Random Beatitudes

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Some of the Bible's beatitudes are mavericks; viz: they aren't included with
the regular beatitudes in the so-called Sermon On The Mount and/or the
Sermon On The Plain. I'm thinking it might be kind of fun to take a look at
some of those; beginning with the one below.

Maverick 01

†. Matt 13:16-17 . . Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for
they hear. Assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men
desired to see what you see, and did not, and to hear what you hear, and
did not.

NOTE: The Greek word translated "blessed" in that passage is makarios
(mak-ar'-ee-os) which primarily means supremely fortunate and/or well off.

To put that blessing in perspective: just imagine what an amazing stroke of
luck it was to be alive in the decade of the 1960's, and near a television
watching live as the first man ever to walk on the moon descended a ladder
to the surface.

Thousands of generations preceded that decade, Those of us who witnessed
Neil Armstrong take mankind's first step on the moon were extremely
fortunate beneficiaries of a chance confluence of time and circumstances.

We today read about Christ but did not see him when he was here because
we were born too late. It's sort of like kids in school reading about the space
race but never experiencing any of it for themselves because they were born
too late. What's history to them, was at one time daily current events for
many of us.

But did the Jews at the time of Christ appreciate their good fortune? Some
did; but many did not because they somehow failed to discern his
significance.

†. Luke 19:41-42 . . And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and
wept over it; saying: If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy
day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from
thine eyes.

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Maverick (07)

†. Acts 20:35 . . Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said: "It is
more blessed to give than to receive."

Those words of the Lord are not recorded in the four gospels; which is a
good object lesson. Here's another orphan quote.

†. Matt 2:22-23 . . Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the
district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was
fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene".

You won't find that quote in the Old Testament so there's no use in looking
for it; and that's because not every word spoken by the prophets was
recorded: same as not every word that Christ spoke is recorded in the
gospels.

Receiving charity is a blessing too; though it isn't nearly as valuable a
blessing as lending to charity because receiving it is a temporary blessing;
while lending it has promise of return on one's investment.

†. Prv 19:17 . . He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord; and He will
reward him for what he has done.

One could actually think of charity as contributions to a heavenly 401K.

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Maverick (08)

†. Rev 16:15 . . Take note: I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed
are all who are watching for me, who keep their robes ready so they will not
need to walk naked and embarrassed.

Christ's return is commonly spoken of as "soon" but the Bible speaks of it as
sudden and without warning rather than soon.

†. Matt 24:27 . . For just as the lightning comes from the east, and flashes
even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.

"who keep their robes ready so they will not need to walk naked and
embarrassed" is a colloquialism similar to the old saw "be careful you don't
get caught with your pants down".

Quite a few people have heard that Christ is returning some day to rule the
world, but they don't worry about it because in the backs of their minds
they're pretty sure it won't happen in their lifetimes. Well; Christ does not
admire that attitude because you just never know when and/or where
lightening will strike next.

†. Matt 24:42-44 . .Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day
your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had
known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been
on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this
reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you
do not think He will.

The first time I heard that Christ was coming back, I got frightened because
I instinctively knew that were he to summon me, it would not go well as I
had a lot to answer for. But the information put me in line for the blessing
because when I found out he was returning, I became very interested in the
means for getting ready to meet him.

†. Prov 22:3 . . A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes
precautions; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

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Maverick (09)

†. Rev 19:9 . .Then he said to me: Write: Blessed are those who are called
to the marriage supper of the Lamb!

The blessing is associated with the fact that John Q and Jane Doe are
essentially obscure.

Politicians call us voters. Hollywood calls us box office. Sports call us fans.
The media calls us tax payers. The President calls us fellow citizens. Wall
Street calls us investors. The church calls us members. The police call us
male and female. The military calls us civilians. The bank calls us depositors.
The airlines calls us passengers, Big box stores call us shoppers.

But how many of those agencies have ever thought enough about you to
add your name to the guest list of one of their wedding parties? Probably
none; and that's because they don't want to know you like that.

†. John 6:44 . . No one can come to me, unless the Father who sent me
draws him

It's easy to assume that God would readily invite really important people to
come to the marriage supper of the lamb; but John Q and Jane Doe? It's like
winning the lottery.

Tragically many, too dim-witted to appreciate their good fortune, find
excuses to beg off.

†. Matt 22:2-5 . .The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged
a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were
invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent
out other servants, saying: Tell those who are invited; "See, I have prepared
my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready.
Come to the wedding." But they made light of it and went their ways, one to
his own farm, another to his business.

†. Luke 14:16-21 . . A certain man gave a great supper and invited many,
and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited: Come,
for all things are now ready. But they all with one accord began to make
excuses. The first said to him: I have bought a piece of ground, and I must
go and see it. I ask you to have me excused. And another said: I have
bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me
excused. Still another said: I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot
come.

Human nature is sometimes unable to appreciate its opportunities till it's lost
them. But then there are those who let blessings slip through their fingers
by their lack of propriety.

†. Matt 22:7-13 . .Then he said to his servants: The wedding is ready, but
those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways,
and as many as you find, invite to the wedding. So those servants went out
into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and
good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

. . . But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who
did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him: Friend, how did you
come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the
king said to the servants: Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast
him into outer darkness-- there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Some restaurants require that male patrons dine with a coat and tie, and
should the men arrive without those items, the maitres d' usually has
something on hand to loan. I'm guessing that the last-minute guests of Matt
22:7-13 arrived without a coat and tie (so to speak) and the king's butler
offered to loan them whatever they needed; but they refused and attempted
to crash the party. Well, you can see what that got them.

The original guests didn't appreciate their opportunity, while some of the
last-minute guests refused to dress for the occasion. Either way; both
missed the boat.

†. Matt 22:14 . . For many are invited, but few are chosen.

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Maverick (10)

†. Rev 20:5-6 . . Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first
resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be
priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The reason why the first resurrection is so blessed is because the people
who obtain it will rise from the dead immortal; but those who obtain the
second resurrection won't be immortal.

The two resurrections are clearly predicted in the Bible.

†. Dan 12:2-3 . . Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake:
some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

†. John 5:28-30 . . for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves
will hear His voice and come forth-- those who have done good, to the
resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of
condemnation.

The two resurrections can be further categorized as one for the Living, and
one for the Dead.

†. Matt 22:31-32 . . But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye
not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying: I am the God of
Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of
the dead, but of the living.

So then, the "living" will attain to the resurrection of Rev 20:5-6 while the
"dead" are reserved for the resurrection depicted at Rev 20:11-15.

It's of note that the "dead" are mentioned four times in Rev 20:11-15 while
the "living" aren't mentioned at all and that's because the living won't be
subpoenaed to appear at the Great White Throne. And why is that? Because
the living's day in court took place on Calvary by proxy participation in
Christ's crucifixion.

†. Rom 6:3 . . Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus
Christ were baptized into his death?

†. Rom 6:6 . . Our old self was crucified with him.

†. Gal 2:20 . . I am crucified with Christ

Those of us crucified with Christ are immune to the second death and are
now beneficiaries of a second life.

†. John 5:24 . . I assure you: those who listen to my message, and believe
in God who sent me, have eternal life. They will never be condemned for
their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

And already citizens of the future kingdom too.

†. Col 1:13-14 . . He has delivered us from the power of darkness, and
translated us into the kingdom of the son of His love: in whom we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Moral of the beatitude is: the second resurrection-- the one for the dead --is
on its way; it's inevitable. Like a 9.0 earthquake and a twenty-foot tsunami;
there is no stopping it: and the frightful fact is that it's the default
resurrection; so then, people who've yet to die on the cross by means of
proxy participation in Christ's crucifixion, are on a sure-fire collision course
with the wrong resurrection.

NOTE: Since there is but one resurrection allotted per person, then nobody
is coming back from the second death seeing as how they will have used up
their one resurrection to face justice at the Great White Throne event.

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Maverick (11)

†. Rev 22:7 . . And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed are they who heed
the words of the prophecy of this book.

The English word "quickly" is misleading and tends to give the wrong
impression. The New Testament Greek word is tachu (takh-oo') which is an
ambiguous word that can mean: shortly, without delay, soon, suddenly, and
or readily.

The best selection is "suddenly".

†. Matt 24:27 . . For as the lightning lights up the entire sky, so it will be
when the Son of Man comes.

Lightning flashes don't gradually increase in brightness like a dining room
chandelier on a dimmer switch; no, lightning flashes fully illuminate the sky
practically instantaneously; and so it will be with the Lord's arrival: one
second he's not here, the next second: bang! he's on-site.

But the Lord's arrival won't be totally unannounced. The calamities depicted
in the book of Revelation will serve to alert the world to his return-- at least
it will serve that purpose for those who "heed the words of the prophecy of
this book". The rest of course will neither be blessed nor have a clue.

†. Matt 24:28-30 . . Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a
carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near. Immediately
after those horrible days end, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not
give light, stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of cosmos will be
shaken.

. . . And then at last, the sign of the coming of the Son of Man will appear in
the heavens, and there will be severe grief felt among all the nations of the
earth as they watch the Son of Man arrive on the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory.

His arrival will be accompanied by a huge entourage.

†. Jude 1:14-15 . . Behold, the Lord is coming with a myriad of his saints, to
execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the impious of all their impious
deeds which they have done in an impious way, and of all the harsh things
which impious sinners have spoken against him.

That is without doubt the reason why Tribulation survivors all over the world
will suffer severe grief at his return.

†. Rev 6:12-17 . . I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there
was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the
moon became as red as blood. Then stars of the sky fell to the earth like
green figs falling from trees shaken by mighty winds. And the sky was rolled
up like a scroll and taken away. And all of the mountains and all of the
continents disappeared.

. . .Then the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy people,
the people with great power, and every slave and every free person-- all hid
themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they
cried to the mountains and the rocks: Fall on us and hide us from the face of
the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the
great day of their wrath has come, and who will be able to survive?

To be fore-warned is to be fore-armed.

†. Prv 22:3 . . A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes
precautions; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

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Maverick (12)

†. Rev 22:14-15 . . Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may
have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
Outside are the dogs-- those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral,
the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices
falsehood.

The city in view is a brand spanking new Jerusalem constructed off-site in
heaven and then lowered into position on a brand new earth. (Rev 21:1-27)

The citizenry of the city is very exclusive.

†. Rev 21:27 . . Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does
what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the
Lamb's book of life.

People whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life won't be able
to enter the city primarily because prior to its installation; they'll all be
incarcerated in very disagreeable circumstances.

†. Rev 20:11-15 . . Then I saw a great white throne and him who was
seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place
for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne,
and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life.

. . .The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in
the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades
gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according
to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of
fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found
written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Victims of the second death-- the dogs of Rev 22:15 --will be on display like
the bones and skeletons open to the public at La Brea Tar Pits in Los
Angeles.

†. Isa 66:23-24 . . All humanity will come to worship Me from week to week
and from month to month. And as they go out, they will see the dead bodies
of those who have rebelled against me. For the worms that devour them will
never die, and the fire that burns them will never go out. All who pass by
will view them with utter loathing.

Therefore:

†. Mark 9:47-48 . . If your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It is better to
enter the kingdom of God half blind than to have two eyes and be thrown
into hell: where the worm never dies and the fire never goes out.

Paradoxically, one's robes are laundered, for the purposes of entering the
new Jerusalem, not with soap and water, but with blood.

†. Rev 1:4-6 . . John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto
you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come;
and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; and from Jesus
Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and
the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us
from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God
and his Father: to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

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