You are here: Home / Archives for ARTICLES

THE CORNER, THE NAIL, AND THE BOW

by

coner srtone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow…” Zechariah 10:4.

There are three wonderful types of Christ in this verse, and each topic is a lengthy study in itself. The context is a prophecy about the return of Israel to their promised land, and out of the tribe of Judah will come the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, He is called “The Corner.” Throughout the Old Testament, the LORD is called “The Rock” of Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus is often referred to as a stone. Jesus rebukes the Priest and the elders for their unbelief. “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?? Matthew 21:42.

When the temple or a great building was constructed, the corner stone was the most important part of the building. It was larger than the other stones, and it had to be perfectly square. A square was placed on all four sides to insure that it was perfect. The placement of it must be perfectly level. It would be the starting point of the building. Each stone used to build the walls, must be in perfect alignment from the corner stone.

The corner stone symbolizes strength, stability, truth, justices, righteousness, and perfection. Jesus is the embodiment of all these, and more. He is the Stone that was rejected at His first coming. He will be to the nation of Israel, all the corner stone is to the temple. Note- I encourage you to do an exhaustive study of the stone that is a type of Jesus.

The Nail: The nail was usually a wooden peg used as a tent stake, or to secure two timbers together. “Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail…” Not only was the nail used to secure the timbers of the temple together, it would be driven into the wooden walls for a place to hang various items.

Jesus is the Nail that holds the building firmly in place, and He is the Nail on which all hopes, and burdens could be hung. The type is clear. When Jesus comes to Israel the second time, He will secure the temple, and the nation, and place them securely in their land. He will be their righteous Corner Stone, and their Nail of security.

The Bow. The bow is a symbol of war. It could be used as a defensive or offensive weapon. The context of Zechariah 10:4 is the second coming of Christ to establish His Kingdom promises with Israel through the tribe of Judah. The following lengthy passages speak of those days when Jesus will be Israel’s Bow.  

  • “The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. 2  Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3  And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 4  In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. 5  And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God. 6  In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. 7  The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. 8  In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.” Zechariah 12:1-8

This age and dispensation ends with the most spectacular war the world has ever experienced. Jesus Christ will come as The Bow to the defense of Israel, and the destruction of all who are assembled at Armageddon.

Thus, He is the Stone upon which the nation will be founded. He is the Nail that will secure them, and their temple in their land, and He is the Bow that will defeat all their enemies.

 

 

PASTORS WHO ARE PUPPETS

by

ARE YOU A PUPPET PASTOR OF A CHURCH

puppetBy Ken Blue

When I was a child, I always enjoyed the time of the Apple Blossom Festival. Not only did it bring several hundred people from other states, a carnival also came to town. There was everything you can imagine for the children, and the adults.

In addition to the hundreds of rides, games, concession stands, and clowns, there were always several puppet shows going on at the same time. As kids, we were mesmerized by the music, the characters, and the life-like stories. In fact, we would get so caught up in the story, and the action that we failed to notice that there were adults behind the curtains pulling, and manipulating the strings to create the action. The puppets had no life of their own, they were unknowingly controlled by the pull of others.

I must admit, there was a time in my early ministry when, I too, was a puppet on an invisible string.  I could not see it, but those with discernment could. The sad part was, I wasn’t sure of my own identity, or who was pulling the strings. I wasn’t sure, but I believed if I did not move according their influence, the strings would be cut.

Pastors, including myself, fall into a “herd mentality.” Little by little, we believe if we should offend or break from the herd, the wolves will devour us. The only safety, is loyalty to, and cooperation with the brethren. If you doubt this, just invite a guest speaker, or attend a conference not on their approval list. Oh, how the gossip will fly. “Blue is no longer a Bible believer. He now has PowerPoint, and I hear they serve coffee. What a shame. His church has become a theater.” Those are the more generous criticism.

I have discovered, and painfully so, that many I counted as true friends forsook me “faster than a speeding bullet” when I determined to pastor counter to their brain washed MIND SET. There are many pastors who would like to rearrange their ministries, but they fear, and they know the second they did they would indeed become “independent Baptist.” Pastors need to understand that “the brethren” do not build their church. Are you a puppet, pastor?

GOLD AND A MUSTARD SEED

by

 

 

 

MUSTARD SEED

GOLD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Ken Blue

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” 1 Peter 1:7.

Current Gold Price: 24 Hour Spot Gold. The current spot gold price is $1321.3 per ounce as of 2013-07-31 08:38:41 EST. http://www.pmbull.com/gold-price/?gclid=CKDDg5jg2bgCFaU5QgodCiIA0w

Gold is a valuable substance, and there are many thing you can do with it. However, faith the size of a mustard seed is far smaller than an ounce of gold, but is much more valuable.

In spite of gold’s value, there are many things it cannot do.

It will not keep you warm. If you were at the top of Mt. Rainier, and had a bucket of gold, you would still freeze to death.

It will not keep you cool. If you had a wagon load of gold, and were stuck in Death Valley in the summer, you would die from the heat. Gold will not warm you, or cool you.

It will not feed you. If you were starving, you would give a suitcase of gold for a slice of bread. Gold may buy, but you can’t eat it.

It will not quench your thirst. You would give all the gold in the world for a drop of water, if you were dying of thirst.

It will not guarantee health. Many who are very rich, are forced to live of baby food.

It will not pay for your sins. There is not enough gold in the universes to pay for your sins. Only the blood of Jesus can satisfy that debt.

It will not purchase real love. True love from man or God cannot be bought. Gold will by attention and admiration, but it will never by love.

It will buy a nice casket.

 

What faith will do. Faith will help you through all obstacles in life.

Faith is Imperishable. Faith is more precious than gold. Nothing tarnish, or diminish the value of real faith.

Faith will move mountains. Faith sees the invisible, and achieves the impossible.

Faith brings lasting peace. Faith lays hold of the promises of God, and it takes anxiety and worry away.

Faith gives comfort. God is the God of all comfort in our trials and suffering.

Faith give complete assurance. What God has done, He can do. Faith believes His Words.

Faith accepts the salvation He has proved. It is not our faith that saves us, but our faith believes on who He is, and what He has done for us.

Faith possesses the present reality of a future salvation. Although we are saved from the penalty of sin, we are not delivered from the presence of sin in the world, or in our hearts. But, we do not despair, because we have a hope that is as secure as God is.

If you have faith in the promises of God, You are indeed a rich person!

SCHOOL DAYS AT SUNNYSLOPE WA.

by

PICTURES FROM SUNNYSLOPE JR. HIGH ON EASY STREET, AND SCHOOL STREET, NEAR WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON. IF YOU ARE IN ONE OF THE PICTURES, OR KNOW ANYONE, LET THEM KNOW. SOME OF US ARE OF FACEBOOK. THE YEAR WAS 1954-55.

SOME HAVE PASSED ON, OTHERS, I HAVE LOST COMPLETE CONTACT WITH. THE GIRLS, NO DOUBT, HAVE DIFFERENT LAST NAMES, AND IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCATE. SO, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT LOCATION, AND CONTACT, LET ME KNOW. CLICK PIC FOR LARGER IMAGE.

fift grade

sixth grade

 

linda deshazo

 

seventh basketball

 

eight basketball

 

basebal

 

TEN FALSE TEACHINGS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

by

Roman Catholic Heresies.

By Ken Blue
mary standing on a snakeRoman Catholic Heresies stand greater in number than Hindu religion practices of idol worship. This is concerting given the fact that Hindus have more gods than people.  Also, it is impossible to show anyone their errors when they have multiple authorities. As soon as you show one their error, they shuttle off to another authority. The one verse that would help Catholics understand the Bible is, “ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15. But, of course, they won’t read it. They trust their church more than they trust the Bible, or God.

You will notice in the above picture, Mary stands on the whole world, and crushes a serpent under her feet. Also, the light to the world comes from her hands, and there are twelve stars around her head. This is one of the greatest abuses of Scripture anywhere on earth. First, the woman in Genesis 3 is not Mary, but the nation of Israel. Revelation 12 shows her again as the nation of Israel. Anyone who can, and will read the context will see that there is nothing in either text about Mary. This Roman Catholic Heresy of worshipping a female deity goes far beyond the Catholic Church. It goes back to Babylon in the book of Genesis.

  1. No idols. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:4-6.
  2. Call no man father. This is in the spiritual sense. “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” Matthew 23:9.
  3. Praying to the saints. “Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Luke 16:29-31. The Bible is to be read for answers. No one contacts the dead
  4. Mary not a mediator. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” 1 Timothy 2:5.
  5. No purgatory. “… the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” Luke 16:22-23. Purgatory is an invention of the church to get money from grieving souls. There is no purgatory. You go straight to heaven, or straight to HELL.
  6. No praying for the dead. “…“Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” Luke 16:29. The living are instructed to go to the Bible for answers.
  7. Peter, married, not a pope. “ But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.” Mark 1:30. Peter disappears after Acts 15. Wonder where he went?
  8. No such thing as transubstantiation. “When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62  What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.” John 6:61-63. A piece of bread never becomes the flesh of Jesus Christ, nor does a sip of hooch become His blood.
  9. Perpetual virginity. “I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children. 9  For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” Psalm 69:8-9.
  10. Use of holy water. For proof, see Job 1:1