Thursday, February 23, 2023

The LAST witch

 

Deuteronomy 18:10

King James Version

10 There shall not be found among you 

any one that maketh his son or his daughter 

to pass through the fire, 

or that useth divination, 

or an observer of times, 

or an enchanter, 

or a witch.


She was the last of the line.

Or was she?

At least, from the many generations that preceded her.

She came from a long line of witches.

How did she come to know that?

Dreams.

Always, through dreams.

The older the witch, the more bent they were.

They lined down the stairs.

Nearing the bottom of the stairs, the straighter they became.

At the end of the steps, there she was.

Young.

Seated.

Fresh-faced.

With a delicate smile.

You could not detect any evil upon her.

Clothed in a long black dress, she sat primly.

Who would have thought she was a witch?

But maybe, she wasn't.

Is that at all possible?

After having come from a long line of such?

Well, there she was.

Totally alien to the previous generations.

How did that come about?

That's like asking how do her dreams occur?

She didn't know.

All she knew was that she "saw".

She could see "things".

She could hear "voices".

She was given "messages".

She even spied a demon's face among the bushes, one afternoon.

His evil eye, fixed on her.

Apart from the many faces she'd see around.

Every so often.

Clear "formations", that only she could see.

She knows if they're after her.

Or if they're for her.

It has become so, that it failed to unnerve her.


She hasn't shared her visions with anyone.

How could she even begin to explain?

She merely took notes of her dreams.

And found a decent book to interpret them with.

The dreams started since she was a child.

They didn't haunt her.

They intrigued her.

One day, as she was in her thirties, she felt great distcontent.

She turned her back on the world.

And would have nothing more to do with it.

Then the dreams became vicious.

Even bloody.

Still, she wasn't terrified.

She needed to understand.

She'd experience strange dreams.

Such as battling black scorpions.

Or putting her hand up, as lifeless people came for her.

That stopped them in their tracks.

Sure, she could stop them.

But she didn't feel powerful enough.

Something was missing.

It was pretty much the same when she battled the scorpions.

She didn't feel power in her hands, as she fended them off.


At another time, she came upon a thick, black book.

It looked so ancient, inviting her to look in.

All the while, she became aware of two old women whispering.

She was not supposed to be there.

But there she was, and they were afraid.

They didn't want her to look into the book.

Would she succumb to the darkness?

The darkness wanted her to.

The darkness has courted her, all her life.

But she kept it at bay.

Not to mean, she didn't make tons of errors.

Hurting many people, as she did.

She was no great beauty.

But men seemed to be drawn to her.

It didn't interest her, to knowingly entice.

Such was not her way.

Nor will ever be.

Most of the time, she was oblivious to people.

She was too busy with her search.

Not for a man, but for absolute knowledge.

Was that why darkness followed her around?

Making many threats upon her life, as she slept.

During the day, they were nowhere to be found.

Ah, but at night, there they were.

Not making her lose much sleep, for she'd pray.

Just the simplest, childlike prayer she knew:

"Please help me, GOD!"

And right away, darkness and demons dissipated.

She knew they were after her soul.

She knew they dug into her gut.

Or at least, tried to.

Unsuccessfully.

She had too many encounters to be afraid of them.

Once, a crowd of demons looked down, upon seeing her.

Almost respectfully.

The men and women, with black-ringed eyes, whispered something.

Of course, they all wore black.

She gathered they were actually afraid of her!

She overheard them mentioning about a "path" she took before.

Walking with JESUS.

But she didn't know the LORD then.

So, she filed the memory for future understanding.


What she did know is that the demons knew her.

Darkness tried to ambush her too many times.

And that the entities were afraid of her.

But how could they be?

She barely had power to fend them off.

But that's how it is in the spirit world.

You don't know what they know.

Until you get to know JESUS.

Until GOD makes you born again.

Then all things become clear.

And you don't need that dream book again.

SPIRIT will interpret it for you.

He will lead you to Scripture.

And you will know for sure.

As she did, eventually.

That she was no witch.

The last witch was the one at the foot of the stairs.

The one behind her.

The line ended with that one.

They had not corrupted her.

How could they?

She belonged to GOD.

From day one.


More short stories here.


Related post:

WALKING with JESUS


Image: Wallpaper Access


Friday, February 3, 2023

TO and FRO

 

Daniel 12:4

King James Version

4 But thou, O Daniel, 

shut up the words, 

and seal the book, 

even to the time of the end: 

many shall run to and fro, 

and knowledge shall be increased.


In these end times, what does it mean "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased"?

We turn to other Bible versions for clarity:


Daniel 12:4

Amplified Bible

4 But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the scroll until the end of time. Many will go back and forth and search anxiously [through the scroll], and knowledge [of the purpose of God as revealed by His prophets] will [greatly] increase.”


Daniel 12:4

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

4 But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the Book until the time of the end. [Then] many shall run to and fro and search anxiously [through the Book], and knowledge [of God’s purposes as revealed by His prophets] shall be increased and become great.


Daniel 12:4

Christian Standard Bible

4 “But you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.


Daniel 12:4

Common English Bible

4 But you, Daniel, must keep these words secret! Seal the scroll until the end time! Many will stray far, but knowledge will increase.”


Daniel 12:4

Complete Jewish Bible

4 “But you, Dani’el, keep these words secret, and seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rush here and there as knowledge increases.”


Daniel 12:4

Contemporary English Version

4  Daniel, I now command you to keep the message of this book secret until the end of time, even though many people will go everywhere, searching for the knowledge to be found in it.


Daniel 12:4

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time appointed: many shall pass over, and knowledge shall be manifold.


Daniel 12:4

Easy-to-Read Version

4 “But you, Daniel, keep this message a secret. You must close the book and keep this secret until the time of the end. Many people will go here and there looking for true knowledge, and the true knowledge will increase.”


Daniel 12:4

Evangelical Heritage Version

4 Now you, Daniel, close up the words and seal the scroll until the time of the end. Many will continue running back and forth, and knowledge will increase.


Daniel 12:4

Expanded Bible

4 “But you, Daniel, ·close up the book and seal it [L keep the words secret and seal the book]. ·These things will happen at the time of the end [L …until the time of the end]. Many people will go here and there to ·find true [L increase] knowledge [Amos 8:12].”


Daniel 12:4

GOD’S WORD Translation

4 “But you, Daniel, keep these words secret, and seal the book until the end times. Many will travel everywhere, and knowledge will grow.”


Daniel 12:4

Good News Translation

4 He said to me, “And now, Daniel, close the book and put a seal on it until the end of the world. Meanwhile, many people will waste their efforts trying to understand what is happening.”


Daniel 12:4

International Children’s Bible

4 “But you, Daniel, close up the book and seal it. These things will happen at the time of the end. Many people will go here and there to find true knowledge.”


Daniel 12:4

International Standard Version

4 Now as for you, Daniel, roll up your scroll and seal your words until the time of the end. Many will rush around, while knowledge increases.’”


Daniel 12:4

Jubilee Bible 2000

4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end: many shall pass by, and knowledge shall be multiplied.


Daniel 12:4

Lexham English Bible

4 But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and seal the scroll[a] until the time of the end; many will run back and forth and knowledge will increase.”


Daniel 12:4

Living Bible

4 “But Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal it up so that it will not be understood until the end times, when travel and education shall be vastly increased!”


Daniel 12:4

The Message

4 “‘This is a confidential report, Daniel, for your eyes and ears only. Keep it secret. Put the book under lock and key until the end. In the interim there is going to be a lot of frantic running around, trying to figure out what’s going on.’


Daniel 12:4

Names of God Bible

4 “But you, Daniel, keep these words secret, and seal the book until the end times. Many will travel everywhere, and knowledge will grow.”


Daniel 12:4

New American Bible (Revised Edition)

4 “As for you, Daniel, keep secret the message and seal the book until the end time; many shall wander aimlessly and evil shall increase.”


Daniel 12:4

New Catholic Bible

4 As for you, Daniel,

    keep these words secret,

    and seal the book until the time of the end.

Many shall fall away,

    and evils shall increase.”


Daniel 12:4

New Century Version

4 “But you, Daniel, close up the book and seal it. These things will happen at the time of the end. Many people will go here and there to find true knowledge.”


Daniel 12:4

New English Translation

4 “But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will dash about,[a] and knowledge will increase.”


Daniel 12:4

New International Reader's Version

4 But I want you to roll up this scroll, Daniel. Seal it until the time of the end. Many people will go here and there to increase their knowledge.”


Daniel 12:4

New Life Version

4 But as for you, Daniel, keep these words hidden and lock up the Book until the end of time. Many will travel here and there and knowledge will be more and more.”


Daniel 12:4

New Living Translation

4 But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.”


Daniel 12:4

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

4 But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and the book sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be running back and forth, and evil[a] shall increase.’


Daniel 12:4

Orthodox Jewish Bible

4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the devarim (words), and seal the sefer, until the Et Ketz (Time of the End): rabbim shall run to and fro, that da’as (knowledge) may be increased.


Daniel 12:4

The Voice

4 As for you, Daniel, keep these visions and their meaning a secret. Write down what you have seen and heard, then seal the scroll until the time of the end. Many will wander here and there, and knowledge will expand.


Daniel 12:4

Wycliffe Bible

4 But thou, Daniel, close the words, and aseal the book, till to the time ordained; full many men shall pass, and knowing shall be manyfold. (But thou, Daniel, close up the words, and seal the book, until the time ordained; yea, a great many shall live and die, and knowledge shall be manifold.)


In SUMMARY, "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" means:

Many will go back and forth and search anxiously [through the scroll], and knowledge [of the purpose of God as revealed by His prophets] will [greatly] increase.

many shall run to and fro and search anxiously [through the Book], and knowledge [of God’s purposes as revealed by His prophets] shall be increased and become great

Many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.

Many will stray far, but knowledge will increase.

Many will rush here and there as knowledge increases.

many people will go everywhere, searching for the knowledge to be found in it

many shall pass over, and knowledge shall be manifold

Many people will go here and there looking for true knowledge, and the true knowledge will increase.

Many will continue running back and forth, and knowledge will increase.

Many people will go here and there to ·find true [L increase] knowledge

Many will travel everywhere, and knowledge will grow.

many people will waste their efforts trying to understand what is happening

Many people will go here and there to find true knowledge.

Many will rush around, while knowledge increases.

many shall pass by, and knowledge shall be multiplied

many will run back and forth and knowledge will increase

travel and education shall be vastly increased

there is going to be a lot of frantic running around, trying to figure out what’s going on

Many will travel everywhere, and knowledge will grow.

many shall wander aimlessly and evil shall increase

Many shall fall away, and evils shall increase.

Many people will go here and there to find true knowledge.

Many will dash about,[a] and knowledge will increase.

Many people will go here and there to increase their knowledge.

Many will travel here and there and knowledge will be more and more.

many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase

Many shall be running back and forth, and evil[a] shall increase.

rabbim shall run to and fro, that da’as (knowledge) may be increased

Many will wander here and there, and knowledge will expand.

a great many shall live and die, and knowledge shall be manifold


The Expanded Bible version also relates another verse, which gives greater clarity to the verse above:

Amos 8:12

King James Version

12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, 

and from the north even to the east, 

they shall run to and fro 

to seek the word of the Lord, 

and shall not find it.


Related material:

END times

The Shocking Truth About the Explosion of Knowledge | Marking the End Times with Dr. Mark Hitchcock


Image: Clipart Library


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