You know that since I have come to Ray's site and this forum, everytime...and I MEAN EVERY TIME!...I open the Bible now and read passages that I've read many times before or hear preached many times before and these passages seemed so obvious but in fact were totally confusing ARE NOW CLEAR AS DAY! I am astounded (not because I'm so wonderful but because God is in me and making me see His Word discerned) that I now can cut through the confusion as if to say "now why didn't I see that before? this is soooo easy!"
For instance, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5) which begins, "Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (verse 3).
You know, I was never sure how the "poor in spirit" could ever see heaven unless Christ really meant the "poor" period (as opposed to the rich man who would have a tougher time than the camel through the eye of the needle!)...or did He mean poor but rich in spirit? So this was an examle of an "obvious" verse that was always confusing...until I sought the truth and was led to Ray's site and this forum.
AND NOW IT IS OBVIOUS! the "poor in spirit" are US! MANKIND! Reconciled to God! Resurrected from the first or second death!
And: (verse 4) "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted" which, as per Revelation 21:4, where God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain..."
And: (verse 6) "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst AFTER Righteousness: for they shall be filled." Revelation 21: 6 says, "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." This is at God making all things new, as the tabernacle of God is with men.
Finally (and I never understood this until now) (verse 10): "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." I always read that as "blessed are they which are persecuted because of their righteousness" but that is wrong, because we cannot be righteous on our own. But now I know this says that we, for the sake of righteousness, will either be persecuted now (and be chosen to be in the elect) or later (in the Lake of Fire which burns our sins and stubble, leaving refined gold). Again, ALL OF MANKIND will inherit the kingdom of heaven!
Thanks you God for your revelations!
Deb aka snorky