'I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you’

[The Hare]

But to whom does Genesis 12:3 refer to? Let’s explore some scriptural facts and historical evidences.

It was a promise made to the patriarch Abraham way before the 12 tribes of Israel came into existence and the seed was none other than Jesus Christ. As the apostle Paul clearly stated in Gal 3:16: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ” (Gal. 3:16). This is the promised “seed” of the woman that would crush the serpent’s (satan’s) head (Gen. 3:15). 

This clearly establishes the true identity of the Messiah and to whom the blessings and curses of Gen 12:3 are applicable. Therefore, any entity or nation that blesses Christians would be blessed by God. Leaving Christians communities alone to practise their faith is indeed a blessing. Persecuting, abetting or celebrating their persecution invites divine wrath.

Gen 12:3 can be tested and validated by observing the blessing and curses visited on nations based on their treatment of Christians. 

https://drmathewmaavak.substack.com/p/i-will-bless-that-who-bless-you-and

 

[D. Adrien]

The Hare, I'd like to hear your interpretation of Deuteronomy 28 and does it tie in with your post?

[AdHoc]

On 4/5/2024 at 12:15 AM, The Hare said:

But to whom does Genesis 12:3 refer to? Let’s explore some scriptural facts and historical evidences.

It was a promise made to the patriarch Abraham way before the 12 tribes of Israel came into existence and the seed was none other than Jesus Christ. As the apostle Paul clearly stated in Gal 3:16: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ” (Gal. 3:16). This is the promised “seed” of the woman that would crush the serpent’s (satan’s) head (Gen. 3:15). 

This clearly establishes the true identity of the Messiah and to whom the blessings and curses of Gen 12:3 are applicable. Therefore, any entity or nation that blesses Christians would be blessed by God. Leaving Christians communities alone to practise their faith is indeed a blessing. Persecuting, abetting or celebrating their persecution invites divine wrath.

Gen 12:3 can be tested and validated by observing the blessing and curses visited on nations based on their treatment of Christians. 

https://drmathewmaavak.substack.com/p/i-will-bless-that-who-bless-you-and

 

 

On 4/5/2024 at 12:38 AM, D. Adrien said:

The Hare, I'd like to hear your interpretation of Deuteronomy 28 and does it tie in with your post?

A most interesting theme. According to multiple Chapters of the Bible, the Covenant made with Abraham contained about 15 promises. Among the Promises Abraham is promised THREE distinct seeds.
1. THE (singular) Seed that Galatians 3:16 talks of - Christ - Who brought the Holy Spirit to men
2. Seed as the Sand of the Sea shore - Which turned out to be Israel
3. Seed as the Stars of Heaven - which are those called with a heavenly calling (Heb.3:1), born "from above" (lit. Gk. - John 3)

Some 430 years later, the seed of Abraham had multiplied to about 2 million. They were God's chosen People, and among their privileges was to have God dwell WITH them. To have an atmosphere holy enough for Jehovah, Israel were given a Law requiring obedience to about 615 laws. These 615 plus/minus Laws were packaged in a second Covenant, ratified in blood like the first, but which did not annul the first.

Some 1,500 years later, the First and Singular Seed in point #1 above arrived in Israel. In this 1,950 plus/minus years, Abraham's seed largely ignored the terms of these two Covenants and while the first only required males to be circumcised, the second was devastating to Abraham's seed as its penalties (Lev.26 and Deut.28) overthrew the Promises of the first. By the time Jesus Christ, the First and Singular Seed arrived, Israel were in crisis. The Lord Jesus Christ offered Israel a new way. They had been called "stars of heaven" (Deut.1:10 etc.,), but when offered the Kingdom of Heaven, they refused and were, in turn, rejected by God as stars of heaven.

God now turned to all men individually and soon had His New Man, not to replace Israel but to be a New Creature to take up Israel's original place as "seed as the stars of heaven". The bulk of the New Man came from the Gentiles. Gentiles are not the seed of Abraham. How was God to make them eligible for inheriting the earth (Rom.4:13)? God could send them all to Canaan and subject them to circumcision and the Law, but this had proved  ineffective, not because the Law was evil, but because it addressed men's weakest point - their flesh (Rom.7). God's solution displayed His utter superiority in all matters.

God applied the Law of KINDS that He Himself had set forth in the earth in Genesis 1:11-12. It forced all things that had its seed within itself to reproduce the same KIND. Instead of making the Gentiles become Israelites and under Covenant of Law, He allowed Christ to die as a grain of wheat (Jn.12:24). And in His death, Him being a Man with His ORIGIN in the Holy Spirit, He released us all as the same KIND - men with both humanity and partakers of the divine LIFE. But Jesus, in His humanity, was Seed of Abraham, and so the New Man, which was IN Christ and released at His death BECAME SEED OF ABRAHAM TOO BUT NOT NOT ISRAELITES. Thus, as Galatians 3:29 tells, we are "Seed of Abraham and heirs to the PROMISES"

Through the birth "from above" from "incorruptible seed", and put into the "Commonwealth" of Israel, we became eligible for the Promises, but were not subject to the Law. The Law we are subject to is Christ's Life (Rom.8:1-2). The upgrade was so dramatic that God could count the flesh crucified with Christ (Rom.6:1-8) and the way was now paved that God could live IN man, instead of WITH him. And so the New Man, a New Creature were ethnicity is abolished seeing as it has no past (2nd Cor.5:17), became "BETHEL" - the House of God.

Now, returning to the Covenants, Israel seems to be thoroughly disadvantaged. Their second Covenant drove them out of the Land that the first Covenant Promises them "for an eternal possession". Israel refused the Kingdom of Heaven and refused their King. Things look hopeless for them. But God has spoken and even added an oath to His Words. Israel will be RECOVERED NATIONALLY. The system God uses is not complicated, but as His honor hangs on doing it legally, Paul takes THREE Chapters in Romans (9, 10 & 11) to explain it. It would be beyond me to shorten this, but I will mention the salient points.

Israel's dilemma is that it (i) broke the Law, (ii) refused the solution for the Kingdom of Heaven, (iii) refused the solution to tat which meant faith in Jesus, and (iv) clung to the Law as a means of righteousness before God. Israel can never be promoted to the position and standing of the Church, but they can embrace the Law IF the conditions are improved. So God does just that. First, Jesus died for all sin and sins (Jn.1:29, 1st Jn.2.2). The price is paid and God may apply Christ's sacrifice to Israel. That is why the prophets predict Israel's sins put away. Next, he writes the Law, not on stone tables, but on the inward parts of the Jew. Then He gives the Jew a new heart and a new spirit. Then he replaces the Covenant (not the Law). The Law does not pass and is fully applicable to the Israelite, but God does two more things from the outside. He resurrects the Jews (Dan.12:1-2) so the sin-nature is gone (see Romans 5:12-17) and he puts a Perfect King over them - Jesus. The Jew becomes an intrinsic Law-keeper and thus BOTH Covenants work in His favor.

The objection to this scheme is always the same. "Salvation is by FAITH in Jesus", and I agree. But this "salvation" is NOT rebirth, eternal life and being made the abode of God. It is the RESTORATION of Israel AS A NATION according to the COVENANTS. A short summary of the prophets is found in Luke 1:67-78. Israel have Covenants. God cannot break them. Not one sentence of the Covenants requires FAITH to fulfill them. Israel must DO their side and God will DO His side. But Israel can never attain to what the Christian holds. And lastly, the abolishment of the Law on the cross stated in Ephesians 2:15 IS ONLY FOR THE CHURCH. For Israel, "not one jot or tittle will pass" until the old earth passes.

Contemporary teaching in the Churches teaches that the saved by FAITH go to heaven and the rest of men go to hell. The Bible teaches that God will set up a new government on earth (Dan.2, Revelation 11, 22) run by Christ and the Believers. The purpose of this new government is "that all the families of the earth will be blessed"- one of the 15 promises that was made to Abraham. The Lake of Fire is real. The various judgments are real. But God made man to be in His image and likeness and to RULE THE EARTH. He will achieve this via the seed of Abraham and these "servant-kings" bring God's blessing to the world.

[AdHoc]

On 4/5/2024 at 12:38 AM, D. Adrien said:

The Hare, I'd like to hear your interpretation of Deuteronomy 28 and does it tie in with your post?

Good question. Let's wait and see if an answer is forthcoming.

[D. Adrien]

7 minutes ago, AdHoc said:

 

A most interesting theme. According to multiple Chapters of the Bible, the Covenant made with Abraham contained about 15 promises. Among the Promises Abraham is promised THREE distinct seeds.
1. THE (singular) Seed that Galatians 3:16 talks of - Christ - Who brought the Holy Spirit to men
2. Seed as the Sand of the Sea shore - Which turned out to be Israel
3. Seed as the Stars of Heaven - which are those called with a heavenly calling (Heb.3:1), born "from above" (lit. Gk. - John 3)

Some 430 years later, the seed of Abraham had multiplied to about 2 million. They were God's chosen People, and among their privileges was to have God dwell WITH them. To have an atmosphere holy enough for Jehovah, Israel were given a Law requiring obedience to about 615 laws. These 615 plus/minus Laws were packaged in a second Covenant, ratified in blood like the first, but which did not annul the first.

Some 1,500 years later, the First and Singular Seed in point #1 above arrived in Israel. In this 1,950 plus/minus years, Abraham's seed largely ignored the terms of these two Covenants and while the first only required males to be circumcised, the second was devastating to Abraham's seed as its penalties (Lev.26 and Deut.28) overthrew the Promises of the first. By the time Jesus Christ, the First and Singular Seed arrived, Israel were in crisis. The Lord Jesus Christ offered Israel a new way. They had been called "stars of heaven" (Deut.1:10 etc.,), but when offered the Kingdom of Heaven, they refused and were, in turn, rejected by God as stars of heaven.

God now turned to all men individually and soon had His New Man, not to replace Israel but to be a New Creature to take up Israel's original place as "seed as the stars of heaven". The bulk of the New Man came from the Gentiles. Gentiles are not the seed of Abraham. How was God to make them eligible for inheriting the earth (Rom.4:13)? God could send them all to Canaan and subject them to circumcision and the Law, but this had proved  ineffective, not because the Law was evil, but because it addressed men's weakest point - their flesh (Rom.7). God's solution displayed His utter superiority in all matters.

God applied the Law of KINDS that He Himself had set forth in the earth in Genesis 1:11-12. It forced all things that had its seed within itself to reproduce the same KIND. Instead of making the Gentiles become Israelites and under Covenant of Law, He allowed Christ to die as a grain of wheat (Jn.12:24). And in His death, Him being a Man with His ORIGIN in the Holy Spirit, He released us all as the same KIND - men with both humanity and partakers of the divine LIFE. But Jesus, in His humanity, was Seed of Abraham, and so the New Man, which was IN Christ and released at His death BECAME SEED OF ABRAHAM TOO BUT NOT NOT ISRAELITES. Thus, as Galatians 3:29 tells, we are "Seed of Abraham and heirs to the PROMISES"

Through the birth "from above" from "incorruptible seed", and put into the "Commonwealth" of Israel, we became eligible for the Promises, but were not subject to the Law. The Law we are subject to is Christ's Life (Rom.8:1-2). The upgrade was so dramatic that God could count the flesh crucified with Christ (Rom.6:1-8) and the way was now paved that God could live IN man, instead of WITH him. And so the New Man, a New Creature were ethnicity is abolished seeing as it has no past (2nd Cor.5:17), became "BETHEL" - the House of God.

Now, returning to the Covenants, Israel seems to be thoroughly disadvantaged. Their second Covenant drove them out of the Land that the first Covenant Promises them "for an eternal possession". Israel refused the Kingdom of Heaven and refused their King. Things look hopeless for them. But God has spoken and even added an oath to His Words. Israel will be RECOVERED NATIONALLY. The system God uses is not complicated, but as His honor hangs on doing it legally, Paul takes THREE Chapters in Romans (9, 10 & 11) to explain it. It would be beyond me to shorten this, but I will mention the salient points.

Israel's dilemma is that it (i) broke the Law, (ii) refused the solution for the Kingdom of Heaven, (iii) refused the solution to tat which meant faith in Jesus, and (iv) clung to the Law as a means of righteousness before God. Israel can never be promoted to the position and standing of the Church, but they can embrace the Law IF the conditions are improved. So God does just that. First, Jesus died for all sin and sins (Jn.1:29, 1st Jn.2.2). The price is paid and God may apply Christ's sacrifice to Israel. That is why the prophets predict Israel's sins put away. Next, he writes the Law, not on stone tables, but on the inward parts of the Jew. Then He gives the Jew a new heart and a new spirit. Then he replaces the Covenant (not the Law). The Law does not pass and is fully applicable to the Israelite, but God does two more things from the outside. He resurrects the Jews (Dan.12:1-2) so the sin-nature is gone (see Romans 5:12-17) and he puts a Perfect King over them - Jesus. The Jew becomes an intrinsic Law-keeper and thus BOTH Covenants work in His favor.

The objection to this scheme is always the same. "Salvation is by FAITH in Jesus", and I agree. But this "salvation" is NOT rebirth, eternal life and being made the abode of God. It is the RESTORATION of Israel AS A NATION according to the COVENANTS. A short summary of the prophets is found in Luke 1:67-78. Israel have Covenants. God cannot break them. Not one sentence of the Covenants requires FAITH to fulfill them. Israel must DO their side and God will DO His side. But Israel can never attain to what the Christian holds. And lastly, the abolishment of the Law on the cross stated in Ephesians 2:15 IS ONLY FOR THE CHURCH. For Israel, "not one jot or tittle will pass" until the old earth passes.

Contemporary teaching in the Churches teaches that the saved by FAITH go to heaven and the rest of men go to hell. The Bible teaches that God will set up a new government on earth (Dan.2, Revelation 11, 22) run by Christ and the Believers. The purpose of this new government is "that all the families of the earth will be blessed"- one of the 15 promises that was made to Abraham. The Lake of Fire is real. The various judgments are real. But God made man to be in His image and likeness and to RULE THE EARTH. He will achieve this via the seed of Abraham and these "servant-kings" bring God's blessing to the world.

AdHoc, always enjoy reading your posts. :)

[The Hare]

On 4/7/2024 at 7:25 AM, AdHoc said:

 

A most interesting theme. According to multiple Chapters of the Bible, the Covenant made with Abraham contained about 15 promises. Among the Promises Abraham is promised THREE distinct seeds.
1. THE (singular) Seed that Galatians 3:16 talks of - Christ - Who brought the Holy Spirit to men
2. Seed as the Sand of the Sea shore - Which turned out to be Israel
3. Seed as the Stars of Heaven - which are those called with a heavenly calling (Heb.3:1), born "from above" (lit. Gk. - John 3)

Some 430 years later, the seed of Abraham had multiplied to about 2 million. They were God's chosen People, and among their privileges was to have God dwell WITH them. To have an atmosphere holy enough for Jehovah, Israel were given a Law requiring obedience to about 615 laws. These 615 plus/minus Laws were packaged in a second Covenant, ratified in blood like the first, but which did not annul the first.

Some 1,500 years later, the First and Singular Seed in point #1 above arrived in Israel. In this 1,950 plus/minus years, Abraham's seed largely ignored the terms of these two Covenants and while the first only required males to be circumcised, the second was devastating to Abraham's seed as its penalties (Lev.26 and Deut.28) overthrew the Promises of the first. By the time Jesus Christ, the First and Singular Seed arrived, Israel were in crisis. The Lord Jesus Christ offered Israel a new way. They had been called "stars of heaven" (Deut.1:10 etc.,), but when offered the Kingdom of Heaven, they refused and were, in turn, rejected by God as stars of heaven.

God now turned to all men individually and soon had His New Man, not to replace Israel but to be a New Creature to take up Israel's original place as "seed as the stars of heaven". The bulk of the New Man came from the Gentiles. Gentiles are not the seed of Abraham. How was God to make them eligible for inheriting the earth (Rom.4:13)? God could send them all to Canaan and subject them to circumcision and the Law, but this had proved  ineffective, not because the Law was evil, but because it addressed men's weakest point - their flesh (Rom.7). God's solution displayed His utter superiority in all matters.

God applied the Law of KINDS that He Himself had set forth in the earth in Genesis 1:11-12. It forced all things that had its seed within itself to reproduce the same KIND. Instead of making the Gentiles become Israelites and under Covenant of Law, He allowed Christ to die as a grain of wheat (Jn.12:24). And in His death, Him being a Man with His ORIGIN in the Holy Spirit, He released us all as the same KIND - men with both humanity and partakers of the divine LIFE. But Jesus, in His humanity, was Seed of Abraham, and so the New Man, which was IN Christ and released at His death BECAME SEED OF ABRAHAM TOO BUT NOT NOT ISRAELITES. Thus, as Galatians 3:29 tells, we are "Seed of Abraham and heirs to the PROMISES"

Through the birth "from above" from "incorruptible seed", and put into the "Commonwealth" of Israel, we became eligible for the Promises, but were not subject to the Law. The Law we are subject to is Christ's Life (Rom.8:1-2). The upgrade was so dramatic that God could count the flesh crucified with Christ (Rom.6:1-8) and the way was now paved that God could live IN man, instead of WITH him. And so the New Man, a New Creature were ethnicity is abolished seeing as it has no past (2nd Cor.5:17), became "BETHEL" - the House of God.

Now, returning to the Covenants, Israel seems to be thoroughly disadvantaged. Their second Covenant drove them out of the Land that the first Covenant Promises them "for an eternal possession". Israel refused the Kingdom of Heaven and refused their King. Things look hopeless for them. But God has spoken and even added an oath to His Words. Israel will be RECOVERED NATIONALLY. The system God uses is not complicated, but as His honor hangs on doing it legally, Paul takes THREE Chapters in Romans (9, 10 & 11) to explain it. It would be beyond me to shorten this, but I will mention the salient points.

Israel's dilemma is that it (i) broke the Law, (ii) refused the solution for the Kingdom of Heaven, (iii) refused the solution to tat which meant faith in Jesus, and (iv) clung to the Law as a means of righteousness before God. Israel can never be promoted to the position and standing of the Church, but they can embrace the Law IF the conditions are improved. So God does just that. First, Jesus died for all sin and sins (Jn.1:29, 1st Jn.2.2). The price is paid and God may apply Christ's sacrifice to Israel. That is why the prophets predict Israel's sins put away. Next, he writes the Law, not on stone tables, but on the inward parts of the Jew. Then He gives the Jew a new heart and a new spirit. Then he replaces the Covenant (not the Law). The Law does not pass and is fully applicable to the Israelite, but God does two more things from the outside. He resurrects the Jews (Dan.12:1-2) so the sin-nature is gone (see Romans 5:12-17) and he puts a Perfect King over them - Jesus. The Jew becomes an intrinsic Law-keeper and thus BOTH Covenants work in His favor.

The objection to this scheme is always the same. "Salvation is by FAITH in Jesus", and I agree. But this "salvation" is NOT rebirth, eternal life and being made the abode of God. It is the RESTORATION of Israel AS A NATION according to the COVENANTS. A short summary of the prophets is found in Luke 1:67-78. Israel have Covenants. God cannot break them. Not one sentence of the Covenants requires FAITH to fulfill them. Israel must DO their side and God will DO His side. But Israel can never attain to what the Christian holds. And lastly, the abolishment of the Law on the cross stated in Ephesians 2:15 IS ONLY FOR THE CHURCH. For Israel, "not one jot or tittle will pass" until the old earth passes.

Contemporary teaching in the Churches teaches that the saved by FAITH go to heaven and the rest of men go to hell. The Bible teaches that God will set up a new government on earth (Dan.2, Revelation 11, 22) run by Christ and the Believers. The purpose of this new government is "that all the families of the earth will be blessed"- one of the 15 promises that was made to Abraham. The Lake of Fire is real. The various judgments are real. But God made man to be in His image and likeness and to RULE THE EARTH. He will achieve this via the seed of Abraham and these "servant-kings" bring God's blessing to the world.

Here is Deuteronomy 28 is rather long. The chapter begins with a blessing and ends with warnings that a curse is in store for the disobedient. Here is what Deutronomy 28:53-68 says. 

 

⁵³ And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:

⁵⁴ So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:

⁵⁵ So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.

⁵⁶ The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,

⁵⁷ And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.

⁵⁸ If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, The Lord Thy God;

⁵⁹ Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.

⁶⁰ Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.

⁶¹ Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

⁶² And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the Lord thy God.

⁶³ And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.

⁶⁴ And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.

⁶⁵ And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:

⁶⁶ And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:

⁶⁷ In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

⁶⁸ And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you

This sounds like a terrible curse and prophecy. I see the "Seed as the Sand of the Sea shore" as representing the  church in particular, and the nations in general. Here are two sample New Testament verses: 

Hebrews 11:12

12 Therefore from one man, and ^ahim as good as dead, were born descendants ^bas many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

 

Romans 4:18

18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, ^q“So shall your offspring be.”

But more to the point, I am still wondering whether anyone has ever written or preached on the subject of blessings or curses which befall a nation based on its treatment of Christian believers. If anyone has any link or book to recommend, I'd be obliged. 

Edited April 8 by The Hare
Grammar

[The Hare]

After all, Pontius Pilate himself was cursed the moment he allowed Jesus to be condemned to a painful death and subsequently died a horrible death as a result. Based on Pilate's troubled conscience during Jesus'sham trial, God had warned Pilate's wife in a dream. He apparently wanted to give Pilate a chance to spare himself of an impending judgement. Even so, one of Jesus last words to Pilate was "Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin" (John 19:11). 

Since we are the Body of Christ, aren't we protected the same way by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11)? 

We have had false prophets invoking "the touch not my anointed" verse many times but isn't this actually applicable to the faithful church? 

Edited April 8 by The Hare
premature prior posting

[AdHoc]

10 hours ago, The Hare said:

Here is Deuteronomy 28 is rather long. The chapter begins with a blessing and ends with warnings that a curse is in store for the disobedient. Here is what Deutronomy 28:53-68 says. 

 

⁵³ And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:

⁵⁴ So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:

⁵⁵ So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.

⁵⁶ The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,

⁵⁷ And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.

⁵⁸ If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, The Lord Thy God;

⁵⁹ Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.

⁶⁰ Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.

⁶¹ Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

⁶² And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the Lord thy God.

⁶³ And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.

⁶⁴ And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.

⁶⁵ And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:

⁶⁶ And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:

⁶⁷ In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

⁶⁸ And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you

This sounds like a terrible curse and prophecy. I see the "Seed as the Sand of the Sea shore" as representing the  church in particular, and the nations in general. Here are two sample New Testament verses: 

Hebrews 11:12

12 Therefore from one man, and ^ahim as good as dead, were born descendants ^bas many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

 

Romans 4:18

18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, ^q“So shall your offspring be.”

But more to the point, I am still wondering whether anyone has ever written or preached on the subject of blessings or curses which befall a nation based on its treatment of Christian believers. If anyone has any link or book to recommend, I'd be obliged. 

If you make a study of both the Bible and secular history, you will discover that each and every curse in both Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 have come to pass on Israelites. Particularly gruesome was the fulfillment of verse 57. Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem was so effective that the food ran out. Mothers devoured their babies as they were born.

Hebrews 11:12 of course speaks of Abraham. From Ishmael he had 12 grandsons before Isaac was even born. Each one became a Nation. From Sarah came Isaac and Jacob which in turn led to the nation of Israel. From Kerturah Abraham had six sons - each one became a nation. And you could make a case from Galatians 3:29 that the Church had its beginning in Abraham although there was a transition IN Christ from the flesh to the Spirit and from earthly to heavenly.

As to the Nation's treatment of Christians, we have the grand documented assize in Matthew 25:31.46. The trick here is to find out who the players are. This is how I see it. The judged are "ALL Nations". The Judgment Seat is the same throne from Revelation 4 - a throne awarded in heaven but for ruling the earth. The venue is Jerusalem and the judged of "ALL Nations" are those who survive the Great Tribulation. "The least of the Lord's BRETHREN" must be BOTH Jew and Christian who had to pass through the Great Tribulation. Note that the three scriptures that promise escape from the Great Tribulation ARE CONDITIONAL -
1. Luke 21:35-36 depends on watching and not joining the surfeiting
2. Revelation 3:10 is "BECAUSE ...."
3. Revelation 18:4 is contingent of "coming out of her"

Note also that at least four scriptures show the Lord's "Brethren" going through the Great Tribulation
1. Revelation 7:1-9 must be sealed to avoid dying in the Great Tribulation (see 9:4) (Jews)
2. Revelation 7:10-17 had to wash their garments and go through the Great Tribulation (Christians)
3. Revelation 11 - the Two Witnesses
4. Revelation 12 - Those who have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Christians)
5. Revelation 12 - Those who keep the commandments of God (Jews)
6. Revelation 13:7 - the saints are overcome by the Beast - showing them to be on earth during his reign
7. Revelation 20:1-4 - they are beheaded for disobeying the Beast

So, it would seem that besides those of Chapter 11 and 20, the slothful Christians are expected to mature during the Great Tribulation and so are titled "the LEAST of the Lord's BRETHREN" Note that in Chapter 12 those who have the testimony of Jesus Christ are helped NOT BY GOD; but by "THE EARTH"

The "Sheep" are those "of ALL Nations" who took the chance to disobey that Beast in his persecution of the Lord's brethren
The "Goats" are those "of ALL Nations" who refused to help a beleaguered Christian or Jew.
Note that for their WORKS the either ENTER LIFE (not HAVE LIFE), or the are sent to the SECOND DEATH

In this narrative we see our Lord Jesus bring to justice the Nations who mistreated a Christian or a Jew.

[AdHoc]

11 hours ago, The Hare said:

After all, Pontius Pilate himself was cursed the moment he allowed Jesus to be condemned to a painful death and subsequently died a horrible death as a result. Based on Pilate's troubled conscience during Jesus'sham trial, God had warned Pilate's wife in a dream. He apparently wanted to give Pilate a chance to spare himself of an impending judgement. Even so, one of Jesus last words to Pilate was "Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin" (John 19:11). 

Since we are the Body of Christ, aren't we protected the same way by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11)? 

We have had false prophets invoking "the touch not my anointed" verse many times but isn't this actually applicable to the faithful church? 

Pilate surely was a corrupt and weak politician. He will surely pay for the expediency of sending Jesus to His death. You can witness that at the White throne Judgment. But the interesting thing is that at least five times in the New Testament the Holy Spirit gives the blame of Jesus' death to Israel: 

Who Killed Jesus?

 

Acts 2:22-24

22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know —

23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken* by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

 

Acts 2:36-37

36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

 

Acts 3:12-15

12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.

14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.

 

Acts 4:8-10

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:

9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,

10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

 

Acts 5:27-31

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,

28 saying,"Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!"

29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said:"We ought to obey God rather than men.

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.

31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

 

Acts 10:39-40

39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they* killed by hanging on a tree.

40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,

 

Acts 13:27-28

27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.

28 And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.

 

1 Thess 2:14-15

14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,

15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men,

 

[The Hare]

11 hours ago, AdHoc said:

The "Sheep" are those "of ALL Nations" who took the chance to disobey that Beast in his persecution of the Lord's brethren
The "Goats" are those "of ALL Nations" who refused to help a beleaguered Christian or Jew.
Note that for their WORKS the either ENTER LIFE (not HAVE LIFE), or the are sent to the SECOND DEATH

I am sorry, I think this interpretation is incomplete to the point of being erroneous. 

Here is what Matthew  25:31-46 has to say:

 

³¹ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

³² And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

³³ And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

³⁴ Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

³⁵ For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

³⁶ Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

³⁷ Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

³⁸ When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

³⁹ Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

⁴⁰ And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

⁴¹ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

⁴² For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

⁴³ I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

⁴⁴ Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

⁴⁵ Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

⁴⁶ And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

 

Is there any mention of Jews here? The Lord will separate the sheep from the goats from ALL nations. Salvation is through Christ alone. Even if the definition of the sheep mentioned can be expanded, then it would include ALL Good Samaritans from ALL nations and tribes who had helped Christians out during extreme phases of tribulation. 

But I believe the sheep and goats parable refer to the ultimate fates of believing Christians  vs unbelievers of all hues. Nothing more. It tallies with what Matthew 7:21-23 says:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’