4th. July in Prophecy. Forcing Faith. The Liberty Bell. Update.

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

The Fourth of July in Prophecy

The events celebrated on the Fourth of July were prophesied over 3,600 years ago. Let’s explore early American history in the light of Bible prophecy.

"On Friday, July 4, the United States celebrated its 238th anniversary.

The Fourth of July holiday celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. Though this was when the founders declared that they were fighting for independence from Britain—that independence would only be realized seven years, 1 month and 30 days later when the Treaty of Paris was signed. That treaty officially ended the American Revolution, with Great Britain recognizing the United States as free, sovereign and independent. Part of the reason the Americans were able to defeat the world’s most powerful army was because it had been recently weakened in the Seven Years’ War (French and Indian War). But there were many reasons why the American victory over the British Army was miraculous and providential.

Why it had to happen

Okay, you may be asking, why is all this history important?

It was a fulfillment of a prophecy made over 3,600 years ago. As we explain in our article on the “Blessings to Abraham,” certain physical blessings of national greatness were promised to Abraham. These blessings were passed down to his son Isaac, then to Isaac’s son Jacob and finally were given to Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

Jacob, in a very specific prophecy, declared that Ephraim would become a “multitude of nations” and Manasseh would become a single great nation (Genesis 48:19). Genesis 49:1 reveals that these promises were to be ultimately fulfilled in “the last days”—in other words, the modern era (from our historical viewpoint).

The promise of a “multitude of nations” was fulfilled by the British people—who became an empire and later a commonwealth of nations. Today Ephraim’s promises are primarily fulfilled in the nations of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa (as well as other smaller nations that are part of the Commonwealth).

Manasseh’s promise of being a single great nation was fulfilled in the United States of America.

As Americans celebrate the Fourth of July, they would do well to consider that the Declaration of Independence from Britain was necessary in order to fulfill the Genesis 48:19 promise. For the prophecy to be fulfilled, America had to be independent from Britain and had to unite into a unified single nation. The entire history of the development and ratification of the U.S. Constitution was essential for that prophecy to be fulfilled. This understanding helps us to see God’s providential hand in history (Isaiah 46:10)." 

Complete article at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/the-fourth-of-july-in-prophecy/ by Erik Jones - July 4, 2014

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A Lesson From the Hobby Lobby Case: Will You Obey God or Men?

"Hobby Lobby and other corporations stood on their convictions and recently won a U.S. Supreme Court victory. When your beliefs are challenged, what do you do?

Since the Affordable Care Act became law in the United States in 2010, many companies are now required to offer health insurance with contraceptive coverage to their employees. The list of mandated contraceptives includes those that destroy an already fertilized egg. This poses a problem for some business owners who believe life begins at the moment of conception. If they fund these contraceptive methods, they believe they are essentially funding an abortion—something they are morally opposed to.

Because of this dilemma, owners of the craft store Hobby Lobby and about three dozen other companies filed lawsuits seeking to be exempted from offering such contraceptives based on their religious convictions. After going through the lower courts, the case finally came to the Supreme Court.

On June 30, in a 5-4 split decision, the Supreme Court ruled that closely held corporations can be exempted from federal laws that violate the owners’ religious convictions.

The true test of our character is whether we will choose to do what we are convicted is right, regardless of the consequences. Those who lack character often give in to pressure, while those with real character will not.

But what if the court had ruled differently? What would these companies have done then?"  More at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/a-lesson-from-the-hobby-lobby-case-will-you-obey-god-or-men/#more

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and:  Forcing Faith

"The Bible also predicts that our religious freedoms will not always exist in the United States. The opportunities for spreading the everlasting gospel will slowly be removed as ruling powers begin to control people’s lives with tighter constraints, all in the name of safety and protection. Eventually, even the right to buy and sell will be dictated by laws based on religious restrictions (Revelation 13:11–17)."  More at: http://www.amazingfacts.org/news-and-features/af-blog/id/1144/forcing-faith.aspx

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"We commend anyone who stands on principle for a biblical law. But we should also remember that we can’t pick and choose which laws we keep and which we don’t. Mainstream Christianity often defends particular commandments, but ignores others.

The most ignored commandment is the Fourth Commandment—“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). The biblical Sabbath is on the seventh day of the week, Saturday."

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The Liberty Bell

An Amazing Fact: "The Liberty Bell, sometimes called the Bell of the Revolution, or Old Independence, has been a symbol of American patriotism for over 200 years, but it had a rough beginning. Originally cast in London in 1752 and weighing more than 2,000 pounds, the Liberty Bell arrived in Philadelphia in August, but cracked during its first test ringing. It was melted down in Philadelphia and recast to make a second bell in June of 1753. It was judged to have a poor tone, which was thought to be from too much copper, so it was melted down again the same year and recast to make the third and final bell.

This is the celebrated Liberty Bell that exists today, made mostly of copper and tin with small amounts of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold, and silver. It hangs from what is believed to be its original yoke, made from 200 pounds of American elm, and when struck it sounds the note of E flat. It was rung on July 8, 1776, to announce the signing of the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming America’s freedom.
During the Revolutionary War, the bell was placed on a wagon, moved 60 miles west to Allentown, and hidden in the floorboards of the Zion Reformed Church to keep it from falling into British hands, where it would have no doubt been melted down to make cannons. After the war, it was rung every July 4 until sometime around 1835, when it cracked
again. No one knows exactly when the Liberty Bell cracked the second time. It is a mystery of history.

Today the 250-year-old icon is a popular attraction in Philadelphia and only rung on special occasions. Many people do not know the bell was first called the Liberty Bell not by patriots of the revolution but by the abolitionists fighting slavery. They chose this name because of the Bible inscription on the bell from Leviticus 25:10 that reads: “Proclaim
liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants.” In retrospect, the cracked bell was a remarkably apt metaphor for a country that was literally split over slavery.

Jesus said whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. So how much does real liberty cost? True liberty involves giving our whole hearts to Christ so He can break our chains of sin." “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. - John 8:34

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Update:

We got a little done around here this week.  The rain stopped us from doing a lot of jobs, and the grass grew up again, but Ray managed to mow on the one dry day.  We put some screw-in shed anchors on the two canopies in case we had high winds.  The Puddle Jumper (little station wagon) was cleaned up. I have started to drive it around the subdivision again, now that I have a dog to take a-walking to the lake when I go pick up Jay.  It does seem strange to be taking care of a sighted dog after the years that I took care of Misty.

Baby Girl is doing well and getting better day by day.  The dog was pleased to see her previous owner, Roni, when she came by while I was walking her.   After Baby Girl had greeted Roni she didn't try to get in Roni's car, but pulled me back towards my house. 

My doctor appointment went well, but the wait time was terrible. I think I will have to go back to my previous doctor, at least she saw me within an hour wait time.  The doctor was pleased with my progress.  We were at the clinic for three hours, because Jay thought that I would get seen early if I got there early.  It came down a real gully-whomper while I was in there.  Jay was outside with the doors open, radio and refrigerator going, got the inside of the car wet, and ran down the battery, so I had to call Road Service for a jump. 

The SPCA foster mom who lives near me, picked up Chelsea for Adoption Day.  They had enough cats, so Nala and Purrcy didn't have to go.  Chelsea was going to be picked up from Adoption Day by her real foster mom. Remember, we only borrowed her to keep Nala company, but now Nala has the little Siamese, Purrcy and the big dog, Baby Girl.

Yesterday, Jay and I went to church.  The Bible readings were Numbers 4:21 – 7:89 and Judges 13:2-24. 

The sermon was about the heritage of the Declaration of Independence (Preamble): "When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation." From: https://users.wfu.edu/zulick/340/Declaration.html

It says Nature's God, but now, so many are trying to get religion out of our lives when this country was founded upon the Laws of God.  Many of the laws were only found in the Bible.  'They' have stopped prayers in school, etc, but it is still on the front of court houses and on our money.   56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were believers, and 20 were pastors.

Deuteronomy 16:18-19  (NASB)¹⁸ “You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.  You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.

Deuteronomy 17: ¹⁴ “When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,’¹⁵ you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses, one from among your countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your countryman. ¹⁶ Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never again return that way.’ ¹⁷ He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself. ¹⁸ “Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. ¹⁹ It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes,²⁰ that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel."

The potluck was super as usual. Everyone had donated some tasty dishes.  Jay took a sweet banana pudding, he mixes CoolWhip in it, so I don't eat it.  One of the dishes that I took was 'Roasted Rutabagas', and several said that they enjoyed it.  We had some visitors from the sister church in Cisco, TX, which made it a special day.