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Tag: justice

Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

Psalm 89:14 KJV

Apocalypse 6 – the Face of Justice
If I sharpen My flashing sword,
And My hand takes hold on justice,
I will render vengeance on My adversaries,
And I will repay those who hate Me.
Deuteronomy 32:41 NASB

What is already begun

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

Revelation 6:4 KJV

A second horseman who wields a great sword is sent out to take peace from the earth. Men will kill one another and his horse is blood red.
- The first living creature was like a lion;
- the second living creature was like an ox;
- the third living creature had a face like a man..
- A creature like a lion sends out a rider with a bow
- a second living creature like an ox gives a powerful sword to his rider.
Now another living creature not a man, for like the others it has six wings and is full of eyes — a living creature with the face of a man — a terrible face like one never seen by any man created in God’s image — the third living creature hands the one who sat on a black horse a pair of scales.

He will weigh what is to be given to men of the earth.

The Terrible Face of Justice

A lion has roared! Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken! Who can do anything but prophesy? – Amos 3:8 NASB

Amos – Not immune from judgment

We are NOT IMMUNE to the #pandemic of sin!

In March of A.D. 2020, I interrupted introduction to the Gospel of John with prophesy of Amos (linked above).

“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.” – quoting Amos 6:24

Now, just eleven months later, I maintain the appropriateness of these parallels to US.

Pictures of JUSTICE & JUDGMENT!

What YOU think about Justice or about God or even about Jesus may turn out to be just POLITICS.

The JUSTICE of the LORD GOD will weigh the events of these last days differently than the blind Judgment of mankind.

Contemplation of Justice and Authority of Law

Even the US Supreme Court entrance displays the imagery of contemplation of justice.

A book of laws supports
her left arm and a figure of blindfolded Justice is
in her right hand.

Once the victorious and worthy Lamb of God takes the Throne and opens the BOOK of the LAW, a heavenly HIGH COURT now shows imagery to the Apostle John. One with scales in hand will equally weigh what remains for the PEOPLE after the ravages of war. It is a dreadful sight!

The Third Seal

Scarcity on Earth

Revelation 6:

5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.”

Remember, the awesome creature with the face of a man?

So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
Revelation 6:5b NKJV

Now remember that the four living creatures surround the Throne day and night worshiping the Lamb.

6 And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying,

“A measure of wheat for a denarius, and three measures of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”

Famine & Scarcity

The available food is being measured on the scales equally for ALL, because there is hardly enough for ANY.

The denarius was a penny — and yet it was one man’s wages for one day!

The poor will be starving for lack of the “necessities” while those in powerful control will be enjoying “luxuries.”
John Brown :: Revelation 6:3-6 – source: BlueLetter Bible

Additional Commentary of John Brown – Excerpts on the Third Seal

1. This time the horseman carries no weapons. This time it’s a pair of scales!

a) At the onset of war there is always the promise of a “better world” and a better economy but famine always follows war!!!

(1) It has been the case in China, North Korea, East Germany, Cuba, and Vietnam.

(2) The scales as well as the black horse speaks of a time great death upon the earth!

(a) Lamentations 5:10 Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine. (KJV)

(b) Beating the plowshares into swords doesn’t leave much time for farming!

(c) There are already, in many countries, long lines for simple things like bread and butter and milk.

(d) Men, women and children are starving to death all over the world and it has become “common” and accepted!

What Next?

As if this were not fearful enough, we know that only three of the four living creatures have called John to come and see the apocalypse of this certain future.

Even if much is symbolic rather than literal, the remaining four seals of the book yet to be revealed bring all creatures in God’s image to contemplate the very justice of Almighty God.
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To be continued...
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February 12, 2021
CRUCIFY! CRUCIFY iēsous Crucify ben ‘elyown ‘elyown
Crowds incited against all righteousness
- “See, I am bringing Him out to you so that you will know that I find no grounds at all for charges in His case.”
- Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!”
- So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they shouted, saying, “Crucify, crucify!”
- Behold the Man
Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him; for I find no grounds for charges in His case!”
John 19:6b NASB

Justice of the Crowds

Though the politician in charge who happens to be Governor and Judge finds no case against Jesus Christ and mockingly charges those politicized religious officials to take justice into their own hands, the high profile trials of Jesus will continue before the watching eyes of the Jews ‘seeking justice.’

We’ve been following the false accusations against Jesus and cruel punishments placed on the innocent Son of Man for revealing the truth of who He IS.
No political correctness required here, only political expediency to please the crowds.

From indictment of Truth to the Scapegoat of Sacrifice

Where is mercy?

You will not find it anywhere in the worldly darkness of this sacrificial scene. (Just read brief description of what has already taken place.)
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His face already bruised, swollen, bloodied by the blows from Caiaphas, they continued the abuse by smiting Him, putting on the crown of thorns, mocking Him.
Chuck Smith commentary on John 19
They had a third degree that was totally unmerciful. They would tie a prisoner to a post so that the back was stretched out. And then with a cat of nine tails whip, a leather whip with little bits of glass and lead imbedded in it designed to rip the flesh, they would lay the whip across the back of the prisoner thirty-nine times.
.. Many times prisoners died as the result of these scourgings. Before the thirty-ninth stripe was laid upon them, they were already dead from the loss of blood and just from the extreme pain. But Jesus bore that suffering.
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The ruthless brutality (which pleases the crowds) charged to Rome by the captive Jews presumes death by suffering – a bloodied man – hung on crossbeams from a tree, by nails through outstretched hands and a hammer-driven nail through his taughtly-bound feet.

Our own fear of pain so etched into this fragile flesh that scarcely can we look upon this Blood of Sacrifice for our own sins.

Pilate governs a people ruled over by corrupt religious officials of Jerusalem and simmering in Rome’s unstable peace.

What better way to eliminate all who threaten the Roman political peace?

The murderous shouts of the crowds are no doubt incited by the powerful, seeking yet more power over an incited powerless people.
Roger Harned – talkofJesus.com on religious & political leaders seeking influence

The familiar Roman outcome of public trials is so matter-of-fact and suffering so severe that the other Gospels move through it quickly.

Matthew 27:

And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”

When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.”

And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” .. Then he released Barabbas for them;

.. but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

Mark 15:

The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them.. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. ..They shouted back, “Crucify Him!”

Luke 23:

.. but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” .. But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.

.. And following Him was a large crowd of the people…

How will we judge the Son of God?

They knew the truth of Jesus’ signs:

Lazarus raised to life.

The blind given sight.

And most threatening to their religious rule, Jesus riding to the gate of Jerusalem like a victorious King David.

..“What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
John 11:47b-48 NASB

John 19:

7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; and went again into the judgment hall..

Brief respite from the crowds

Now Pilate’s examination of Jesus becomes more honest and personal away from the hateful cries of the crowds to ‘CRUCIFY!’

(.. the Son of God!)
.. and [Pilate] said to Jesus, “Where are You from?”
John 19:8,9 NASB

But Jesus gave him no answer.

10 So Pilate said to Him, “Are you not speaking to me?

Do You not know that I have authority to release You,

.. and I have authority to crucify You?”
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To be continued...
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October 29, 2020
What is Truth-2-Scourging your enemy
Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him.
John 19:1 NASB

A Contest to Govern

Contests to govern are always waged between the wealthy in charge and the wealthy who would rather be in charge.
Roger Harned- talkofJesus.com

Why is God about to suffer by the hands of His enemies?

To fully understand what is about to take place, we examine the motivations of those in charge:
1. The religious enemies of Jesus and
2. The political enemies of Jesus
Mocking your Enemy in Public

By now we have seen the betrayal of Jesus by one of His own. And because of Jesus’ popularity with the populace of Jerusalem, powerful religious leaders had seized Jesus under the cover of darkness and tried Him in pre-choreographed trials away from the crowds.

You may find it helpful to understand the background of Rome’s mocking its enemies in public, which you can read more about in the commentary.
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Much of the following insight quotes BlueletterBible.org commentary of Chuck Smith, secure link of full text & audio versions:: C2000 Series on John 18-19
- Graphics & secure internal links below open separate tabs to previous posts from this series from the Gospel of John.
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Eternal Life

Jesus, the Christ of GOD

Logos: Greek describing Jesus Christ. “In the beginning was the word… John 1:1
- Signs from God the Father
- The Politics of Religion – Righteousness on Trial
- “I and the Father are one.” – John 10:30 NASB
During the night in Gethsemane:

and he said unto them, Who are you looking for? And they answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. And he said unto them, I am he. (Jhn 18:4-5)
quote & commentary below from blueletterbible.org

You’ll notice that the word he is in italics, which means that is was added by the translators. Jesus just said, “I am.” That divine name of the eternal God. When Jesus said, “I am,” there went forth, no doubt, a blast of power, divine power.

And as he said unto them, I am he, they fell backward to the ground.
(Jhn 18:6)

Now, at that point, Jesus could have just walked off and left them lying there. It is interesting that Jesus is in control of the whole situation. He is the Master. And though they have come to arrest Him, He is the one that is giving the orders.

Now we examine the motives of Jesus’ enemies:

Religious Rule over the Jews

I AM the Bread of Life

Jerusalem’s previous administration had lost power over the Empire’s right to tax their captive kingdom (Herod’s, in name only). When the Jews violently took to the streets in protest a couple of years previously, Pilate executed many Jews and revoked the authority of their leaders to execute anyone.
- The Malignant Leaven of Religious Politics
- Kings, Governors, Politicians & Priests – Power in the Palaces of Justice
Jesus trial by Caiaphas, High Priest

Annas
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Continuing from the commentary of Chuck Smith
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And they led him away to Annas first; for he was the father-in-law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year (Jhn 18:13).

Annas had been the high priest from the year five to the year sixteen. Annas was probably one of the most influential, powerful, wealthy men in the city of Jerusalem. At this particular time, the high priesthood was a political kind of an appointment by the Roman government. And it was secured by a bidding kind of a process. They paid and bribed for the privilege of being the high priest. It was extremely corrupted at this point. Annas was the high priest, and being the patriarch of that family, was recognized still as the power behind the office of the high priest.
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More about Monday's incident of Jesus overturning the tables of the moneychangers at the Temple in the commentary link.
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.. And so, He was first brought to this man, an extortioner, a wealthy man, a Sadducee.

Caiaphas

So that’s why there were two high priests, Annas the patriarch, the old man, recognized by the people; but the Roman government had appointed politically Caiaphas as the high priest. [My emphasis. – RH]

Now, this Caiaphas was the one who said, “Look, it’s necessary that one be killed for the whole nation.”

And Simon Peter followed Jesus (Jhn 18:15),

And John does not tell us about His trial before Caiaphas, but the other gospels, Matthew and Mark tell us about the trial before Caiaphas.

Physical Abuse of Jesus by the Jews!

Note further from Smith’s commentary the beginnings of the sufferings of their Messiah Jesus by the hands of the Jewish leaders clinging to their tenuous power in Jerusalem.

Now, Jesus had already experienced a tremendous buffeting in the house of Caiaphas. There, they put a covering over His head. And with this bag over His head, they began to hit Him. Now, that’s vicious. We are fearfully and wonderfully designed, and we are designed to have automatic reflex actions. And when we see a blow coming, we automatically reflex to protect ourselves from that blow by fainting and going with the blow, thus cushioning it. And as long as you see the blow coming, it’s amazing what you can absorb. As long as your body can see it coming and you can then compensate and cushion and relax and flow with it.

.. So by covering Jesus’ eyes, by covering His head, and then buffeting Him, no chance to faint or to respond, and you take the full force of the blow, you don’t know it’s coming, Wham! That hurts! He’d already taken that kind of abuse.

His face already bruised, swollen, bloodied by the blows from Caiaphas, they continued the abuse by smiting Him, putting on the crown of thorns, mocking Him. There is a horrible mob psychology, where people lose all of their natural inhibitions and restraints and act as a mob and like an animal. And it’s always shocking the things that people can do in the anonymity of a mob. The true vicious nature of man, sinful nature of man is revealed.
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October 27, 2020