Posts Made By: Brien Stratton

Hello Ed, here is the answer to your question:

On earth it is the recurrence of the seasons that visibly marks the completion of the annual periods; the seasons, in turn, are governed by the earth's revolutions around the sun. The Creator ,therefore, provided the means for measuring time in terms of years by placing the earth in its assigned orbit, with the earth's axis positioned at an inclined angle in relation to its plane of travel around the sun. A convenient means for subdividing the year into shorter periods is also provided by the regular phases of the moon. These facts are indicated early in the Bible record. (see Genesis 1:14-16, 8:22).

From the beginning , man made use of these divinely provided time indicators, measuring time in terms of years subdivided into months. (Genesis 5:1-32) Most ancient peoples used a year of 12 lunar months. The common lunar year has 354 days, with the months having 29 or 30 days, depending on the appearance of each new moon. It is therefore , about 11.25 days short of the true solar year of 365.25 days (365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds).

In Noah's time we have the first record of the ancient reckoning of the length of the year. He evidently divided the year into 12 months of 30 days each. At Genesis 7:11, 24 , and 8:3-5 the "log" that Noah kept shows 150 days to be equal to 5 months. What method Noah or those prior to him used to reconcile a year made up of 30-day months with the solar year is not revealed.

Brien

David, nice comment. I guess the need is for Christians to spread the good news. Some organizations do that publicly too. That is how the early Christians did it.

Brien

I don't believe God is able to be defined by man's appraisals, or judgements. I think that God will be what he will be ( I am almost bordering on denominational dogma).

Brien

JOhn, I never said the world was 6 or 7 thousand years old, please go back in the messages , where I gave a cliff notes record of creation in the Bible. Look up "cliff" in the search engine for the forums.

Brien

Agreed Lonnie, it is exciting.

Brien

John, we did have a friendly, non-denominational discussion about what qualities you can discern about a Creator from looking at the universe, and believe it or not, Gary started it.

Brien

Tim, I don't know what you mean, that the Hebrews did not have a name for God, or described him. Can you elaborate? No transitional fossils tonight, I need a break. Thanks,

Brien

Wow! Paul, sorry to hear you went through that, hope you can recover from that emotional blow. That must be hard to deal with. See you when you return, friend.

Brien

"And I myself returned that I might see all the acts of oppression that are being done under the sun, and look! the tears of those being oppressed, but they had no comforter, and on the side of their oppressors there was power, so they had no comforter. And I congratulated the dead who had already died rather than the living who were still alive. So better than both of them is the one who has not yet come to be, who has not seen the calamitous work that is being done under the sun."

Ecclesiastes 4:1-3, King Solomon of Israel, 1000 B.C.E.

These conditions on the earth are result of man's rebellion in Eden. The time period since then has been allowed by God, so every person can see, and remember the bad consequences of independance from God. This will help us never to forget. But these conditions on the earth are only temporary.

In the coming millennial reign of Jesus, there will be a resurrection of people who have died before, righteous, and unrighteous. (John 5:28,29 Acts 24:15). At that time there will be plenty of food. (Psalms 72:11-16). People will be happy, and forget the pain of their past time they lived on the earth. (Revelation 21:1-4)

"And Jehovah of armies will certainly make for all the peoples, in this mountain, a banquet of well-oiled dishes, a banquet of wine kept on the dregs, of well-oiled dishes filled with marrow, of wine kept on the dregs, filtered. And in this mountain he will certainly swallow up the face of the the envelopment that is enveloping over all the peoples, and the woven work that is interwoven upon all the nations. He will actually swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will certainly wipe the tears from all faces. And the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for Jehovah himself has spoken it."

Isaiah 25:6-8, Isaiah, the prophet in Israel, 732 B.C.E.

Brien

Luke saw it important to record the fact that Mary was "promised in marriage to a man named Joseph of David's house" and that he was "a member of the house and family of David." (Luke 1:27; 2:4) It is with significance, therefore that Jehovah's angel, in giving directions to Joseph, addressed him with the words: "Joseph, son of David." He was told regarding the son who would be born to Mary: "You must call his name Jesus", indicating that Joseph was expected to adopt the boy and circumcise him as his own adopted son. (Matthew 1:20,21) And to Mary, Gabriel stated regarding Jesus :"Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule as king over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of his kingdom." (Luke 1:32,33)

Jesus was hailed as the "Son of David" when on earth, but he did not attempt to begin his rule while on earth. (Matthew 9:27; 21:9,15) He inherited all that David's earthly kingship ever embraced as to royal privileges, subjects,and territory, but he inherited much more from his heavenly Father. David's earthly kingdom was only a small model of what Jesus' heavenly kingdom would be in ruling the whole earth. (Daniel 2:44; 7:13,14)

After his death and resurrection, Jesus was exalted to Jehovah's throne in the heavens. And while his earthly genealogy, through both Joseph and Mary, can be traced back to Jehoiachin, Jesus' ruling from a heavenly throne causes no violation of Jehovah's decree. Peter confirmed this by referring to what David wrote under inspiration: "Because he (David) was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath that he would seat one from the fruitage of his loins upon his throne, he saw beforehand and spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ...He was exalted to the right hand of God" where, in due time, he would begin ruling in the midst of his enemies. (Acts 2:30-36; Psalms 110:1,2)

continued.....

Brien