Ezra Reads the Law to the People, one of Gustave Doré's illustrations for La Grande Bible de Tours
Around 2008 I happened to stumble on an old Biblical book called 2 Esdras and it was actually part of a group of books called the Apocrypha which was included in the Bible until around 100 years ago. The Apocrypha is a selection of books which were published in the original 1611, King James Bible. These apocryphal books were positioned between the Old and New Testament (it also contained maps and genealogies). The Apocrypha was a part of the KJV for 274 years until being removed in 1885 A.D. A portion of these books were called deuterocanonical books by some entities, such as the Catholic church.; Full story.
What blew my mind away when I first read 2 Esdras (Ezra) was an answer God gave to Esdras regarding his question over God's history toward people.
Basically, God's main point was that it is impossible for men to understand God's ways. He then asks three illustrations through an angel for Ezra to consider. This is where it gets kind of crazy: If Ezra can explain any one of them, the angel (Uriel) will explain it all to him (why God handles humans the way He does). He will teach him why the heart of mankind is wicked. Ezra invites him to speak. The angel tells Ezra to "weigh a pound of fire," to measure a bushel of wind," or "call back a day that has passed" and he will explain everything. Of course, Ezra claims no man can answer these questions...but we can now!
Weighing a pound of fire
For most “everyday” fires, the density of the gas in the flame will be about 1/4 the density of air. So, since air (at sea level) weighs about 1.3 kg per cubic meter (1.3 grams per litre), fire weighs about 0.3 kg per cubic meter.
One pound of ordinary fire, here on Earth near sea level, would take up a cube about 1.2 meters to a side. The reason that fires always flow upward is that its density is lower than air. So, fire rises in the air for the same reason that bubbles rise in water: it’s buoyant.
Ask a Mathematician
Measuring a bushel of wind
Armed with pressure and drag data, you can find the wind load using the following formula: force = area x pressure x Cd. Using the example of a flat section of a structure, the area – or length x width – can be set to 1 square foot, resulting in a wind load of 1 x 25.6 x 2 = 51.2 PSF for a 100-mph wind.
Science
Calling back a day that has passed
Nearly every one of us on planet earth has been doing this for quite a few years now, you probably have a device in your hand right now, yes, your telephone, it records videos as do video cameras and other devices and we quite literally call back days which have passed regularly. YouTube, Media, we are bombarded with days past, every single hour of the day!
It is astonishing when you understand Jehovah's questions are actually pointing to us now, we know the answer to all the above questions and many many more. Jehovah ends the conversation when he tells Ezra, "we are nearer the end of the present age than the beginning." How close must we be now?
In Daniel 12:4 Daniel is told. But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro and knowledge will increase.” That time has obviously arrived.
Great write-up on 2nd EZDRAS - Best Wishes Steve FOR MORE See my book EZDRAS INSIGHTS at Amazon or a link on my website:http://www.outofthebottomlesspit.co.uk/420942154
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend Steven Strutt's 3 books, Esdras Insights, Enoch Insights and Jasher Insights. Steven's verse by verse commentaries and cross references to Bible verses are terrific.
ReplyDeleteI was a catholic for many years, went to their schools from K-12, it gave me a foundation to start with, I believed early on that Jesus was my savior, which is excellent & comforting. I had not been to church for a long time, but went for full year 1 to 2 yrs. ago, people were not excited, did not sing, no enthusiasm, they might as well be dead, & only thinking they are there in a pew in church = salvation. God bless all of us.
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