Count the Cost (song)

Satan- Where Did He Come From, Where Is He Now, & What Is His Fate?

Satan wasn't always bad. In fact, his name wasn't always Satan. He was a musical creature at his creation- one of 5 cherubim which surrounded the throne.

Ezekiel 28:13-15- Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Isaiah 14:12-15- How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

His pride caused him to fall. Originally, he was the "anointed cherub" that covered the throne. When John tells us about what he sees in Revelation, he says there are four cherubim that surround the throne of God.

Revelation 4:2-3,6-8 - And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

When John describes them, you almost get the idea that each of these cherubs has his own unique face- a lion, a calf or an ox, a human, and an eagle. But when you compare other Scriptures, you find that's not the case. 

Ezekiel 10:14- And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

The Cherubim are an interesting creation of God. They have four faces each; it's quite impossible for our minds to comprehend this.

However, originally, there was a fifth, and this last cherub had the face of a serpent.

Revelation 12:9- And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 20:2- And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

This is why he appeared as a "serpent" which could talk when he tempted Eve.

The Bible isn't written in chronological order. Some events are written as if happening all at once, and yet they are thousands of years apart. We aren't told exactly when he was created, but we know they were some of the original creations.

Job 38:4-7- Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

These morning stars are angels triumphing at God's creation!

Revelation 1:20- The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Lucifer was the anointed cherub that covered the throne of God. He was suppose to lead the choir, shall we say, but every time he looked down all he could imagine was himself being on that throne. It was his pride that was the first sin in history.

I imagine that if the cherubim had a fifth face, that of a serpent, that it would have been on top of their heads (where else would it go?). And that when Lucifer looked down at the throne, he saw himself around the throne staring back and that's what encouraged his prideful rebellion. This is just my understanding of the story.

Lucifer fell before Genesis 3, and was in the Garden of Eden in his fallen condition. However, he was given a new name- Satan. He was no longer the light bearer (which is what Lucifer means) over God's throne; He is now the accuser of the saints.

He wanders earth right now, and still has access to heaven, though he doesn't live there.

Job 1:6-7- Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

He goes to heaven often and tries to make trouble for Christians. He will continue this until the middle of the Tribulation when he is kicked out of heaven for good.

Revelation 12:7-9- And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Did you notice that he has his own angels? He didn't create them; God did. But he did corrupt them. These fallen angels are where the devils and demons mentioned in the Bible come from.

Satan will rule the earth for 3.5 years during the Tribulation. He does this by going into the body of the Man of Sin- the politician that has been "ruling" over the one world government. Once this man of sin is assassinated, Satan inhabits his body and raises him back to life- he is now the AntiChrist, the devil incarnate.

Revelation 13:2-3,5-8- And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

His reign, however, is only for three and half years. When Jesus Christ comes back at the Second Advent, after the end of the Tribulation, Satan will be bound and cast into a specially prepared prison for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:1-3- And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

He will be loosed for a moment after the thousand years before He faces eternal judgment and damnation.

Revelation 20:7-10- And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

You might be wondering why God would damn one of his creations to everlasting torment instead of trying to redeem them. But, I believe that it is Satan's fault that he can't be redeemed.

Do you remember when Eve ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? God has a small discussion with the other members of the trinity, but he abruptly cuts it off without finishing the thought.

Genesis 3:22-23- And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

God says, Lest he eat of the tree of life and live forever. Almost as if someone had done just that. I believe that Satan did eat of both of those trees- giving himself ultimate knowledge along with everlasting life. He cannot die and lose the evil that is now forever in his body. He put himself past the point of redemption, and now God must confine him to everlasting torments (because he cannot be consumed by these torments they will never end).

God, in his mercy, drove Adam and Eve from the garden so they wouldn't be condemned to live in an evil existence for all eternity.

Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41), but when Adam and Eve sinned they made that destination the default of the human soul. When Christ died on the cross, he enabled an escape from that default, but only if you accept the terms of the arrangement.

Romans 10:9,10,13- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

You have a choice. Follow Satan's lead and spurn God's gift of eternal salvation for your soul, or humble yourself and accept Christ as your Savior.

The Tower Of Babel & The Ladder To Heaven

 There are a few stories in the Old Testament that we tell our children often. The tower of Babel is one that explains why there are different languages in our world. However, there is more to that story than linguistic division.

Genesis 11:1-9- And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

The tower of Babel was the most infamous city under a man named Nimrod. He wanted to unite humanity under one ruler- himself.

Genesis 10:8-10- And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

The goal of this tower was to reach up to God in heaven. It was obviously the devil trying to accomplish his original scheme to "be like the Most High", and he was using mankind to help him.

​Looking at this through a theological standpoint, the Tower of Babel was man’s attempt to reach heaven through his own works. He was doing this for his own glory, and it failed miserably.

Another story that we don't generally connect with the tower of Babel is the story of Jacob's dream.

Genesis 28:10-19- And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

Jacob dreamed of a ladder that reached to heaven. ​There are two curious things about this story. The first, Jacob was made these promises by God because he was Abraham and Isaac's son. It wasn't because he was deserving. The second, it was a promise of a physical land given to his lineage- the same promise given to Abraham and Isaac.

This was God showing Jacob that heaven could only be reached through God’s way. Jacob called the place Bethel, the house of God.

​Many years passed after that promise, and the Jewish people did receive the land that was promised. However, they didn't get to go to heaven. When they died, if they were considered righteous, they went to Abraham's bosom; if they were unrighteous, they went to hell. Both of these places were in the middle of the earth as told by Jesus in Luke 16.

Jesus came to this earth to provide the way that was shown to Jacob. He is the only way through which we can enter heaven.

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

Jesus was cluing Nathanael in on who He was and what His purpose was. 

Luke 19:10- For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Christ's main purpose was not to deliver the Jews from their enemies. It was not to set up His millennial kingdom. The purpose of His first coming was ALWAYS to die for sins. 

John 18:11- Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

Hebrews 9:13-14, 22, 28- For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

The sacrifices of the Old Testament could temporarily "purify" the flesh by covering the person's sin; it could not take the sin away completely. But the blood of Christ is powerful enough to remove sin completely!

Every attempt man has tried to get himself to heaven through his own merit has failed. God provided a way for any man to "make it" to heaven, but it can only be accomplished through His son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Jesus- The Messiah Prophesied In The Old Testament

There are many times that Jesus asks the religious leaders of His time, "Have ye never read?"

Did you ever wonder why He would ask them that? They had the writings of Moses, the prophets, the chronicles of the kings of Judah and Israel. So, why would He ask if they had ever read the Scriptures?

It's because they weren't reading just the Scriptures. They were reading rabbinical discussions regarding the Scriptures instead of studying the actual Tanakh- the Torah (Teaching/Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings- Psalms, Proverbs, etc).

Had they studied the actual Scriptures, they would have found many prophecies relating to God coming in the flesh and His death and His resurrection.

I Corinthians 15:1-4- Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

"According to the Scriptures" is in there twice because Paul is pointing out that His death was prophesied in the Scriptures and His resurrection was prophesied in the Scriptures.

It is important to note that God did not send an angel to die for mankind. He sent a member of the Trinity. The word of God made flesh. The son of God born as a human.

I Tim 3:16- And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh. Anyone who denies that is considered a devil in the book of I John.

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

Jesus Christ was made of a woman. That wording is significant. It means that all His human DNA came from Mary. He was 100% God and 100% human. And He came to live under the Old Testament Law.

Isaiah 7:14-16- Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

God had Isaiah prophesy that a virgin would conceive supernaturally and birth a son. Isaiah's prophecy included that both the kingdom of Judah and the kingdom of Samaria would be no more- forsaken of both her kings. They would once again be one nation of Israel, albeit they would once again be in subjection to foreign occupation.

Matthew quotes the first part of this prophecy in his telling of the birth of Jesus Christ.

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

One of the portions of Scripture that Jesus Christ uses against the religious leaders comes from Psalms and it was regarding His divine humanity.

Psalm 2:7- I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 

No Jewish father would call his son Lord unless that son was something extraordinary. Jehovah is declaring that He will have a begotten son.

Beget means to bring into existence by the process of reproduction. For this person to be God's begotten He had to have God's DNA. And we are told that Jesus Christ is the only begotten of God.

John 3:16- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The only way to obtain everlasting life is to believe in the only begotten Son of God. By doing that you become an adopted son of God (Romans 8), but Jesus is the only one who can claim to have been begotten by God.

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

The child that Isaiah is referencing here is called a son who is also the mighty God and the everlasting Father. He could only have those titles if He was born of God's seed.

Psalm 110:1- The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Again, Jehovah is calling someone Lord. He wouldn't call just any mere human Lord. But, He would call His only begotten Son that!

Jesus brings this up to the religious leaders of His day and they couldn't answer it.

Matthew 22:41-46- While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

This question shut the religious leaders mouths. They couldn't answer why a king would call his son by the title of lord. The KJV translators used "LORD" (in all caps) to represent the Hebrew Tetragrammaton (YHWH), following the Septuagint and New Testament practice, but occasionally used "IEHOVAH" (Jehovah) when the context demanded it.

No wonder the religious leaders wouldn't answer the question. They'd have to admit that the promised king from the lineage of David was more than just a human descendant!

Proverbs 30:4-5- Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Agur prophecies in Proverbs and asks What is the creator's name and what is His son's name? And then he answers those questions in the very next verse without realizing it!

John 1:1-3, 14- 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. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus Christ has always been, He just didn't always have a body. Before His incarnation He was the Word of God. He helped God create the heavens and the earth!

Even King Nebuchadnezzar knew enough of the Jewish prophecies to understand that God had a son!

Daniel 3:24-25- Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Moses prophesied the incarnation of God.

Deuteronomy 18:15-19- The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

The Israelites in the wilderness only saw the effects of God on the mountain. When they heard His voice they lost all composure. They begged Moses to speak to God on their behalf, and God accepted that. Then God told Moses that He would send a prophet like Moses- one that would speak with God face to face and tell the people what God expected of them. But those religious leaders weren't reading Moses, or they would have listened and obeyed!

They weren't reading the Psalms or they would have noticed when they were fulfilling them while Jesus Christ was hanging on the cross!

Psalm 22:1, 7-8, 16-18- My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

They should have been able to hear and see what was happening, but they were blind because they didn't really search the Scriptures.

Matthew 27:35-43- And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

They weren't reading the Prophets or they would have understood who Jesus Christ was and why He was there. 

Isaiah 53:3-5, 7-9,11- He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

He had to die. He was prophesied to bear their iniquities. Yet they couldn't see it!

Isaiah 52:13-15- Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

Simon Peter pointed this out in his epistle.

I Peter 2:24- Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Mark 15:16-19- And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

These men were mocking Jesus Christ as the king of the Jews, but they didn't realize they were fulfilling prophecy.

Even Jesus' death was prophesied. The Jews would stone people to death; the crucifixion was a Roman punishment, and yet it was prophesied that He would be pierced outside of Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12:10- And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Zechariah prophesied that the inhabitants of Jerusalem would look upon the person they pierced.

Isaiah 49:16- Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Jesus Christ's hands were pierced by nails when He was secured to the cross.

Zechariah also prophesied about how much Jesus Christ would be betrayed for.

Zechariah 11:12- And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

Matthew 26:14-16- Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Shouldn't the chief priest, the one who was suppose to study and teach the Scriptures, have recognized something eerily familiar was going on?

Zechariah 13:6- And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

The religious leaders knew just enough to be used of God to unwittingly prophecy.

Mark 15:31- Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

Jesus Christ could not save Himself, because if He did He wouldn't be able to save others. The plan was always for God to provide a perfect sacrifice for the sin of mankind! Abraham, himself, prophesied this.

Genesis 22:7-8- And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Abraham told Isaac that God would provide Himself a lamb to be used for the sacrifice, but the wording also means that God would provide Himself AS the lamb to be sacrificed for the sin of the whole world.

The author of the book of Hebrews made the point that the Old Testament priesthood was flawed. They were sinful men offering subpar sacrifices that could only cover the sin. There needed to be a perfect priest who could offer a perfect sacrifice which could completely FORGIVE sin!

Jesus Christ lived a perfect life, and He laid His life down willingly as a perfect priest to become the perfect sacrifice.

Hebrews 9:11-14, 22, 24-28- But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Hebrews 7:22-27- By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

The author shows us that Jesus didn't stay dead. Because He had no sin, He wasn't subject to the wages of sin. He was able to resurrect from the dead and take His blood to heaven and, as a prefect priest, to present it before the throne of God for the sin of the world.

John 1:29b- Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Revelation 1:18- I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

The lamb of God that was prophesied by Abraham came to die as promised. He suffered the death that was prophesied throughout the Prophets. And He came back to life with a glorified body to await the second part of the prophecy- He will reign on the throne of David forever.

Psalm 2:6-12- Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Isaiah 9:7- Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Jeremiah 23:5- Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Micah 4:7b-  and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.

So what should you do with this prophecy?

Acts 13:38-39- Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

You can accept His sacrifice as the payment for your sin. The Old Testament gave many commands for which sacrifices to bring for what trespass. But there was no sacrifice that could cover adultery and murder- those required the punishment of death.

Jesus Christ's blood, however, is more powerful than those Old Testament sacrifices because it can REMOVE the penalty of sin on the human soul. The only question that remains is the same exact one that Pilate asked from the judgment seat, "What will YOU do with Jesus Christ?"

Proverbs 8:35-36- For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

There is no other way to be FORGIVEN. God will not accept anyone else's attempt to pay for their sin.

Acts 4:12- Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

He sent His son. And if you reject Him then you DAMN your soul eternally.

Easter Song

My Confidence & Cares (poem)

It is His will that I should cast 
My care on Him each day. 
He also bids me not to cast
My confidence away. 

But Oh! how foolishly I act,
When taken unaware,
I cast away my confidence,
And carry all my care.

-Judson Cornwall

How To Make Sourdough Sandwich Bread

 I have been making this recipe for months, and it is so good! My grandson does not like bread, but he asks for a piece of my "sour bread with butter" almost every day when I make it!

My "process" is slightly different than hers, so, I've included the recipe she gives and the steps I take.

Ingredients by weight:

• 650 grams warm water
• 20 grams salt
• 1,000 grams flour
• 50 grams olive oil
• 30 grams honey
• 300 grams sourdough starter

First, get your filtered water measured. Add salt to your water and put on the stove top to heat.

Next, add olive oil, honey, four, and starter to a large mixing bowl.

Add in your warm salt water and mix well, scraping the sides of the  bowl with a scraper to form a well blended ball of dough in the middle of the bowl. Watch for small balls of flour that didn't mix into the dough well, use your fingers to  break them up and mix them in.

Cover with a damp cloth and let sit for 30 minutes. I put mine in the microwave (DO NOT MICROWAVE) so that my kids don't knock it over.

Stretch and fold the dough every 30 minutes, looking for little flour balls that didn't mix in well. You will notice that at first the dough is very sticky. After the fourth session of stretch and fold, the glutens are doing really well and it isn't as sticky.

You'll stretch and fold the dough four times, and cover with a damp cloth for 30 minutes in between each session.

After the fourth session of stretch and fold, you will cover with a damp cloth and allow to rise for 3 hours.

Now, you will divide your dough into two sections. Form each section and place into a greased bread pan. You will let these alone for 2 1/2 hours so that the dough can rise again in the pans.

You can now bake your bread in a 400* oven for 30 minutes. Both pans can go in at the same time.

Once the bread has finished baking, you will remove the pans from the oven and dump the bread out to cool on a raised wire rack.

Do not cut for at least an hour or the bread will get gummy.

Store in a large ziplock bag to keep bread soft.