What Is The Armor of God For?

When we think of a military force, we see tanks, fighter bombers (whatever they are called now), and sophistocated guns, rifles, etc.. We see bodies marching instep, in uniformed order, trained, for battle. Supporting military with food, advanced communication skills, and highly educated Commanders, Generals, and Majors calling the shots of war. Guided by the elected leader of the people, a president or king, deciding when war is declared and when war ends. They are the brains behind war.

Now, picture GOD'S ARMY. Can you PICTURE Christians marching like a trained military war going into battle? Christian's ONLY envision God as defending good. What weapons can you see Christians going into a war between GOOD and EVIL? You CAN'T even IMAGINE such a war occuring. 

The Bible tells us we are to LOVE everyone. So how are we going into a battle which SCRIPTURES says it's an INVISIBLE war, that is until the PROPHECY in the Book of Revelation, is activated. What weapons can a Christian have to FIGHT and with WHOM are we fighting?

Will tanks, high performing weapontry be needed and does the CHURCH have said weapons? All of this is a stretch for any non-Christian, let alone the Christian, to understand. But, throughout the Bible, God warns of the WAR between good and evil. Who to fight and how to fight this type of war is also throughout the Bible as well as the PLAN of the war, the WEAPONS you will need if you choose to fight on God's team, when the battle is to begin, and the outcome of said war.

We are pointed to the ARMOR OF GOD for his ARMY OF CHRISTIANS. Many Christians have HEARD about the Armor of God, but have they understood the POWER of this BATTLE dress for WAR. let's look a little closer.

Ephesians 6:10-18: 

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Belt of Truth: Fastened around the waist; represents integrity, sincerity, and aligning thoughts with God's word to reject lies. A very important part of your armor for war. Belts hold things up. Truth WILL uphold you. Truth helps HOLD UP  portions of the armor. You WIN with speaking TRUTH and putting that truth into ACTION. Knowing truth keeps your ARMOR intact. Vitally important to have on tightly BEFORE entering the battle field. It is a CLEAR OBJECTIVE OF WAR, God's truth, as revealed in the Bible. You can't JOIN the ARMY without TRUTH. Without the belt, you're not FULLY prepared to fight and defend yourself. It's a must. A little ole belt with an IMPORTANT job in war.

Breastplate of Righteousness: Protects the heart; represents Christ's righteousness and living a holy life to guard against doubt and guilt. You have to be ALL IN as a soldier in the war. Breastplates cover and protect the heart, our reasons for signing up to fight and following the direction of God. If you know you are on the SIDE of GOOD, your heart can have peace. You will know WHY you JOINED the war, the fight for man's eternal SOUL. The pain of knowing the destruction of those on the side of EVIL, also hurts, and knowing we are sharing BIBLICAL TRUTH, makes the sorrow of that knowledge hurt our heart's less. Your breastplate is vital to cover and protect from vital injury, or your heart for whatever reasons and solidifies that it is the only way to survive, war, knowing you are fighting for something you believe in 100%. God WILL SAVE YOU from mortal WOUNDS of VITAL organs, the ENEMY is AIMING for.

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace: For the feet; represents readiness to share the "good news" and steadfastness in living out God's peace. I have come to find the shoes are part of God making your PATH clear, leading in His directions for war and READINESS to move as the war ESCULATES. Warriors are to be able to change locations and targets on a dime. Being ready and able to go to the front lines, or a temporay retreat. Be ready to GO, wherever God leads and directs in the heat of battle. Keep your shoes on during war.

Shield of Faith: Carried for defense; represents confident faith in Christ to extinguish the "flaming arrows" (doubts and trials) of the evil one. There will be times you DOUBT if there is a war at all? Many Christians doubt the ENTIRE Book of Revelation, So HOW will they know when the FINAL war begins. There are always wars, but Revelation says there will be a finale war where Jesus leads the Christian Army against the Army of Evil. People relegate beliving in a finale battle of good and evil where Jesus is triumphant written off as fairytales and indoctrination. Your sheild of FAITH, of believing in God BLINDLY, will protect you from the ammuninition employed against you, the Christian. God said use your faith in me and follow me. You MUST have faith to be in God's army against evil presenting itself as truth. Truth no longer exists, except in those following GOD. Part of the armor.

Helmet of Salvation: Protects the head; represents the assurance of salvation, lifting thoughts toward eternity and guarding the mind. You MUST make sure your HEAD and MIND are protected during war. The main thing you must protect from your ENEMY, is your SALVATION. This is WHAT it is all about, the armor of God. It's all about salvation and the Kingdom of God. Your head and mind must stay PROTECTED at all times. Do not PICK up a weapon and go into war without your head protected. VITAL!

And finally, Sword of the Spirit: The only offensive weapon; described as the Word of God (Scripture), used to discern truth and push back against spiritual deception. There you have it. Your BOOT CAMP is study, study, study, the Bible. In a world of lies you must be in the Bible daily. It CUTS the enemy, it attacks the attacker, it highlights truth. If you don't study the Bible, you are going into war without a WEAPON. Everyone is POWERLESS UNPROTECTED in an EVIL WORLD. Not studying God's Word and will, you are defenseless and OPEN without PROTECTION, from the enemies most EFFECTIVE weapon, LIES, chaos.

1 Peter 5:8: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (ESV). Are you prepared or preparing for the war God said is being faught daily? Do you have your armor on if you are a Christian. It's listed out PLAINLY in The Bible? Study without ceasing. Know truth from lies and stand with Put on the FULL armor of God now and check it daily to prepared for the war against evil.

If God Heals, Why Hospitals Full Of Christians?

Okay, calm down. This is a case of don't kill/shoot the messenger. This is NOT my QUESTION at all, but a meme posted on Facebook. I said to myself, "What the hay. Answer the question as I believe." I know. Who would even engage? A person who loves answering questions, lol. 

The meme said, " If Christians say that God can heal, why are the hospitals filled with suffering Christians?" What a question!  Many Christians would become offended and walk away or rebuke such a nasty meme even if it was on a hilarious things page. "No Christian likes for God to be mocked," they would say. The truth may be they cannot answer the question with sound reasoning. So offense shows up instead of ANSWERING A QUESTION. I know nobobdy was expecting seriousnees on a hilarious site.

1 Peter 3:15: "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (NIV).

I try not to run and PRAY to be GENTLE and RESPECTFUL. I'd be honored if you prayed that for me too. So, I hope every Christian is prepared to answer some TOUGH questions about God, religion, Christianity, and Jesus during these chaotic times in America and abroad. Many are getting baptized and coming to Christ and the kindom. They have questions. Tough questions. So practice on Facebook pages lol.

As I wrote my reasons, I began to notice, the Christian faith is really Philosophy. Meditating and finding answers. My Master Degree in Religion is under, PHILOSOPHY. I was shocked too. But my answers were more philosophical than FACTUAL. Here we go. 

Christians are examples of God's word lived out on Earth. Through us, he tries to get us to examine the condition of our souls daily. People dislike God for how he has wrath and kills innocents in wars. Human suffering also makes people question God. How can there be a rational answer? It is when you look as man as an instrument of God's who willingly signed up for the assignment to be CHRISTLIKE. People see people through the Christian. Philosophical, but that's wher faith and hope live.

The primary verses for imitating Christ and acting as His ambassadors are found in the letters of the Apostle Paul. They define the Christian identity, calling believers to represent heaven's Kingdom and embody Christ's love. The Main Verses:

• Imitating Christ: 1 Corinthians 11:1 states, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (NIV). Similarly, Ephesians 5:1 urges believers to, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children" (NIV). This concept involves living a life that reflects the character, love, and righteousness of Jesus. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Ambassadors for Christ: 2 Corinthians 5:20 declares, "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God" (NIV). An ambassador serves as an official representative sent by a higher authority to a foreign land, tasked with delivering the King's message of peace and reconciliation.
  
  
  The ENTIRE BIBLE reflects this and Christians are PUNISHED for WRONG ambassordorship. Back to sick and Christians dying painful death. We all have the promise of death regardless of religion or non religion. Death matters. It changes the person, the more suffering either there is more blame or self reflection. Death shows the heart of the family, friends, community. Maybe the unanswered pray of healing is because viewing suffering changes people and the seemingly MARTYRED Christian whose prayers went unanswered for healing changed more lives in their death for the kingdom than while alive. Onlookers may choose the opposite and began doing things out of pain agaist God and Christianity.

Suffering also allows those who say they hate suffering to HELP end it. Christians should be all over it. But, sadly more churches show the opposite and now say vile things about them and advocate to let them die. God's grace is always saying CHANGE, follow the Bible's command of love. He gives a chance to be better constantly sometimes close, right in our faces, and we mostly fail. The instrument malfunctions at times. 

So, the meme asked something PROFOUND. Something Philosophers meditate about day and night, search for answers no matter how many years, knowing there IS an answer. If God said it, why doesn't it happen for EVERY Christian? Can there be a logical reason for the belief found in the Bible? They would meditate day and night for an answer, search for years. Luckily, it's ALL in the pages of the Bible, but people CHOOSE what they read and INTERPRET it by personal experience as we do all other things in life. God isn't confusing. People are. They LAY the Bible on THEMSELVES, instead of layig the Bible on themselves. YOU on GOD, not God on you. This is an one on one growth in Christianity. Not OUTSIDE of Christianity.

The Book of Job explains that God gets a person's attention primarily through dreams and adversity. When people ignore subtle guidance, God uses these methods to warn them, correct their pride, and save them from making destructive mistakes. The specific ways God speaks are outlined mainly by Job’s friend Elihu in chapters 33 and 36.

In Job 33, a young man named Elihu explains that God speaks "once, yes twice" to get a person's attention and keep them from pride. The specific "three ways" he outlines—including literally putting a person on their back with sickness—are detailed below: 

1. Dreams and Night Visions. God speaks when a person is resting and less distracted. 

• The Bible says: "In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men... Then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction" (Job 33:15–16).
• The Purpose: To turn people away from bad behavior and hide pride from them. 

2. Physical Affliction (Putting Them on Their Back)

If the first method fails, God uses severe illness—pain that keeps a person "chastened... on his bed"—to force them to stop and consider their ways.

• The Purpose: To humble individuals and prevent their souls from going to the "pit" (death). 

3. A Divine Messenger (Mediator)

Finally, God may use an angel or messenger to guide a person toward righteousness, leading to restoration and grace, as noted in Job 33:29-30. Ths may be the ULTIMATE answer, a biblical ANSWER, not philosophically.

I know the person probably didn't want any SERIOUSNESS on his FUN page. I guess I'm that person, but I did laugh. I can't help I'm serious. I didn't write Scriptures or anything this long. That's why I'm writting about it here. But that is a LOGICAL question many people have. That's why "healing" is funny to non Christians, new in Christ, and the babes in Christ no matter how long they have been saved. I hope people at least do like the philosophers do. Meditate, seek truth, and go to the source of the BELIEF, the BIBLE and search how can any one believe in praying for healing. Not selected verses, but the Bible.

FAITH is one part of the armor of God Christians put on for battle which we are i every day where God asks us to TRUST him with EVERYTHING because he WANTS GOOD for Christians. It is the SHEILD, it PROTECTS from the enemies arrows. Enemies are those in Satan's army. We don't get to say who they are, but we have faith in God that they are real and our FAITH in Him and His word, unseen are TRUE. 

 

Do You Know the Numbers Part 2

Welcome back to part two of, "Do you know the numbers." To catch you up from part one, I taked about whether numbers in the Bible have significant meanings. I believe they do and I'm not alone. In part one I shared the significance of the number 3 and what it  has meant to me for decades. I also showed the powerful significance of the number twelve and how God used it as a particularly inportant number. Now, I would like to shave my thoughts on a few more numbers starting with the number SIX.

In the Bible, the number 6 is traditionally known as the "number of man." It symbolizes human weakness, labor, and imperfection, in direct contrast to the number 7, which signifies divine perfection and completion. 

Why It Represents Humanity Creation: Humanity was created on the 6th day of creation week (Genesis 1:26-31). Labor and Toil: God ordained that man is appointed to work for 6 days and rest on the 7th (Exodus 20:9-10). Fall from Grace: Because of the fall of Adam, the number 6 is associated with human limitation, sin, and separation from God's holiness.

Key Symbolism and Associations: Number of the Beast (666): In Revelation 13:18, 666 is the infamous "number of the beast," representing the pinnacle of human systems, rebellion, and imperfection falling short of divine status. Human Strength vs. Divine Power: The number often highlights the failure of human effort. For instance, Goliath's height was six cubits and his spear weighed 600 shekels, symbolizing worldly strength opposing God (1 Samuel 17:4-7). Missing the Mark: Since 7 represents spiritual perfection (like the 7 days of the week or 7 feasts), the number 6 represents falling just short of that divine standard.  biblica meaning of the number six - Google Search.

There are three (number of manisfestation) reasons the number was used. The first is the fact that in the Scriptures, the number of MAN is 6 because man was created on the 6th day. In contrast, the number of God is 7 because it represents completion and perfection., since on the seventh day of creation, God rested from His work which He declared to be good or perfect. 

Now, in the Hebrew language, which the Old Testament of the Bible is written in, superlatives are expressed by repeating the word or phrase., the ultimate being its repetition THREE times (My number). Thus, when Isiah saw the Lord lifted up and exalted in the Temple, he heard Seraphim singing, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb of hosts" (Isiah 6:1-3). therefore the number 6 represents the number of Man carried to its zenith.

The second reason the number 666 is used is because of ots symbolism in Jewish thinking. The Bible tells us that in the year which King Solomon received 666 talents of gold, he TURNED his back on God and became obsessed with women, horses, and money (1 Kings 10;14 and 2 Chronicles 9:13. Thus, the Jewish history, the number 666 came to stand for APOSTACY.

The third reason the number is used is related to the fact that in both Hebrew and Greek (New Testament original translation), the letters of the ALPHABET also stand for numbers. This makes it possible to add up numerical value for every name. The Antichrist's name will add up to 666 in either greek or Hebrew (or perhaps both) and will be an expression of the ultimate APOSTACY - presenting one self as a substitute for the REAL Messiah.

Some of Trump's actions in ISRAEL are raising eyebrows, especially when it LINES up with End Time prophecy, found in the Book of Revelation in the Bible. Such as the Abomination of Desolation, when someone OUTSIDE of Israel setting up what is refered to The Abomination of Desolation. The "Abomination of Desolation", is a prominent biblical phrase. This is viewed by many as an end-times prophecy where the Antichrist will commit ultimate blasphemy by demanding to be worshiped as God within a rebuilt Jerusalem temple. 

It originates in the Book of Daniel (e.g., Daniel 9:27, 11:31) and is directly referenced by Jesus in the New Testament (Matthew 24:15, Mark 13:14) as a major, visible sign of impending tribulation or judgment.  

The United States already operates an embassy in Jerusalem, which originally opened in 2018 under the Trump administration. Furthering this initiative, the Israeli government officially approved a plan to allocate a 7.7-acre plot in the Talpiot neighborhood for the construction of a permanent, purpose-built U.S. Embassy compound. 

Numbers aren't that innocent and have long been speculated to have CODES or MYSTERIES for those wise enough to find them. The Bible does NOT contain secret, occult messages, or hidden future prediction. However, biblical authors frequently used symbolic numbers to convey spiritual truths and theological meaning. This is known as biblical numerology, which uses specific numbers to represent concepts like completeness, divine perfection, or testing. 

Common Symbolic Numbers

Instead of being a secret code, the numbers act as symbols that would have been clearly understood by ancient Hebrew and Greek audiences.

1 (One) – Unity and Primacy: Represents the oneness of God (Deuteronomy 6:4) and the singularity of His sovereignty. It also points to unity among believers.

2 (Two) – Witness and Duality: Symbolizes the testimony of two witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15) and duality (e.g., Old and New Testaments, divine and human natures of Christ).

3 (Three) – Completeness and Divine Perfection: Associated with the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) and events like Jesus’ resurrection on the third day or Peter’s threefold denial and restoration.

4 (Four) – Creation and Universality: Represents the four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:12) and the four living creatures in Revelation, symbolizing the totality of creation.

5 (Five) – Grace and Provision: Linked to God’s goodness (e.g., the five loaves fed the 5,000) and the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible.

6 (Six) – Human Imperfection: Created on the sixth day (Genesis 1:26-31), it often signifies human limitation, as in the number 666 (Revelation 13:18).

7 (Seven) – Completion and Perfection: The number of God’s work (creation week, Sabbath) and appears repeatedly in Revelation as a sign of fullness and divine orchestration.

8 (Eight) – New Beginnings: Follows seven, marking a new order (e.g., circumcision on the eighth day).

12 (Twelve) – Divine Governance: Represents God’s people (twelve tribes, twelve apostles) and authority in the covenant community.

40 (Forty) – Testing and Preparation: Symbolizes a period of trial or preparation (e.g., Israelites’ 40 years in the wilderness, Jesus’ 40 days fasting).

70 (Seventy) – Universality: Denotes completeness and the totality of the world’s peoples (Genesis 10:32).

10 (Ten) – Completeness and Order: The Ten Commandments and the parable of the ten virgins illustrate moral order and readiness. Why Numbers Were Used Symbolically? Biblical authors embedded numbers into narratives, laws, and prophetic visions to: convey theological truths (e.g., God's unity, perfection, and sovereignty). Created patterns that reinforce themes and doctrines, Provide prophetic or apocaliptic message to convey spritual truths and theological meaning. This IS known as biblical numerology, which uses specific numbers to represent CONCEPTS like completeness, divine protection, or testing. Convey theological truths, perfection, and sovereignty). 

Using this system from antiquity, Donald John Trump adds numerololgy to 424. I often remind readers that God CREATED everything and said it was good. Man corrupted many GOOD things, turning them into bad or forbidden things. Now NUMBERS are seen as BAD, OCCULT, WITCH CRAFT. In secular numerology, the number 6 is the archetype of harmony, balance, responsibility, and unconditional love. Stripped of religious dogma, it represents the emotional, nurturing, and domestic aspects of the human experience. It is the cosmic caregiver, focusing on service, family, and community. We are not the same.

 But, NUMEROLOGY has far more believers and followers of what numbers SYMBOLICALLY mean. Bible scholars study numbers in the Bible to see correlations in meaning that can been seen as a repeated certain occurence of such meaning.

So, it looks like there will be a part 3, because there is a lot of information about numbers to blog about. Click to follow this blog to be among the FIRST to read my daily blogs and please remember to share, repost, comment oand/or like. You keep me encouraged in my writing. Thank you.