The Power of Perception and Correlation--Signs

A Challenge in Direct Correlation

Verses Related to Seeing and Understanding

1. Matthew 6:22: "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light."
2. Proverbs 4:18: "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."
3. John 9:39: "And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind."  
4. Ephesians 1:18: "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints."  

Verses Related to Discernment and Wisdom

5. Proverbs 1:5: "A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:"  
6. Proverbs 2:5: "Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path."
7. Hebrews 5:14: "And strong meat belongeth to them who are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."  
8. 1 Corinthians 2:14: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."  

A Broader Perspective

9. Romans 12:2: "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."  
10. Colossians 3:2: "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

 

Matt 24:1

 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

 Matt 24:2

And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

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Mat 24:3

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

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Mat 24:4

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

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Mat 24:5

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

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Mat 24:6

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

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Mat 24:7

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

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Mat 24:8

All these are the beginning of sorrows.

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Mat 24:9

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

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Mat 24:10

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

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Mat 24:11

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

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Mat 24:12

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

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Mat 24:13

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

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Mat 24:14

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

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Mat 24:15

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

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Mat 24:16

Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

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Mat 24:17

Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

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Mat 24:18

Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

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Mat 24:19

And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

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Mat 24:20

But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

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Mat 24:21

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

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Mat 24:22

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

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Mat 24:23

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

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Mat 24:24

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

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Mat 24:25

Behold, I have told you before.

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Mat 24:26

Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

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Mat 24:27

For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

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Mat 24:28

For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

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Mat 24:29

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

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Mat 24:30

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

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Mat 24:31

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

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Mat 24:32

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

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Mat 24:33

So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

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Mat 24:34

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

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Mat 24:35

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

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Mat 24:36

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

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Mat 24:37

But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

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Mat 24:38

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

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Mat 24:39

And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

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Mat 24:40

Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

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Mat 24:41

Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

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Mat 24:42

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

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Mat 24:43

But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

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Mat 24:44

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Signs of the Times:

 The Sign of Jonah: A Deeper Dive

The Prophet Jonah and His Story

Before delving into the significance of Jonah as a sign, let's briefly recap his story. Jonah, a reluctant prophet, was called by God to preach repentance to the wicked city of Nineveh. Instead of obeying, Jonah fled on a ship but was swallowed by a large fish. After three days and nights in the fish's belly, he prayed to God and was miraculously vomited onto dry land. He then fulfilled his mission, and Nineveh repented.

Jonah as a Prefigurement of Christ

Jesus connected His own experience to that of Jonah. Here's a breakdown of the parallels:

• Three Days and Nights: Both Jonah and Jesus spent three days and nights in a confined space before emerging. For Jonah, it was the belly of a fish; for Jesus, it was the heart of the earth.
• Salvation and Repentance: Jonah's preaching led to the repentance of Nineveh, while Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection offer salvation to all who believe.
• Sign of Divine Power: Both events demonstrate the immense power of God and His ability to intervene in human affairs.

The Sign as a Challenge

When Jesus referred to the "sign of Jonah," He was challenging the Pharisees' demand for a spectacular display of power. He was saying, "The greatest sign is already among you, but you refuse to see it." The sign of Jonah pointed to the deeper spiritual truth of Jesus' mission: death and resurrection as the path to salvation.

Additional Biblical Passages

While not directly related to the sign of Jonah, these passages offer further insights into the concept of signs and wonders:

• Exodus 4: Moses is given miraculous signs to authenticate his mission to Pharaoh.
• Matthew 16:1-4: Jesus tests His disciples' faith by asking for their understanding of the Pharisees' request for a sign.
• 1 Corinthians 1:22: Paul mentions that Jews seek signs and Greeks seek wisdom.

Would you like to explore any of these passages in more detail, or perhaps discuss the implications of the sign of Jonah for contemporary believers?

Red sky in the morning.

 

The Sign of Jonah for Contemporary Believers

The sign of Jonah, while rooted in a specific historical context, carries profound implications for contemporary believers.

1. Faith Over Spectacle:

• Rejection of Materialism: The demand for a sign by the Pharisees reflects a desire for tangible, visible proof. In contrast, the sign of Jonah emphasizes faith in God's promises, even in the face of adversity.
• Focus on the Spiritual: Contemporary believers are called to prioritize spiritual growth over outward displays of power. It's about deepening our relationship with God, not seeking sensational experiences.

2. Death and Resurrection:

• Core of Christian Belief: The heart of the Christian faith lies in Christ's sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection. This central truth is foreshadowed by Jonah's experience.
• Hope and Renewal: Just as Jonah emerged from the belly of the fish, we too can experience resurrection from spiritual death through faith in Christ.

3. Mission and Repentance:

• Calling to Share the Gospel: Like Jonah, believers are called to share the message of salvation with others. This involves confronting our own reluctance and fear, as Jonah did.
• Importance of Repentance: The repentance of Nineveh highlights the need for personal and societal transformation. Contemporary believers are called to examine their lives and turn from sin towards God.

4. God's Sovereignty:

• Control Over Circumstances: Jonah's experience demonstrates God's ability to use even difficult circumstances to accomplish His purposes.
• Trust in God's Plan: Believers are encouraged to trust in God's sovereignty, knowing that He is in control, even when life seems chaotic.

Ultimately, the sign of Jonah serves as a reminder of the core truths of the Christian faith: faith over sight, the centrality of Christ's sacrifice, the importance of mission and repentance, and the ultimate sovereignty of God.

Why a Red Sky in the Morning Might Mean Bad Weather

The science behind the saying:

• Sunlight and the atmosphere: When the sun is low on the horizon (during sunrise or sunset), its light passes through a thicker layer of atmosphere. This atmosphere contains particles like dust, water vapor, and pollutants.
• Scattering of light: The blue wavelengths of sunlight are scattered more easily by these particles than the red ones. This is why the sky appears blue most of the time. However, at sunrise and sunset, the blue light is scattered away, leaving behind the red and orange hues.
• Weather systems: Generally, weather systems move from west to east. A red sky in the morning suggests that a high-pressure system (often associated with good weather) has already passed to the east, leaving behind a clear sky. This often means a low-pressure system (associated with bad weather) is approaching from the west.

So, while not a foolproof prediction, a red sky in the morning can be a useful indicator that a change in weather, possibly for the worse, might be on the way.

 

Seeketh a sign: "This generation seeketh a sign"

"This generation seeketh a sign"

Matthew 12:39 and Matthew 16:4 both contain the phrase "this generation seeketh a sign."
Meaning and Context

Jesus uttered these words in response to the Pharisees and Sadducees, who demanded a miraculous sign as proof of His divine authority. Rather than providing them with a spectacle, Jesus criticized their lack of faith and referred to the sign of Jonah, which foreshadowed His own death and resurrection.
Key Points

    Demand for a sign: The people of that time were focused on tangible, physical evidence rather than spiritual understanding.
    Lack of faith: Jesus implied that their request for a sign indicated a deeper issue of unbelief.
    Sign of Jonah: This refers to Jesus' death and resurrection, which served as the ultimate sign and fulfillment of prophecy.

Would you like to delve deeper into the meaning of the "sign of Jonah" or explore other related biblical passages?

Note: These verses offer spiritual and moral insights related to perception, but they don't provide a scientific explanation of the human perceptual process.

Would you like to explore a specific aspect of perception or delve deeper into a particular verse?

Red Skies and the End Times: A Biblical Perspective

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Matthew 24:42-44

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."  

Explanation

These verses emphasize the importance of constant vigilance and preparedness for the return of Jesus Christ.

    Unexpectedness of Christ's Return: Jesus underscores the idea that His coming will be sudden and unexpected. No one knows the exact day or hour.
    The Parable of the Thief: To illustrate this point, Jesus uses the analogy of a thief. A homeowner would be vigilant if they knew the exact time of a burglary, but since they don't, they must always be prepared.
    Call to Readiness: The conclusion is clear: believers must be ready at all times, as the Son of Man will return unexpectedly.

In essence, these verses serve as a call to Christian discipleship. It's not about fear or anxiety, but about living a life of faith and expectancy, ready to meet the Lord at any moment.

Would you like to explore the implications of this passage for our lives today?