Bibliorum

 

Ezequiel 10

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1 Depois olhei, e eis que no firmamento que estava por cima da cabeça dos querubins, apareceu sobre eles uma como pedra de safira, semelhante em forma a um trono.

2 E falou ao homem vestido de linho, dizendo: Vai por entre as rodas giradoras, até debaixo do querubim, enche as tuas mãos de brasas acesas dentre os querubins, e espalha-as sobre a cidade. E ele entrou à minha vista.

3 E os querubins estavam de pé ao lado direito da casa, quando entrou o homem; e uma nuvem encheu o átrio interior.

4 Então se levantou a glória do Senhor de sobre o querubim, e passou para a entrada da casa; e encheu-se a casa duma nuvem, e o átrio se encheu do resplendor da glória do Senhor.

5 E o ruído das asas dos querubins se ouvia até o átrio exterior, como a voz do Deus Todo-Poderoso, quando fala.

6 Sucedeu pois que, dando ele ordem ao homem vestido de linho, dizendo: Toma fogo dentre as rodas, dentre os querubins, entrou ele, e pôs-se junto a uma roda.

7 Então estendeu um querubim a sua mão de entre os querubins para o fogo que estava entre os querubins; e tomou dele e o pôs nas mãos do que estava vestido de linho, o qual o tomou, e saiu.

8 E apareceu nos querubins uma semelhança de mão de homem debaixo das suas asas.

9 Então olhei, e eis quatro rodas junto aos querubins, uma roda junto a um querubim, e outra roda junto a outro querubim; e o aspecto das rodas era como o brilho de pedra de crisólita.

10 E, quanto ao seu aspecto, as quatro tinham a mesma semelhança, como se estivesse uma roda no meio doutra roda.

11 Andando elas, iam em qualquer das quatro direções sem se virarem quando andavam, mas para o lugar para onde olhava a cabeça, para esse andavam; não se viravam quando andavam.

12 E todo o seu corpo, as suas costas, as suas mãos, as suas asas, e as rodas que os quatro tinham, estavam cheias de olhos em redor.

13 E, quanto às rodas, elas foram chamadas rodas giradoras, ouvindo-o eu.

14 E cada um tinha quatro rostos: o primeiro rosto era rosto de querubim, o segundo era rosto de homem, o terceiro era rosto de leão, e o quarto era rosto de águia.

15 E os querubins se elevaram ao alto. Eles são os mesmos seres viventes que vi junto ao rio Quebar.

16 E quando os querubins andavam, andavam as rodas ao lado deles; e quando os querubins levantavam as suas asas, para se elevarem da terra, também as rodas não se separavam do lado deles.

17 Quando aqueles paravam, paravam estas; e quando aqueles se elevavam, estas se elevavam com eles; pois o espírito do ser vivente estava nelas.

18 Então saiu a glória do Senhor de sobre a entrada da casa, e parou sobre os querubins.

19 E os querubins alçaram as suas asas, e se elevaram da terra à minha vista, quando saíram, acompanhados pelas rodas ao lado deles; e pararam à entrada da porta oriental da casa do Senhor, e a glória do Deus de Israel estava em cima sobre eles.

20 São estes os seres viventes que vi debaixo do Deus de Israel, junto ao rio Quebar; e percebi que eram querubins.

21 Cada um tinha quatro rostos e cada um quatro asas; e debaixo das suas asas havia a semelhança de mãos de homem.

22 E a semelhança dos seus rostos era a dos rostos que eu tinha visto junto ao rio Quebar; tinham a mesma aparência, eram eles mesmos; cada um andava em linha reta para a frente.

   

Commentarius

 

Gate

  
People around a village gate, by Adrianus Eversen

Gates" in ancient times had a significance that does not hold in the modern world. Cities then were enclosed by walls for protection; gates in the walls let people in and out to do their business, but were also the weak points in the cities' defenses. In the Bible, cities on one level represent the minds of individual people. On a broader level, they represent beliefs shared by a community. The gates, then, represent openings where the Lord can feed us an understanding of truth and a desire for good. They also represent points where the hells can invade and sway us with false ideas and evil desires. We are kept in balance during our lifetimes, with influences from both the Lord and from hell. Ideally, we will over our lifetimes continue to invite the Lord farther and farther in and drive the hells back until ultimately the Lord can occupy our minds completely. And that point our belief in Him and His power and love will hold the gates and deny evil any entrance. As individuals, we at that point become angels. As communities, we at that point become part of the Lord's church. And at that point the gates become an entry point, introductory truths that allow people to enter churches and start bringing the Lord into their lives.

Bibliorum

 

Mark 13

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1 As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!"

2 Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone on another, which will not be thrown down."

3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,

4 "Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?"

5 Jesus, answering, began to tell them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray.

6 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and will lead many astray.

7 "When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don't be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet.

8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains.

9 But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them.

10 The Good News must first be preached to all the nations.

11 When they lead you away and deliver you up, don't be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

12 "Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.

13 You will be hated by all men for my name's sake, but he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.

14 But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,

15 and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house.

16 Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak.

17 But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days!

18 Pray that your flight won't be in the winter.

19 For in those days there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be.

20 Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.

21 Then if anyone tells you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there!' don't believe it.

22 For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.

23 But you watch. "Behold, I have told you all things beforehand.

24 But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light,

25 the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.

26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

27 Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.

28 "Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near;

29 even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors.

30 Most certainly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen.

31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

32 But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

33 Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don't know when the time is.

34 "It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.

35 Watch therefore, for you don't know when the lord of the house is coming, whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning;

36 lest coming suddenly he might find you sleeping.

37 What I tell you, I tell all: Watch."