide many details and which cannot be proven.

Signs of a True Apostle

The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. (2 Corinthians 12:12 ESV)

Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Corinthians 15:8 ESV)

The office of the Apostles were held by the Twelve and Paul.
The important qualities of the office of Apostles that do not any succession:

1. Chosen by Christ;
2. Eye-witnesses of Christ;
3. Writers of New Testament.

Taken from this website "Is God restoring the offices of apostle and prophet in the church today?":
There was also a spiritual gift of apostle (this is not to be confused with the office - they are separate). Among those who had the spiritual gift were James (1 Corinthians 15:7; Galatians 1:19), Barnabas (Acts 14:4, 14; 1 Corinthians 9:6), Andronicus and Junias (Romans 16:7), possibly Silas and Timothy (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2:7), and Apollos (1 Corinthians 4:6, 9). This latter group had the gift of apostleship but not the apostolic "office" conferred upon the Twelve and Paul. Those who had the gift of apostle, then, were those who carried the gospel message with God's authority. The word "apostle" means "one sent as an authoritative delegate." This was true of those who held the office of Apostle (like Paul) and those who had the spiritual gift (like Apollos). Though there are men like this today, men who are sent by God to spread the gospel, it is best NOT to refer to them as apostles because of the confusion this causes since many are not aware of the two different uses of the term apostle.

Taken from this website "Apostles & Prophets":
Paul sometimes uses the term "apostle" in a broader sense for a messenger like a legate (2 Corinthians 8:23; they are called apostles of the church)", a non-technical term with a general meaning. There is a difference supported in scripture to be an apostle of the Lord, personally chosen and sent by him; and an apostle of the church, sent out by the body of believers. This broader usage made it possible to include others who would be considered false apostles, messengers (2 Corinthians11:14; Revelation 2:2). Paul also uses the word for a group of witnesses who had seen the risen Lord before him and had received a specific call to an apostleship. This group was larger than the Twelve.

God's Great Condescension

That God allowed Himself to be described in four gospel is a great condescension on His part. Just look at our small planet. How many satellites do we need if we want to view the whole globe simultaneously?

Number of Witnesses - Bible vs Koran

For the making a will of inheritance, two just persons are required as witnesses.
O ye who believe! When death approaches any of you, (take) witnesses among yourselves when making bequests,- two just men of your own (brotherhood) or others from outside if ye are journeying through the earth, and the chance of death befalls you (thus). If ye doubt (their truth), detain them both after prayer, and let them both swear by Allah: "We wish not in this for any worldly gain, even though the (beneficiary) be our near relation: we shall hide not the evidence before Allah: if we do, then behold! the sin be upon us!" (5:106 Yusuf Ali version)

For divorce (talaq), two just persons are required as witnesses.
Then, when they have reached their term, take them back in kindness or part from them in kindness, and call to witness two just men among you, and keep your testimony upright for Allah. Whoso believeth in Allah and the Last Day is exhorted to act thus. And whosoever keepeth his duty to Allah, Allah will appoint a way out for him, and will provide for him from (a quarter) whence he hath no expectation. And whosoever putteth his trust in Allah, He will suffice him. Lo! Allah bringeth His command to pass. Allah hath set a measure for all things. (65:2-3 Pickthall version)

For a charge against chaste women, four witnesses are required.
And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after.  ... (24:4 Sahih International version)

If you accuse your wife of adultery, your own witness is sufficient if you swear five times by Allah.
As for those who accuse their wives but have no witnesses except themselves; let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies, (swearing) by Allah that he is of those who speak the truth; and yet a fifth, invoking the curse of Allah on him if he is of those who lie. (24:6-7 Pickthall version)

For financial contracts, two men, or two women for one man, is required.
O you who believe! When you contract a debt for a fixed period, write it down. Let a scribe write it down in justice between you. Let not the scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him, so let him write. Let him (the debtor) who incurs the liability dictate, and he must fear Allah, his Lord, and diminish not anything of what he owes. But if the debtor is of poor understanding, or weak, or is unable himself to dictate, then let his guardian dictate in justice. And get two witnesses out of your own men. And if there are not two men (available), then a man and two women, such as you agree for witnesses, so that if one of them (two women) errs, the other can remind her. And the witnesses should not refuse when they are called on (for evidence). You should not become weary to write it (your contract), whether it be small or big, for its fixed term, that is more just with Allah; more solid as evidence, and more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves, save when it is a present trade which you carry out on the spot among yourselves, then there is no sin on you if you do not write it down. But take witnesses whenever you make a commercial contract. Let neither scribe nor witness suffer any harm, but if you do (such harm), it would be wickedness in you. So be afraid of Allah; and Allah teaches you. And Allah is the All-Knower of each and everything. (2:282 Muhsin Khan version)

The Bible is quite straightforward. Two or more witnesses is required to convict a crime.
A single witness may not testify against another person for any trespass or sin that he commits. A matter may be legally established only on the testimony of two or three witnesses. (Deuteronomy 19:15 NET)

More examples:
If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death based on the word of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of one witness. (Numbers 35:30 HCSB)
On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness. (Deuteronomy 17:6 ESV)
But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. (Matthew 18:16 ESV)
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. (2 Corinthians 13:1 KJV)
Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. (1 Timothy 5:19 ESV)

Even God has to have two or more witnesses. That is why God is One but Three.
So the Pharisees said to him, "You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true." Jesus answered, "Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me." (John 8:13-18 ESV)

Abomination of Desolation

The little horn from the four horns from the big horn of the goat for 2300 days:
Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. It grew great, even to the host of heaven. And some of the host and some of the stars it threw down to the ground and trampled on them. It became great, even as great as the Prince of the host. And the regular burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. And a host will be given over to it together with the regular burnt offering because of transgression, and it will throw truth to the ground, and it will act and prosper. Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, "For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?" And he said to me, "For 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state." (Daniel 8:9-14 ESV)

A future prince in the middle of the last week:
"Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator." (Daniel 9:24-27 ESV)

The king of the north:
"At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before. For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall be afraid and withdraw, and shall turn back and be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant. Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time. (Daniel 11:29-35 ESV)

The 1290 days:
And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, "O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?" He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days." (Daniel 12:7-13 ESV)

Now on the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred forty-fifth year, they erected a desolating sacrilege on the altar of burnt offering. They also built altars in the surrounding towns of Judah, and offered incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets. (1 Maccabees 1:54-55 NRSV)

In 167 B.C. a Greek ruler by the name of Antiochus Epiphanies set up an altar to Zeus over the altar of burnt offerings in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. He also sacrificed a pig on the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem. This event is known as the abomination of desolation. This fulfilled Daniel 8:9-14 and Daniel 11:29-35. But there is another fulfilment of the prophecy for the middle of the week, Daniel 9:24-27 and Daniel 12:7-13. Jesus warned us to look out for it.

So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-16 ESV)

But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Mark 13:14 ESV)

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NASB)

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:11-15 NASB)

DNA

DNA size, smallest to biggest:
Nucleotide, DNA, Gene, Chromosome, Genome

Nucleotide
adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine

DNA
one long molecules spiraling around in a double helix. The helix is made of four smaller molecule by the letters A, T, C, G.

Gene
special sequence of DNA

Genome
defining set of chromosomes that contain all of its genetic information, e.g. human genome, for example, is the set of genetic information encoded in 46 chromosomes found in the nucleus of each cell.

Evolution - What Darwin Never Knew

Darwin propose natural selection as the means of evolution, but he did not know the actual mechanism of how it work.

This video "Evolution - What Darwin Never Knew" attempt to fill in what Darwin did not know, that genes is the actual mechanism of natural selection.

The basic conclusion is that small changes in genes can have profound effect. For example, humans and chimpanzee genes are 99% identical. Thanks to these small changes, it is always possible that fins can be evolved into limbs because the same genes contain all the functions for the making of fins and limbs - Hox genes.

The example given in the video of the evolution of tiktaalik evolved limbs to escape predators in the ocean is ridiculous. Not only would tiktaalik need limbs, it would need lungs. How does the tiktaalik evolve limbs and lungs mindlessly and without planning? To me, all these discovery do not prove evolution. It proved that there is a God who use a basic design to design all vertebrates.

Children are imaginative because they do not let facts get into the way of their imagination.
Likewise evolution flourish when we do not know the facts of the actual mechanism of change.

Warning Against False Prophets

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14:12 ESV)

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. (Romans 16:17–18 ESV)