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DANIEL 4:11

[Daniel 4:11 NKJV] — The tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens, And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth.

[Daniel 4:11 GWN] — "The tree grew, and it became strong enough and tall enough to reach the sky. It could be seen everywhere on earth."



Many (including me) have used this expression that says,
"The things an elder would see while sitting down, a child cannot see them even if the child climbs up a tree."

But the users of the expression did not consider that on the flip-side,
"A child that climbed up a tree has more potential of being seen and could attract more attention than a down-sited elder is seen.

In the Bible verse above, when an elder that was lying down on his bed was seeing things that was in the center or middle of the earth, the tree grew till its top reached the heaven and could be seen from everywhere in the earth without any needing to be at the center of the earth to see it. Meaning, Nebuchadnezzar that was seeing/the Seer (was elderly) versus Nebuchadnezzar that was the Tree/the Seen (was childish) even when it appears the Tree that was seen was the future reflection of the Seer.

In this world, the Seen is more Popular or celebrated as Star/Celebrity than the Seers. Even the world's social media rank those who drive views, attract followership, capture attention/audience more than those who see better and deeper as shown in their contents. But in the Spiritual realms of Kingdom of God, the Seers rank higher than the seen, because visions, knowledge or ability to see further, deeper or higher, with unveiled eyes are some of the greatest treasures and wealth in eternity.

So it's "The Seen (That Tree)" versus "The Seers (The Watchers):" In terms of popularity, fame and global news, the Tree was on top of the world and was like a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden; while the Watchers (Angels) were not seen nor even regarded as real by some of the earth especially the atheists. Later you would see what the Watchers (Seers) that could not be seen as the Tree said and did to that Tree.

This lesson was a hard lesson and judgment for that Tree that could be seen from everywhere on earth and in heaven, but the Tree could not see well enough to justify its popularity or fame. The Tree developed and grew only its abilities to be seen, but failed to develop its ability to see or know the Lord who rules in kingdoms of men. How did you become this popular and this celebrity without the knowledge of God? How did you gain the whole world in captivity of their attention towards you but did not know you are headed to be destroyed for your lack of knowledge or ignorance of the Invisible Lord and Maker of all things? This similar judgment to those who are building their being seen as women who use makeups and false hood to build their appearances and how people seen them, but they fail to build their knowledge of the Lord and their spiritual abilities to see through the Spirit of God in humility.

What that Tree (Nebuchadnezzar) was doing in the top Bible verse above, building its being seen without building its seeing through the Spirit of God, was what some other great Trees have done before God brought those Trees into hell, below the earth. The Trees that had done similar things to what the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, was doing in the top verse above included the Tree called king of Assyria, the Tree called king of Egypt, and the Trees of the Garden of Eden (Garden of God): All these trees were competing for attention, attractions and building their ability to be seen, instead of building on their seeing through the Spirit of God. Their downfall came upon them and brought them into hell. Written,

[Ezekiel 31:2‭-‬18 ICB] — “[b]Human being, say to the king of Egypt and his people: ‘No one was like you in your greatness. Assyria was once like a cedar tree in Lebanon. It had beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It was very tall. Its top was among the clouds. Much water made the tree grow. The deep springs of water made the tree tall. Rivers flowed around the bottom of the tree. They sent their streams to all other trees of the field. So the tree was taller than all the other trees of the field. Its branches became long and big because of so much water. All the birds of the sky made their nests in the tree’s branches. And all the wild animals gave birth under the tree’s branches. All great nations lived in the tree’s shade. So the tree was great and beautiful, with its long branches. Its roots reached down to many waters. The cedar trees in the garden of God were not as great as it was. The pine trees did not have such great branches. The plane trees did not have such branches. No tree in the garden of God was as beautiful as this tree. I made it beautiful with many branches. And all the trees of Eden in the garden of God wanted to be like it. “‘So this is what the Lord God says: The tree has grown tall. Its top has reached the clouds. And it has become proud of its height. So I have let a mighty ruler of the nations take care of the tree. The ruler will surely punish the tree. Because it is evil I will get rid of it. The cruelest foreign nation cut it down and left it. The tree’s branches fell on the mountains and in all the valleys. Its broken branches were in all the ravines of the land. All the nations of the earth left the shade of that tree. The birds of the sky live on the fallen tree. The wild animals live among the tree’s fallen branches. Then the trees that grow by the water will not be proud to be tall. They will not put their tops among the clouds. None of the trees that are watered well will grow that tall. They all are meant to die and go under the ground. They will be with those who have died and have gone down to where the dead are. “‘This is what the Lord God says: On the day when the tree went down to where the dead are, I made people cry loudly. I covered the deep springs and held back their rivers. And the great waters stopped flowing. I made Lebanon cry loudly for the great tree. All the trees of the field dried up and died. I made the nations shake with fear at the sound of the tree falling. I brought the tree down to where the dead are. It went with those who go down to the grave. Then trees of Eden and the best trees of Lebanon were comforted. All the well-watered trees were comforted in the earth below. But these trees also went down with the great tree to the place where the dead are. They went to join those who were killed in war. They had lived under the great tree’s shade. They were its friends among the nations. “‘So no tree in Eden is equal to you in greatness and honor. But you will go down with the trees of Eden to the earth below. You will lie among unclean people who were killed in war. “‘This will happen to the king of Egypt and all his people, says the Lord God[/b].’”

DANIEL 4:10

[Daniel 4:10 NKJV] — “These were the visions of my head while on my bed: I was looking, and behold, A tree in the midst of the earth, And its height was great.

[Daniel 4:10 FBV] — As I lay in bed dreaming, I saw a tree in the middle of the earth—a really large tree.

You know people could be lying on their beds and still be watching live events or things happening in different parts of the world, using their devices and media by technology. Before such technology began and during its era, everyone has dreams and visions even while on the bed, being transited into different realms, different times or different places of the world, seeing events or things in the past, in the present and things to come. Dreams are better than those technological devices at seeing things and visions both in the scope of things, in the realms of places or times and in the depth of things. Meditate on this reality: That dreams and visions are already inbuilt "Cameras, Satellites, Telescopes, Mirrors, Microscopes, Lenses and Holograms" without man-made device or technological artificiality involved. They are not new things in purposes, for dreams and visions have been since Adam fulfilling those purposes.

In these dream and visions of Nebuchadnezzar in the top bible verse above, he was basically in "True Hologram (Trance of his reflection)" and "Seeing his reflection in Animation of Future Motion Mirror."

*1* TRANSITIONING: He was lying on his bed within his comfortable bedroom, but saw a Large or Great Tree in the middle of the Earth. The "Transition" was his change from the state of being in his bedroom in Babylon to suddenly being somewhere in the midst or center of the earth.

*2* WITNESSING: He seeing, watching or observing, the Tree and its greatness as eyewitness. Somehow he knew details about the tree, such as the location of the tree as the center/middle of the earth without using latitude and longitude or compass to determine the center of the earth. He also saw and knew the greatness in height of the tree.

*3* REFLECTIONAL MIRRORING: This was the hidden aspect of what Nebuchadnezzar was doing from his future then to himself as witness. The interpretation of that dream or vision would reveal it to him that he was actually the same tree he saw or was seeing. Thus he was like a man looking into a mirror and seeing reflection of himself, except that in this case the reflection of the man is not in his image but in the image of a tree, and not in his current environment (bedroom) but in the center of the earth; and not just from his present time but mostly from his future.

Quick summary of the three points of the top bible verse above:

Nebuchadnezzar the dreamer basically saw himself in 3 apparitions: One was "His Transitioning self" laid on bed and dreaming, Two was "His Witnessing self" seeing things (of the tree) while the eyes of his transitioning self was closed in dreaming or sleeping, and the Third was "His Self Reflection From the Future" appearing as the great tree.

So you see there were "True Hologram" or "Animation of Motion Mirror."

Talk of Hologram: It's an advance communication beyond live video call because in hologram the persons that are afar appear physically, either as light reflections or ghostly apparitions of the persons visibly appearing in real time and place where you are, meeting, simulating or talking with you in your house/environment while the persons are actually miles away from where you are. Some apparitions in dreams are basically holograms of spirit beings, or even holograms of witchcrafts or hallucinations.

Talk of Animation of Motion Mirror: Those in natural levels are used to only mirrors that only reflect what is in front of the mirrors, including reflection of their motions as seen by the mirrors. And if the mirror is able to store or record the reflections inorder to replay them even when the objects are not there to be reflected, such mirrors that can record or store reflections are called "Cameras." Advancing beyond the natural, you discover that whatever that can reflect a man can record the man. And that those in underworld can hold water in a bowl and cause the water to reflect persons that are far away, without such persons knowing they are being watched even without cameras. Even ordinary mirrors that are not cameras or lenses can be made to bring up live video of persons reflected.

Those are mirrors of past motions, but are not future motion mirrors nor do they produce the animation of future motions. Future Motion Mirrors are basically prophetic, they are Visions, for they reflection the motions of people or things that are not yet events or done by those people or things. They predict and animate the actions and future of people/things to come.

The Lord said the World cannot receive the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17), why the prophecy said God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh (Acts 2:17-18). Here are paradoxes:

*1* God is in all men and God is not in all men: Both are true.

*2* God is in all things and God is not in all things: Both are true.

*3* The Lord is inside Satan/Demons and the Lord is not inside Satan/Demons: Both are true.

*4* The Spirit of God is in this world and the Spirit of God is not in this world: Both are true.

*5* The Lord knows all men and the Lord does not know all men: Both are true.

[Acts 17:28] — "For in God we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also God's offspring."

Don't get it twisted, "God's Absence is still God's Presence." There is just no where anything lives or moves without God's Presence, This is not just about God being omnipresent, but also about He being Life, Reality and Existence to all that are alive and existent. Creations consist or continue to exist because God is in all existing creations upholding their realities and life. To totally withdraw God from any reality is to remove the Reality of its existing.

So there's no true absence of God in anything or anywhere: but there's instead of Absence, "Invisibility or Concealment," of God; and as the Presence, "Manifestation or Revelation," of God. Just as total Absence of God would destroy realities, so also total Presence of God would also destroy realities. For if God who is Onmipresent appears in all places at the same time, there would be no space or place for anything else to exist.

So greater Parts or Portions of God must remain Invisible, Intangible and Mystery, leaving lesser Parts or Portions of God more room to manifest, move, live, walk, journey, travel, etc. And it would take us eternity to fully comprehend the smaller manifest Parts or Portions of God, not to take of the greater unmanifest Parts or Portions of God, which no angel or eyes have even seen.

In Autocad, those who know how to work with Layers know that there are ways to "Freeze Objects," and to "Turn off Objects," and to "Isolate Objects" in Autocad, especially when there are too many objects in the pages. Freezing Objects and Turning off Objects would make them unseen, invisible or disappear, as if those frozen objects are absence or non-existing on the pages; but they are there. While Isolating Objects is like opposite to freezing Objects or Turning off Objects, because Isolating Objects would make only the isolated objects to be raptured into another page or realm, making all other objects to disappear but only the isolated objects would be seen in something that appears to be a new background.

Such absence or disappearance does not mean nonexistence of those objects in the Autocad booklet.

The Paradoxes are about "Manifestations of the Spirit (God):" What we called "Gifts of the Spirit" are "Manifestations of the Spirit" and every man, Christian or not, righteous or sinner, has some Manifestation of the Spirit which he benefits from, according to who God inside them would manifest or hide Himself within them. The gifts of the Spirit are not nine in number, but are as many as how much the Spirit would manifest in men, through men or to men.

Another way to see it instead of "Manifestation of the Spirit" is to see it as "Measure of the Spirit" or "Measure of the Gifts/Grace received/given." The more measure of the Spirit of God you received, the more spiritual gifts you received. Yet it still comes to Manifestations.

The Comforter is the Spirit of Truth, which the world cannot receive. The world uses lies, falsehoods, and carnal mindedness, to comfort the world; but the Spirit of Truth comforts with Truth and in Truth: For the Spirit of Truth is the Comforter who teaches and reveals the Son of God, .

He is in the World as Breath of Life, as the Wind of God, as Grace of God, as Contending with men for them to repent, as Life-Force, and as the Spirit of Recommendation, and the World is receiving Him in these manifestations. But as the Spirit of Truth, as the Holy Spirit or Spirit of Holiness, as the Spirit of the Son of God, mainly as the Spirit of Truth, the world cannot receive Him. Satan is the father of lies, and does not abide in the truth, neither can Satan or this world receive the Spirit of Truth or the things of the Spirit.

Timeline was splitted around the Lord Jesus into "Before Christ" and "After Death, Resurrection and Ascension." That splitting resulted in:

*1* "Former Days" (Before Christ backwards) and "Last Days or Latter Days" (After Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ Forward).

*2* "Old Testament" (Before Christ backwards) and "New Testament" (After Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ Forward).

*3* "Era of Israel (Jews)" (Before Christ backwards) and "Era of the Church (Christians)" (After Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ Forward).

*4* "Days of the Kingdoms of this World" (Before Christ backwards) and "Days of the Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven" (The King of the Kingdom of God suffered Violence, was crucified, died by the Violence the King/Kingdom suffered: After His Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ Forward, He who suffered Violence became the Violent and took It by force though His Servants are still suffering the Violence of persecutions/trials for the Gospel and Testimony of the Kingdom of God).

*5* "Days of Night/Darkness and Old Commandment" (Before Christ backwards) and "Days when the True Light Shines and New Commandment" (After Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ Forward). [1 John 2:8]

*6* "Days when the failure of the first Adam still cut men off from God and Paradise, death reigned, Satan had the keys of hell and death" so that even righteous men/women of God could not be delivered from hell once they die and go there. Men like Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob etc were under lockdown in Hell. Moses would have joined them but Michael contend with Satan over Moses's body, and God took Moses after death, but took Enoch and Elijah before death, and these three men did not get into being locked in Hell. So Moses and Elijah were in heaven with Enoch, though Enoch was not seen with Moses and Elijah when they came from heaven to talk with Jesus Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration and returned back to heaven. (All these were before Christ backwards). And then came "The Second Adam, who prevailed, overcame, restored mankind back to God and to Paradise, collected and still wielding the Keys of hell and death (After Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ Forward).

*7* "Days when the Spirit of God came on Prophets only" (Before Christ backwards) and "Days when the Spirit of God comes on all flesh whether prophet or not" (After Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ Forward).

In those days before Christ came, rarely do you find a man or woman on whom is the Spirit of God without the man being a prophet of God. There used to be an expression people make on seeing someone who is not known to be a prophet having or behaving as if the Spirit of God is on him: that expression was, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

The last days began over two thousand years ago, particularly when the Spirit of God, Holy Spirit Himself, became the current "Immanuel" - God with us – from the Day of Pentecost in "Acts 2." Wait, the Holy Spirit is more than just "Immanuel -(God with us)" because He is "God in us." The Lord Jesus Christ was "Immanuel - God with us" but He did not attain or become "God in us" until He ascended and kept ascending until He reached levels where He moved from "God with us" to "God in us."

To become "God with us" He descended but to become "God in us" He ascended. Now, He that was "Immanuel - (God with us)" on earth, left the earth and ascended far above all heavens that He might "Fill all things or become "God in us." As it is written,

[Ephesians 4:9‭-‬10 BSB] — What does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.

That phrase, "Fill all things" means He attained or became "God in us and in all things." Jesus is now He that fills all in all [Ephesians 1:23]. Meaning He is the Holy Spirit that now fills all flesh, unlike the previous days when the Holy Spirit only came on few holy prophets and priests and kings. The connection with men that was restricted by the Holy Spirit because of Holiness Restrictions is now easily accessible now because of Jesus Christ becoming God with men and now God in men. Even the partition between the Holy of Holies and outer court, which by then could only be crossed by the highest priest only once in a year with much ritual cleansings; behold anyone can now willingly walk into the Holy of Holies anytime through the Flesh and Blood of He who was God with us and became God in us. Jesus Christ is that Spirit of Truth, Holy Spirit, who has being the Spirit with us but now He is the Spirit in us. As it is written,

[John 14:17-18] — "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because the world does not see Him, neither knows Him: but you know Him; for He dwells as Spirit (God) with you, and shall become the Spirit (God) in you. I (Jesus) will not leave you comfortless: I will come (as the Comforter) to you."

[2 Corinthians 3:17‭-‬18 BSB] — Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

So even though He Bodily ascended into heaven, He never left His disciples but was still with them as the Spirit confirming His Word through them with signs and wonders following them [Mark 16:19-20].


But the Lord said the World cannot receive the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17), why the prophecy said God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh (Acts 2:17-18). This I hope to explain.

[1 Corinthians 2:12‭-‬14 BSB] — We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Yes

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[b][Matthew 16:13‭-‬19 BSB] — When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

[1 John 4:13‭-‬15 ICB] — We know that we live in God and God lives in us. We know this because God gave us His Spirit. We have seen that the Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. That is what we teach. If someone says, “I believe that Jesus is the Son of God,” then God lives in him. And he lives in God.

[1 Corinthians 12:3 ICB] — So I tell you that no one who is speaking with the help of God’s Spirit says, “Jesus be cursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” without the help of the Holy Spirit.

[Luke 10:22 BSB] — All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”
[/b]


Knowing who Jesus is, confessing Jesus is the Son of God, or saying Jesus is the Lord — is by the Father or by the Spirit of God. That's a basic summary of all the Bible References above.

How was Simon Peter able to both know and confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God? Surely, flesh and blood couldn't have revealed that to him as flesh and blood could not have revealed to the Muslims or to Muhammad their leader. At best flesh and blood only say Jesus is a Prophet like John the Baptist, like Elijah, like Jeremiah or like one of the Prophets of God, as Muslims or Muhammad their leader.

Again how could Peter know and say that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ), the Son of the Living God? It was not yet the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon all flesh and all felt Him like a mighty rushing Wind that touched all flesh, but only the disciples of the Lord Jesus had cloven tongues of fire on their heads and utterances of different tongues or languages proceeding from their lips.

Demons or unclean spirits knew Jesus and they confessed with the mouths of those people they possessed, calling Jesus the Son of God:

[Mark 3:11-12] — "And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” But He ordered them sternly not to make Him known."

So if no man can say Jesus is the Lord without the Holy Spirit or if any man that says Jesus is the Son of God has God living in him/her, what about these unclean spirits speaking from the men/women they possessed, and calling Jesus the Son of God without the Holy Spirit in those people?

This means, it is not only the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) that inspires the faith and ability of men to confess Jesus Christ as Lord or Son of God, other spirits could possess and inspire people to make those confessions also. Infact, Demons or Devils have some degree of faith also to believe in "One God" just as Muslims too have some faith to believe God is one: As it is written, "You believe that God is one God? That's great—but demons believe in God too, and they're scared of him! [James 2:19].

Infact, in the last days, many will come in the name of the Lord, saying Jesus is the Christ, and yet deceive many people while still confessing Jesus as Christ or Son of God. You heard saying, "Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved," but did you also hear that "Not all who call Me (Jesus) Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do the Will of the Father of Jesus in heaven?"

So what are the differences between the true calling/confessing Jesus as the Lord or as Son of God and the deceitful calling/confessing Jesus as the Lord or as Son of God?

The differences are "With the heart" and "In Truth." Deceitful calling or confessing Jesus as the Lord or Son of God is not with the heart but with the mouth only and therefore it is not in truth. When demons, evil spirits or deception, inspire people to confess or call upon the name of the Lord, usually the heart of those people are far from the Lord whom they call or mention. They only believe with their mind and mouth but not with their heart, and not in Spirit and in Truth.

But when the Lord's Spirit or the nearness of the Word/Spirit of faith inspires people to confess or call upon the Lord, usually their heart is near the Lord whom they call or mention, and therefore they call upon the Lord in truth. As it is written,

[Psalms 145:18-19] — "The LORD is near to all them that call on Him, to all that call on Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them."


But Simon Peter was not the first man to whom the Father or Spirit of God in heaven revealed this that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God, in the days of the Lord Jesus. Before this was revealed to Simon Peter by the Father in heaven, this was first revealed to John the Baptist even before Peter knew: As it is written,

[John 1:32‭-‬34 BSB] — Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him. I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

So if John the Baptist by the revelation of the Father first testified or confessed Jesus is the Son of God before Peter later did, why was Peter promoted by the Son of God because of his interpretation of who Jesus is they way Joseph was promoted by Pharaoh or Daniel promoted by king Nebuchadnezzar because of their interpretation (revelations) which others there could not tell? Why was John the Baptist not given the promotion Peter received, such as Peter promoted into being a Rock or Foundation on which the Lord Jesus Christ built part of His Church, and the Gates of Hell will never prevail against any Church built on Peter's Foundation unlike how much the Gates of Hell have infiltrated and prevailed in other parts of the church built in other foundations beside Peter's Foundation. And in addition, the Lord Jesus Christ gave Peter the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven so that no one would loose what Peter binds heaven and no Gates of Hell can bind what Peter loose.

The reason includes: In the gospel of John chapter one, two different men confessed Jesus as the Son of God: "John the Baptist" and "Nathaniel." Their confession pleased the Son of God (Jesus), but did not move Him. Their confession was basically related to Thomas's confession after the Lord's resurrection from the dead, confessing Jesus as, "My Lord and my God." But the Lord Jesus said to Thomas, it's because you have seen Me that is the reason you believed, blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." So Jesus Christ was pleased but was not moved, which was the reason He explained why Thomas believed and confessed, just as He also explained why Nathaniel believed and confessed, which was because Jesus told him He saw him under a tree. John the Baptist too saw the signs from above which was why he believed, because God showed him in a vision the Spirit of God descending as dove on Jesus. If Jesus would say:

[John 4:48] — "Then Jesus said to him, Except you see signs and wonders, you will not believe."

Then that means your believing and confessing Him would please Him, but would not move Him.

But when Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ the Son of the Living God, it was the Father or Spirit of God who revealed this to Peter without signs, wonders or miracles. The way Pharaoh was amazed at Joseph interpreting his dreams, the way Nebuchadnezzar was amazed at Daniel interpreting his dreams so was the Lord Jesus amazed at Peter answering the Lord's question very correctly and excellently. Hardly was any man able to answer the riddling questions the Lord Jesus Christ asked correctly, but Peter answered that riddling question pertaining the hidden identification of who that Son of man is.

The Lord Jesus Christ shocked and amazed many people, but only few persons shocked and amazed the Lord Jesus Christ. The Centurion's faith by love, the woman with the Alabaster box of precious ointment, the woman with the issue of blood, the widow that gave all her living by giving two coins in offering, Peter in declaring who the Father says Jesus is, rather than declaring who his flesh and blood say Jesus is, even though the question Jesus asked them was who do you (as men, flesh and blood) say that I am. He bypassed whom his flesh and blood was saying Jesus is, and went straight to whom the Father in heaven is saying Jesus is, and declared what God is saying concerning His Son.

[1 John 5:9‭-‬12 BSB] — Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son. And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Peter declared the decree (of the Father in heaven) to the Son, Jesus:

[Psalms 2:7] — "I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to Me, You are My Son; this day have I begotten You."

Yes

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DANIEL 4:9

[Daniel 4:9 AKJV] — "O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the holy Gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof."

[Daniel 4:9 GWN] — "Belteshazzar, head of the magicians, I know the Spirit of the holy Gods is in you. No secret is too hard for you [to uncover]. Tell me the meaning of the visions I had in my dream."


*1* "Belteshazzar:" — Nebuchadnezzar gave him this name, but it's a name he bore outside the Temple of God, not a name he bears in the Temple of God. In the Temple of God, no one should bear idol either in his name, in his hands, in his mouth or in his mind/heart.

*2* "Master of the Magicians:" — Nebuchadnezzar gave him this title, but it's a title he bore outside the Body of Christ, not a name he bears in the Body of Christ. In the Body of Christ, no one should bear magician or master in title, except Christ the Master or Head.

*3* "Spirit of the Holy Gods in you:" — Nebuchadnezzar, being outside the faith, was excused in this blunder: — One Spirit of many holy Gods. Rather in the faith there's One God, and according to Paul (Ephesians 4:4) there is just one Spirit of God, but according to John in (Revelation 4:5) there are seven Spirits of God.

So we don't have more than one God: There's only one God. But we have more than one Spirits of the Holy God. When the seven Spirits merge together into One, that One is called "The LORD" or "Jehovah" or "Holy Spirit." God is Holy Spirit. The LORD (JEHOVAH) is the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17). Actually, the Father, the Word (Son) and the Spirit, are three in the realms of heaven but in the realms of the flesh they are One. As it is written,

[1 John 5:7] — For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

This means, you cannot see the three at the same time from physical or flesh perspective, just as you can not see your soul and spirit while you are in your body seeing through your flesh or carnal eyes. But when you separate into the inner realms by trance, dream, disconnection of cord or death, you begin seeing your body separate and seeing your soul separate, and if you are in heaven you also see your spirit separate from your soul.

It's like viewing micro organisms through microscope and seeing lots of distinct living fragments, but without the microscope you are seeing one.

When Philip asked the Lord Jesus to show us the Father while Jesus was there with them, he was asking for another distinct manifestation of the Father in the realms of the flesh. The Lord Jesus said to him "The Father is inside Me, and I am inside the Father." That statement also means the Spirit of God is inside Me and I am inside the Spirit of God. The three are One to us yet dwelling in this tabernacle of flesh and blood, and can not be seen by this tabernacle together as separate entities, though sometimes can be heard speaking at same time from different sources.

Holy Spirit is God or the Lord Jesus Christ inside believers or Christians: God dwells inside you means the Spirit of God dwells inside you:

[1 John 4:12-15] — "No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells inside us, and His love is perfected in us. Hereby we know that we dwell inside Him, and He inside us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells inside him, and he inside God."

Did you get the last sentence in this reference? That if a man/woman will confess that Jesus is the Son of God, that willingness or ability to that already proves that the man/woman is inside God and God is inside the man/woman (1 John 4:15). Paul the apostle put it this way, saying, "I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Many of us think the utterances that prove that the Holy Spirit is inside a man is the utterances of speaking in tongues, or prophesying: but these two last references I cited shows that the Holy Spirit in a man is who gives that man/woman the utterances that says "Jesus is the Lord" (1 Corinthians 12:3) or confesses that "Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 4:15). If you can utter any of these confessions about the Lord Jesus, surely you have the Holy Spirit or God inside you, and it will be difficult for you to curse the Lord Jesus or blaspheme Him when you speak by the Spirit of God. So the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Faith. As it is written,

[2 Corinthians 4:13] — "We having the same Spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;"

You see how confessing with your mouth "The Lord Jesus" is enough to save you, because it is by the Spirit of God who produced faith in you that even that utterance by faith voiced out. Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.


Now look at this Bible reference below:

[Joel 2:28-32] — "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be saved: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."

According to this Bible reference:

*1* God poured out His Spirit on all flesh in the last days: This means, there's no man or woman on earth today on whom the Spirit of God was not poured; whether they are Christians or not. Everyone or every flesh of mankind has some measure of the Spirit of God inside him or her in this last days. That was not so in the days of Daniel or olden days.

*2* Though all flesh has some measure of the Spirit of God resident inside him/her to help that flesh to believe and to call upon the name of the Lord and be saved, yet not all flesh would eventually do so: The reason is still in the same Bible reference, which is, not all flesh shall be called by God to come up to Mount Zion where deliverance is. So God poured out His Spirit on all flesh, but God did not call all flesh. Those who were called are those whom God draws into believing and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, many are called, but few are chosen.

Therefore, before any one can call upon the Lord to be saved, the Lord God must first call such one to Him.

*3* All flesh has the Spirit of God as power to call upon the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God and be saved, yet not all flesh received Him, call or believed in His Name to receive Power to become sons of God.

*4* Though all flesh received the pouring of the Spirit of God, yet not all flesh prophesy, dream dreams or see visions. That same chapter where it is written, "No man can say Jesus is the Lord but by the Spirit of God," (1 Corinthians 12) in the same Chapter are different gifts and manifestations of the same Spirit of God in different people. Some received prophesying, some visions/dreams, some word of knowledge, some wisdom, some faith to believe, some speaking in tongues or speaking in mysteries, some interpretations of tongues or mysteries like Daniel had together with dreams, visions, knowledge and prophesying.



Now in the top Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar said to Daniel, "The Spirit of the Holy Gods is inside you, and no secret troubles you; interpret my vision or dream to me."

I already mentioned sometime ago that the reason the dream was troubled by the secret of that dream was because he did not have enough Spirit or Spirit of God to handle such dream, vision, mystery or revelation. Here he confirmed it to Daniel that had the Spirit of God saying no secret troubles him. Therefore I titled this, "Spirit of God and no secret troubles." This applies when the Spirit of God in the man gifts him with wisdom, knowledge, understanding and grace to know those mysteries or secrets revealed. For even with the Spirit of God in some persons, yet they still get troubled by secrets unlike Daniel. Spirit of God inside Daniel or any man does not make the man "Omniscient" and so there will always be where God allows some secrets to trouble even those with His Spirit.

Even Daniel himself later began seeing visions or dreams that troubled him, inspite of the Spirit of God in him; and Angels of God was sent to help Daniel through understanding the interpretation of those visions.

I may have to also discuss the Spirit of God in dream/vision interpreters, but when the top Bible verse is "Daniel 4:18."

Yes

DANIEL 4:8
[Daniel 4:8 NKJV] — But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying:

[Daniel 4:8 GWN] — "Finally, Daniel came to me. (He had been renamed Belteshazzar after my god [Bel].) The spirit of the holy gods is in him. I told him the dream:"

The wisemen were brought into the king's presence by a decree or the king's order, which was a place they did not want to be at that time; because standing or sitting there that moment was like sitting on "hot seat" or facing "Tough Examination/Quiz." Yet, Daniel walked into that king's presence voluntarily and boldly without fear of hard riddles which those wisemen couldn't resolve. Daniel was not among the wisemen of Babylon that were brought or arraigned before the king, but he came into the challenge those wisemen secretly wished to walk out from just as David walked into the challenge of facing the Champion Goliath of Gath, which those soldiers of Israel secretly wished to walk out from. Well both David and Daniel had the Spirit of God in them when they walked into their said challenges.

In the Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar's hope liteup as soon as he saw Daniel came in, and that was expressed by his use of the word "finally" or "at last" which implies the arrival of someone or something to change the existing but undesirable statusquo.

So long this was Nebuchadnezzar's Testimony, and he was writing to the entire world, he needed to introduce Daniel to the world before continuing along his story path. In Testimony, you testify of God and also testify of a man of God in whom was the Spirit of God. In his concise introduction or announcement of Daniel to the world in his testimony:

*1* Nebuchadnezzar the testifier mentioned the different names that man of God or prophet bears: "Daniel + Belteshazzar." Pointing men to him.

*2* Nebuchadnezzar the testifier mentioned that name "Belteshazzar" which Daniel also had was in honor or in accordance or in agreement with the name of Nebuchadnezzar's gods (Bel - gods of Babylon). But the testifier failed to also mention that name "Daniel" was in accordance, in honor or in agreement with the true God, ("El" - "Elohim" in "Dani+El")

*3* However, Nebuchadnezzar the testifier mentioned that "The Spirit of the Holy God or Holy Gods" was in Daniel. That shows which of the two Gods or two names possessed the said man.

Remember what I said about bearing names of other gods, other religions or cultures, as Christians. If it was today, such names would divide the opinions of different Christian groups: Some Christian groups would abominate the names of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and the other name of Daniel, Belteshazzar, saying those names have pagan origin or are names tied to Babylonian idols; just as they abominate Christmas, Easter, Sundays, Christian holidays etc, for the same reason of them having pagan origin or tied to idols. Other Christian groups would argue and insist in the tune of Paul, saying,

[1 Corinthians 8:4-6] — "...we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is no God except one. Truly even if indeed there are those called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as there are many gods and many lords, yet to us there is one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we through Him."

Infact, even the name of the same Lord, "Jesus" and the name of "God" are subjects of controversy among Christian groups: Some Christian groups would abominate the names "Jesus" as fake as the letter "J" is not part of the Hebrew alphabet and that we must use His Hebrew name "Yahoshua" or "Yeshua." And some others insist we shouldn't use the name "LORD" but "Yahweh" "JEHOVAH" nor "God" but "Elohim."

The reason we Christians fall into these controversies is because we do not allow the Holy Spirit of God to be the Leader and the Judge as Daniel implies God is the Judge. The Lord Jesus Christ told us that the Holy Spirit Himself will lead us into all truth, taking from the Lord Jesus Christ and showing us. Mark the words, "He (Holy Spirit) shall lead you (us) into all truth:" As it is written,

[John 16:13-14] — "However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide (lead) you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you."

Controversies among Christians come from Christians trying to lead or guide themselves into truth without the leadership or guidance of the Holy Spirit Himself. Listen,

*1* Truth is very important, but the Spirit of Truth (Holy Spirit) is more important than Truth.

*2* Wisdom is very important, but the Spirit of Wisdom (Holy Spirit) is more important than Wisdom.

The reason those wisemen couldn't go far in this limelight was because they were filled with wisdom without the Spirit of God: Therefore, their wisdom or wiseness failed them, and only the one that had and was led by the Spirit of God prevailed. Even so, the reason those contending for the truth fall into ministering condemnation and controversy in the name of defending the truth is because they have zeal without knowledge or without the Spirit of God guiding/leading them. It took me time to know the difference, and how even the accuser of the brethren (Satan) was using what I thought was speaking or defending the truth to condemn.

Satan is a liar, but Satan also ministers "Truth without grace" which is not the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, but a perversion of it. The true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is full of "Grace and Truth" born of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth, ministering the Spirit that gives life, not the letter that kills.

Now where are those Christians that uses "Pagan origin" as the basis to condemn things among Christians instead of using the saying or doing of the "Spirit of Christ" to judge or prove all things.

[1 Thessalonians 5:19-22] — "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil."

Why do you condemn this or that? "Because this or that has Pagan origin." Then why have you not condemned yourself or condemned all Gentile Christians, seeing every Christian that is not a Jew has Pagan origin? Since you believe that once anything is marked with pagan origin, then it should be condemned or rejected, then the Gentiles should not have had the gospel nor become Christians because Gentiles and their ancestors had pagan origin in uncircumcision. As it is written,

[1 Corinthians 12:2-3:] — "You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, even as you were led. Why I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."

You see such controversy among Christian groups was there even during the early church of the first Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, having "Pagan origin" versus "The Holy Spirit" regarding preaching and baptizing the Gentiles (Believers/Christians). Holy Spirit told Peter in the vision, kill and eat any of the revealed animals he was seeing, but Peter was calling the animals unclean or common or pagan origin. Holy Spirit told him not to look at the origin or history, but look at the sanctification and adoption of the Lord over them.

While he preached the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Gentiles that had pagan origin, the Holy Spirit Himself came upon them that had pagan origin and possessed them that were still bearing names attached to idols or pagan as Belteshazzar (Daniel) was having a name with pagan origin and yet filled with the Holy Spirit.

Peter understood the message, led by the Spirit of God approved their baptism so that those having pagan origin (uncircumcised) are now adopted into the Church. But in "Acts 11" those Christians who abominated pagan origin or uncircumcision entered into controversy against Peter for baptizing and adopting some of us Gentiles them. But as soon as Peter explained to them that the Holy Spirit Himself led the entire process and even entered into the uncircumcised or people with pagan origin, the whole of that controversy died down and entered. Today, those Christians who's ancestors were pagan have adopted "Pagan Origin" as basis to condemn or reject things, but hardly making room for the Holy Spirit of God.

I counsel you to get back to the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not deny Pagan origin, but we uphold the Lord's Redemption. As simple as this saying may sound, yet it holds: "Whenever Satan reminds you of your past, remind Satan of his future." True Gospel basically speaks to present and future as basis for redemption/adoption, not some speaking to pagan origin or history as basis for condemnation/rejection.

I said I will discuss on the Spirit of God in dream/vision interpreters & prophets, when the top Bible verse above is "Daniel 4:8." I was led to shift the discussion on that to the next top Bible verse that is 'Daniel 4:9'

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[DANIEL 4:6-7] — WISEMEN AND CONCERNS FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S
DREAMS OR VISIONS

DANIEL 4:6

[Daniel 4:6 NKJV] — Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

[Daniel 4:6 GWN] — "So I ordered all the wise advisers in Babylon to be brought to me to tell me the dream's meaning."


In the Bible verse above, which is also in the testimony of Nebuchadnezzar the king, because he dreamt that disturbing dream and saw that terrifying vision, he issued a decree or ordered for the forced appearance of all the wise men of Babylon in his presence for them to interpret his dream. By decree, by order of the king, all the wise men of Babylon were brought before the king. It's like today's court order to bring persons or make them appear before the court by force. So let me say, the king ordered the "Arrest" and "Arraign" of all the wise men of Babylon before his presence, to have them explain his dream.

So if a dream/vision troubled the king, he made all the wisemen of Babylon to be troubled for them to interpret and explain or resolve the riddles of the dream or vision to him. You may recall how it happened before, and how all the wisemen of Babylon were almost killed by the king on account of the king's dream or vision, which the wisemen could not guess (Daniel 2). Here again, the king still rounded up all the wise men or advisers of Babylon, demanding the interpretation of the troublous vision the king alone saw in his bedroom.

How can the vision or dream one man is seeing in his closet become a burden on the wise men in the same city or country? Why or how is the movie, the dream, the vision, you are seeing in your secret going to become other people's business when they are not even living with you? [Remember, it's about Testimony sharing].

Wise men should understand how much the visions, the dreams, the views and the perspectives, of their King, Ruler or Leader, affect them under him. It behooves the wise men to see what their leader sees, and to guide or counsel their leader into see things rightly and seeing them foresightly.

But in this case study above, even the wise men could not have seen what their king saw, not could they have helped the king see it well through the right interpretation of what the king saw. I would show to you the reason why the wisemen could not do this, but that would be when the next top Bible verse above is "Daniel 4:7."



DANIEL 4:7

[Daniel 4:7 BSB] — When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.

[Daniel 4:7 ICB] — The fortune-tellers, magicians and wise men came. I told them about the dream. But those men could not tell me what it meant.


In this second occasion, Nebuchadnezzar did not demand the wisemen to guess what his secret dream was, rather he narrated his dream to them. And still, they could not interpret his dream nor tell the meaning of it. What that meant was the wise men of Babylon were also blind to seeing the future things to come, which that dream or vision signified.

Those refered to as the wise men of Babylon in that testimony included the magicians, the enchanters, the astrologers (Chaldeans) and the diviners (soothsayers/prognosticators/prophets by dark arts). They were consultants in those different branches of forbidden/dark arts but yet they all came under one title, "Wise men." You see the title, "Wise men" does not always refer to Christians or men of God in the scriptures. For wizards, astrologers, magicians, sorcerers, or prognosticators, etc, who mastered their field automatically become wisemen: That is, by the time anyone would have mastered the art of magic, mastered astrology, mastered arts enchantments, mastered witchcraft etc, he/she must have read or learnt some wiseness and discipline, and could become counselors, advisers, professors or guru(s), in those fields to be called "Wise Men" or "Magi." So even in the dark arts and underworld, wisdom, maturity, discipline and skills, are required for their fools or childish to become wiser.

Thus, they were all wise men, but they couldn't interpret the king's dream. That did not disqualify them from still being called wisemen though they could not see through the king's dream. It is their desire to see those things, not their ability to see those things, that makes them "Wise men."

Here in this top Bible verse above, I show to you the reason why the wise men could not do this, interpret the king's dream or vision:

It's the difference between "being wise" and "Having the Spirit of God." It happened in Egypt with Joseph and in Babylon with Daniel.

*1* In Egypt, Pharaoh first tried his wise men of Egypt, but none could interpret his dream until Joseph came and interpret his dream, and Pharaoh himself testified "the Spirit of God was in Joseph" [Genesis 41:38].

*2* In Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar first tried his wise men of Babylon, but none could interpret his dream until Daniel came and interpret his dream, and Nebuchadnezzar himself testified "the Spirit of God was in Daniel" [Daniel 4:8, 5:11].

I will discuss on the Spirit of God in dream/vision interpreters & prophets, but that would be when the next top Bible verse above is "Daniel 4:8."

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KING YAHOSHUA

This man, Nebuchadnezzar, really knew how to carry himself like a king, something I don't compose myself to do. I act more like a servant, than like a king. You see, even if (not saying that) a tiger is stronger than a lion, the lion would still be seen as a king of the jungle simply because the lion has inbuilt in it the flair of a king in how it carries itself.

Well, that's for the jungle or for this world, but not for the Kingdom of God. What would make you a king in this world is usually what would prevent you from becoming a king in the Kingdom of Heaven. Kings in the Kingdom of Heaven walked like servants when they were yet walking this earth, including those of them that were kings on earth also like David. Michal, Saul's daughter or one of David's wives, was embarrassed by how David the king was dancing to God on the street among maidens/servants, and to her he was losing his respect among them.

The Lord Jesus Christ was born King of the Jews, King of kings; but He was meek and lowly, walking among the poor and lowest of people. He was so meek and lowly that even John the Baptist got confused about Him, asking Him, "Are You the One that should come or should we expect another?" In the Bible, two different Heralds of the Lord Jesus Christ had their proclamation of the Lord Jesus Christ disappointed by the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ different from how they proclaimed He to appear as:

*1* First Herald: John the Baptist, heralded that "He who comes after me is far greater than me, and I am not worthy to loose His shoes; His Baptism is greater than my water baptism, for He baptizes with Holy Ghost and Fire." Then one day the Lord Jesus Christ appeared and everything about Him was so different from how John had proclaimed Him, because He was so meek and lowly: John corrected himself in his proclamation of the Lord Jesus Christ, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This is the Man I was telling you about, He who comes after me; and the way He appears even I did not know Him for His humility and lowliness until He (God) who sent me to baptize told me the One on whom the Holy Spirit shall descend on like a dove, He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." (John 1:29-34).

See, I love the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, I really do.

John the Baptist was praying to be baptized by the Lord, but instead He came to be baptized by John the Baptist. John the Baptist was saying he was not even worthy to loose His shoes, but the Lord and King (Jesus Christ) bowed down Himself to wash the feet of His servants and creatures. Which King of kings does that?

[Luke 22:27 ICB] — Who is more important: the one sitting at the table or the one serving him? You think the one at the table is more important. But I Am like a Servant among you!

*2" Second Herald: One of the twenty-four elders in heaven before the Throne of God heralded the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but instead of the Lord to appear as the Lion He is, He appeared as the Lamb and much more as the Lamb that was slain. And from then, no one proclaimed Him as the Lion, but as the Lamb. Even His Throne was called the Throne of the Lamb because of His Lowliness and Humility, even though He is the King of kings had Lord of Lords and Master of all.

He has not changed: He said learn of Me:

[Matthew 11:29 AMPC] — Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer. 6:16.]

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DANIEL 4:5

[Daniel 4:5 NKJV] — I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

[Daniel 4:5 FBV] — But then one night I had a dream that really scared me—I saw visions that terrified me while I lay in my bed.

How comfortable your bed, your house or life is, does not always define how comfortable your sleep, your dream or your vision, would be. Some rich men do have rough or no sleep. According to*Ecclesiastes 5:12* - "The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep." Dream or vision from God can strike terror on a man who lives in the most secured and most comfortable palace, guarded by the strongest security system of his country. What could have scared such a king of kings from any nation of the world?

Why do I feel that apart from Solomon's dream as king, every other dream of a king expressed in the entire Bible was designed to strike that king with fear or terror as if the expressed dreams of kings were nightmares to the kings? This includes the governor's wife or Pilate's wife, beginning from Abimelech, king of Gerar (Philistine) on account of Abraham's wife.

Not that kings do not dream good and sweet dreams, but that dreams that terrified those kings were the dreams that caught their attention, respect and priority. So for a dream to get the kings' attention and respect, it must be able to terrorize and trouble kings who slept on comfortable beds, flourishing in comfortable home, prosperous with abundance of rest in palaces with hardly anything able to worry those kings.

Not that it must always be a bad news dream or prophecy of doom dream that scared those kings: Because even gospel dreams or good news dream can still scare a dreamer that is a ruler, chief or king. The Chief Cupbearer of Pharaoh had a good dream that appeared lovely and sweet as fairly tale, but yet that goodnews dream scared him as much as the bad news dream scared the other chief with him.

As it is with dreams, so with visions and revelations: They are not nightmares but they inspired fear and troubles to those who do not have enough spirit to receive them. You see why God had to give us His Spirit before giving us some kinds dreams and visions and revelations. He knows we may not be able to handle such dreams, visions or revelations without Him or His Spirit on us. John and Daniel fainted when they could not bear the visions or revelations they were seeing; and the Lord or His Angel had to touch them to revive them again, saying to them, "Fear not." So even if it's just for purpose of dreaming certain dreams or seeing certain visions, and prophesying certain revelations, God would pour Spirit. As it's written:

[Joel 2:28] — "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:"

So in the top Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar, in the summit of his living the best worldly life on earth, saw dream or vision on his bed which troubled him. That's part of his testimony, and like him let us consider sharing dreams, visions or revelations that terrified us in our comfort zone as testimoy because God's Hand and message is in such dreams, visions or revelations. Do not forget to share in your testimony the fear, the terror, the chills, the reflexes, etc, you felt when you were receiving the dream, vision, trance or revelation. For communicating such things help the hearer to know how much your experience touched you and the virtues that went out or came in to you during the experience, dream or vision.

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DANIEL 4:4

[Daniel 4:4 NKJV] — I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.

[Daniel 4:4 GWN] — "I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living comfortably at home. I was prosperous while living in my palace."


In this Bible verse, the testifier began the story that built his testimony. Imagine someone was to start giving testimony story, but asking, "Where should start my testimony story?" Some people would reply like, "Start from the Beginning;" but others would reply "Be brief as simple as "Once I was blind, but now I see" just as the man in "John 9:25" testified.

In discussing this Bible verse above, here are two segments: first segment looks into the part that frags "I, Nebuchadnezzar" and the other segment looks into "was at rest or living comfortably in my house, prospering or flourishing in my palace."

_________________________SEGMENT ONE_____________________

Why did he began his story with "I" and still described who the I refers to by mention his name, as if the "I" was not enough for us to know it's him?
He said it four times in this testimony or Daniel 4, "I + Nebuchadnezzar (his name)" to re-emphasize the "I" by his name "Nebuchadnezzar:" for some say repetition is for emphasis. Was that important?

I, Peterch, (doing the same thing) must have taught about who posseses the true reference of first person pronouns, second person pronouns and third person pronouns, in certain spiritual but mysterious prophecies, testimonies or messages. Sometimes you read or hear scriptures or prophecies terms like "I" "Me" "You" "He" "Him" etc, and naturally you may think by those pronouns the references point to characters or persons implied but instead they refer to another invisible Personality, to the Spirit, to the spirits, or to Seed(s), in coded terms. It could refer to both.

E.g. A man of God filled with the Holy Spirit could be speaking with "I" or "me" and that "I" may not just be the man alone but the Spirit of God also. Ananias and Saphira thought they were lying to man (Peter), but the Peter speaking then was filled with the Holy Ghost and so his "I" or "me" was not just referring to flesh and blood but to the Holy Spirit speaking through Peter.

It's by discernment or knowledge: At one time Peter spoke, flesh and blood did not reveal this to Peter but the Father in heaven, and then at the next time Peter spoke, "Get behind Satan;" and then Ananias and Saphira thought it's the usual Peter speaking, but then it's the Holy Spirit of God. In "John 13:27" Satan entered Judas Iscariot, and the Lord spoke to Satan himself by speaking to Judas Iscariot at that moment.

Demon-possessed people were testifiers, giving testimony of Jesus Christ being the Holy Son of God. But He rebuked them and silenced their testimony/revelation and cast them out. Also Paul by the Holy Spirit cast out the evil spirit taking possession of the "I" or "me" in that young girl that was testifying about Paul and Silas. At one occasion, madman ran and knelt down in prayer to the Lord Jesus praying fervently not to be cast into hell (Abyss precisely). The Lord Jesus asked the man, "What is your name?" And the demon(s) that took possession of the "I" and "me" of that man answered Him speaking as the man, saying to the Lord Jesus, "My name is "Legion" because we are many." Thus the "My" was not singular but plural because the "my or I" actually meant "we or many of us."

So in the top Bible verse, the "I, Nebuchadnezzar" meant it was truly Nebuchadnezzar in possession of himself, in possession of his "I" and not another spirit or personality or ambiguity bearing or possessing his "I" as if possessing a surname shared by different entities or people. This is singular, not plural, because it's "I, Nebuchadnezzar."

Even though Jesus Christ sent His Angel to give testimony or to testify on His behalf in the Churches, the Lord Jesus Christ used "I, Jesus" to express it's His Testimony, though by angel that testifies. As it is written:

[Revelation 22:16] — "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star."


_________________________SEGMENT TWO_____________________

[Daniel 4:4] — "I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living comfortably at home. I was prosperous while living in my palace."

*1* To many testifiers, this would have been the ending point to their testimonies, but to Nebuchadnezzar this was his starting point of his testimony.

*2* To many dreamers, this would have been the climaxing of their dream come true, but to Nebuchadnezzar this was where his dream started.

I have heard some testimonies, dreams, or ambitions; and many of them were pointing to or aiming at arrive this position where Nebuchadnezzar was occupying in the top Bible verse above. It like saying the sky is the limit for many, but for Nebuchadnezzar the sky was his starting point.

Some people's dreams/testimonies is about building houses, gaining home or living comfortably, resting, living in prosperity, promotion at working place, living in palace, being a king having dominion, etc, including Joseph who's dream and testimony was about becoming a ruler over his brothers who would bow down to him. But in the top Bible verse above, none of those dreamers or testifiers have even attained to where Nebuchadnezzar began his testimony. He was already the king of kings, having the whole world given to him by God, having rest, prosperity, fame, power etc, and there was no more any height of promotion or prosperity in human realms where Nebuchadnezzar have not attained in the pinnacle of them all.

But all those things were not even his testimony or foremost message he would share, celebrate and publish to the entire world. Where the dream or testimony of many people would never reach was were the dream and testimony of Nebuchadnezzar was beginning.

Even so, where the highest glories, highest pleasures, highest riches, highest lives, highest powers, highest fames, highest things, of this world stop is still far below where the very least things of the Kingdom of Heaven begin. Therefore I cite what is written here,

[Matthew 11:11 FBV] — I tell you the truth, that among humanity there's no one greater than John the Baptist, but even the least important in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.

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DANIEL 4:3

[Daniel 4:3 AKJV] — "How great are His signs! and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation."

[Daniel 4:3 FBV] — His signs are incredible. His wonders are amazing! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and His rule will last for all generations!



Well at this stage of sharing testimony, one would have expressed the branch or aspect of the attributes of God he/she is witnessing/testifying about: For usually, one may not be testifying about all attributes/aspects of God. The aspect of God's attributes he/she may be focused on includes:

*1* God is good and merciful or testifying of the Goodness of God; or,
*2* God keeps covenant or testifying of Covenant-keeping God; or,
*3* God grants or answers prayers; or,
*4* God of miracles, God of wonders, working all impossibilities; or,
*5* God is real and true; or,
*6* God is Revealer of Secrets or God of Mysteries and Wisdom; or,
*7* God of Salvation or Deliverance;
*Etc*

In the top Bible verse above, the testifier/witness (Nebuchadnezzar the king) introduced the aspect or attributes of God that structured the core points or message of his testimony: The core aspect of his testimony is basically about "The Kingdom of God:" For he was preaching/witnessing about "the Kingdom and Power (Dominion) of God."

I remember telling someone that I am not just preaching the "Gospel of Salvation" but preaching the "Gospel of the Kingdom of God." And he asked me, what's the difference between the two? I don't remember answering him that question, but I made it clear the Lord Jesus Christ preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven, and He sent us to go into all the world and preach the gospel of the Kingdom. It is seek you first the Kingdom of God, not just seek you first Salvation, and all other things shall be added to you. There's difference between seeking the Kingdom and seeking Salvation. Salvation is in Word (Confession with your mouth the Lord Jesus), but the Kingdom of God is not in Word but in Power (1 Corinthians 4:20).

This was the "Theme of the Testimony" of Nebuchadnezzar:

[Daniel 4:3 AKJV] — "How great are His signs! and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation."

Three things I show you from this:

1* First - That the Testimony is about the Kingdom of God

2* Secondly - That the Testimony is about the Power of God: Basically, the Kingdom of God is in Power. You really should not separate the Kingdom of God from the Power of God and from the Glory of God. Let those who speak of God's Kingdom talk of God's Power and Glory. Written:

[Psalms 145:11-13] – "They shall speak of the Glory of Your Kingdom, and talk of Your Power; To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His Kingdom. Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your Dominion endures throughout all generations."

Again, it is written,

[Matthew 6:13] — "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever. Amen."

3* Thirdly - That the Testifier of the Testimony was himself better witness of his message (testimony), not just because of his experience but because of his position or status as king of kings.

Who better understood kingdom, power or dominion, among men by then than Nebuchadnezzar the testifier, who was king of kings, had dominion over all men and animals of the earth in all nations, and was in power controlling all magicians, witches, wizards, occults, astrologers, and all forms of diabolical powers/group: infact he practically made golden image and declared it as gods to all nations boasting that no other gods or goddess or power could deliver any of its own worshipper from his hands. So for such a man who knew what having kingdom, power, dominion, signs and wonders, whether politically, religiously, esoterically, militarily, diabolically, scientifically, to testify and declare to all nations these things about the Signs, Wonders, Kingdom and Power (Dominion) of God, then you pay most attention to what he says than to what a powerless person is saying about the kingdom of God and the power of God. Remember, the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power, and so you should have some power to talk about the kingdom of God. As it is written,

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
[I Corinthians 4:19‭-‬20 NKJV]

Speaking of having some Power to speak better for the Kingdom of God, in the top Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar structured the demonstration or manifestation of the Power of God in four categories, while also rating the Power of God high in each category: Which of these categories Power do you have to demonstrate or promote the Kingdom of God?

*1* CATEGORY "A" - SIGNS (Power of God manifested in Signs). Rating: He rated God's Signs as Great or Incredible. There's no sign of God that is not great, even if that sign of God appears small or little. All the Signs of God are great and incredible the more you know them in higher degrees. For the signs of God communicate greater things.

*2* CATEGORY "B" - WONDERS (Power of God manifested in Wonders). Rating: He rated God's Wonders as Mighty or Amazing. There's nothing boring or boredom or common in the Wonders of God because they are marvelous and charming, and cannot be explained by any scientific knowledge or wisdom of men's mind in natural possibilities.

*3* CATEGORY "C" - KINGDOM (Power of God manifested in Kingdom). Rating: He rated God's Kingdom as Eternal Kingdom. He's the King who's Reign is without end and therefore, not a mere regime that has beginning or end. The Kingdom of God never begins, but comes. To say the Kingdom had beginning is to say the Power of God had beginning or His Glory began

*4* CATEGORY "" - DOMINION (Power of God manifested in Dominion or Government). Rating: He rated God's Dominion as from Generation to Generation.

The difference between God's Kingdom and God's Dominion (Government or Rules) is that the Kingdom of God came to earth at one time to take over, but the Dominion of God has always been on earth all the time and had never been absent from the earth, seas and heavens. So when God's Kingdom was not yet on earth, God still rules in the kingdoms of men through God's government or dominion, which was changing kings and setting up kings, exalting one and abasing/overthrowing the other. So the higher powers (governments) that be are the ordinances (dominion) of God who rules even inside the kingdoms (governments) of men, while the Kingdom of God or God as King is yet to come and takeover.

The Dominion God gave Adam and Eve, which they blew off, has been in the Hands of God from generations to generations, but within the kingdoms of men on earth. The Will of God associated with His Kingdom is what we pray His Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. But the Will of God associated with His Dominion (Ordinances, Laws, Principles, Prophecies etc.,) have always been the Will of God done on earth with or without praying for such will, and men cannot prevail in resisting His Will.

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DANIEL 4:2

[Daniel 4:2 NKJV] — I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.

[Daniel 4:2 GNT] — Listen to my account of the wonders and miracles which the Supreme God has shown me.



Nebuchadnezzar the great occultic and idolatrous king was converted into the faith of the Lord God Most High, and he shared the testimony of his conversion in the entire Daniel 4.

But in the Bible verse above precisely, Nebuchadnezzar acted as one of the greatest "Evangelists" publishing the gospel of the miracles, signs and wonders of the Most High (Supreme) God to the whole world. His testimony (message) reached out to the whole world that knew him as idol worshipper and occultic king, to proclaim the true God and Most High as the God of miracles, signs and wonders, to and through him.

What he said about "I thought it good" in the Bible verse above, was translated as "It pleased me" in Berean Study Bible. Basically, it means he found joy or pleasure in sharing the testimony of his experience and conversion and of the miracles, signs and wonders of God to and through him, to all the world. You will find such joy, pleasure or zeal in true evangelists and in those who find the joy at their conversion or salvation.

I have seen many converted into the Lord, but not all of them have joy or testimony or message to share from their experience, conversion or revelation of the grace and power of God. Some experienced the power of God, and were changed/converted, but even their neighbors hardly noticed because they do not have message or testimony to share, neither grateful.

Can you tell the whole world about the revelations, miracles, signs and wonders, of the Most High God, with gratitude and joy, unashamed? Can you reach out to your former sin partners and neighborhood where you were notorious, and publish the joy of your new found relationship and fellowship with the Lord Most High God?

*1* Why not you be like the madman made whole by Jesus Christ, who cast out legion of demons out of the man and the man went to publish and testify of his conversion and freedom by the Lord Jesus Christ?

*2* Why not you be like Nebuchadnezzar, who was cast out of being a man into becoming an animal and after seven years he was returned and restored into becoming a man, who then published and testified of his conversion and understanding by the Most High God?

*3* Why not you be like the Samaritan woman by the well where the Lord and Messiah sat, and she left her business to go testify to all the city of Samaria about her encounter with the Christ?

*4* Why not you be like Paul, who immediately he was converted and regained his sight began preaching or testifying of the Lord Jesus Christ?

I believe and know there are much more deep, miraculous, and wonderful, revelations of God shown to various people than they have publicized. Many of us are keeping the works of God hidden in our hearts/minds as Mary who mothered the Lord Jesus was keeping such things in her secret. There would have been more revelational and testimonial books, audios, videos and messages, about encounters with God/the Lord Jesus Christ, about angels and heavens, about hell and demons/damned souls, about dreams, about deliverances, about the earth/seas/creatures, about history, about men/women, about things to come, etc., if all who received or had them testified and published them.

Don't wait to share them as Testament, rather share them as Testimonies. It's the Testimony of Jesus that is the spirit of prophecy, not just the Testament of Jesus. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the words of our Testimony, not words of our testament. Testimony is as good as confession, which is key to salvation and prayers or utterances. I recently shared "Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs of Israel" which were basically their last testimony, confession or message before they died.

That's testament, always coming out when the testifier is dying or dead. Why share those things only when you know you would not live to face reactions or effects of your revelations or uncovered secrets? Are you trying to escape people's hatred, anger, animosity, shame, while you lived, but suddenly at your dying bed you develop boldness to share those things so that before they can react or respond to your revelations, you are already dead and wouldn't be facing how they receive or react to them?

[Psalms 118:17] — "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD."

I wouldn't wait until I am old and dying before I testify against fornication; I rather testify against Fornication and against all sins while I was young and youthful, so that I too would live facing the trials and temptations that follow my Testimony. There's place for preaching what you lived, but also place for living what you preached: Hence both Testament and Epistles.

Three categories of people:

*1* Those would never share or testify the Testimonies/Revelations of God and of the Lord to them,

*2* Those who think it good to share the Testimonies/Revelations of God to them only when they are dying or retarding, and have no more to live,

*3* Those who think it good to share the Testimonies/Revelations of God to them like Nebuchadnezzar in the Bible verse above, living to declare the works of God and facing either persecution or acceptance for their Testimonies or Confessions.

Know this, if Nebuchadnezzar had not shared this Testimony, perhaps his testimony would not have become part of the Scriptures given to us, and we may not have known he was turned into animal in shame to his glory and later turned back into a man of understanding by God. So do not deny us from having the useful information of God's works on you, even if it means exposing your shameful secrets while sharing the testimony. It's not about your shame/humiliation in the story, but about the praise, honor and glory of God the Most High who delivered, changed, or converted you.

DANIEL 4:1

[Daniel 4:1 NKJV] — Nebuchadnezzar the king, To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.

[Daniel 4:1 GNT] — King Nebuchadnezzar sent the following message to the people of all nations, races, and languages in the world: “Greetings!



"Daniel 4" is basically an "Epistle" and qualifies as "General Epistle" though it was from Nebuchadnezzar the king of kings then, and hereby written to us (Christians) through Daniel the prophet.

*1* "Epistle" means special letter written and ministered as *Open Letter* but more importantly as the Oracle (Utterance) of the Spirit of God. This is because without the Spirit of God, Epistles would be mere Letters, and the Letter kills but the Spirit gives life. So when a written letter contains and transmits the Spirit and Life, it is an Epistle.

I earlier wanted to say "Many of the Books in the New Testament" but I am directed to rather say, "All of the Books in the New Testament Scriptures are basically *Epistles." And everyone who qualifies to write an Epistle in the New Testament but himself/herself first becomes an Epistle of Christ. You must be an Epistle of Christ to effectively write an Epistle in Christ. So the true Ministers of Christ are first of all the Epistle of Christ read by all men better and before all men; and as a minister of Christ, you and your life are inside your own written epistle or scriptures by the Holy Spirit of God. You are part of your message, just as Nebuchadnezzar's part of his epistle in Daniel 4 beginning in the top Bible verse.

Everyone of us was first part of the Living Book of God before we became living beings on earth; and more of the written Epistles of God are being declared for us to live by. Man shall not live by bread alone, but live by each declaration of the Living Word/Epistle of Christ's Book. To die is to have no part or portion in the Living Epistle/Book of Christ Jesus; but to live forever is to have part or portion in the Book of Life to live forth forever.

*2* "General Epistle" means the epistle cuts across racial, national, tribal, ethnic, geographic and timeline boundaries to all. As you saw in the top Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar the king was addressing all tribes, nations, languages, peoples, cultures, in all the earth: thus, it's a General Epistle, not private epistle.

In the New Testament Scriptures, Paul wrote many Epistles but they were not classified as "General Epistles" by men because Paul wrote them to special groups of people in certain locations or tribes. And Paul's letters or Epistles bore the titles or names of the special Bodies he was addressing to, unlike other Books in the New Testament Scriptures that bore the name of the writers. Examples Paul's letters to the Romans, to Colossians, to Ephesians, to Thessalonians, to Timothy, to Philemon, to Corinthians, to Hebrews etc. But the "General Epistles'' in" the New Testament Scriptures are those who were addressed to all men or all Christians and Jews in all parts of the world. As the Lord Jesus instructed, go into all the world, and preach to every creature. So the General Epistles are addressing the general audience and use jargon/terms applicable across all divides. The Book of Enoch (cited by Peter and Jude) is one of the most General (if not the most General) Epistle or scriptures written by men of God, cutting across all ages and all generations of mankind, from beginning to the end. The Book of Revelation is General Epistle, but focussed on end times. The Books of James, John, Peter, Jude, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts, are General Epistles.

However, though Paul's letters were not originally "General Epistles" but were "Sectarian Epistles" or "Denominational Epistles," yet the Lord made them Scriptures because the Spirit of the Lord speaks through them across and beyond those sectarians or denominations of churches to all men far and beyond thereafter. As it is written, "Let him that has ear hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches" (Notwithstanding which sect or denomination of churches the Spirit's letter/epistle was addressed to) [Revelation 3:22].

So though Old Covenant Scriptures apply to the Jews, not Gentile Church, yet I will hear what the Spirit of God is saying to those under the law because I have the ear to hear. It is as many as are led by the Spirit of God that are the sons of God, not as many as are led by New/Old Testaments or by certain denominational/Sectarian doctrines or traditions.

*3* "Greetings or Peace or Gospel - Beginning of Epistles after Address." In the top Bible verse above, Nebuchadnezzar, after establishing the epistle to be "General Epistle" and not sectarian, by the protocol of people/persons he named/tagged in the address before his main speech, he began his Epistle by "Greetings or Peace be multiplied to you."

No matter the pressure or urgency of the written Epistles, they usually begin with either joyful news, greetings, gracias, blessings or peace to the readers/hears. The Book of Revelation practically pronounced "Blessing to the readers of the Book and more to the doers." Behold, Nebuchadnezzar's as the king of the world then, greets you and decreed multiplication of peace to you, if you are his audience and reader of this epistle in Daniel 4.

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This man did not preach himself, but preached Joseph and Jesus Christ

THE TESTAMENT OF BENJAMIN - 1

[Benjamin 1:1-46]

Benjamin, son of Jacob and Rachel, Preaches "Joseph as Role Model and Example to follow Joseph's Footsteps"

*1* THE copy of the words of Benjamin, which he commanded his sons to observe, after he had lived a hundred and twenty-five years.

*2* And he kissed them, and said: "As Isaac was born to Abraham in his old age, so also was I to Jacob.

*3* And since Rachel my mother died in giving me birth, I had no milk; therefore I was suckled by Bilhah her handmaid.

*4* For Rachel remained barren for twelve years after she had borne Joseph; and she prayed the Lord with fasting twelve days, and she conceived and bore Me.

*5* For my father loved Rachel dearly, and prayed that he might see two sons born from her.

*6* Therefore was I called Benjamin, that is, "A son of days."

*7* And when I went into Egypt, to Joseph, and my brother recognized me, he asked me: "What did they tell my father when they sold me?"

*8* And I said to him, "They dabbled your coat with blood and sent it, and said: "Know whether this be your son's coat."

*9* And he said to me: "Even so, brother, when they had stripped me of my coat they gave me to the Ishmaelites, and they gave me a loin cloth, and scourged me, and bade me run."

*10* And as for one of them that had beaten me with a rod, a lion met him and killed him.

*11* And so his associates were afraid."

*12* Therefore, my children, you must also love the Lord God of heaven and earth, and keep His commandments, following the example of the good and holy man Joseph.

*13* And let your mind be to good, even as you know me; for he that has his mind right sees all things rightly.

*14* Fear you the Lord, and love your neighbour; and even though the spirits of Beliar claim you to afflict you with every evil, yet shall they not have dominion over you, even as they had not over Joseph my brother.

*15* How many men wished to kill him, and God shielded him!

*16* For he that fears God and loves his neighbour cannot be smitten by the spirit of Beliar, being shielded by the fear of God.

*17" Nor can he be ruled over by the device of men or beasts, for he is helped by the Lord through the love which he has towards his neighbour.

*18* For Joseph also besought our father that he would pray for his brethren, that the Lord would not impute to them as sin whatever evil they had done to him.

*19* And thus Jacob cried out: "My good child, you have prevailed over the bowels of your father Jacob."

*20* And he embraced him, and kissed him for two hours, saying:

*21* "In you shall be fulfilled the prophecy of heaven concerning the Lamb of God, and Saviour of the world, and that a blameless One shall be delivered up for lawless men, and a sinless One shall die for ungodly men in the blood of the covenant, for the salvation of the Gentiles and of Israel, and shall destroy Beliar and his servants."

*22* See you, therefore, my children, the end of the good man?

*23* Be followers of his compassion, therefore, with a good mind, that you also may wear crowns of glory.

*24* For the good man does not have a dark eye; for he shows mercy to all men, even though they are sinners.

*25* And though they devise with evil intent concerning him, by doing good he overcomes evil, being shielded by God; and he loves the righteous as his own soul.

*26* If any one is glorified, he does not envy him; if any one is enriched, he is not jealous; if any one is valiant, he praises him; the virtuous man he lauds; on the poor man he has mercy; on the weak he has compassion; to God he sings praises.

*27* And him that has the grace of a good spirit he loves as his own soul.

*28* If therefore, you also have a good mind, then will both wicked men be at peace with you, and the profligate will reverence you and turn to good; and the covetous will not only cease from their inordinate desire, but even give the objects of their covetousness to them that are afflicted.

*29* If you do well, even the unclean spirits will flee from you; and the beasts will dread you.

*30* For where there is reverence for good works and light in the mind, even darkness flees away from him.

*31* For if any one does violence to a holy man, he repents; for the holy man is merciful to his reviler, and holds his peace.

*32* And if any one betrays a righteous man, the righteous man prays: though for a little he is humbled, yet not long after he appears far more glorious, as was Joseph my brother.

*33* The inclination of the good man is not in the power of the deceit of the spirit of Beliar, for the angel of peace guides his soul.

*34* And he gazes not passionately on corruptible things, nor gathers together riches through a desire of pleasure.

*35* He does not delight in pleasure, he does not grieve his neighbour, he does not sate himself with luxuries, he does not err in the uplifting of the eyes, for the Lord is his portion.

*36* The good inclination does not receive glory nor dishonour from men, and it does not know any guile, or lie, or fighting or reviling; for the Lord dwells in him and lights up his soul, and he rejoices towards all men always.

*37* The good mind does not have two tongues, of blessing and of cursing, of contumely and of honour, of sorrow and of joy, of quietness and of confusion, of hypocrisy and of truth, of poverty and of wealth; but it has one disposition, uncorrupt and pure, concerning all men.

*38* It has no double sight, nor double hearing; for in everything which he does, or speaks, or sees, he knows that the Lord looks on his soul.

*39* And he cleanses his mind that he may not be condemned by men as well as by God.

*40* And in like manner the works of Beliar are twofold, and there is no singleness in them.

*41* Therefore, my children, I tell you, flee the malice of Beliar; for he gives a sword to them that obey him.

*42* And the sword is the mother of seven evils. First the mind conceives through Beliar, and first there is bloodshed; secondly ruin; thirdly, tribulation; fourthly, exile; fifthly, dearth; sixthly, panic; seventhly, destruction.

*43* 'Therefore was Cain also delivered over to seven vengeances by God, for in every hundred years the Lord brought one plague on him.

*44* And when he was two hundred years old he began to suffer, and in the nine-hundredth year he was destroyed.

*45* For on account of Abel, his brother, with all the evils was he judged, but Lamech with seventy times seven.

*46* Because forever those, who are like Cain in envy and hatred of brethren, shall be punished with the same judgement.

THE TESTAMENT OF BENJAMIN - 2

[Benjamin 2:1-33]

Benjamin, son of Jacob and Rachel, Preaches "Jesus Christ"

*1* AND do you, my children, flee evil-doing, envy, and hatred of brethren, and cleave to goodness and love.

*2* He that has a pure mind in love, does not look after a woman with a view to fornication; for he has no defilement in his heart, because the Spirit of God rests on him.

*3* For as the sun is not defiled by shining on dung and mire, but rather dries up both and drives away the evil smell; so also the pure mind, though surrounded by the defilements of earth, rather cleanses them and is not itself defiled.

*4* And I believe that there will be also evil-doings among you, from the words of Enoch the righteous: that you shall commit fornication with the fornication of Sodom, and shall perish, all except a few, and shall renew wanton deeds with women; and the kingdom of the Lord shall not be among you, for straightway He shall take it away.

*5* Nevertheless the temple of God shall be in your portion, and the last temple shall be more glorious than the first.

*6* And the twelve tribes shall be gathered together there, and all the Gentiles, until the Most High shall send forth His Salvation in the visitation of an only-begotten Prophet.

*7* And He shall enter into the first temple, and there shall the Lord be treated with outrage, and He shall be lifted up on a tree.

*8* And the veil of the temple shall be rent, and the Spirit of God shall pass on to the Gentiles as fire poured forth.

*9* And He shall ascend from Hades and shall pass from earth into heaven.

*10* And I know how lowly He shall be on earth, and how glorious in heaven.

*11* Now when Joseph was in Egypt, I longed to see his figure and the form of his countenance; and through the prayers of Jacob my father I saw him, while awake in the daytime, even his entire figure exactly as he was."

*12* And when he had said these things, he said to them: "Know you therefore, my children, that I am dying."

*13* Therefore, Do you truth each one to his neighbour, and keep the law of the Lord and His commandments.

*14* For these things are the things I leave to you instead of inheritance.

*15* Therefore, do also give them to your children for an everlasting possession; for so did both Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob.

*16* For all these things they gave us for an inheritance, saying: "Keep the commandments of God, until the Lord shall reveal His Salvation to all Gentiles."

*17* And then shall you see Enoch, Noah, and Shem, and Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, rising on the right hand in gladness,

*18* Then shall we also rise, each one over our tribe, worshipping the King of heaven, who appeared on earth in the form of a Man in humility.

*19* And as many as believe on Him on the earth shall rejoice with Him.

*20* Then also all men shall rise, some to glory and some to shame.

*21* And the Lord shall judge Israel first, for their unrighteousness; because when He appeared as God in the flesh to deliver them they did not believe Him.

*22* And then shall He judge all the Gentiles, as many as did not believe Him when He appeared on earth.

*23* And He shall convict Israel through the chosen ones of the Gentiles, even as He reproved Esau through the Midianites, who deceived their brethren, so that they fell into fornication, and idolatry; and they were alienated from God, becoming therefore children in the portion of them that fear the Lord.

*24* If you therefore, my children, walk in holiness according to the commandments of the Lord, you shall again dwell securely with me, and all Israel shall be gathered to the Lord.

*25* And I shall no longer be called a ravening wolf on account of your ravages, but a worker of the Lord distributing food to them that work what is good.

*26* And there shall arise in the latter days one beloved of the Lord, of the tribe of Judah and Levi, a doer of His good pleasure in His Mouth, with new knowledge enlightening the Gentiles.

*27* Until the consummation of the age shall He be in the synagogues of the Gentiles, and among their rulers, as a strain of music in the mouth of all.

*28* And He shall be inscribed in the holy books, both His work and His word, and He shall be a chosen One of God forever.

*29* And through them He shall go to and fro as Jacob my father, saying: "He shall fill up that which lacks of your tribe."

*30* And when he had said these things he stretched out his feet.

*31* And died in a beautiful and good sleep.

*32* And his sons did as he had enjoined them, and they took up his body and buried it in Hebron with his fathers.

*33* And the number of the days of his life was a hundred and twenty-five years.

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The Fisherman and First man to invent Boat, Preaches Treasure of Compassion for others

THE TESTAMENT OF ZEBULUN - 1

[Zebulun 1:1-37]
Zebulun, son of Jacob and Leah, recounts Joseph's ordeal partly

*1* THE copy of the words of Zebulun, which he enjoined on his sons before he died in the one hundred and fourteenth year of his life, two years after the death of Joseph.

*2* And he said to them: "Hear me, you sons of Zebulun attend to the words of your father.

*3* I, Zebulun, was born a good gift to my parents.

*4* For when I was born my father was increased very exceedingly, both in flocks and herds, when with the straked rods he had his portion.

*5* I have no consciousness of sin that I have sinned in all my days, except in the sin of thought.

*6* Nor yet do I remember that I have done any iniquity, except the sin of ignorance which I committed against Joseph; for I covenanted with my brethren not to tell my father what had been done.

*7* But I wept in secret many days on account of Joseph, for I feared my brethren, because they had all agreed that if any one should declare the secret, he should be killed.

*8* But when they wished to kill Joseph, I adjured them much with tears not to be guilty of this sin.

*9* For Simeon and Gad came against Joseph to kill him, and he said to them with tears: "Pity me, my brethren, have mercy on the bowels of Jacob our father: do not lay your hands on me to shed innocent blood, for I have not sinned against you.

*10* And if indeed I have sinned, with chastening chastise me, my brethren, but do not lay your hand on me, for the sake of Jacob our father."

*11* And as Joseph spoke these words, wailing as he did so, I was unable to bear his lamentations, and I began to weep, and my liver was poured out, and all the substance of my bowels was loosened.

*12* And I wept with Joseph and my heart sounded, and the joints of my body trembled, and I was not able to stand.

*13* And when Joseph saw me weeping with him, and them coming against him to kill him, he fled behind me, begging them.

*14* But meanwhile Reuben arose and said: "Come, my brethren, let us not kill him, but let us cast him into one of these dry pits, which our fathers digged and found no water."

*15* For it was for this reason the Lord forbade that water should rise up in them in order that Joseph should be preserved.

*16* And they did so, until they sold him to the Ishmaelites.

*17* For in his price I had no share, my children.

*18* But Simeon and Gad and six other of our brethren took the price of Joseph, and bought sandals for themselves, and their wives, and their children, saying:

*19* "We will not eat of it, for it is the price of our brother's blood, but we will assuredly tread it under foot, because he said that he would be king over us, and so let us see what will become of his dreams."

*20* [I skipped]

*21* [I skipped]

*22* [I skipped]

*23* [I skipped]

*24* [I skipped]

*25* And after he was cast into the pit my brothers sat down to eat and drink.

*26* But I, through pity for Joseph, did not eat, but watched the pit, since Judah feared lest Simeon, Dan, and Gad should rush off and slay him.

*27* But when they saw that I did not eat, they set me to watch him, till he was sold to the Ishmaelites.

*28* And when Reuben came and heard that while he was away Joseph had been sold, he tore his garments, and mourning, said:

*29* "How shall I look on the face of my father Jacob?" And he took the money and ran after the merchants but as he failed to find them he returned grieving.

*30* But the merchants had left the broad road and marched through the Troglodytes by a short cut.

*31* But Reuben was grieved, and ate no food that day.

*32* Dan therefore came to him and said: "Weep not, neither grieve; for we have found what we can say to our father Jacob.

*33* Let us kill a kid of the goats, and dip in it the coat of Joseph; and let us send it to Jacob, saying: Know, is this the coat of your son?"

*34* And they did so. For they stripped off from Joseph his coat when they were selling him, and put upon him the garment of a slave.

*35* Now Simeon took the coat, and would not give it up, for he wished to tear it with his sword, as he was angry that Joseph lived and that he had not killed him.

*36* Then we all rose up and said to him: "If you do not give up the coat, we will say to our father that you alone did this evil thing in Israel."

*37* And so he gave it to them, and they did even as Dan had said.

THE TESTAMENT OF ZEBULUN - 2

[Zebulun 2:1-42]

Zebulun preaches human sympathy and understanding of one's fellow men.

*1* AND now children, I urge you to keep the commands of the Lord, and to show mercy to your neighbours, and to have compassion towards all, not towards men only, but also towards animals.

*2* For all this thing's sake the Lord blessed me, and when all my brethren were sick, I escaped without sickness, for the Lord knows the purposes of each one.

*3* Have, therefore, compassion in your hearts, my children, because even as a man does to his neighbour, even so also will the Lord do to him.

*4* For the sons of my brethren were sickening and were dying on account of Joseph, because they showed no mercy in their hearts; but my sons were preserved without sickness, as you know.

*5* And when I was in the land of Canaan, by the sea-coast, I made a catch of fish for Jacob my father; and when many were choked in the sea, I continued unhurt.

*6* I was the first to invent a boat to sail on the sea, for the Lord gave me understanding and wisdom therein.

*7* And I let down a rudder behind it, and I stretched a sail on another upright piece of wood in the midst.

*8* And I sailed therein along the shores, catching fish for the house of my father until we came to Egypt.

*9* And through compassion I shared my catch with every stranger.

*10* And if a man was a stranger, or sick, or aged, I boiled the fish, and dressed them well, and offered them to all men, as every man had need, grieving with and having compassion on them.

*11* Which is why also the Lord satisfied me with abundance of fish when catching fish; for he that shares with his neighbour receives manifold more from the Lord.

*12* For five years I caught fish and gave thereof to every man whom I saw, and sufficed for all the house of my father.

*13* And in the summer I caught fish, and in the winter I kept sheep with my brethren.

*14* Now I will declare to you what I did.

*15* I saw a man in distress through unclothedness in wintertime, and I had compassion on him, and stole away a garment secretly from my father's house, and gave it to him who was in distress.

*16* Do you, therefore, my children, from that which God bestows on you, show compassion and mercy without hesitation to all men, and give to every man with a good heart.

*17* And if you have not the means to give to him that needs, have compassion for him in bowels of mercy.

*18* I know that my hand did not find the means to give to him that needed, and I walked with him weeping for seven furlongs, and my bowels yearned towards him in compassion.

*19* Have, therefore, yourselves also, my children, compassion towards every man with mercy, that the Lord also may have compassion and mercy on you.

*20* Because also in, the last days God will send His Compassion on the earth, and wherever He finds bowels of mercy He dwells in him.

*21* For in the degree in which a man has compassion on his neighbours, in the same degree the Lord has also upon him.

*22" And when we went down into Egypt, Joseph bore no malice against us.

*23* To whom taking heed, do you also, my children, approve yourselves without malice, and love one another; and do not set down in account, each one of you, evil against his brother.

*24* For this breaks unity and divides all kindred, and troubles the soul, and wears away the countenance.

*25* Observe, therefore, the waters, and know when they flow together, they sweep along stones, trees, earth, and other things.

*26* But if they are divided into many streams, the earth swallows them up, and they vanish away.

*27* So shall you also be if you be divided. Therefore, do not be divided into two heads for everything which the Lord made has but one head, and two shoulders, two hands, two feet, and all the remaining members.

*28* For I have learnt in the writing of my fathers, that you shall be divided in Israel, and you shall follow two kings, and shall work every abomination.

*29* And your enemies shall lead you captive, and you shall be evil entreated among the Gentiles, with many infirmities and tribulations.

*30* And after these things you shall remember the Lord and repent, and He shall have mercy on you, for He is merciful and compassionate.

*31* And He does not set down in account evil against the sons of men, because they are flesh, and are deceived through their own wicked deeds.

*32* And after these things shall there arise to you the Lord Himself, the Light of righteousness, and you shall return to your land.

*33* And you shall see Him in Jerusalem, for His name's sake.

*34* And again through the wickedness of your works shall you provoke Him to anger,

*35* And you shall be cast away by Him to the time of consummation.

*36* And now, my children, do not grieve that I am dying, nor be cast down in that I am coming to my end.

*37* For I shall rise again in the midst of you, as a ruler in the midst of his sons; and I shall rejoice in the midst of my tribe, as many as shall keep the law of the Lord, and the commandments of Zebulun their father.

*38* But on the ungodly shall the Lord bring eternal fire, and destroy them throughout all generations.

*39* But I am now hastening away to my rest, as did also my fathers.

*40* But do you fear the Lord our God with all your strength all the days of your life."

*41* And when he had said these things he fell asleep, at a good old age.

*42* And his sons laid him in a wooden coffin. And afterwards they carried him up and buried him in Hebron, with his fathers.