June 27, 2016

When rainbows come to Earth by Gary Rose


I love rainbows; I have said it again and again. Here is yet another form of a rainbow, this time one that has come down to Earth. I have never seen another quite like this and it is wonderful! But, what is a rainbow, anyway?  

One definition is:
rainbow ‎(plural rainbows)
  1. multicoloured arch in the sky, produced by prismatic refraction of light within droplets of rain in the air.
  2. Any prismatic refraction of light showing a spectrum of colours.
  3. (often used with “of”) A wide assortment; a varied multitude.
    rainbow of possibilities
  4. (figuratively) An illusionmirage.
    Many electoral promises are rainbows, vanishing soon after poll day.

    https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rainbow

However, it is much more than this...

It is a promise and a covenant

Genesis, Chapter 9 (WEB)
 8  God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying,  9 “As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you,  10 and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the livestock, and every animal of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ship, even every animal of the earth.  11 I will establish my covenant with you: All flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood, neither will there ever again be a flood to destroy the earth.”  12 God said, “This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:  (emp. added GDR)13 I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth.  14 When I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow will be seen in the cloud,  15 and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.  16 The rainbow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”  17 God said to Noah, “This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

A promise that God will NEVER AGAIN DESTROY THE WORLD BY A FLOOD!!

It is a foretaste of a heavenly scene

Revelation, Chapter 4 (WEB)
 2  Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne  3 that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at. (emp. added GDR) 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads.  5 Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.  6 Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the midst of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.  7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle.  8 The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!” (emp. added GDR)

  9  When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying,  11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!” (emp. added GDR)


John, Chapter 1 (WEB)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 The same was in the beginning with God.  3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. (emp. added GDR) 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. 

It is a revelation of the glory of God

Ezekiel, Chapter 1 (WEB)
25 There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings. 26 Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.  27 I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.  28 As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of Yahweh’s glory. (emp. added GDR) When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke. 

John, Chapter 17 (WEB)
17  Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.   18  As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.   19  For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.   20  Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in me through their word,   21  that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.   22  The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one;  (emp. added GDR)  23  I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me.   24  Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. (emp. added GDR)

To me, a rainbow is the revelation of light, which represents the multi-fauceted nature of God. God the father directed the creation, Jesus materially interacted in this and the Holy Spirit empowered the work. So, light is yet another exhibition of God and a rainbow is its essence.  Consider, if these things are in fact true- then how magnificent a scene it will be when we finally meet HIM who sits on HIS heavenly throne!!!

Bible Reading June 27 by Gary Rose


Bible Reading  June 27 (World English Bible)

June 27
2 Samuel 22-24

2Sa 22:1 David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
2Sa 22:2 and he said, Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine;
2Sa 22:3 God, my rock, in him I will take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, you save me from violence.
2Sa 22:4 I will call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from my enemies.
2Sa 22:5 For the waves of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
2Sa 22:6 The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death caught me.
2Sa 22:7 In my distress I called on Yahweh. Yes, I called to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry came into his ears.
2Sa 22:8 Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.
2Sa 22:9 Smoke went up out of his nostrils. Fire out of his mouth devoured. Coals were kindled by it.
2Sa 22:10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet.
2Sa 22:11 He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind.
2Sa 22:12 He made darkness pavilions around himself: gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
2Sa 22:13 At the brightness before him, coals of fire were kindled.
2Sa 22:14 Yahweh thundered from heaven. The Most High uttered his voice.
2Sa 22:15 He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and confused them.
2Sa 22:16 Then the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare by the rebuke of Yahweh, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
2Sa 22:17 He sent from on high and he took me. He drew me out of many waters.
2Sa 22:18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
2Sa 22:19 They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support.
2Sa 22:20 He also brought me out into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
2Sa 22:21 Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness. He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands.
2Sa 22:22 For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
2Sa 22:23 For all his ordinances were before me. As for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
2Sa 22:24 I was also perfect toward him. I kept myself from my iniquity.
2Sa 22:25 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight.
2Sa 22:26 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect.
2Sa 22:27 With the pure you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
2Sa 22:28 You will save the afflicted people, But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down.
2Sa 22:29 For you are my lamp, Yahweh. Yahweh will light up my darkness.
2Sa 22:30 For by you, I run against a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall.
2Sa 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect. The word of Yahweh is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
2Sa 22:32 For who is God, besides Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God?
2Sa 22:33 God is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect.
2Sa 22:34 He makes his feet like hinds' feet, and sets me on my high places.
2Sa 22:35 He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of brass.
2Sa 22:36 You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your gentleness has made me great.
2Sa 22:37 You have enlarged my steps under me. My feet have not slipped.
2Sa 22:38 I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them. I didn't turn again until they were consumed.
2Sa 22:39 I have consumed them, and struck them through, so that they can't arise. Yes, they have fallen under my feet.
2Sa 22:40 For you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
2Sa 22:41 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.
2Sa 22:42 They looked, but there was none to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn't answer them.
2Sa 22:43 Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth. I crushed them as the mire of the streets, and spread them abroad.
2Sa 22:44 You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people. You have kept me to be the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known will serve me.
2Sa 22:45 The foreigners will submit themselves to me. As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me.
2Sa 22:46 The foreigners will fade away, and will come trembling out of their close places.
2Sa 22:47 Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,
2Sa 22:48 even the God who executes vengeance for me, who brings down peoples under me,
2Sa 22:49 who brings me away from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man.
2Sa 22:50 Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations. Will sing praises to your name.
2Sa 22:51 He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his seed, forevermore.

2Sa 23:1 Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse says, the man who was raised on high says, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel:
2Sa 23:2 The Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me. His word was on my tongue.
2Sa 23:3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, one who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God,
2Sa 23:4 He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, When the tender grass springs out of the earth, Through clear shining after rain.
2Sa 23:5 Most certainly my house is not so with God, yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure, for it is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he doesn't make it grow.
2Sa 23:6 But all of the ungodly shall be as thorns to be thrust away, because they can't be taken with the hand,
2Sa 23:7 But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear. They shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.
2Sa 23:8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb Basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite, against eight hundred slain at one time.
2Sa 23:9 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away.
2Sa 23:10 He arose, and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and Yahweh worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take spoil.
2Sa 23:11 After him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. The Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.
2Sa 23:12 But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh worked a great victory.
2Sa 23:13 Three of the thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
2Sa 23:14 David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
2Sa 23:15 David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
2Sa 23:16 The three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but he would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh.
2Sa 23:17 He said, Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this:shall I drink the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.
2Sa 23:18 Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.
2Sa 23:19 Wasn't he most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: however he didn't attain to the first three.
2Sa 23:20 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he killed the two sons ofAriel of Moab: he went down also and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.
2Sa 23:21 He killed an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.
2Sa 23:22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three mighty men.
2Sa 23:23 He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn't attain to the first three. David set him over his guard.
2Sa 23:24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
2Sa 23:25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
2Sa 23:26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
2Sa 23:27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
2Sa 23:28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
2Sa 23:29 Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
2Sa 23:30 Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash.
2Sa 23:31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
2Sa 23:32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
2Sa 23:33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite,
2Sa 23:34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
2Sa 23:35 Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
2Sa 23:36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
2Sa 23:37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
2Sa 23:38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
2Sa 23:39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

2Sa 24:1 Again the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah.
2Sa 24:2 The king said to Joab the captain of the army, who was with him, Go now back and forth through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number you the people, that I may know the sum of the people.
2Sa 24:3 Joab said to the king, Now Yahweh your God add to the people, however many they may be, one hundred times; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it: but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?
2Sa 24:4 Notwithstanding, the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the army. Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.
2Sa 24:5 They passed over the Jordan, and encamped in Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad, and to Jazer:
2Sa 24:6 then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi; and they came to Dan Jaan, and around to Sidon,
2Sa 24:7 and came to the stronghold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites; and they went out to the south of Judah, at Beersheba.
2Sa 24:8 So when they had gone back and forth through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
2Sa 24:9 Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
2Sa 24:10 David's heart struck him after that he had numbered the people. David said to Yahweh, I have sinned greatly in that which I have done: but now, Yahweh, put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.
2Sa 24:11 When David rose up in the morning, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,
2Sa 24:12 Go and speak to David, Thus says Yahweh, I offer you three things: choose one of them, that I may do it to you.
2Sa 24:13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said to him, Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now answer, and consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me.
2Sa 24:14 David said to Gad, I am in distress. Let us fall now into the hand of Yahweh; for his mercies are great; and let me not fall into the hand of man.
2Sa 24:15 So Yahweh sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning even to the time appointed; and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.
2Sa 24:16 When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Yahweh relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who destroyed the people, It is enough; now stay your hand. The angel of Yahweh was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
2Sa 24:17 David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel who struck the people, and said, Behold, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me, and against my father's house.
2Sa 24:18 Gad came that day to David, and said to him, Go up, rear an altar to Yahweh in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
2Sa 24:19 David went up according to the saying of Gad, as Yahweh commanded.
2Sa 24:20 Araunah looked forth, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
2Sa 24:21 Araunah said, Why is my lord the king come to his servant? David said, To buy the threshing floor of you, to build an altar to Yahweh, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people.
2Sa 24:22 Araunah said to David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him: behold, the cattle for the burnt offering, and the threshing instruments and the yokes of the oxen for the wood:
2Sa 24:23 all this, king, does Araunah give to the king. Araunah said to the king, Yahweh your God accept you.
2Sa 24:24 The king said to Araunah, No; but I will most certainly buy it of you at a price. Neither will I offer burnt offerings to Yahweh my God which cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
2Sa 24:25 David built there an altar to Yahweh, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So Yahweh was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.


Jun. 26, 27
Acts 1

Act 1:1 The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
Act 1:2 until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
Act 1:3 To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God's Kingdom.
Act 1:4 Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, "Don't depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me.
Act 1:5 For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Act 1:6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?"
Act 1:7 He said to them, "It isn't for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority.
Act 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth."
Act 1:9 When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10 While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing,
Act 1:11 who also said, "You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky."
Act 1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.
Act 1:13 When they had come in, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
Act 1:14 All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Act 1:15 In these days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said,
Act 1:16 "Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus.
Act 1:17 For he was numbered with us, and received his portion in this ministry.
Act 1:18 Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness, and falling headlong, his body burst open, and all his intestines gushed out.
Act 1:19 It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called 'Akeldama,' that is, 'The field of blood.'
Act 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his habitation be made desolate. Let no one dwell therein;' and, 'Let another take his office.'
Act 1:21 "Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Act 1:22 beginning from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection."
Act 1:23 They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
Act 1:24 They prayed, and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen
Act 1:25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place."
Act 1:26 They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.