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Titus 3: 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. Romans 8: 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Therefore, we can conclude that those who hold to this hope of eternal life must commit to a life of good works in accordance with the Father's Will, and not become bogged down with vain wrangling of doctrines that state that this is "works based" attempts to earn salvation. This is what is required of those who are called and chosen, to be faithful. This is toward finding and knowing Him, not merely knowing of Him. Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Matthew 7: 7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Discussing the literal meaning of Revelation 13:10 gives us a clear perspective of the end times. If you kill by the sword, you must be killed by the sword. If you commit atrocities inside the womb for decades (slaying very innocent blood), a sword will come to your land. "This is the faith and the patience of the saints". This is not grace, it is death. It's not grace for death, it's death for the slain of this land, death by the sword is coming. Or this scripture was written in vein. We also know not to add to or take away from these messages in the Revelation of John. Or He will add the plagues in this book to us. He will take away the tree of liberty from us in the holy city if we discuss them wrong. Revelation 13:10 If anyone is to be taken captive, captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. Revelation 22:18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

I posted this in another thread, but that thread is on a different subject, so I've re-posted it here. Tree of Life I once did a short study on the Tree of Life. It's quite interesting and encouraging. Here are a few Scriptures and a few, brief comments, based on what I found (there's much more, but I don't want to write an essay). Gen. 2:9 (Webster) And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Gen. 3:22-24 22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man hath become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he should put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way of the tree of life. Pro. 3:13-18 13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. {that getteth...: Heb. that draweth out understanding} 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain of it than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. Pro. 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. {winneth: Heb. taketh} Pro. 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. Pro. 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness in it is a breach in the spirit. {A wholesome...: Heb. The healing of the tongue} Rev. 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Rev. 22:2 In the midst of its street, and on each side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bore twelve kinds of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Rev. 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. ---Okay, just a few, brief comments: 1) Tree of Life - Beginning, Middle and End of the Bible (Alpha and Omega...) 2) Tree of Life - Gives life, wisdom and understanding (compare and contrast with the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil). 3) Refers both to something good, outside of ourselves, and to fruit that the righteous bear, including a wholesome tongue and soul-winning. 4) Our hope, when it (He) comes is a tree of life.

The creator gave us the tree of life in the beginning, what choices did we have then, and how do they compare to the choices between good and evil now?