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<h1><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">The Number 666</span></strong></span></h1>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Eli wrote asking whether 666 is related to the 666 descendants of Adonikam in Ezra 2:13. Here was my response on 3/5/2017:</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Hi Eli</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Thank you for detailing the issues, so I could research them. Very interesting indeed. I do think Ezra 2:13 is the best indication of the name of the Anti-Christ referred to in Rev. 13:16. The number 666 appears to mean Adonikam.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">In turn, the meaning of Adonikam in Ezra 2:13 may be Lord of the Enemies, not the Lord who is raised.&nbsp; Vitringa, a famous old Hebraist Christian scholar, says it is "Lord of enemies," but others who are not Hebraists have said it means "Lord who rises up,"&nbsp; claiming it is grammatically impossible it is "Lord of the enemies." See Ernest William Hengstenberg, &nbsp;Revelation of St. John for those who Search the Scriptures, Vol. 2 (1852) at 52.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Adonikam is typically explained as combining ADON -- LORD with QUM&hellip;&nbsp; rising up. See Hebrew names explained at <a href="http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Adonikam.html#.WLx5_4bltPY">Meaning of Hebrew Names</a>&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">However, there was formerly present in Strong's Hebrew 138 on Adonijah mention that Ezra 2:13 where Adonikam appears that it means "Lord of Enemies." Here is the screen capture of a Bing search that shows the original Strong's 138. It reads:</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">https://www.studylight.org/lexicons/hebrew/hwview.cgi?n=138 &bull; Adonijah = "my lord is Jehovah Also Ezra 2: 13, called ("<strong>lord of enemies</strong>"), (Adonikam], comp, 8:13 Nehemiah 7:18. List of Word Forms. "&gt;</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">However, the Study Light version of Strong's 138 (Hebrew) does not mention Ezra 2:13 and "Lord of enemies" that was visible in the preview. See <a href="https://www.studylight.org/lexicons/hebrew/138.html">link</a>.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Nor is "Lord of the enemies" present in other searches on Strong's 138. See&nbsp; <a href="http://biblehub.com/hebrew/strongs_138.htm">http://biblehub.com/hebrew/strongs_138.htm</a></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">The word in Ezra is Adonikam, and is Strongs 140. <a href="http://biblehub.com/interlinear/ezra/2-13.htm">http://biblehub.com/interlinear/ezra/2-13.htm</a></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Then Strong's 140 gives no meaning to this name &hellip; see <a href="http://biblehub.com/hebrew/strongs_140.htm">http://biblehub.com/hebrew/strongs_140.htm</a></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">This word Adonikam appears in 3 places: Ezra 2:13, Ezra 8:13 and Nehemiah 7:18&hellip; but each time it is talking of the same group&hellip; sons of Adonikam.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Yet, it is clear Strong's 138 on Adonijah had at one time -- now deleted -- referred to a contrasting meaning of Adonikam as "Lord of enemies."</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">It is quite puzzling.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Anyway, the connection to 666 in Revelation is quite obvious. The name Adonikam is the ancestor of 666 children. Ezra 2:13.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">The scholar Ernest William Hengstenberg, in Revelation of St. John for those who Search the Scriptures, Vol. 2 (1852) at 52, following Vitringa's lead, explained how strong this should be taken:</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">In the whole of the Old Testament there is but one instance in which the number 666 occurs with a name. It is said in Ezra ii.13, "The sons of Adonikam 666." The name Adonikam must therefore be the name of the beast. It was admirably fitted for being so.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">The point was even better put by Martin Silbrede in his &nbsp; &nbsp; &ldquo;[Review of] THE BEAST OF REVELATION, by Dr. Kenneth L. Gentry Jr.," The Counsel of Chalcedon 1989 No. 8 at 11, 14. He explains that he prefers</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">"Vitringa's and Hengstenberg's identification from Ezra 2:13 &nbsp;[that] the name of the Beast is Adonikam. This solution utilizes no extra-Biblical consideration whatsoever, tying together the predicates from the opening verses of Rev. 13 to form the actual name of the Beast: Adonikam-- the Lord rises up, the name of the Beast that rises up from the sea with the name of blasphemy on its heads&hellip;.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">"Though ultimately inconclusive (the correlation could be entirely accidental), <em><strong>the odds of a random match like this between a rare occurrence of 666 in the Old Testament, the name associated with that number</strong></em>, and the actual description of the blaspheming beast rising out of the sea, is extremely remote."</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Thus, absent any better theory, this is the most likely. And Adonikam means Lord who rises or Lord of the enemies. I prefer the latter. This would fit the church's reference to those who oppose Jesus' teachings as the ENEMY, and his followers.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Blessings,</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Bro. Doug </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Contributor Brian</strong> &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yiv4909170321" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; word-spacing: 1px; font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Hello!</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yiv4909170321" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yiv4909170321" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; word-spacing: 1px; font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">I am writing in response to a piece written by a Brother Doug concerning the number 666 and it's relation to Ezra 2:13, and the name of Adonikam.&nbsp;</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yiv4909170321" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470889763" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; word-spacing: 1px; font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">I will not venture to say whether Brother Doug is right or wrong, the servant of the Lord does not argue; I am only putting forth what I believe the Lord revealed to me in His word on this subject. The readers can simply consider the information.</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yiv4909170321" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yiv4909170321" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; word-spacing: 1px; font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Rev. 13:18 says:</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yiv4909170321" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yiv4909170321" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; word-spacing: 1px; font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">"Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666."</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yiv4909170321" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517472158199" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; word-spacing: 1px; font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">So, the mystery of the "mark" has to do with a beast, it is the number of a man, and the number is 666.</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yiv4909170321" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yiv4909170321" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; word-spacing: 1px; font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Consider 1 Kings 10:14-15:</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yiv4909170321" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yiv4909170321" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; word-spacing: 1px; font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">"The weight of gold that came to SOLOMON yearly was 666 talents of gold, besides that from the traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country."</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yiv4909170321" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yiv4909170321" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; word-spacing: 1px; font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">So here we have a man, Solomon, and a number, 666; which had to do with the gold he was paid annually in tribute.</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470618207" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;">
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">What about the "beast symbology?</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910" style="font-size: 1rem; padding-left: 30px;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.&nbsp;</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910" style="font-size: 1rem; padding-left: 30px;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">- Revelation 13:2&nbsp;</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">This symbology comes from the book of Daniel:</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910" style="font-size: 1rem; padding-left: 30px;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">&lsquo;Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings &nbsp;which arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.&rsquo;&nbsp;</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910" style="font-size: 1rem; padding-left: 30px;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">- Daniel 7:17-18&nbsp;</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">1 Kings 10:18 says Solomon took his tribute gold and created a great throne:</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910" style="font-size: 1rem; padding-left: 30px;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">"Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure <strong>gold</strong>."</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517471224462" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Interestingly, there were six steps leading up to Solomon's throne, with six lions on either side of each step.</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517471252419" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">6 lions, 6 steps, 6 lions. 666.</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910" style="font-size: 1rem; padding-left: 30px;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">"Twelve lions stood there, one on each side of the six steps; nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom."</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470663910" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470696443" style="font-size: 1rem; padding-left: 30px;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">- 1 Kings 10:20</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470723349"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470724299">
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470759006" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">So why pick on Solomon? Wasn't he blessed by God with more wisdom than any king of his time? Yes. He used that wisdom to write the Bible's book of Proverbs. But what happened later in his life?</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470724299"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470724299"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470724299" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">1 Kings 11:1-2</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470724299"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470781646" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites&mdash;from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, &ldquo;You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. SURELY THEY WILL TURN AWAY YOUR HEARTS AFTER THEIR GODS.&rdquo; Solomon clung to these in love.&nbsp;</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470724299"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470796467" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Also, right after we read in Rev.13 of the mark of the beast, we are shown a contrasting mark in the next chapter.</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517471335837"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517471457447" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Rev. 14 speaks of 144,000 victorious on Mt. Zion (whom I believe to be symbolic of all the saved in Christ Jesus. See Heb. 12:22-24) with God's seal and name on their foreheads, and who "HAVE NOT DEFILED THEMSELVES WITH WOMEN." This also seems to reference Solomon, and his descent into the idolatry of his wive's pagan religions.</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470800502"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470801513">
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470801513" style="font-size: 1rem; padding-left: 30px;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">"For it was so, when Solomon was old, that <strong>his wives turned his heart after other gods</strong>; and his heart was <strong>not loyal to the Lord</strong> his God, as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon went after <strong>Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians</strong>, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and <strong>did not fully follow the Lord</strong> , as did his father David. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods."</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470801513" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470801513" style="font-size: 1rem; padding-left: 30px;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">- 1 Kings 11:4-8&nbsp;</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470801513"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470801513"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470801513" style="font-size: 1rem; padding-left: 30px;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, &ldquo;Because you have done this, and have <strong>not kept My covenant and My statutes</strong>, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.&nbsp;</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470801513" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470801513" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470854109" style="font-size: 1rem; padding-left: 30px;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">- 1 Kings 11:11&nbsp;</span></div>
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<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470753083"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
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<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517470666004" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517471824237" style="color: #313131; font-family: -apple-system, HelveticaNeue; font-size: 16px; word-spacing: 1px;">
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517472584729" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">So, the mark, the number, the beast, the man. What does it all mean?&nbsp;</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517471824237"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517472915926" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">I believe it to be a strong warning, pointing to Solomon's error as an error to avoid at all cost.</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517471824237"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517472619001" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">A warning to never turn our worship away from the One true and living God to that which is not God. Nor to follow the leadership of anyone who does so, lest the kingdom be lost to us, marked for judgement.</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517471824237"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517471824237"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517473193071" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Note: King Solomon's disobedience in his later years resulted in the nation of Israel being torn apart. Read 1 Kings for his story, and to confirm what I've told you is true.</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517471824237"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517471824237" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Blessings in Christ,</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517471824237" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Brian</span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517471824237"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517471824237"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"></span></div>
<div id="m_241877016551961566yMail_cursorElementTracker_1517471887776" style="font-size: 1rem;" data-removefontsize="true" data-originalcomputedfontsize="16"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">"</span></div>
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<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;"></span></p>
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