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Psalm 95:6–7 and the Other Verses of Psalm 95

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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.  

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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 the time period of September 10th, 2026, at 11:51 A.M. – September 14th, 2026, at 1:08 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone or the time period of October 10th, 2026, at 11:13 A.M. – October 14th, 2026, at 12:29 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone, 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 2026 would occur during September or October depends on whether barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib [ah-BEEB] (also known as aviv [ah-VEEV]) in March or April, respectively.  Also, if barley crop in Israel in 2026 was first in a status known as abib/aviv in February, then the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would have occurred during the time period of August 12th, 2026, at 12:25 P.M. – August 16th, 2026, at 1:49 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone.  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 verses of the day for August 31st are Psalm 95:6–7.  Because it is useful to study verses that share the same context, below is content related to Psalm 95.  

Note:  The author of Psalm 95 is unspecified.  

Psalm 95:1

O come, let us sing for joy to Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.  Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation/deliverance.

Psalm 95:2

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving / a song of thanksgiving.  Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms / with songs with instrumental accompaniment.

Note:  Regarding the reference to God the Fatherʼs presence in this verse, God the Father is omnipresent [God the Father is everywhere]; therefore, it is possible that the author of this psalm was referring to wherever the worshipers of God the Father were worshiping Him.  

Psalm 95:3

Certainly, Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One is a great 'El [AYL] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] and a great King above all gods ['elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] / false gods], 

Note:  The word above as used in this verse refers to being superior.  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.  

The context of this verse is such that the use of 'elohiym in this verse refers to false gods, to angels, to human rulers or judges, or to some combination thereof.  Unspecified in Psalm 95 is to which of those the use of 'elohiym in this verse refers.  Regardless of to which of those the use of the word 'elohiym refers in this verse, God the Father is superior to all false gods, angels, human rulers, and human judges.  

Psalm 95:4

in Whose hand are the depths of the earth.  The peaks of the mountains are His also.

Note:  The word hand 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 Trinity.  The anthropomorphism involving a hand in this verse is a metaphor that calls attention to the omnipotence [all-powerfulness] of God the Father.  Also, the content of this verse calls attention to the sovereignty [supreme authority] of God the Father.  

Psalm 95:5

His:  the sea, and He has made it.  His hands have formed the dry land.

Note:  As with the word hand in verse 4, the word hands in verse 5 is an anthropomorphism that calls attention to the omnipotence of God the Father.  Regarding the making and the forming, God the Son is the Agent Who did the creating of all Creation.  In that regard, God the Father did the making and the forming through the agency of God the Son.  In other words, God the Father does the planning, and His plans are carried out by God the Son.  Also, the content of this verse calls attention to the sovereignty of God the Father.  

There are four Biblical Hebrew verbs related to creating, making, etc.  [The abbreviation etc. (pronounced ET SET-uh-ruh) is used to represent the adverb et cetera (also pronounced ET SET-uh-ruh); the adverb et cetera came from the Latin phrase et cetera (pronounced ET KEH-teh-rah), which means “and the rest.”]  Below are the four Biblical Hebrew verbs related to creating, making, etc.  The verbs are listed in the order in which they first appear in the Bible.  (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.)  

• bara' [pronounced bah-RAH and transliterated from the Hebrew בָּרָא]:  Bara'  means to create something out of nothing.  

• `asah [pronounced ah-SAH and transliterated from the Hebrew עָשָׂה]:  `Asah means to make or to manufacture something out of something else.  

• yatsar [pronounced yah-TSAHR and transliterated from the Hebrew יָצַר]:  Yatsar means to form or to fashion.  

• banah [pronounced bah-NAH and transliterated from the Hebrew בָּנָה]:  Banah means to build or to rebuild.  

Bara'  first appears in Genesis 1:1.  `Asah  first appears in Genesis 1:7.  Yatsar  first appears in Genesis 2:7.  Banah first appears in Genesis 2:22.  

In Psalm 95:5, the verb translated as “has made” is an inflected form of `asah.  That inflected form is `asa [pronounced ah-SAH and transliterated from the Hebrew עָשָׂ].  The verb translated as “have formed” in Psalm 95:5 is an inflected form of yatsar.  That inflected form is yatsaru [pronounced yah-TSAH-roo and transliterated from the Hebrew יָצָרוּ].  

Psalm 95:6

Come.  We worship.  Let us bow down.  Let us kneel before Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One our Maker.

Note:  Unspecified in this verse and the other verses of this psalm is where the kneeling was to occur.  In that regard, God the Father is omnipresent [God the Father is everywhere]; therefore, it is possible that the author of this psalm was referring to kneeling anywhere.  

Psalm 95:7

Certainly, He is our 'Elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] / Godhead, and we are the people of His pasturing and the sheep of His hand.  Today, oh that you hear, listen to, and obey His voice.  

Note:  The phrase the people of His pasturing refers to the Israelites.  Also, the reference to pasturing and sheep in this verse is a metaphor that calls attention to the helplessness of the Israelites.  In that regard, just as the word hand in verse 4 and the word hands in verse 5 are anthropomorphisms that call attention to the omnipotence of God the Father, so also the word hand in verse 7 is an anthropomorphism that calls attention to the omnipotence of God the Father.  Also, the word voice in verse 7 is an anthropomorphism.  That anthropomorphism calls attention to the sovereignty of God the Father.  

Psalm 95:8

Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah / place of strife / place of  quarrel / place of provocation, as in the day of Massah / temptation / testing in the wilderness:  

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  Regarding the words Meribah and Massah, both of those words refer to a location where Israelites of the first generation of the Exodus from Egypt complained, and Meribah also refers to another location where Israelites of the first generation of the Exodus complained.  The first generation of the Exodus consists of the adult Israelites at the time of the Exodus from Egypt.  Content in Numbers 1 indicates that the age at which male Israelites were to be counted among the men able to go to war was twenty years old.  In that regard, Israelite males aged twenty or older were considered adults.  

The second generation of the Exodus includes the Israelites who were children at the time of the Exodus from Egypt, and the second generation of the Exodus also includes the Israelites who were born during the time after the Israelites left Egypt and before the Israelites entered the Promised Land.  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.  

The first location where the first generation of the Exodus complained is Rephidim [ref-ee-DEEM].  At that location, Israelites complained about a lack of water, and the complaining Israelites demanded that Moses provide water for them.  Before God the Son took the form of a human by being born as the Lord Jesus Christ, He appeared on the earth on multiple occasions, including while the Israelites were in the wilderness.  Such appearances of the Lord before He took the form of a human are known as theophanies [thee-AHF-uh-neez].  Regarding the complaining incident at Rephidim, when the complaining Israelites demanded that Moses provide water for them at Rephidim, God the Son told Moses to use Mosesʼs staff to strike a rock so that water will come out of the rock.  Mosesʼs staff is also known as the staff of 'Elohiym because Moses was authorized to use that staff on behalf of the Trinity.  Moses then struck the rock, and water came out of it.  That location is called both Meribah and Massah.  That topic is covered in Exodus 17:1–7.  

Many years after the complaining incident at Rephidim, Israelites complained about a lack of water at the second location.  That location is Kadesh-Barnea [KAY-desh-bar-NEE-uh].  That location can also be referred to as Meribah-Kadesh or simply as Kadesh.  It can also be referred to simply as Meribah.  As mentioned above, the term Meribah can also be used to refer to the location Rephidim.  On the occasion of Israelites complaining about a lack of water at Kadesh, God the Son told Moses to hold Mosesʼs staff and to speak to a rock so that water will come out of the rock.  Rather than Moses doing exactly what God the Son told him to do, Moses became angry at the Israelites, and in his fit of anger, Moses used his staff to strike the rock, doing so twice.  Water then came out of that rock, but because Moses refrained from doing exactly what God the Son told him to do, Moses never entered the Promised Land.  That topic of Israelites complaining at Kadesh and of Moses striking a rock there is covered in Numbers 20:1–13.  

Note:  In the content of Psalm 95:9, the psalmist switches to quoting God the Father.  

Psalm 95:9

“When/Where your fathers have tested Me, they have tried Me, though they have seen My work.

Note:  The word fathers in Psalm 95:9 refers to Israelites of the first generation of the Exodus from Egypt.  The Hebrew word that can be translated as “When” or “Where” in this verse is אֲשֶׁר [pronounced ash-EHR and can be transliterated as 'asher].  In the context of this verse, 'asher references either the occasions or the locations involving Israelites of the first generation of the Exodus being ungrateful towards God the Father.  Regarding their ingratitude, God the Father had had multiple miracles occur on behalf of the Israelites, but many of the first generation of the Exodus were ungrateful anyway.  

Psalm 95:10

“For forty years, I loathe that generation, and I say, ‘They are a people who err in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  Also, the uses of a present tense in the phrases I loathe and I say 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.  

The generation referenced in this verse is the first generation of the Israelites who left Egypt in the Exodus.  Most of the members of that generation refrained from regularly obeying the Word of God.  As a result, most of the members of that generation never entered the Promised Land.  When Moses died, his assistant Joshua led the second generation of the Israelites after the Exodus from Egypt.  Joshua led that second generation into the Promised Land.  Of the men of the first generation of the Exodus, only Joshua and Caleb entered the Promised Land.  Caleb was a scout who had gone with Joshua and some others on a mission to spy out the Promised Land many years before Joshua became the leader of the Israelites.  Caleb and Joshua both expressed faith in God the Fatherʼs plan regarding the Promised Land being given to the Israelites.  

Many years after the time of the Israelites entering the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua, Israelites experienced military defeats, and many Israelites were removed from the Promised Land.  In that regard, when an insufficient amount of people in a region are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who study and obey the Word of God regularly, then people in that region will experience divine discipline in the form of a crisis or crises.  For unbelievers, such divine discipline involves crisis evangelism.  In that regard, a crisis can provide an opportunity or opportunities for the sharing of the gospel—the good news that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed before the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed—by means of believing that God the Son would take the form of the One sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed after the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed and before the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, and that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believe after the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who was judged for the sins of humanity.  For believers, a crisis can give them an opportunity or opportunities to study and obey the Word of God regularly.  Such a crisis can involve evil people attacking that region.  Other types of crises can also give people in such a region an opportunity or opportunities to become believers who study and obey the Word of God regularly.  

There was an absence of an Israelite nation in the Promised Land for many years.  In that regard, at the time of the First Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, Jerusalem was under the control of the Roman Empire.  At that time, it was within the Roman province of Judea [joo-DEE-uh or joo-DAY-uh].  The word Judea can also be spelled Judaea or Judæa.  The character æ is a ligature [LIG-uh-chuhr or LIG-uh-choor] of a and e.  Before the Romans conquered the region known as Judea, the name of the country of the Jewish people was Judah.  The inhabitants of Judah can be referred to as Judahites [JOO-duh-ights].  The inhabitants of Judea can be referred to as Judeans [joo-DEE-uhnz or joo-DAY-uhnz].  

After the time of the First Advent, Jewish people revolted against the rulership of the Romans.  That revolt was finally ended by the Romans at the Battle of Masada in A.D. 73 or 74.  Before that time, Jewish people in the Promised Land had had a limited amount of self-rulership under the rulership of the Romans.  All self-rulership by the Jewish people in the Promised Land ended when the Romans ended the Jewish revolt in A.D. 73 or 74.  

From the time of the ending of the Jewish revolt that ended in A.D. 73 or 74 until the time of A.D. 1948, no Israelite nation existed in the Promised Land.  In 1948, the modern nation of Israel was established.  In that regard, even though Israelites have returned to the Promised Land and have lived there, the promise of land has yet to be completely fulfilled.  That promise of land will be completely fulfilled when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to the earth on the occasion of the Second Advent.  On that occasion, enemies from the north, south, east, and west will be attacking the Israelites in the Promised Land.  Those enemies will have invaded the Promised Land during the Tribulation, which is the time period of seven years that will end with the Second Advent.  

While currently occurring is warfare involving the modern nation Israel, the time period as of the time of the sending of this message on August 31st, 2026, is still the Church Age.  With regard to the Church Age, the Tribulation, and the Second Advent, 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 the time period of September 10th, 2026, at 11:51 A.M. – September 14th, 2026, at 1:08 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone or the time period of October 10th, 2026, at 11:13 A.M. – October 14th, 2026, at 12:29 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone.  

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.  

Psalm 95:11

“Therefore, I have sworn in My anger, ‘Truly, they do not enter into My rest.’”

Note:  The word anger in this verse is an anthropopathism [an-thruh-poh-PATH-iz-uhm].  An anthropopathism is a term that describes the Members of the Trinity using human characteristics in order to help understand the essence of the Trinity.  The Members of the Trinity donʼt literally become angry; the usage of the word anger helps human beings understand the wrath of God the Father.  Because Israelites of the first generation of the Exodus rebelled against God the Father, those Israelites who rebelled experienced the wrath of God the Father.  In that regard, God the Father prevented those rebellious Israelites from entering the Promised Land.  

Below is the essence of the Trinity categorized into ten characteristics.  

Sovereignty:  The Members of the Trinity have authority over all creation.  

Righteousness:  The Members of the Trinity are perfectly good.  

Justice:  The Members of the Trinity are perfectly fair.  

Love:  The Members of the Trinity have perfect goodwill toward creation.  

Eternal life:  The Members of the Trinity have always existed and will always exist.

Omnipotence:  The Members of the Trinity are totally powerful. 

Omniscience:  The Members of the Trinity know everything.  

Omnipresence:  The Members of the Trinity are everywhere.  

Immutability:  The Members of the Trinity never change.  

Veracity:  The Members of the Trinity are always truthful.  

In Psalm 95:11, the Promised Land is referenced by means of the word rest.  The word My precedes the word rest in this verse because God the Father gives the Promised Land to the Israelites.  The Israelites who were unable to enter the Promised Land did not experience the rest associated with living in the Promised Land.  

The judgment experienced by Israelites who were unable to enter the Promised Land serves as a lesson for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who lived at the time of the first generation of the Exodus and who have lived, do live, and will live after the time of the first generation of the Exodus.  Just as those discontented Israelites missed out on experiencing blessing in the Promised Land, so also any believer who is discontented with the circumstances of that believerʼs life will miss out on receiving some eternal rewards in Heaven.  In that regard, a believer who is discontented with the circumstances of that believerʼs life is discontented with God the Fatherʼs plan for that believerʼs life.  Discontentment with God the Fatherʼs plan for oneʼs life is a sin.  

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.  

Regarding missing out on receiving some eternal rewards in Heaven, every moment that a believer is out of fellowship with the Trinity, that believer is missing out on eternal rewards that that believer otherwise could have received had that believer been in fellowship with the Trinity during those time periods when that believer is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  Also, when a believer gets out of fellowship with the Trinity, if that believer refrains from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, then that believer will remain out of fellowship with the Trinity.  A believer who remains out of fellowship eventually becomes a reversionist.  Such a believer reverts back to acting like unbelievers.  Being a reversionistic believer is known as being involved in reversionism.  Ultimately, if a believer continues to refrain from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer will experience the sin unto death.  The sin unto death involves an early physical death.  For a believer who physically dies after the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst], that early physical death involves an early departure to Heaven.  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 the time period of September 10th, 2026, at 11:51 A.M. – September 14th, 2026, at 1:08 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone or the time period of October 10th, 2026, at 11:13 A.M. – October 14th, 2026, at 12:29 P.M. in the Eastern Daylight Time zone.  The departure to Heaven of a believer who experiences the sin unto death is an early departure in the sense that it occurs at an earlier time than it would have occurred if the believer had regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity.  The topic of the sin unto death is covered in 1 John 5:16.  Rather than the content of 1 John 5:16 referring to some particular sin that is categorized as the sin unto death, the content of 1 John 5:16 refers to sinning in general that results in a believerʼs physical death occurring earlier than it would have had that believer regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity.  

Sincerely,

John