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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”
Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.
Below are links related to archived copies of this webpage.
archive.is/John314-16.com/2_Samuel_7-22_and_the_Other_Verses_of_2_Samuel_7.html
archive.ph/John314-16.com/2_Samuel_7-22_and_the_Other_Verses_of_2_Samuel_7.html
web.archive.org/*/John314-16.com/2_Samuel_7-22_and_the_Other_Verses_of_2_Samuel_7.html
Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.
When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:
“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Note: The heart refers to the mind.
It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:
“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”
It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”
A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:
If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.
Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.
The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:
Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.
The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:
Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.
Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:
However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.
Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.
Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.
Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”
Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. It is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur. The Feast of Trumpets was one of the seven feasts that the Israelites were supposed to celebrate each year under the regulations of the Mosaic Law. The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites. Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law. The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.
While it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2027, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur during a time other than the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur during the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah, one can be prepared for that time because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.
Whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah in 2027 is during August, September, or October depends on whether barley crop in Israel in 2027 is first in a status known as abib [ah-BEEB] (also known as aviv [ah-VEEV]) in February, March, or April. On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would start depends on the time of the last sunset over Jerusalem before the first sliver of a crescent new moon after that sunset. The crescent new moon is the illumination of a sliver of the waxing moon. The moon is waxing when it is becoming more and more illuminated after what some people refer to as the astronomical new moon, the time when there is an absence of illumination of the moon—in other words, when there is an absence of reflection of light from the moon. On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would end depends on whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah lasts one day or two days and whether the time of day of the end of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah is at sunset, at the end of civil twilight, at the end of nautical twilight, or at the end of astronomical twilight.
Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.
1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
The verse of the day for October 15th is 2 Samuel 7:22. In the below notes related to 2 Samuel 7, the Promised Land is referenced. The Promised Land is the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the Israelites. At the time the Israelites entered it, the land was inhabited by Canaanites. In that regard, that land can also be referred to as the land of Canaan.
God the Fatherʼs promise of land to Abraham is part of God the Fatherʼs promises to Abraham. Also, the content of Genesis 12:3 involves some of God the Fatherʼs promises to Abraham. God the Fatherʼs promises to Abraham are called the Abrahamic Covenant. The Abrahamic Covenant is for Abraham, Abrahamʼs son Isaac, Abrahamʼs grandson Jacob, and the people descended from Jacob. Jacob was renamed Israel. In that regard, the people descended from Jacob can be referred to as Israelites. Regarding Genesis 12:3, below is content related to Genesis 12:1–3.
Genesis 12:1
Now Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One says to Abram, “Go away from your country and from your relatives and from your fatherʼs house to the land which I show you,
Note: At the time described in Genesis 12:1, Abraham was still named Abram. In this verse, the uses of a present tense in the phrase says to Abram and the phrase which I show you are references to what has occurred in the past. Such uses of a present tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the past can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine past events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.
Genesis 12:2
and I make you a great nation, and I bless you, and make your name great, and you be a blessing,
Note: The uses of a present tense in the verbs of this verse are references to the future.
Genesis 12:3
and I bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I curse, and in you all the families of the earth have been blessed.”
Note: The use of the perfect tense in the phrase have been blessed is a reference to the future. Such a use of the perfect tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, why would verbs in the perfect tense be used to refer to what will happen in the future? Doing so in reference to something being indicated can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already. In that regard, the phrase in you all the families of the earth have been blessed indicated that it was 100% certain that the Savior would be descended from Abraham and that people of all racial groups would believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.
In Genesis 12:3, the phrase I bless those who bless you indicates that those who are kind to Israelites will experience blessing. Being kind to Israelites can be referred to as being pro-Semitic. Unspecified in this verse is in what way or ways the blessing will occur. Also, such blessing can apply to individuals or groups of people. In that regard, if kindness towards Israelites is widespread in a region, then that region will experience blessing.
In Genesis 12:3, the phrase the one who curses you I curse indicates that those who are hostile towards any Israelites will experience cursing. Hostility towards Israelites can be referred to as being anti-Semitic. Unspecified in this verse is how soon the cursing occurs after hostility is directed towards any Israelites. Also, such cursing can apply to individuals or groups of people. In that regard, if hostility directed towards any Israelites is widespread in a region, then that region will experience cursing.
The Abrahamic Covenant also involves promises related to land for Israelites. Those promises will be completely fulfilled when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to the earth on the occasion of the Second Advent. Below is a list of topics and related verses involving the land for Israelites.
The land promise to Abraham when he was still named Abram is in Genesis 13:14–16.
The dimensions of the land promise are referenced in Genesis 15:18–21.
The confirmation of the promise to Isaac is in Genesis 26:3–4.
The confirmation of the promise to Jacob and the Israelites is in Genesis 35:12.
The fact that the promise of land was given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the Israelites was communicated to Moses, and Moses communicated that fact to the Israelites whom he led in the Exodus out of Egypt. That topic is covered in Exodus 6:2–9.
Because it is useful to study a verse in the context of the verses around it, below is content related to 2 Samuel 7.
Note: The king referenced in 2 Samuel 7:1 is King David, the second king of Israel.
2 Samuel 7:1
Now it comes about when the king has lived in his house and Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,
Note: In this verse, the use of a present tense in the phrase it comes about is a reference to what has occurred in the past. Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the past can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine past events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.
2 Samuel 7:2
that the king says to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the Ark of 'Elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] / the Godhead dwells within tent curtains.”
Note: In this verse, the use of a present tense in the phrase the king says is a reference to what has occurred in the past. In the context of 2 Samuel 7:2, the word house refers to a dwelling. Also, the Ark of 'Elohiym / the Godhead is also known as the Ark of the Covenant and the Ark of the Testimony. The Ark of the Covenant was a box that was approximately 3.75 feet long, approximately 2.25 feet wide, and approximately 2.25 feet high. The Ark was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. The lid of the Ark is called the Mercy Seat, which was made from pure gold. The Mercy Seat had a design that involved two cherubs (also known as cherubim) with wings. The exact appearance of the cherubim on the Mercy Seat is unspecified in the Bible.
At the time of what is described in 2 Samuel 7, the Ark of the Covenant was kept in the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was a tent structure, one third of which was behind a veil near the back of the Tabernacle. The section of the Tabernacle outside the veil is known as the Holy Place. The section of the Tabernacle behind the veil is known as the Holy of Holies, the Most Holy Place, or the Holy Place inside the veil. In the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant (also known as the Ark of the Testimony).
The below link shows the cross-shaped layout of the items in the Tabernacle and in the associated courtyard with the eastward direction pointing downward. The opening of the courtyard and the opening of the Tabernacle both faced eastward, which is the direction where the sun rises. With the eastward direction pointing downward, the cross-like layout can be seen from the perspective of an upright cross.
https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/02Exo-5.jpg
Only the high priest of Israel could enter the Holy of Holies, and he could only do so on one day per year: the Day of Atonement. Because the Israelites lived a nomadic lifestyle at times, the Tabernacle and the contents thereof needed to be moved. It is unspecified in the Bible how the Tabernacle was disassembled. When it was disassembled, the Ark of the Covenant would be visible to the Israelites and any other onlookers. Also, the Ark of the Covenant was carried into battle by the Israelites. The Ark of the Covenant would be visible to the Israelites and any other onlookers on such occasions also.
When the Tabernacle was assembled, if anyone other than the high priest of Israel entered the Holy of Holies, that person would die. Likewise, if the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on any day other than the Day of Atonement, he would die. In addition, when the high priest of Israel entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to follow specific procedures; otherwise, he would die. Leviticus 16 covers the matter of the high priest and entering the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. In that regard, Mosesʼs brother Aaron was the first high priest of Israel. Also, in Leviticus 16, the Holy of Holies is referred to as the Holy Place inside the veil.
Inside the Ark of the Covenant were the tablets of the Ten Commandments, the budding rod used by Mosesʼs brother Aaron, and a pot of manna, the food that was available for the Israelites to collect six days of each week during the Israelitesʼ time in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land.
Above the Ark of the Covenant, God the Son manifested His glory. The form of this glory in the Holy of Holies is unspecified in the Bible. Outside the Tabernacle, God the Son appeared to the Israelites in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. In English, the manifestation of the Lord in the Holy of Holies is known as the Shekinah Glory [shuh-KIGH-nuh GLOR-ee]. The English noun Shekinah is related to the Hebrew verb שָׁכַן [pronounced shah-KAN and transliterated as shakan]. Regarding the Hebrew verb shakan, below are quotes from the Strongʼs Definition section of the webpage at https://www.BlueLetterBible.org/lexicon/h7931/nasb95/wlc/.
“to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)”
“abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up)”
2 Samuel 7:3
Nathan says to the king, “Go, do all that is in your mind, for Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One is with you.”
Note: In this verse, the use of a present tense in the phrase Nathan says is a reference to what has occurred in the past.
2 Samuel 7:4
It occurs in the same night that the word of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One comes to Nathan, saying,
Note: In this verse, the uses of a present tense are references to what has occurred in the past.
2 Samuel 7:5
“Go, and you have said to My servant David, ‘Thus has said Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One: “Do you build for Me a house to dwell in?
Note: While David came up with a plan and Nathan approved of the plan, God the Father had a different plan.
2 Samuel 7:6
“Certainly, I have not dwelt in a house since the day of my bringing up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day, and I am moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle.
2 Samuel 7:7
“Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, have I spoken a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I have commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’
2 Samuel 7:8
“Now therefore, thus you say to My servant David: ‘Thus has said Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One of hosts / armies / tsaba' [tsah-VAH] / צָבָא: “I have taken you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.
Note: This is an unconditional covenant. In other words, there are no requirements of David in order for the covenant to be fulfilled. Also, the use of a present tense in the phrase thus you say is for the purpose of giving a command. Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense in order to give a command can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine the obeying of that command as though the reader or hearer is watching the obeying of that command as it occurs.
2 Samuel 7:9
“I am with you wherever you have gone, and I cut off all your enemies from before you, and I have made you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.
Note: In this verse, the uses of a present tense are references to what has occurred in the past. Also, the use of the perfect tense in the phrase I have made is a reference to the future. Such a use of the perfect tense has a rhetorical effect. In that regard, why would verbs in the perfect tense be used to refer to what will happen in the future? Doing so in reference to something being indicated can communicate that what will occur in the future is 100% certain to happen and that because it is 100% certain to happen, it is as though it has happened already.
2 Samuel 7:10
“I have also appointed a place for My people Israel, and I have planted it, that it has lived in its own place and is not disturbed again, nor do the sons of injustice / evil / wickedness afflict it anymore as formerly,
Note: The uses of the perfect tense in the phrases I have planted and it has lived are references to the future. Also, the uses of a present tense in the phrases is not disturbed again and nor do the are references to the future. The part of 2 Samuel 7:10 that starts with the phrase and is not disturbed again and continues to the end of the verse refers to the 1,000-year Millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ.
With regard to the Millennium, below is a synopsis of human history as categorized into time periods known as dispensations. In the below synopsis, there is the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn]. This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being 100% Deity and 100% humanity. The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis]. After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights. He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected. He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred. The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age. The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē]. That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.” Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. The Church Age will end with the Rapture. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2027.
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Dispensation |
Start |
Ending or Interruption |
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Age of the Gentiles |
Adam |
The Age of the Gentiles ended with the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. |
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Age of Israel |
Exodus |
The Age of Israel was interrupted on the Day of Pentecost. |
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Age of the Hypostatic Union (part of the Age of Israel) |
First Advent of Christ |
The Age of the Hypostatic Union ended with the Ascension of Christ. |
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Church Age |
Day of Pentecost |
The Church Age will end with the Rapture of the Church. |
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Tribulation (Age of Israel resumed) |
Rapture |
The Tribulation will end with the Second Advent of Christ. |
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Millennium |
Second Advent |
The 1,000-year Millennium will end with the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers. |
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Eternal State |
Great White Throne Judgment |
The Eternal State will be never-ending. |
Regarding the word judgment, the proper way to spell that word is without an e between the dg and the m. In that regard, the e of the root word judge is dropped when the suffix ment is added to that root word. The formation of the word judgment is shown below.
judge −e +ment
= judg +ment
= judgment
Another way to categorize human history is by means of civilizations. Civilizations begin only with believers. Regarding the timing of civilizations and dispensations, the first civilization began with Adam and ended on the occasion of the Great Flood (also known as the Flood). That civilization is known as the antediluvian civilization and the predulivian civilization. In that regard, the prefixes ante and pre mean “before.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time before the Flood. Those spellings include antediluvian, ante-diluvian, prediluvian, and pre-diluvian.
After the Flood, there were only eight believers on the earth: Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sonsʼ wives. With the removal of the unbelievers from the earth on the occasion of the Flood, a new civilization was started. That civilization is known as the postdiluvian civilization (also known as the postdiluvial civilization). Regarding the terminology, the prefix post means “after,” and the adjectives diluvian and diluvial mean “having to do with a flood.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time after the Flood. Those spellings include postdiluvian, post-diluvian, postdiluvial, and post-diluvial. The postdiluvian civilization will end on the occasion of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth. Their removal will be by means of physical death just as the removal of all unbelievers was by means of physical death on the occasion of the Flood. This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent. The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.
Just as a new civilization started after the Flood, so also a new civilization will start after the Baptism of Fire. That civilization is called the Millennium. The Millennium is both a civilization and a dispensation. The Eternal State is also both a civilization and a dispensation.
The content of 2 Samuel 7:10 is repeated below for reference.
2 Samuel 7:10
“I have also appointed a place for My people Israel, and I have planted it, that it has lived in its own place and is not disturbed again, nor do the sons of injustice / evil / wickedness afflict it anymore as formerly,
2 Samuel 7:11
even from the day that I have commanded shophetiym [shoh-feh-TEEM] / executors of justice / rulers / law-givers / judges / deliverers to be over My people Israel. I have given you rest from all your enemies. Also, Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One has declared to you that Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One makes a house for you.
Note: The shophetiym [shoh-feh-TEEM] / executors of justice / rulers / law-givers / judges / deliverers ruled the Israelites until Saul became the first king of Israel. In that regard, the Hebrew word that is translated as “executors of justice,” “rulers,” “law-givers,” “judges,” or “deliverers” in this verse is שֹׁפְטִים [pronounced shoh-feh-TEEM and can be transliterated as shophetiym]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.) That word is an inflected form of the root word שָׁפַט [pronounced shah-FAT and can be transliterated as shaphat]. Regarding the reference to shophetiym in this verse, the last word of verse 10 is related to the phrase even from the day in verse 11. In that regard, evil people had persecuted Israel even from the time when the shophetiym ruled the Israelites.
The use of the perfect tense in the phrase have given is a reference to the future. Also, the use of a present tense in the phrase makes a house is a reference to the future. In the context of 2 Samuel 7:11, the word house refers to a family line. In this case, it is a royal family line. In other words, it is a dynasty.
2 Samuel 7:12
“When your days are complete and you have lain down with your fathers, I have raised up your seed/descendant after you, who comes forth from your insides, and I have established his kingdom.
Note: The beginning of this verse refers to Davidʼs physical death. The descendant referenced in this verse is Solomon, the third king of Israel. In that regard, the uses of the perfect tense in the phrases have raised up and I have established are references to the future. Also, the use of a present tense in the phrase who comes forth from your insides is a reference to the future, and that phrase indicates that Solomon would be a literal physical descendant of David rather than a metaphorical descendant.
2 Samuel 7:13
“He builds a house for My name, and I have established the throne of his kingdom forever.
Note: The use of a present tense in the phrase builds a house is a reference to the future. That phrase refers to King Solomon having the First Temple built. The use of the perfect tense in the phrase have established is also a reference to the future. The phrase the throne of his kingdom forever refers to the dynasty descended from Solomon lasting forever. In that regard, the Lord Jesus Christ is descended from Solomon, and the Lord Jesus Christ will be King of Israel forever.
King Solomon is a type of Christ. A type of Christ is a teaching illustration that foreshadows Christ. In that regard, the functioning of Solomon as king of Israel during a time of peace is a foreshadowing of the Lord Jesus Christ ruling during the Millennium and then for eternity. In the Bible, there is a variety of types that serve as teaching illustrations for learning about the Lord Jesus Christ. The study of types is referred to as typology.
2 Samuel 7:14
“I am a father to him and he is a son to Me. When he commits iniquity, I have corrected him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men,
Note: The first sentence of 2 Samuel 7:14 continues the typology that is in the content of 2 Samuel 7:13. In that regard, the description of Solomon as a son of God the Father teaches about the relationship between God the Father and the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The second half of 2 Samuel 7:14 references King Solomon. The use of the perfect tense in the phrase have corrected is a reference to the future from the perspective of the time that 2 Samuel 7:14 was written. That use of the perfect tense indicates that it was 100% certain that Solomon would be disciplined when Solomon would commit iniquity and that because it was 100% certain to happen, it was though it had happened already.
2 Samuel 7:15
My khesed / hesed / חֶסֶד / lovingkindness / mercy / unfailing love / loyal love does not depart from him as I have taken it away from Saul, whom I have removed from before you.
2 Samuel 7:16
“Your house and your kingdom have endured before Me [so with the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint) and some ancient manuscripts; Masoretic Text {a Hebrew manuscript}: you] forever. Your throne is established forever.”’”
Note: The Septuagint [SEP-too-uh-jint or SEP-tyoo-uh-jint or SEP-chew-uh-jint] is a Greek translation of the Old Testament. The Septuagint was composed before the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, another way to refer to the Septuagint is by means of the Roman numeral LXX, which is pronounced the same ways that Septuagint is pronounced. When LXX is used to refer to a Roman numeral rather than to the Septuagint, that Roman numeral in Arabic numerals is 70. The Masoretic [mas-uh-RET-ik] Text is a Hebrew manuscript. The Masoretic Text was composed after the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Samuel 7:17
In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan has spoken to David.
2 Samuel 7:18
Then David the king goes in and sits before Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, and he says, “Who am I, O 'Adonay [add-oh-NIGH] Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
Note: In this verse, the uses of a present tense in the phrases goes in, sits before, and he says are references to what has occurred in the past. Into where David went is unspecified.
2 Samuel 7:19
“This is insignificant in Your eyes, O 'Adonay Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One, for You speak also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future. This is the law of man, O 'Adonay Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One.
Note: The reference to eyes in this verse is an anthropomorphism [an-thruh-puh-MOR-fiz-uhm]. An anthropomorphism is a usage of terminology involving a physical characteristic to describe a characteristic of the essence of the Trinity. The anthropomorphism involving eyes in this verse is a metaphor that calls attention to the omniscience [ahm-NISH-uhns] [all-knowingness] of God the Father. Also, it is possible that the phrase the law of man indicates that the law is applicable to man. Regardless of what is the precise interpretation of the phrase the law of man, this verse indicates that David was expressing an attitude of humility.
2 Samuel 7:20
“Again, what more does David say to You? You have known Your servant, O 'Adonay Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One!
2 Samuel 7:21
“For the sake of Your Word, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness to let Your servant know.
Note: The heart refers to the mind.
2 Samuel 7:22
“For this reason, You have been great, O 'Adonay Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One because there is none like You. There is no 'Elohiym/Godhead besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
Note: In this verse, David expresses respect for the Trinity. In that regard, instead of David having thinking that involved David being preoccupied with himself, the thinking of David was occupied with the Trinity.
2 Samuel 7:23
“What one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom 'Elohiym / the Godhead has gone to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods?
Note: God the Fatherʼs representatives—the Israelites—were redeemed from slavery in Egypt. That is indicative of God the Fatherʼs grace. Also, that brings glory to God the Father.
Inside square brackets below, the letters i.e. are used to represent the phrase that is. The two letters are an abbreviation for the Latin words id est, which mean “that is.” When one reads those two letters, one can either say, “eye ee” or “that is.” If one is reading out loud, and if any hearers of that reading are unaware of what the letters i.e. represent, it is best to say “that is.” Also, the letters i.e. need to be followed by a comma.
The word translated gods with a lowercase g at the end of this verse is a form of אֱלֹהִים [pronounced el-oh-HEEM and can be transliterated in this context as 'elohiym]. Depending on the context, אֱלֹהִים could refer to false gods, to angels, to human rulers or judges, or to the Godhead [i.e., the Trinity]. When referring to the Godhead, אֱלֹהִים is transliterated as 'Elohiym with a capital E. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. The context for 2 Samuel 7:23 is such that אֱלֹהִים at the end of the verse refers to false gods.
2 Samuel 7:24
“Indeed, You establish for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, O Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, have been their 'Elohiym/Godhead.
Note: In this verse, the use of a present tense in the phrase You establish is a reference to what has occurred in the past.
2 Samuel 7:25
“Now therefore, O 'Adonay Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house, confirm it forever and do as You have spoken,
2 Samuel 7:26
and Your name is magnified forever, saying, ‘Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One of hosts / armies / tsaba' [tsah-VAH] / צָבָא is 'Elohiym / the Godhead over Israel,’ and the house of Your servant David is established before You.
2 Samuel 7:27
“Certainly, You, O Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One of hosts / armies / tsaba' [tsah-VAH] / צָבָא, the 'Elohiym/Godhead of Israel, have uncovered the ear of Your servant, saying, ‘I build you a house’; therefore, Your servant has found his heart to pray this prayer to You.
Note: The heart refers to the mind.
2 Samuel 7:28
“Now, O 'Adonay Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One, You are 'Elohiym / the Godhead, and Your words are truth. You speak/promise this good thing to Your servant.
2 Samuel 7:29
“Now therefore, be pleased and bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. Certainly, You, O 'Adonay Jehovah / 'Adonay Yahweh / Lord I am I am / Lord the existing One, have spoken. With Your blessing, the house of Your servant is blessed forever.”
Note: David wanted to glorify God the Father with a temple. In accepting the fact that God the Fatherʼs plan involved glorifying God the Father with a temple after David would physically die, David humbly submitted himself to God the Fatherʼs authority. In his humility, David accepted the fact that the glorifying of God the Father by means of the construction of a temple would be done without David himself being glorified by the construction of that temple. In that regard, rather than David being focused on self-glorification, David was focused on the glorification of God the Father.
The content of 2 Samuel 7 involves a play on words with a Hebrew noun that can be translated as “house.” In that regard, in 2 Samuel 7, David used inflected forms of that Hebrew noun that can be translated as “house” to refer to the temple that he wanted to build in order to glorify God the Father. That Hebrew noun is בַּיִת [pronounced BAH-yith and can be transliterated as bayit]. In referring to the dynasty descended from David, God the Father also used inflected forms of the Hebrew noun bayit, and those inflected forms of bayit can also be translated as “house.”
In verse 29 , the two instances of the phrase the house of Your servant refer to the dynasty descended from David. By referring to himself as a servant of God the Father, David exhibited humility. In that regard, multiple times throughout the prayer that is in verses 18–29, David refers to himself as a servant of God the Father. Also, multiple times throughout that prayer, David references God the Father with the word 'Adonay. Davidʼs usage of that word, which can be translated as “Lord,” is an expression of Davidʼs recognition that God the Father is Davidʼs Master. Davidʼs usage of that word multiple times in that prayer is an indicator that Davidʼs recognition of God the Fatherʼs authority over David permeated Davidʼs thinking.
Sincerely,
John
