What Christ Revealed About His Father

[Study Aired August 12, 2025]

Introduction

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth… No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:14, 18). The apostle John’s testimony captures the supreme purpose of Christ’s incarnation—to declare the Father completely, drawing back the veil to show Him fully. This declaration means to lead out completely, to explain fully—Christ didn’t merely teach about the Father but made Him known through His very being. This divine revelation had been prophetically anticipated: “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD… And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:3-5). What Isaiah foresaw found perfect fulfillment in Christ’s ministry, as John the Baptist prepared the way for the ultimate revelation of God’s character through His Son.

The Son’s purpose was not self-revelation but the manifestation of the Father’s character in truth and spirit. “God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). To see Christ was to see the Father, for He is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). As David prophetically declared, “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:7-8), words the writer of Hebrews applies directly to Christ (Hebrews 10:7).

This revelation was transformational. As Paul writes, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The Perfect Mirror: Christ’s Complete Dependence

Christ’s relationship with the Father was one of absolute dependence and perfect unity. “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do” (John 5:19). The Greek word for “nothing” here is οὐδέν (ouden, G3762), meaning “not even one thing”—emphasizing complete dependence upon the Father’s initiative. This was not limitation but love; not weakness but willing submission to reveal the Father’s heart.

This dependence finds its typological foundation in the Old Testament relationship between Adam and Eve. Just as Eve was formed from Adam’s substance yet remained distinct, so Christ shares the Father’s nature while maintaining His distinct personality. Paul confirms this when he calls Christ “the last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45).

When Christ healed the sick, He manifested the Father’s compassion. When He cleansed the temple, He displayed the Father’s holiness. When He wept over Jerusalem, He expressed the Father’s grief. As Isaiah prophesied, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek” (Isaiah 61:1-2). Christ read these words in the synagogue at Nazareth and declared their fulfillment in Him, revealing the Father’s heart for restoration and freedom: “And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:18-21).

The Father’s Voice and Works Through the Son

Christ consistently emphasized that His teaching originated with the Father: “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me” (John 7:16). He declared plainly, “The word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:24). This fulfilled the ancient promise: “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him” (Deuteronomy 18:18).

Where the prophets spoke partial words from God, Christ became the complete Word of God. As Hebrews explains, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

When Philip requested, “Lord, shew us the Father” (John 14:8), Jesus responded: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father… the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (John 14:9-10). These “works” encompassed far more than physical miracles; they were signs of the Father’s spiritual labor in redemption. Every miracle revealed deeper spiritual reality about the Father’s character.

The Father’s works through Christ had been foreshadowed throughout Scripture. When Moses struck the rock and water flowed (Numbers 20:11), it prefigured how the Father would provide spiritual water through the smitten Christ: “that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4). When Elijah raised the widow’s son (1 Kings 17:17-24), it pointed to the Father’s power over death that would be demonstrated through Christ’s resurrections and ultimately His own victory over the grave. The feeding of five thousand echoed how He fed Israel with manna (Exodus 16), yet Christ explained the deeper meaning: “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger” (John 6:35). The physical bread pointed to the spiritual sustenance that the Father provides through His Son.

Christ challenged His hearers to recognize this perfect unity: “If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him” (John 10:37-38). As He declared, “I can of mine own self do nothing… because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father” (John 5:30).

The Father’s Character Unveiled Through Parables and Teachings

Christ’s parables consistently portrayed the Father’s character with stunning clarity. Through the prodigal son account (Luke 15:11-32), Christ reveals the Father’s eager forgiveness toward the repentant. When the wayward son declares, “Father, I have sinned” (Luke 15:18-19), Christ shows us the Father’s heart through the father’s response: “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).

Through this parable, Christ reveals the Father’s proactive love—running to meet every repentant sinner just as the earthly father ran to his son. The elder brother’s reaction allows Christ to demonstrate the Father’s patient correction of our misconceptions: “Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine” (Luke 15:31-32).

In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ points to the Father’s providential care: “Behold the fowls of the air… yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” (Matthew 6:26). Through this teaching, Christ reveals that the Father knows our needs before we ask—“your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him” (Matthew 6:8)—yet delights in our prayers. Christ shows us that the Father’s provision becomes a means of drawing us into deeper relationship.

Christ also unveiled the Father’s righteous judgment through the parable of the unmerciful servant. The king’s forgiveness of an enormous debt (Matthew 18:27), followed by judgment when the servant refuses mercy to others (Matthew 18:34-35), reveals through Christ how the Father’s mercy flows from His righteous character, and those who receive it must reflect it.

Progressive Revelation: From Types to Ultimate Reality

The Father’s revelation through Christ represents the culmination of progressive unveiling that began in Eden. Looking back through Christ’s lens, we see the Father’s provision when God clothed Adam and Eve after their sin (Genesis 3:21), His righteousness in the Abel-Cain account (Genesis 4:3-5), and His redemptive purpose in calling Abraham to bless all nations through his seed (Genesis 12:3). These early acts pointed forward to their complete fulfillment in Christ.

Christ reveals that each patriarch experienced foreshadowings of the Father’s character: Abraham’s covenant relationship prefigured the Father as covenant-keeper (Genesis 15:7), Isaac’s experiences pointed to His unchanging nature (Genesis 26:2), Jacob’s transformation foreshadowed His transforming power (Genesis 32:28), and Joseph’s trials demonstrated His sovereign control over circumstances for good (Genesis 50:20). Moses received the most complete Old Testament glimpse: “The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:6-7)—finding perfect embodiment in Christ, as John testified when he declared the Word became flesh among us.

Through Christ, we understand that the prophets provided glimpses of His coming revelation of the Father. Isaiah saw the Suffering Servant revealing the Father’s redemptive heart (Isaiah 53:4), Jeremiah prophesied the new covenant showing the Father’s transforming grace (Jeremiah 31:31-34), Ezekiel envisioned dry bones living as the Father’s life-giving power (Ezekiel 37), and Daniel saw the Son of Man displaying the Father’s eternal kingdom (Daniel 7:13). The principle of “precept upon precept, line upon line” (Isaiah 28:10) governed this progressive revelation, preparing His people for the Father’s complete manifestation in Christ.

The Ultimate Revelation: Cross, Resurrection, and Continuing Work

The supreme revelation came through the Son’s obedience unto death. Jesus declared, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4). The cross reveals the Father’s character uniquely—His justice (sin must be punished), His love (He provides the sacrifice), His wisdom (turning Satan’s victory into defeat), and His power (raising the dead).

Paul writes, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The word “commendeth” (συνίστημι, synistemi, G4921) means to demonstrate conclusively. Through the resurrection, the Father confirmed His testimony about His Son and revealed His character as God of life (Acts 2:32-33). “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”

Even in suffering, Christ continued revealing the Father’s heart: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). This prayer reveals the Father’s heart toward ignorant sinners—not vindictive anger but merciful intercession. It shows that the Father’s default response to human failure is not punishment but forgiveness for those who know not what they do.

The Father’s revelation didn’t end with the ascension. Through the holy spirit, Christ continues revealing the Father’s character through His body, the church: “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (1 Corinthians 12:27). John writes, ” Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). The same spirit that enabled Christ now dwells in us, transforming us.

Paul reveals the church has become the Father’s dwelling place: “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22). Just as Christ was the perfect temple revealing the Father’s presence, the church corporately serves as the Father’s temple today. This means that our unity, love, and service to one another become ways of revealing the Father’s character to the world. Jesus prayed, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:21). Our unity becomes revelation of the Father-Son unity, convincing the world of God’s love.

From Natural to Spiritual Understanding

The revelation of the Father through Christ requires spiritual discernment to perceive. Paul explains: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). This is why Christ said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15).

Those who witnessed Christ’s ministry with natural eyes saw a remarkable teacher. Those with spiritual discernment see the Father Himself at work. This understanding develops through consistent meditation on God’s Word and fellowship with His spirit. As we compare spiritual with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:13), we see deeper connections between Old Testament types and New Testament realities.

The process requires humility and dependence on the holy spirit. As Jesus taught, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matthew 11:25). The Father’s revelation comes to the humble, not the self-sufficient.

Conclusion

Everything Christ said, did, and suffered served as perfect revelation of the Father’s nature, will, and purpose. He manifested the Father’s compassion, holiness, justice, and sovereignty in living reality. To behold Christ is to behold the Father’s mind made flesh: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

This revelation is progressive, comprehensive, and transformative. It continues today through the holy spirit’s work in Christ’s body. The Father’s revelation through Christ establishes the pattern for spiritual understanding—depending not on natural wisdom but on spiritual discernment.

The ultimate purpose extends beyond individual enlightenment to all of mankind being restored. The Son’s mission continues until He delivers the kingdom to the Father, “that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28). The promise remains: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). In this revelation, we find eternal life itself: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).

The Father’s glory was made manifest in Christ, and through Christ, continues to be revealed in all who walk in His light. This is our blessed hope—not merely intellectual understanding, but experiential knowledge through His Son, reflecting His character to a world that desperately needs to see His glory.

Rev 11:5-6, Part 2 The Power Of The Two Witnesses

[Study Aired Oct 25, 2024]

Rev 11:5  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Rev 11:6  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

It is good to remind ourselves that we are the earth before we are caught up to the throne of God in heaven.

Rev 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

We need to remember that “all things” means the good and the evil, all the seals, all the trumpets, and all the vials, are ours to read, hear, and keep:

1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

If we are to read, hear and keep the things written in this book then we need to remember that we are all the natural man before we are given the mind of Christ:

1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

As “the Lord from heaven” you and I are “the savor of death” to all who are in Babylon, for the entire time of our “a thousand two hundred and threescore days” testimony.

2Co 2:14  Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
2Co 2:15  For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
2Co 2:16  To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

“The savor of His knowledge”, how Jesus Christ tastes and smells, is made manifest by His elect. We must remember Christ’s own definition of who ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ is.

Mat 25:40  And the King [Christ] 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.

Act 22:8  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Like John here in the book of Revelation, Saul of Tarsus is also a type of us before we become “the savor of His knowledge”. We are all first “the children of disobedience”, and we all first “persecute Jesus of Nazareth”. Only after we acknowledge this truth can we become “Paul the apostle of Jesus Christ”, who is persecuted by later spiritual ‘Sauls’.

So, from a Biblical perspective and indeed from Christ’s own perspective, if He has taken up His abode in us, we are “Jesus of Nazareth”, and as such we are His “two witnesses” with all the power we read of here. We are also the target of all the persecution “in the streets of that great city wherein our Lord was crucified”. How do we “bare record of the word of God”? How do we “bear record of the testimony of Jesus Christ”? We do so by “reading, hearing, and keeping the things written therein, because the time is at hand” to do so. (Rev 1:3)

Here is this same event of “killing them with fire from their mouths” in other “lines, and precepts, here a little and there a little:”

2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth [“the rain from heaven… the sign of Christ’s coming and the end of this age”] that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [Greek, withholdeth {the rain}, same Greek word translated as “withholdeth” in preceding verse] will let [ withhold], until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked [who withholds] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11  And for this cause God [Through the words in the mouths of the two witnesses] shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: [be killed]
2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Christ killed those who would harm Him in Mat 13:10-15 by simply informing the disciples that the multitudes were not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Mat 13:1015). These were the same multitudes who cried, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” It was “those Jews that believed on Him”:

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33  They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

Joh 8:39  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Joh 8:40  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

It is our old man who must first be deceived and die, before he can possess the words of fire which are the words of life, and have those words of fire in His mouth.

3) The two witnesses have the power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy

Rev 11:6  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

We have seen in our study of Revelation chapter four that the phrase “a door was opened in heaven” is the symbol of exponential growth in the knowledge and understanding of the things of the spirit. Conversely “the power to shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their prophecy”, means that those who witness for Christ will not at first understand the witness they are given. Christ’s own disciples signify this time of our lives. They were with Him 3 ½ years and the heavens were shut and it rained not during the time of Christ’s prophecy. The same was true of “those Jews which believed on Him” and yet “sought to kill [Him]”.

Christ had the power to speak life-giving words and yet kept it from raining in the days of His prophecy by blinding the eyes of those to whom He was speaking, and taking away their ability to hear His Words. It wasn’t so much that they would not hear as much as they were not given to hear His life-giving Words which are called ‘rain’ here in Revelation 11:

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. [No rain in the 1260 days of Christ’s prophecy]
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. [No rain in the days of His prophecy]
Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

No one who comes to the scriptures reads them and immediately understands what they are reading. It varies from person to person, but we all spend a spiritually symbolic three and one half years, trying the spirits and sometimes actually trying to disprove what we are coming to see.

The clearest example of this verse is the fact that Christ witnessed to his own disciples for three and one half years, including telling them that He Himself would be “hurt”, and they did not understand. They were with Him “a thousand two hundred and three score days”, and “they understood not… in the days of His prophecy”.

Mar 9:31  For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
Mar 9:32  But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Christ’s disciples could not believe that their fellow Jews would kill their Lord, much less understand that it would be they themselves who would deny Him, just as it is hard for us to see that it is you and I who see Christ as our King and yet, at first, we still want Him and His doctrine dead.

Joh 12:16  These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

Once again, these words are for us, and it is we who live both sides of this spiritual coin and experience both edges of this spiritual “two edged sword”.

Joh 8:30  As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

We are first “those Jews which believed on Him”, and this is also us in our own appointed time, when we deny our Lord, cursing and swearing and blaspheming His name before the heathen. This is who we all once were while believing the lies of that great city wherein our Lord was crucified:

Joh 8:40  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Joh 8:41  Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, [even] God.
Joh 8:42  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Rev 11:7  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

It is we who are first the children of disobedience and “of our father the devil”. It is we who at first “cannot understand Christ’s words” (Joh 12:16), and who want to kill him and His words. It is the knowing and revealing of this truth which is meant by:

4) … The two witnesses turning waters to blood

What are ‘waters’ in scriptural and spiritual terms? As we have seen over and over again, a two-edged sword cuts both coming and going, and the words of scripture have both a positive and a negative application within us, depending on whether they are speaking of the destruction of our old man or the increase of the new man. In spiritual reality, both are positive, because both are essential to the fulfilling of the Lord’s plan in our lives, but it is still a “sharp twoedged sword” which will “divide asunder the soul and the spirit”. It is still “bitter in the belly” and this Truth “kills” our old man.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In scriptural and spiritual terms, ‘waters’ means (on the negative side of this two-edged sword) the waters of peoples and the doctrines of those peoples, on which the great harlot, Babylon, sits and rules over those people. Those words and doctrines of the peoples of Babylon lead only to death.

Rev 8:11  And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter [in our belly, Rev 10:10].

Rev 17:15  And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

The positive application of the word ‘waters’ in scripture is the words and doctrines of Christ and those words in the mouths of those who are His Christ, which words are words and doctrines of life.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Joh 4:13  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
Joh 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

The turning of ‘wells of waters into blood’ is the revelation that we all first turn the truths of Christ’s words into lies as we reject His Truths and twist those words into lies which we use to cover the idols of our hearts (Eze 1:1-7). It is the very same thing as hurting and killing Christ and His elect, by abusing and twisting His words of life into the false doctrines of Babylon, which produce death. “The dream is one”, and those who twist Christ’s command to love thine enemies into ‘Love only your personal enemies, but not your national or your criminal enemies’, are condemned by Christ’s doctrines. Turning waters into blood by our misunderstanding and our disobedience to God’s words is what we all do before we are transformed into those who know Christ’s words, and who then turn waters into blood in a positive way, by “mortifying the deeds of the flesh” and remaining faithful to the Lord’s words in the face of the pressures of the harlot who tries to force us to conform to this world, by the threat of spiritual death and by the rejection of the “many called” of the multitudes and majorities of Babylon.

The very first people who do this, and who drink of Christ’s blood and deny Him, are Christ’s own apostles who deny Him. It is His own elect, to whom belong “all things, things present and things to come” and who “live by every word… of God” and who “keep these things written in this prophecy”. (1Co 3:21-22, Rev 1:3, Mat 4:4)

Mat 26:27  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Mat 26:29  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. [within you, Luk 17:20-21]

Drinking Christ’s blood is acknowledging that it is we who have shed His blood, and that He has died, and shed that blood for our sins. It is we who first deny Him:

Mar 14:27  And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
Mar 14:28  But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
Mar 14:29  But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
Mar 14:30  And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Mar 14:31  But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

Refusing to acknowledge this is to “turn the waters [of God’s] word into blood”, and to “hurt” and to “kill” God’s two witnesses. It is we who all do “all things” because “all things, things present and things to come, are ours”, both the words of life, and the words of death.

1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

5) The two witnesses are given power to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

Rev 11:6  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

When Christ’s apostles later asked the same question concerning the time of the coming of the kingdom of God which the Pharisees had demanded of Christ in Luk 17, His answer to His disciples was the prophecy of the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew. Here again in Mat 24, we will see the fire proceeding out of the mouths of God’s witnesses to destroy our old man before we are resurrected with Christ, to have that fire in our mouths. The fire that proceeds out of the mouths of the two witnesses, and the smiting of the earth with all plagues as often as they will, are again one and the same because “the dream is one”.

It is also here in the 24th chapter of Matthew that we learn that all of this, including “smiting the earth with all plagues”, is within and is read, heard and kept in “this generation” which “reads, hears and keeps the words of this prophecy”. Let’s see how this is done.

Mat 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

The word ‘world’ here is translated from the Greek word ‘aion’. Christ’s disciples are simply repeating the same question the Jews had earlier asked about “when the kingdom of God should come” and now they add, “and what should be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” It is here in one of the most famous prophecies of scripture that Christ reveals that “all these things shall be fulfilled… in this generation,” whenever “this generation” is “reading, hearing and keeping the things written therein”. (Mat 24:15 and 34 and Rev 1:3)

The first thing Christ gives us as a sign of His coming is that many would come in His name, and in doing so they will be in the process of deceiving many. It is these very words of fire, pointing out that the multitudes are deceived, which proceeds out of the mouth of Christ and His witnesses, which destroy all who fail to acknowledge that we are all, in our turn, “smitten with the plagues” which are our part in living out this deception.

Mat 24:4  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

“Take heed that no man deceive you” is like saying, “The tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which is in the middle of the garden, you shall not eat of it.”

Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Both Mat 24:4 and Gen 2:17 are “words of fire” coming out of the mouth of God’s two witnesses. Just as all who deny they are blind will remain blind,…

Joh 9:40  And [some] of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

 … so also will all who deny that they have been as deceived as walking dead men and must be killed by these fiery words out of the mouths of God’s two witnesses. “Take heed that no man deceive you” is nothing less than a prophecy that you and I will be deceived, just as ‘do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil’ is a prophecy that God knew Adam would fulfill and He had already prepared the sacrifice of that sin.

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Tit 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

So much for the false doctrine of ‘free will’. It is not possible to have a sin offering in place “before the world began” without knowing in advance that Adam would disobey the Lord’s commandment to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God has always been on plan A. He really is in the process of “working all things after the counsel of HIS OWN will”, which includes giving His kingdom to His Son who in turn shares that kingdom with His elect body:

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

The “we” of verse 12 is those who were “called in Christ before the world began”. It is the two olive trees and the two candlesticks who faithfully witness to The Truths of the Word of God, all the while “despising the shame [of] being hated of all men”:

Mat 10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

We will pause our study at this point and pick it up in our next study of the power given to us as the two witness discussed in these two verses:

Rev 11:5  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Rev 11:6  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

The Book of Hosea – Part 9, Hos 9:1-17

[Study Aired June 8, 2024]

The term “whore” or “harlot” is, by Babylon Christian sensitivities, increasingly offensive because they, as we in the past have done, incredibly want to relieve their accusing consciousnesses (Rom 2:12-16) of their deliberately subtle and Babylon’s increasingly blatant degeneracy. Today, in this it seems, the rapidly closing age of man’s rule, Babylon has once again become one language. Not just by her ability with AI to instantly translate languages, but more spiritually potent internationally is the deranged moral cry of every man openly justifying his “one language” of spiritual perversions. In fact, so degraded is the term ‘honourable’ regarding thinking and actions that very few people can identify what it means, equally as they can’t identify the difference between a man and a woman. The world is designed by Christ to be on a one-way ticket just short of oblivion; ‘but for the Elect’s sake, no flesh would be saved alive’ for the One Thousand Year Rule by them! 

Mat 24:21  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 
Mat 24:22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 

Regarding the Tower of Babel:

Gen 11:1  And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 
Gen 11:2  And it came to pass, as they [Descendants of Noah] journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. [Shinar = country of two rivers {Euphrates River} 1. the ancient name for the territory later known as Babylonia or Chaldea and today, Iraq. Since Mt. Ararat is a distance to the North-North-West, they must have gone into Persia, Iran today in order to come from the East].

Notice that they are not heading East towards the sun/the Son of righteousness, but instead to the symbolic spiritual darkness in the West to build their amazing tower. Eventually, the light shining from the rising sun in the East will dispel the darkness in the West. This spiritually symbolises what happens to the Lord’s Elect. However, for the time being, as described in Hosea’s account in old Israel, there will be semi-darkness in the coming exile.

Gen 11:3  And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter [The burning of brick to make it stronger is what the Elect of God see in themselves as they suffer the glorious tribulation of Him building off-site yet still on the Earth, the New Heavenly Jerusalem in them ascending spiritually as a tower “unto heaven”]. 
Gen 11:4  And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 
Gen 11:5  And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 
Gen 11:6  And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do [to pollute Christ’s word].
Gen 11:7  Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech [… confounded language in the world is exactly what is nearing its conclusion today]. 
Gen 11:8  So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 
Gen 11:9  Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. 

Babel H894. Definition: babel or Babylon = confusion (by mixing) 1. Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates. From H1101 – 1. to mix, mingle, confuse, confound a. (Qal) 1. to mingle, confuse 2. to mix. 

What is mixed is the seed of men “mingling” with one another of endless moral ideologies opposing the Lord’s word. If those times of building the tower of the Beast’s ascension to sitting on the throne of God, soundly stating that he is god, were not cut short, the timeframe and plan for God’s recreation of man would have been theoretically shortened.

Likewise, and today for the sake of the Elect, Old Israel in Hosea’s time is deliberately designed to be a whore for the emergent Bride of Christ’s enduring reflection, not to repeat her former ways.

The Lord Will Punish Israel

Hos 9:1  Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor. 

Righteous or unrighteous sexual lust, particularly for men, is designed by God to be a phenomenally powerful magnet, equally as most women’s desire to bear children. On both occasions, if sensual gain is heightened by lingering on an illicit act, the replayed thought held captive by lust is likely to sear one’s conscience to excuse the occasion and subsequently carry out the misdeed. Just as alternately crossed layers of plywood create a thin yet incredibly strong structure, so do the dismissed trumpet blasts of righteous alarm laminate illegitimate thoughts for a seared conscience.

Likewise, is the “joy as other people” who do not know Christ since they do not have a moral foundation as Israel did outwardly to know right from wrong. Consequently, whoring was as natural as brute beasts of the field. Symbolically in nature, brute beasts have more ‘morality’ than mankind only because they are programmed to procreate by certain biological timings rather than man’s conscious deliberations.

Pro 5:3  For the lips of a strange woman [Israel’s neighbours, even some of their ‘own household’] drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: 
Pro 5:4  But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. 
Pro 5:5  Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. 
Pro 5:6  Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. 
Pro 5:7  Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. 
Pro 5:8  Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: 
Pro 5:9  Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: 
Pro 5:10  Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; 
Pro 5:11  And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, 
Pro 5:12  And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; 
Pro 5:13  And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

Israel, as we do spiritually, having repeatedly committed whoredoms and given to not hearing the still small trumpet blast within to remember their Lord’s commands, have figuratively fattened themselves with ‘loved reward upon every cornfloor’ and is traced to a seared conscience since their reward is the fatness of lawlessness without sharp rebuke. 

Eze 33:3  If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 
Eze 33:4  Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 

Hos 9:2  The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her. 

Nonetheless, all her outstanding debts will be paid in the coming exile, and for our unrepentant hearts, the resurrection to Judgment. In that case, in this time and age, spiritually for us, our unrighteousness will never be satisfied with Babylon’s bread and wine, and we may be given over to a reprobate unclean mind, hopefully for temporary chastisement. If not…

Hos 9:3  They shall not dwell in the LORD’S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.

Israel went into exile regardless of the potential confusion of connecting Egypt, Assyria, Sodom, and Old Jerusalem since our Lord deems them all as one and the same. Similarly, it is with the Lord’s own people inwardly today if any return to the vomit of unclean Babylonian doctrine. Subsequently, and before being dragged out of Babylon, God’s Elect were one and the same with the mixed seed of Babylon’s churches. 

Rev 18:3  For all nations [The Elect, too!] have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her [Babylon’s] fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies [Lewd doctrines for etching ears]. 
Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 
Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Hos 9:4  They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.

If we come before our Lord seeking answers to our prayers and we have not beforehand acknowledged our sins, our sacrifice—that is, spiritually, our prayers—is polluted and contemptible. Offering lame, sick, blind and any other sacrifice that is defective is us when we come before Christ without repentance and forgiveness for our brother’s sins against us.

Mal 1:6  A son [in the flesh] honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests [those claiming Elect], that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
Mal 1:7  Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar [Christ]; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. 
Mal 1:8  And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor [An outward king or person deeply respected]; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.

Verse 4 of Hosea seems to directly relate to the Day of Atonement, which is a “holy convocation” and not a feast day as the other six are named. It is a solemn assembly and day of physical fasting that profoundly identifies Old Israel as physically dependent on him.

Passover – Lev 25:4-8

Unleavened Bread – Lev 23:6

Feast of Firstfruits – Lev 23:10

Pentecost, the Feast of Weeks (count 50 days) – Lev 23:16

Feast of Trumpets – Lev 23:24

Day of Atonement, not a Feast but a Sabbath rest – Lev 16, 23:26-32

Feast of Tabernacles or Booths – Lev 23:34

How interesting that in the subsequent verses of Joel 2:12-17, written before 201 BCE, a prophetic representation of spiritual fasting for the Israelites, no doubt a lot of blindness for the masses, and partial blindness for a few!

Joe 2:12  Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
Joe 2:13  And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 
Joe 2:14  Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? 
Joe 2:15  Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
Joe 2:16  Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 
Joe 2:17  Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? 

Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in [in the Lake of Fire].

So, too, it is with our sister Babylon, as we once did. They fast and pray similarly to the custom of Israel before Christ without his spirit to cleanse their polluted hearts. For those dragged to Christ since the cross, the Bridegroom’s spirit resides within, where mourning is far removed since they know their calling as His Bride, where physical fasting is not a necessity, but rather, a broken and contrite spirit which is totally submissive to Christ.

Meanwhile, in the harlotry of Babylonian Christianity, they fast and pray mostly for physical reward, and “their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.” Consequently, in type, the Lord’s people, the “haven of the good”, bury their spiritually dead brother’s polluted bones, represented as unclean doctrines and resulting stench in their nostrils.

Eze 39:11  And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers [the Elect of God]: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.
Eze 39:12  And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.
Eze 39:13  Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD. 
Eze 39:14  And they shall sever out men of continual employment [the Elect who never give up routing spiritual pollution from within], passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search. 
Eze 39:15  And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog [the multitude of Gog, the world].
Eze 39:16  And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land [at the end of the One Thousand Year reign in the Lake of Fire].

Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

Hos 9:5  What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD? 
Hos 9:6  For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis [haven of the good] shall bury them [since they are in exile]: the pleasant places for their silver [God’s word], nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles. 

A brambled confusion of thorns in their tabernacles is what blindness does to one devoid of spiritual understanding. He’s pricked that the scriptures are too difficult to untangle, and rightly so since he hasn’t been given spiritual understanding (Mat 13).

Hos 9:7  The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred. 

The days of visitation have come in this age since the cross only upon the Lord’s little flock of Elect. Any professing priests of God therein, and typified as Essau disdaining his inheritance, are foolish and mad enough not to recognise God’s glorious gift of the First Resurrection and give their entire heart to him.

Hos 9:8  The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.
Hos 9:9  They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah [hill]: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins. 

“The days of Gibeah” are frightfully renowned for the Levite giving his concubine to be most vilely raped repeatedly to death by the sons of Belial, and her husband subsequently sending her dissected body to the far corners of Israel…

Jdg 19:30  And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed [a pollution depicting all of Israel and not just Benjamine] done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.

During the conflict, Israel fiercely battled Benjamin to near extinction. This can be compared to finding only one ripe cluster of grapes on a vine or one plump, ripe fig on a fig tree, which would be thoroughly plundered by thoughtless, uncouth men, leaving nothing for anyone else, representatively leaving no carried forward seed of Benjamin now paralleled to Ephraim’s coming destruction. 

On a positive note, the Lord’s scattered little flock is cherished as the apple of His eye, with the one ‘firstfruit’ fig symbolizing the emerging Bride amidst a world of spiritually immature green apples or evil figs (naughty figs, Jer 24:1-10).

Hos 9:10  I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor [Lord of the gap; a deity; Baal], and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved. 
Hos 9:11  As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. 

Unclean fowl such as crows and vultures, keen to be first to gorge themselves on an animal’s afterbirth or struggling young just delivered, is like Israel, the church, lacking in her Lord’s courage to protect her flock from evil spirits who would normally fly away at the first motherly threat; so, too, are we in lockstep with our first father, Satan, if we fail to challenge what we suspect is unclean doctrinal food. 

Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil [unclean fowl], and he will flee from you. 
Jas 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 
Jas 4:9  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 
Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Rev 18:2  And he [An Angel of the Lord in harmony with the Elect] cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 
Rev 18:3  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 
Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 

Hos 9:12  Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave [Miscarry] them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
Hos 9:13  Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer. 

Those verses can be seen as we once were, allowing the innocence of youthful and pure doctrines to perish without any resistance from our mother Babylon, who stands by passively while her religious leaders also indulge in wrongdoing. Subsequently, she bears symbolic stillbirths, even though they live, being ripped apart by the predatory pastors of Babylon, effectively giving their children to Satan, “the murderer”.

Lev 18:21  And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 

Rev 12:1  And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 
Rev 12:2  And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
Rev 12:3  And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 
Rev 12:4  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 
Rev 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 
Rev 12:6  And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Even Babylon will violently protect her still-born lamb (her laity) to remain in her care, twice dead. Having been a wool grower (a sheep farmer), I’ve noted individual ewes for up to three days, keeping at bay foxes, eagles and crows from her stillborn until she grows weary and thirsty. She will go her way and, just like Babylon, forget her dead young, and naturally, her milk will dry up. Thankfully, for the Lord’s little flock, she has moved on from milk and is paradoxically soundly attached to the Vine, Christ, the symbolic root of Jesse from King David’s stock.

Hos 9:14  Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. 
Hos 9:15  All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings , I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.
Hos 9:16  Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb. 
Hos 9:17  My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations. 

The Bride of Christ is spiritually connected to Christ, who is her foundational root. While the Bride’s sisters in Babylon are focused on the victimised ‘wandering’ Jews who claim to be Jews but are not and are fiercely defending their mutually agreed 200,000,000 Zionist lies, she (the Bride) is also scattered and symbolically wandering among every nation on Earth.

Joh 10:15  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 
Joh 10:16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 

Deu 30:1  And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, 
Deu 30:2  And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; 
Deu 30:3  That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. 
Deu 30:4  If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: 
Deu 30:5  And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.

The Bride of Christ sees the detailed view of the entirety of her Lord’s word. The flesh is a wearisome evil experience, and so, too, can be endlessly reminded of having been a whore. Though not remotely proud of her former, and still disappearing nature, she is well past being sensitive and defensive to how her Lord designed her for recreating her in his image.

Rom 9:19  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 
Rom 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 
Rom 9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 

1Co 15:41  There is one glory of the sun [The Father in Christ], and another glory of the moon, [One of two churches] and another glory of the stars [The world, those outside the camp of the Saints]: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 
1Co 15:42  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1Co 15:43  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 
1Co 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

Now, and with no memory of her whoreish ways, the Bride, Christ’s blossoming Wife, the New Heavenly Jerusalem above, is an extraordinarily dazzling and colourful jewel already considered to crown her Husband (Pro 12:4… ‘a virtuous woman…’) intimately fitted (rooted) in spiritual comfort of the same unified mind in him (Rev 21:9-27).

[Posted August 18, 2022]

Hi Mike,

I am writing because I stumbled upon a passage that cut my heart open. The passage is in ​P​salm 32:9.

Psa 32:9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding:  whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

It seems I have been like the mule many times, and then I get so scared sometimes that I’m doing something the LORD warned us not to be ​like ​or do. This is an instruction, and I felt like I’m that mule which the Lord is somehow “vexed” with due to acting like someone with no understanding a​t ​times despite the privileged understanding of His word He has given me. This verse scares me.

What do you think​?​ ​C​an we be the mule, and what does it mean to held with bit and bridle​?​ Is the LORD going to do that? The fact that the lord warns against it shows it must be painful. It seems like I’m at that stage – not been able to appreciate the knowledge God has given me compared to the churches of Babylon and acting like the very stubborn mule. This made me think about the warning of 1 Corinthians​ 10 also. I have prayed that God will have mercy, and I hope ​H​e gives me grace to ​m​arch on to perfection not laying the foundation of repentance from dead works. The fact that the LORD warns in such a way in that verse made me decide to send this.

Thanks,
A____

Hi A​____,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts about:

Psa 32:9  Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

You say this verse scares you because you find yourself “acting like someone with no understanding at ​times despite the privileged understanding of His word He has given me.”

That is exactly what that verse in designed to do. Every admonition of scripture… don’t lie, cheat, steal, commit adultery, murder is designed to instill the fear of God within us. That is why we are told:

1Ti 1:9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
1Ti 1:11  According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

As Christ grows within us, we don’t need to be told, “Do this, and don’t do that or you will get a spanking.” However, Christ’s growth within us takes time, and that is why you are ‘made afraid’ by this admonition to not be a mule.

Every man is “a mule” in his own time, and every man will grow out of that beastly condition. Read the rest of that chapter of Psalms:

Psa 32:10  Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
Psa 32:11  Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Whether you are wicked or righteous and upright in heart, it is a work of the Lord (Gen 45:4-8,​ Rom 7:17-23) for your good (Rom 8:28). So “trust in the Lord [and] His mercy will compass [you] about.”

Remember and take great comfort in ​t​he Truth that the Lord is working all things after the counsel of His own will for your good. ​This i​nclud​es​ being afraid of being a mule with no understanding. That fear is a necessary evil to being about His purpose in your life:

Rom 8:27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Your brother who struggles with you,
Mike

1Ki 22:45-53, 2Ki 1:1-18  “The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works“

1Ki 22:45  Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 
1Ki 22:46  And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.
1Ki 22:47  There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king. 
1Ki 22:48  Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.
1Ki 22:49  Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not. 
1Ki 22:50  And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

Sin’s dormant power that does not have a hold on us is represented in this story by “the ships [that] were broken at Eziongeber” and by the relationship between Jehoshaphat and Ahab that had come to an end by the death of Ahab who represents our old man of sin (Rom 6:23). That does not mean that this is the end of the struggle, but rather that Jehoshaphat is typical of the overcomer who is learning to deal with sin that lies at the door (2Ch 20:35-37) and wants to constantly rule over us (Gen 4:7).

Rom 6:22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

1Ki 22:49  Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not. 

2Ch 20:35  And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly: 
2Ch 20:36  And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish (“Tarshish” = she will shatter enemies – PNB-kjv): and they made the ships in Eziongeber

H6100 (“Eziongeber” = man’s counsel – PNB-kjv).

2Ch 20:37  Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

H6100 ‛etsyôn geber  ‛etsyôn geber  Ezion-geber = “backbone of a man”

Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

The rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat “and his might that he shewed, and how he warred” testify to this point that we are not perfected in this marred vessel (Luk 13:32, Jer 18:4, Jas 1:14-15) and all the “chronicles of the kings of Judah” are written for our sakes to let us know that we must fight these powers and principalities all our earthly life (Eph 6:12).

Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 
Jas 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

To this end of warring against these powers and principalities until our last breath, we are to have nothing to do with “the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa“, which is a symbol of a Nicolaitan spirit which is a perverse and pervasive spirit in Babylon that wants to rule over the laity with a negative example of words and works (Joh 14:10), described as “deeds” and “doctrine“, of which spirit we are told to take “out of the land” as Jehoshaphat did (Rev 2:6, Rev 2:15).

Joh 14:10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 

Rev 2:6  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans^G3531, which I also hate. 

Rev 2:15  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans^G3531, which thing I hate.

G3531 Nicolaitans Nikolaites

Thayer definition: Nicolaitans = “destruction of people”

This all sounds like favorable behavior on the part of Jehoshaphat who humbled himself each time a prophet came to admonish him (2Ch 19:2, 2Ch 20:37), and he also sought “a prophet of the Lord” before warring with the nations around him (1Ki 22:7 – Ramothgilead with Ahab; 2Ki 3:11 Moab with Jehoram the son of Ahab; 2Ch 20:3 Moab and Ammon against Jehoshaphat).

Jehoshaphat was also the last king of Judah to have dominion over Edom, from the days of David when he subdued them (2Sa 8:14). This is why we are told that there was “no king in Edom: a deputy was king” at this time, setting the stage for his evil firstborn son Jehoram to deal with “the Edomites [who] revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day…because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.”

2Sa 8:14  And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

2Ch 20:34  Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel. 
2Ch 20:35  And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly: 
2Ch 20:36  And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongeber. 
2Ch 20:37  Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish. 

2Ch 21:1  Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead. 
2Ch 21:2  And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. 
2Ch 21:3  And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn. 
2Ch 21:4  Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel. 
2Ch 21:5  Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 
2Ch 21:6  And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.
2Ch 21:7  Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever. 
2Ch 21:8  In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king. 
2Ch 21:9  Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots. 
2Ch 21:10  So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.

Positively, Jehoshaphat ‘fought a good fight of faith’ throughout his life, but this story tells us, symbolically, that if our contentment in God increases we will mature through the trials of our lives. This is what we see in the life of king Jehoshaphat (2Ch 20:30), ready to sleep with his fathers after 25 years reigning over Judah (2Ch 20:31) knowing what he knows, and believing what he believes: “Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram^H3088 his son reigned in his stead“, “howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers” (2Ch 20:32-33).

2Ch 20:30  So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about. 
2Ch 20:31  And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 
2Ch 20:32  And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD. 
2Ch 20:33  Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.

As we will see, his firstborn son Jehoram^H3088 was not a good king, but his name does remind us that his father’s way of life, or doctrine, represented by his offspring, exalted Jehovah.

H3088 Jehoram yehôrâm

BDB Definition:  Jehoram or Joram = “Jehovah is exalted”

1) son of king Jehoshaphat of Judah and himself king of Judah for 8 years; his wife was the wicked Athaliah who was probably the instigator for his returning the nation of Judah to the worship of Baal.

2) son of king Ahab of the northern kingdom of Israel and king of Israel himself for 12 years; he was murdered by Jehu on the plot of land for which his father had murdered Naboth thus fulfilling the prophecy of Elijah to the very letter

3) a priest in the reign of Jehoshaphat.

Part of Speech: noun proper masculine

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H3068 and H7311

1Ki 22:51  Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel. 
1Ki 22:52  And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin: 
1Ki 22:53  For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.

Ahaziah began to reign in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel, and like his father before him “he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin“. He symbolizes how all flesh will naturally be seduced into doing what we want if not for the power of God, the soundness of His mind, and the love that He sheds abroad in the hearts (2Ti 1:7, Rom 5:5) of His people that helps us rule over all the powers and principalities that we are wrestling against in this life.

Ahaziah did what his father did, “He served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.” While this was going on,  Jehoshaphat king of Judah was trending in an upward direction by faithfully serving God and demonstrating his fidelity by destroying the idols of his heart. The witness of no control over the flesh was symbolized by the two years of Ahaziah’s reign that was of the same spirit as his father, and the seventeenth year that adds up to the number ‘eight’ represents the new man (1+7) that Jehoshaphat symbolizes. The short reign of two years of the young and out-of-control king Ahaziah over Israel is in contrast with the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah who was more mature and circumspect than Ahaziah.

As was noted at the start of the last study, each king simply represents stages of our maturing or stages of our old man’s bondage and inability to overcome. We truly don’t wrestle against flesh and blood (Eph 6:12), and as such we can have every confidence that we can be more than conquerors through Christ who God has dragged us to so we can be saved through his life within us as our hope of glory (Joh 6:44, Rom 5:10, Col 1:27).

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

I’ve chosen this title for our study: “the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works“, primarily for our study with this first chapter of the 2nd book of kings, which is going to show us in type and shadow via the prophet Elijah what the words and works of Christ in the body of Christ will accomplish for us today as we continue to mature.

2Ki 1:1  Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
2Ki 1:2  And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice^H7639 in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.

Second Kings begins by telling us that after Ahab died, Moab rebelled against Israel. This death of Ahab in a positive light is the beginning of sorrows for Israel who is a type of the Israel of God (Mat 24:8,  Gal 6:16), and so the story takes us in a direction of hope as Elijah, who represents Christ, is coming into the picture to deal with the idolatrous spirit of Ahaziah who has “sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.” Moab rebelling against Israel symbolizes our persistent flesh that must die daily and not just this one-time death of Ahab who does represent one event of our dying daily lifetime journey.

We have discussed this section before in detail regarding what this “lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria” represents, through which Ahaziah fell “and was sick“. The lattice can be positive or negative and represents our spiritual safety in the Lord when it is truly His counsel, His network, His lattice (Pro 11:14, Pro 24:6, Pro 15:22) that we seek and not that of “Baalzebub the god of Ekron“, which represents our former conversation that was guided by deceitful lusts (Eph 4:22).

Pro 11:14  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Pro 24:6  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. 

Pro 15:22  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. 

Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 

The positive lattice that keeps us safe in this life is the counsel which is found in the Lord via the multitude of counselors, which is how we are to battle against the powers and principalities against which we war. In time, all of humanity will be saved and learn of these truths that God blessed his little remnant to continue in today, which is the positive lattice (1Ki 7:41-42). The lattice “in his upper chamber that was in Samaria” represents the counsel of this world that will lead to death and was our former conversation (Pro 14:12, Pro 16:25, Eph 4:22-24).

H7639 networks śebâkâh seb-aw-kaw’

Feminine of H7638; a net work, that is, (in hunting) a snare, (in architecture) a ballustrade; also a reticulated ornament to a pillar: – checker, lattice, network, snare, wreath (-enwork).

Total KJV occurrences: 15

1Ki 7:41  The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks^H7639, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars;
1Ki 7:42  And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks^H7639, even two rows of pomegranates for one network^H7639, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars; [Rev 11:3-4]

Pro 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 

Pro 16:25  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 

Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 
Eph 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 
Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

2Ki 1:3  But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? 
2Ki 1:4  Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

It’s not every day that someone gets stopped dead in their tracks by a prophet of God, but that is exactly what happened to all of us who were blessed to take heed and to hear the warning of God to come out of Babylon represented by “Baalzebub the god of Ekron” (2Co 6:17). Those words sent to us will accomplish what God has intended them to do (Isa 55:11), and the reluctance we will read about our yet carnal minds to hear the words of Christ is something that has to be burnt out of us.  This action will be typified by the sequential destruction of the messengers that were sent from Ahaziah to bring Elijah down to the king (2Ki 1:9) who sought “to enquire of (Baalzebub – master of the flies) the god of (Ekron – torn up by the roots) (PNB-kjv)”. Ahaziah being told that “Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up,” is the opposite of picking up your bed, or working out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Joh 5:8, Php 2:12-13).

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 

Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Joh 5:8  Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 

2Ki 1:5  And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back? 
2Ki 1:6  And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. 
2Ki 1:7  And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?
2Ki 1:8  And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

It is the prophet of God who tells the messengers to turn back^H7725 in the sense of going back the same way you came, bringing to mind the Lord’s command to not “turn again to go by the way that thou camest” (1Ki 13:17) because this is symbolically ‘backsliding’ (Jer 8:5).

1Ki 13:15  Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. 
1Ki 13:16  And he said, I may not return^H7725 with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: 
1Ki 13:17  For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again^H7725 to go by the way that thou camest.

Jer 8:4  Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away^H7725, and not return^H7725?
Jer 8:5  Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back^H7725 by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return^H7725.

Elijah already knows there is a death sentence coming for the “king of Samaria” for the abominable act of seeking counsel from Baal instead of “the God of Israel”, demonstrating the hardness of his heart and inability of our flesh (“the king of Samaria”), which is not the true “Israel of God”, to seek the counsel of God (Gal 6:16, Eph 3:10,  1Ti 3:15).

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

When Ahaziah asked the messengers what manner of man it was who talked to them, he confirmed that he knew who Elijah the Tishbite was. This is significant as Ahaziah would have known of the prophecies that befell his father Ahab at the voice of the same prophet his father sought to kill (1Ki 18:10),  who is now condoning his actions and announcing his impending death (2Ki 1:16).

Elijah is described as “an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins“, which girdle of leather^H5785 represents this administration of death that we are all a part of (Gen 3:20-21, Gen 27:16, 2Co 3:7). Elijah also witnesses to the administration of life God’s elect are part of being ‘girt about’ our loins with Christ, our righteousness, which is what is required for the death of our old man who must die daily (Rev 1:13, Rev 19:8). The “hairy man” in biblical terms can be both negative (Gen 25:25) and positive, Esau representing the first (negative) hairy man and Elijah representing “the second man from heaven” (1Co 15:46-47).

Gen 3:20  And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 
Gen 3:21  Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins^H5785, and clothed them.

Gen 27:16  And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:

Mar 1:6  And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 

H5785 ore: From H5783; skin (as naked); by implication hide, leather: – hide, leather, skin.

Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Gen 25:25  And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.  
1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

2Ki 1:9  Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.
2Ki 1:10  And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

Now we see the old covenant witness of how we are to stand on the word of God and destroy those things within ourselves, “every high thing that exalteth itself [“he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down“], against the knowledge of God” (2Co 10:3-6). Elijah is going to obey God and not man in this and every situation where this is required (Act 5:29).

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds [“he sat on the top of an hill“]
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 
2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 

Act 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Elijah is not going to “come down”, but demonstrates through the next words that he is in fact a type of the elect and more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ (Rom 8:37) who is higher than all these powers and principalities we wrestle against, symbolized by the “the captain of fifty“.

The strength in their flesh that is going to be overcome by “fire come down from heaven” which typifies the words of God, represents the grace-through-faith process we go through (Eph 2:8) as the body of Christ, to have all these powers and principalities destroyed within our heavens (Eph 1:21). So, as always, there can be a negative ‘fifty’ and a positive ‘fifty’ or multiple of that number as in the story of the 250 men of renown whose destruction is a repeat story of the one we are looking at with these 3 x 50 false messengers (Num 16:2-3).

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 
2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Num 16:2  And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: 
Num 16:3  And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

2Ki 1:11  Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.
2Ki 1:12  And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

This repeat of the same thing happening now to the second ‘captain with his fifty’ is a witness to us that God does not change, and as such we are not consumed (Mal 3:6), however our old man is consumed by God’s words which is typified by “the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty“.

Mal 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

2Ki 1:13  And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. 
2Ki 1:14  Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.

The third captain in this process of judgment comes with a more contrite heart, much fear, and recognition of God’s power and might that has been working all along in the life of Elijah to destroy these wicked words and works of the fleshly messengers doing what they have been instructed to do via Ahaziah.

This messenger says “therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight“, and indeed, as we are purified through a chastening and scourging process (Heb 12:6) God puts us through, learning to forsake ungodliness and worldly lust (Tit 2:12) to become more precious in the sight of God as a result of our fiery trials that purify our heavens (1Pe 1:7).

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 

Tit 2:12  Teaching^G3811 us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; [Heb 12:1-3]

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 
Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 
Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds [Rom 8:35, the love of Christ within us (Rom 5:5)].

2Ki 1:15  And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king. 
2Ki 1:16  And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

Elijah waits on the Lord and only goes where the Lord would have him go and when he would have him go (Rom 8:14-16, 2Co 3:17), as a shadow for God’s elect of how we are to commit our ways unto God as unto a faithful Creator and wait upon him and not fear what men can do to our flesh: “be not afraid of him” (Heb 13:6-7). We are being told that with God’s love shed abroad in our hearts this process of judgment is going to be completed, and we will go on to perfection on the third day (Luk 13:32).

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 

Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me [“Go down with him: be not afraid of him“].
Heb 13:7  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 

This obedience of Elijah is contrasted against the twice-mentioned statement to Ahaziah who was not going to pick up his bed and walk (Joh 5:8): “Therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.“

2Ki 1:17  So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.
2Ki 1:18  Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Dying “according to the word of the LORD” is a prophecy of what is happening to each of us as we die daily (1Co 15:31). After the death of Ahaziah the king of Israel, the cycle continues and another king by the name Jehoram comes to reign in his stead. Ahaziah has no son to take over his throne so his brother Jehoram, also Ahab’s son, reigns in his stead. To note, there is also another Jehoram in this story, “the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah“, also significant, and Lord willing, we will delve into in an upcoming study.

1Ki 22:50  And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead. 

2Ki 1:17  So he [Ahaziah] died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram [his brother] reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son. 

2Ki 3:1  Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. 

Ahaziah having no son [no sound doctrine] to reign after him is symbolic of his having no inheritance in the saints, and how our old man must be destroyed leaving neither “root nor branch” (Mal 4:1).

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Mal 4:1  For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

It may seem like a sad ending to this story, but in truth these are all hope-filled events for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear that all things are ‘yes’ in the word of God and written for our sakes (2Co 1:20, Mat 13:16, 2Co 4:15).

2Co 1:20  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

All these words and works we are seeing unfold in the old covenant are types and shadows of the words and works that God is accomplishing in the lives of his workmanship that we are in this age (Eph 2:10).

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Jdg 8:22 – 35 Gideon, Rule Thou Over us, Both thou, and thy Son

[Study Aired April 26, 2021]

Jdg 8:22  Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. 
Jdg 8:23  And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. 
Jdg 8:24  And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 
Jdg 8:25  And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. 
Jdg 8:26  And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks. 
Jdg 8:27  And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
Jdg 8:28  Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.
Jdg 8:29  And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.
Jdg 8:30  And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.
Jdg 8:31  And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
Jdg 8:32  And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Jdg 8:33  And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.
Jdg 8:34  And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:
Jdg 8:35  Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.

The first half of chapter 8 of Judges deals with the pursuing of the enemies who escaped in the war with the Midianites and how they were defeated together with the slaying of their leaders – Zebah and Zalmunna. This reflects the war in our heavens in the course of our walk with Christ to rid them of false doctrines which is a symbol of the Midianites. During the pursuit, Gideon and his men went by the way of those who dwell in tents. That is to suggest that in this conflict with our old man, we need to exercise faith that God who has started this journey with us will see to its completion.

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Heb 11:9  By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
Heb 11:10  For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Gideon and his men grew weary as they pursued the enemies, and so they requested for food from the men of Succoth and Penuel.  In both cases, they were denied because these men were not convinced that Gideon and his men would completely overcome the enemies as long as they saw Zebah and Zalmunna free. What this tells us is that both the world (represented by men of Succoth) and the church system of this world (represented by Penuel) do not recognize us as God’s overcomers in this life. Rather, they classify us as spiritually dead in the streets of Jerusalem.

Rev 11:8  and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.
Rev 11:9  For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb,

Gideon therefore promised the men of Succoth and Penuel that when he returns in victory, he will use thorns and briars to hurt the flesh of the men of Succoth and break down the tower of Penuel. This speaks of our enthronement with Christ to judge all humanity by breaking down their false doctrines (tower) and also correcting them with their false doctrines (thorns and briars).

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Eventually, Gideon and his men won the battle with the Midianites just before the sunrise. This speaks of the certainty of victory for those who are in battle now in this life to remove all that offends from their heavens. This victory will come just before the sunrise, that is, when our Lord Jesus comes (the sun of righteousness) to make the kingdom of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christs. That is the beginning of our rulership which is part of the subject for today’s study as follows:

Jdg 8:22  Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.

After Gideon’s conquest of the Midianites and the putting to death of Zebah and Zalmunna, the men of Israel requested Gideon to rule over them. This victory over the old man or the flesh is what will qualify us as overcomers and to be manifested as sons of God during the first resurrection. That is what the world is looking for – the manifested sons of God!! Our victory will cause the world to voluntary hand over to us the governance of this world. This verse is therefore foretelling of the rulership of the elect after they are manifested as the sons of God during the next age when the kingdoms of this world becomes the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

The scriptures make us aware that what has been, is what will be.

Ecc 1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Ecc 1:10  Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

Let’s look at two instances in the scriptures where God caused the rulers of particular nations to hand over their power to God’s people, who were not even citizens of those nations. This is to assure us that when the time comes, God is able to cause the whole world to surrender their power to the elect seamlessly.

Gen 41:1  And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.
Gen 41:2  And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.
Gen 41:3  And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
Gen 41:4  And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
Gen 41:5  And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.
Gen 41:6  And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.
Gen 41:7  And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.
Gen 41:8  And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

Gen 41:16  And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Gen 41:37  And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
Gen 41:38  And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?Gen 41:39  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
Gen 41:40  Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
Gen 41:41  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
Gen 41:42  And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

The second Witness

Est 6:1  On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 
Est 6:2  And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 
Est 6:3  And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. 

Est 6:10  Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 
Est 6:11  Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

Our God knows what He can do to cause the whole world to hand over the governance of the world to the elect, and He has given us two witnesses to make us aware that what he intends to do is well established and that He will shortly bring it to pass.

Gen 41:32  And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

Jdg 8:23  And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. 

Gideon’s answer to the people is another way of saying that our rulership is not of this present world. Jesus made us aware of this as follows:

Joh 18:36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 

As long as we are in this flesh, we cannot inherit the promise. “The Lord shall rule over you” is another way of saying that the Lord rules in the kingdom of men.

Dan 4:17  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. 

Jdg 8:24  And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 
Jdg 8:25  And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. 
Jdg 8:26  And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks. 

On a positive note, the giving of the gold ornaments by the Israelites to Gideon represents the fact that whatever knowledge of the word of God that the existing churches of the world know is being/has been taken away and given to God’s elect as spoken by Jesus.

Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 

On a negative note, Gideon did not adhere to the principle ‘freely we have received, freely we must give’ just as the Babylonian system refuses to heed to this admonition. From the previous review, we noted that Gideon removed the ornaments of gold from the necks of the camels of the enemies – Zebah and Zalmunna. That is to suggest that he craved for worldly mammon. In spite of his defeat of the Midianites, he coveted their possession.

Jdg 8:21  Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels’ necks.

This propensity towards error is common to us all. That is why we must cry to the Lord to rid us of all that offends in our heart and minds for we cannot serve God and mammon. This craving for mammon is the stumbling block of iniquity which has derailed many potential God’s children from the reward. Examples of Old Testament types include Saul, Solomon and Gehazi, the servant of Elisha. The New Testament list includes Judas Iscariot and Demas.

Mat 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

2Ti 4:10  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 

At a certain stage of our walk with Christ, we were willing to give our money to our “men of God” in Babylon just as we see the willingness of the Israelites to give to Gideon. We share in the sins of these men of God who were/are fleecing God’s people. We therefore were as guilty as the ministers in Babylon, as we thought that gain is godliness. One of their own prophets prophesied the following about the fleecing of God’s children in Babylon:

“Enough is enough; no longer will I suffer or tolerate ministers and ministries who operate in My name and fleece, yes, fleece My people. You manipulate them and prey on their emotions to part with their hard-earned income. You say it is for My Kingdom and promise them blessings in My name, which I have not spoken to you. Furthermore, you twist and distort My Word to fit in with your own evil schemes”.

1Ti 6:5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 
1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain. 
1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 
1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 
1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

What happened to Gideon is no different from what Saul did in the sense that both thought of worshiping the Lord with what they got from the enemies.

1Sa 15:1  Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. 

1Sa 15:3  Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 

1Sa 15:8  And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 
1Sa 15:9  But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. 

1Sa 15:20  And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 
1Sa 15:21  But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. 
1Sa 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 
1Sa 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Jdg 8:27  And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house. 

According to Strong, an ephod can be a girdle or an image. In this particular instance, it represents an image. An image is not the real thing. So this ephod represents another Jesus that is worshipped in Babylon. This is confirmed by the fact that the ephod was placed at Ophrah, which means a young deer in its first year. So what this means is that when we were young in our walk with Christ, we were easily entrapped into worshiping another Jesus because of our carnal nature.  It is in Babylon that we learn to become a whore and so go after every wind of doctrine that sweeps us away from the true living God.

2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear wiath him. 

Our Lord is always calling His children from Babylon. Thus, being in Babylon is a necessary part of our walk with Christ as demonstrated by the marrying of Leah and Rachel by Jacob.

Gen 29:16  And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 
Gen 29:17  Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 
Gen 29:18  And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 
Gen 29:19  And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 
Gen 29:20  And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 
Gen 29:21  And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 
Gen 29:22  And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 
Gen 29:23  And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 
Gen 29:24  And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. 
Gen 29:25  And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 
Gen 29:26  And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 
Gen 29:27  Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 
Gen 29:28  And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 

When we start this walk with Christ, we end up in the churches thinking it is Rachel. All of this takes place in the night of our lives until the morning comes when the sun of righteousness begins to shine in our lives.  That is when we realize, like Jacob, that we have married the wrong woman – Leah (Babylon). As we can see in the above scriptures, Leah is said to be tender eyed, which means her eyes were weak. This is to tell us that God has not given the churches eyes to see or ears to hear. Through the grace of God, when the morning comes and we see who we have really married (Leah), that is when we start our journey out of Babylon and end up coming into the New Jerusalem (Rachel).

The fact that Leah had many children also demonstrates that Leah represents Jerusalem which now is. She thought that by giving Jacob many sons, she will be loved by her husband. That is exactly what the churches do – they think they can please God by the good works they do. However, the barren woman (Rachel) is blessed!

Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 

Gen 29:34  And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. 

At the end of the day, Gideon made serious mistakes in his relationship with Christ as a result of his covetous attitude which led him to build an ephod which became a stumbling block of iniquity even though he has seen the Lord face to face. Gideon’s errors were grave just like that of Hezekiah who showed off his spiritual wealth to the Babylonians and appropriated to himself the glory which belongs to God. In both cases, they were shown mercy, and the reason they were shown mercy was that God has determined before the world began that He would show them mercy. That was not the case with Esau and Saul.  What we see of Gideon’s, Hezekiah’s and David’s experiences are to make us aware that as God’s elect we are human and weak. We should therefore humble ourselves as we see ourselves as greatest sinners to whom God has shown mercy and is in the process of making us fit for a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him. These things are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come.

2Ch 32:22  Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side. 
2Ch 32:23  And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth. 

2Ch 32:25  But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Jdg 8:28  Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon. 

The fact that the Midianites were not able to lift their heads again during the time of Gideon is the same as saying that when we become enlightened and we makes mistakes, we do not end up going back to Egypt or Babylon.

This rest of forty years by the Israelites under Gideon is a period where the devil’s activities are constrained by the Lord just as at the beginning of the millennial rule Satan would be bound for a period of “thousand years”. As a result, the Israelites had a period of rest from war with the other nations in their land. It is therefore a physical rest, and as we journey with Christ, we also experience these periods of rest intermittently. However, this is not the spiritual rest for the elect which we must endeavor to enter. As indicated in Hebrews 4:9-11, this spiritual rest is to cease from our own works. We can enter into this rest when we believe that what the Lord has started in our lives, He is able to finish it on our behalf.

Rev 20:1  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 
Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 
Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 

Heb 4:5  And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 
Heb 4:6  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 
Heb 4:7  Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 
Heb 4:8  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 
Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 

Jdg 8:29  And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.

Gideon going to live in his own house spiritually symbolizes that in sinning this way, Gideon did not regard his inheritance or reward as precious or something to die for, as demonstrated by the following scripture:

2Ch 10:16  And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents. 

2Sa 20:1  And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. 

Gideon’s attitude was the same as that of Esau who rejected his inheritance for one morsel of meat, and afterward he sought for his inheritance with tears but could not bring himself to repentance.

Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 
Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 
Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. 

All this is to tell us of the failures of Gideon after being enlightened. Because God has selected Gideon before the world began with the purpose of showing His glory through him, he was shown mercy. The failures of Gideon even become clearer in the following verses:

Jdg 8:30  And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. 
Jdg 8:31  And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. 

Gideon having seventy children is to tell us that Gideon’s situation is just like being in Babylonian captivity. This means that when we sin, we are no different from the Babylonian system that we left.

Jer 25:11  And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

Gideon’s deplorable situation is further confirmed by the fact that Gideon married many wives and even had concubines. Marrying many wives and having concubines is a spiritual way of saying that Gideon’s heart was not perfect with the Lord. As we get enlightened, we must seek the Lord to deal with all our weaknesses so that we can be able to offer ourselves as living sacrifice to Him.

1Ki 11:3  And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
1Ki 11:4  For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

As Paul said, even though we speak this way, we are persuaded of better things concerning our salvation. As long as we are depending on the Lord to rid us of anything evil in our heart, testing the spirit, admitting our faults to one another, gladly receiving multitude of counsel and deferring to our leaders, we are sure that He who has started this great work in us will see to its completion!!

Heb 6:9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 

Jdg 8:32  And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 

Dying in a good old age is a phrase used in the scriptures for the elect types in the Old Testament as follows:

Gen 25:8  Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

1Ch 29:28  And he (David) died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.

This verse means that Gideon, in spite of all that he did – that is marrying many wives and concubines and building an ephod which became a snare to the people of Israel, received mercy from the Lord. He was therefore counted as one of those who demonstrated their faith in God in the Book of Hebrews chapter 11 where the heroes of faith were listed.

Heb 11:32  And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 
Heb 11:33  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 
Heb 11:34  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 

Jdg 8:33  And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god. 
Jdg 8:34  And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:
Jdg 8:35  Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel. 

As indicated earlier, the forty years of rest under Gideon was only a physical rest where God restrained the enemies of Israel from attacking them. This rest therefore did not result in spiritual growth. It was a period during which what was in their hearts became evident. To understand the significance of the number forty years rest, let us look at what happened to the Israelites when they were in the wilderness for forty years.  During that period, it became clear that they were not cut out to please God because their hearts were always erring.  In that situation they were not able to discern God’s ways. That is what happens to us when we come under bondage to the flesh. We will always be erring, and we cannot please God during that period because we do not know His ways. However, forty years on a positive note also signifies the period of God’s provision and protection. The Israelites lacked nothing during the wilderness experience.  It is also the period in our lives that we begin the dying to the flesh process and get ourselves ready to drive out the giants of our land.

This period is also characterized by our raiment not waxing old as it happened to the Israelites in the wilderness. As we know, raiment stands for our righteousness. So what it means is that we do not change our righteousness to put on the righteousness of Christ. We bask in our own righteousness just like Job as we wear our own clothes and eat our own food and only desire to have the name of Christ as our husband. This is what happens to us when we come under bondage to the flesh for a symbolic forty years during our walk with Christ.

Psa 95:10  Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: 
Psa 95:11  Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. 

Num 32:13  And the LORD’S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.

Deu 2:7  For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.

Deu 8:4  Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.

So the forty years rest under Gideon was a period during which the Israelites were found wanting. Therefore God comes in seeking an occasion to judge the Israelites by causing them to return to idol worship at the death of Gideon.  We also have been weighed in a balance and are found wanting. That is why we are all going through judgment. The good news is that the judgment we are going through now is working for our salvation by destroying every seed of rebellion in our lives. Praise be to God!!! In the next review of Judges Chapter 9, we will see how God judged the Israelites using one of His four sore judgements.

Isa 66:15-19 By Fire and by His Sword Will the Lord Plead with All Flesh

[Study Aired November 1, 2020]

Isa 66:15  For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
Isa 66:16  For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
Isa 66:17  They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.
Isa 66:18  For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
Isa 66:19  And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

Our last study ended with the Lord informing us that “when… [we] shall be comforted in Jerusalem… our heart shall rejoice… and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward His servants, and His indignation toward His enemies.

Isa 66:13  As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
Isa 66:14  And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

Knowing ‘the hand of the Lord’ is to know and believe that His Words are sure:

Num 11:23  And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD’S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

Ecc 8:4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

Luk 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Our study today begins with the work of the Lord’s “right hand… by the Word of His power:

Isa 66:15  For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
Isa 66:16  For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.

These last verses of Isaiah transition back from the subject of comfort to informing us of how the Lord is dealing with our flesh which was “made to be taken and destroyed”:

2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

“Know[ing] the hand of the Lord toward His servants” (Isa 66:14) is speaking of the faith of His servants in His Word. The Lord’s enemies are always those who withstand Him and His doctrines. The rebellious carnal mind in each of us has ‘spoken evil of the things we did not understand.’ To “know… the hand of the Lord” is to experience its fiery work in purifying our inward heavens. The sword with which “the Lord… will… plead with all flesh”, including first and primarily with the flesh of His elect, is His Word:

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Having the understanding and knowledge required to “know the hand of the Lord toward His servants, and [to know] His indignation toward His enemies” will be the focus of our study today. The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven is given only to those who are being dragged to the Lord by His fiery words:

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

“The hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies” is reiterated “line upon line and precept upon precept upon precept” in:

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Mal 3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

The “book of remembrance” is just another name for “the Lamb’s book of life”:

Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Rev 21:10  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11  Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

As the overcomers of “this present time” (Rom 8:18) produce seed to the Lord, our children will become our family and will through our mercy (Rom 11:30-31) enter into the New Jerusalem.

Isa 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Act 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

Isa 61:9  And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

That ‘mercy’ will not be shown to them until after the great white throne judgment begins. ‘Jerusalem’ in Isaiah 66 is speaking specifically of “Jerusalem above, the mother of us all”, and it is “Jerusalem above” which is “the apple of [the Lord’s] eye”. It is certainly not “the son of the bondwoman… Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children.”

Here in Malachi “Jerusalem above” is called “My jewels… [My] own son”. In Isaiah 66:14 we are told that ‘when we are comforted by Jerusalem [above] then the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.’ “Knowing… the hand of the Lord toward His servants [contrasted with] His indignation toward His enemies” is expressed here in Malachi as the spiritual ability to “discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and Him that serves Him not.” Such discernment comes only through being spiritually matured through “having [our spiritual] senses exercised to discern good and evil,” to “know [what is] the spirit of Truth and [what is] the spirit of error” (1Jo 4:6).

Such critical discernment is not left to individual preferences. Doctrinal differences from time to time are inevitable. The Lord uses our hunger for more of Christ and His Truth to let the adversary tempt us into believing a lie and thinking above what is written. When that happens, our pride identifies with our thoughts which are “above that which is written”. At that point “the pride of life” and the tribulation of being humiliated before men causes us to “believe a lie” and believe the idols of our own hearts. This is an essential and integral part of “the hand of the LORD be[ing made] known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.”

Paul tells us we must live out this experience:

1Co 11:19  For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Look at this verse again with its Strong’s numbers:

1Co 11:19  For^G1063 there must^G1163 be^G1511 also^G2532 heresies^G139 among^G1722 you,^G5213 that^G2443 they which are approved^G1384 may be made^G1096 manifest^G5318 among^G1722 you.^G5213

Notice that four English words are used: “they which are approved”, to translate the one Greek word ‘dokimos’ G1384. This word appears seven times in the New Testament. Two examples will demonstrate that the English word ‘approved’ is indeed a proper translation:

Rom 16:10  Salute Apelles approved [G1384: ‘dokimos’] in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household.

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved [G1384: ‘dokimos’] unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I was surprised to find that this is also the Greek word found in a verse we all quote quite frequently:

Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried [G1384: ‘dokimos’, approved], he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Knowing that four English words were used for the single Greek word ‘dokimos’, and knowing that ‘dokimos’ is translated as ‘tried’ in James 1:12,  and knowing that ‘dokimos’ means ‘approved’ is all very interesting, and it helps us to more fully understand what the Lord is telling us. However, it does not change the fact that heresies reveal heretics and the fact that seeing what is a heresy also contrasts that heresy with what is the Truth.

Let’s read this placing the emphasis on the heresy and see if it changes anything:

1Co 11:18  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
1Co 11:19  For there must be also heresies among you, that [that] which [is] approved may be made manifest among you.

The emphasis is taken from the heretic and placed upon the heresy. Either way we translate verse 19, an unrepentant heretic is revealed if he refuses to humble himself and to be persuaded by the consensus of the multitude of the counsel of our leaders by whom we are commanded to be persuaded.

If we are granted the humility to “tremble at… every… word of God” then we can, and we will, fear and tremble to fail to obey these words:

Pro 11:14  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is [physical and spiritual] safety.

Pro 15:22  Without counsel [physical and spiritual] purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

Pro 24:6  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy [physical and spiritual] war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Heb 13:17 Be persuaded by your leaders [the consensus of your elders], and be deferring to them, for they are vigilant for the sake of your souls, as having to render an account, that they may be doing this with joy, and not with groaning, for this is disadvantageous for you.

Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The word “leaders” is in the plural because the apostles demonstrated by their example that the way they kept “the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace [was and is to] defer to [the counsel of our] leaders.” That is what they did concerning the question of whether the Gentiles were commanded to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses in Acts 15. Such a humble spirit is in accord with this spirit:

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Such doctrinal questions are to be settled by the consensus of “your leaders” who are mature enough, experienced, and knowledgeable enough to know how to “try the spirits [to see] whether they are of God”:

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

A false prophet is a false prophet because he is bringing false doctrines into the church of God, which is the Lord’s house. “Believe not every spirit [doctrine] but try the spirits [doctrines] whether they are of God: because many false prophet are gone out into the world”.

The Lord Himself warns us of this experience in these words:

Joh 10:1  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door [The Truth of Christ and His doctrines] into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Joh 10:2  But he that entereth in by the door [knows and teaches The Truth] is the shepherd of the sheep.
Joh 10:3  To him the porter [the holy spirit] openeth; and the sheep hear his voice [Mat 16:17]: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Joh 10:4  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Joh 10:5  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

The only way “the sheep hear His voice” is if the holy spirit of the Father has “given [us] ears that hear”. What we are being told is that those who are the true “Jerusalem above” will know which doctrines agree with the ‘voice’ of the Shepherd and which doctrines are the ‘voice’ of a stranger who does not know and cannot hear the ‘voice’ of the true Shepherd. Knowing what is the voice of the true Shepherd is itself extremely comforting, because that means we have already experienced His fiery wrath upon all the lies of “the voice of a stranger”, and we have “through much tribulation… dying daily… presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, and being crucified with Christ’ and we have now come to “know His voice” and will not follow a stranger.

Which leaders are to persuade us if our leaders are themselves divided? The holy spirit knew this question would arise and has given us two examples of what we are to do when that happens. That is exactly what happened in the reign of Rehoboam and in Acts 15.

In the case of Rehoboam, the lesson we learn is that we are to listen to the older counselors:

1Ki 12:6  And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
1Ki 12:7  And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
1Ki 12:8  But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:

This happened to Rehoboam, and it is written for our admonition (1Co 10:11). Following the counsel of the younger counselors led to the disastrous breaking up of the kingdom. The older counselors had given good counsel, but it was ignored by King Rehoboam.

Acts 15 deals with a doctrinal matter which arose within the church. Peter, Paul and Barnabas believed that being physically circumcised and keeping the sacrifices and holy days was all fulfilled in Christ and that now the Lord “Puts no difference between [the Jews] and [the Gentiles].

These are Peter’s words before all the apostles and elders in Jerusalem:

Act 15:8  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Act 15:9  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Act 15:10  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

The apostle “James the brother of John” had been killed by Herod by this time:

Act 12:2  And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

Peter was speaking for Paul and Barnabas. The twelve, minus James who had been martyred by Herod, and Peter who was agreeing with Paul and Barnabas, means there were ten apostles who believed that the Jews were still required to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses:

Act 21:17  And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
Act 21:18  And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
Act 21:19  And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
Act 21:20  And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law [of Moses]:
Act 21:21  And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
Act 21:22  What is it therefore? The multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
Act 21:23  Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
Act 21:24  Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
Act 21:25  As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
Act 21:26  Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

Notice what the multitude did while the apostles were in the process of discussing this question of who was required to keep the law of Moses:

Act 15:12  Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
Act 15:13  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

The multitude of the church were not involved in the discussions of the apostles and the elders. This is all being said “after there had been much disputing” among “the apostles and the elders”:

Act 15:6  And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Act 15:7  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Notice that the ten apostles, while agreeing with Peter, Paul, and Barnabas that the Gentiles need not be circumcised and that the Gentiles did not need to keep the law of Moses, most certainly did not agree that the Jews need not do so:

Act 15:13  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Act 15:14  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Act 15:15  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
Act 15:16  After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Act 15:17  That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
Act 15:18  Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Act 15:19  Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not [with the law of Moses] them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Act 15:20  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Act 15:21  For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

“Moses… being read in the synagogue every sabbath day” to the ten apostles was a very positive thing for the Jewish believers. Therefore, James concludes that a letter must be sent to the Gentiles to let them know that only the Jews are required to keep the law of Moses.

Act 15:22  Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
Act 15:23  And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
Act 15:24  Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
Act 15:25  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
Act 15:26  Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Act 15:27  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

What now were Peter, Paul and Barnabas to do? Ten apostles agreed the Jews must still be circumcised, keep the weekly sabbath and all the annual holy days, eat only clean meats, and even continue to offer sacrifices at the temple. Should Peter, Paul and Barnabas say, “I do not care about ‘consensus’. I am right and you are wrong.” As we all know, that would have split the church just as it was beginning to grow in numbers. No, such a spirit would have to ignore the example of Rehoboam placing the counsel of the younger above the counsel of the elders, and they would have had to ignore the consensus of a multitude of counselors.

The Truth is that it was simply not yet God’s own appointed time for the ten apostles to see the truth of Peter’s words acknowledging that there is no difference between a Jew and a Gentile in Christ. For the time:

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

For the Jews it was not so because:

Act 15:21  For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

This is all reiterated in Acts 21 where we learn that all this time the ten apostles who had never left Jerusalem were still offering physical blood sacrifices as if Christ’s sacrifice was not quite enough to forgive our sins:

Act 21:26  Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

Having experienced the Lord’s wrath, knowing we are no more under the wrath of the law, we are now in a position to be used by the Lord to pour out that same fiery wrath of the Truth of His Words upon our adversaries, within ourselves and within His body.

Rom 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

It is not yet time to take revenge on the outward kingdoms of this world, but if we are faithful and patient that day will come:

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of [spiritual… doctrinal] strong holds;)
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

The Lord is not far off anywhere. He is right here, right now “working all things after the counsel of His own will”:

Deu 30:11  For this command which I am commanding you today is not too wonderful for you, nor is it too far off.
Deu 30:12  It is not in the heavens that you should say, Who shall go up into the heavens for us, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, that we may do it?
Deu 30:13  And it is not beyond the sea that you should say, Who shall cross over for us to the region beyond the sea and take it for us, and cause us to hear it, that we may do it?
Deu 30:14  For the Word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.

Notice how the holy spirit has Paul to understand these words:

Rom 10:6  But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above: )
Rom 10:7  Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8  But what saith it? The word [Christ] is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Christ really is alive and well living within His elect, and at the appointed time, after we have been “through much tribulation [then] He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Christ has subdued the rebellious kingdoms within us, and we have “endured… fiery trials… to the end”… then “the kingdoms of this world “are [and will] become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ.”

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

“The kingdoms of this world… becoming the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ” is in down payment form ‘being brought to our desired haven’ of:

Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Psalms 107, as we will see, agrees with the revelation of Jesus Christ in telling us that “great tribulation” must  precede the joy and peace that comes to us when we are comforted in Jerusalem above, comforted by the Lord through His body.

The work of “the seventh angel” is “the great and marvelous… seven last plagues”:

Rev 15:1  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

Rev 15:7  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

If we are granted by the Lord to accept and endure the seven last plagues of His wrath as a “great and marvelous… sign… [in our] heavens” then we will be comforted by ‘Jerusalem above’ and we will rejoice in knowing that it is all “the hand of the Lord… toward His servants” separating our new man from our old man who is His enemy to whom His indignation is directed:

Isa 66:13  As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
Isa 66:14  And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

Inwardly, these verses are the seven last plagues doing their marvelous work within us. Outwardly, they will be fulfilled when the Lord makes manifest the sons of God at the very beginning of His kingdom over the kingdoms of this world, and dispensationally these words will have their final fulfillment in the great white throne judgment/lake of fire/second death:

Isa 66:15  For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
Isa 66:16  For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.

These words and the following verses are not in the future tense. Hebrew has a future tense, but that is not the tense conveyed to us by the holy spirit. This is all in the Qal stem which conveys the is, was and will be nature of what is being said. The emphasis must always primarily be on the ‘is’ application of His words or there will be no personal application. Our natural inclination is to place the Lord’s words off into the future and into some distant place away from ourselves.

However, these words apply primarily and first to me and to you:

Isa 66:17  They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.
Isa 66:18  For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

“Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse” are imbibing of all the false doctrines of Babylon. “All nations and tongues” include first and primarily the Lord’s elect who are all dragged out of ‘Babylon’ by the fiery trials of the seven last plagues as we are plainly told in:

Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come [1Pe 4:17]: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

1Pe 4:17  For the time [“the hour of His judgment”] is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

While the whole world is teaching that the seven last plagues are to be experienced only by those who are destined to be cast into the lake of fire, and are to be avoided by the Lord’s elect, this is what the Lord’s elect and His own words teach us about this “marvelous work”. This is the Truth about who must endure the wrath of the Lord:

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

That is what makes these seven plagues such a marvelous work! It applies to all men of all time:

Rev 15:1  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

The judgment of the religions of this world must first take place within us. Then at the appointed time, following the thousand-year reign, they will in time include the masses of Babylon who are not granted repentance in this age:

Rev 16:17  And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
Rev 16:18  And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
Rev 16:19  And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon [the religions of this world] came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

There is one doctrine upon which all religions agree and thereby placing the beast, the man of sin, upon the throne in the hearts of all men. That doctrine is the false doctrine of mankind having a free will. That spirit will be judged and that “wicked one” who promotes that lie, is being destroyed within us “in this present time” and will be destroyed in “all in Adam” only by the coming  of Christ into our hearts to dethrone and “destroy” that beast which is residing within every one of us at first:

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

It is the Truth of the Lord’s words which constitute and precipitate this “great earthquake, such as was not since [I] have been upon the earth”, which begins to destroy the man of sin who has ruthlessly ruled over my entire life before the coming of Christ within me. It is my old man who is this ‘earth’ which is being shaken so violently that nothing is left standing before the Lord.

“The spirit of His mouth, and… the brightness of His coming” are one and the same thing. They are both the fiery truths of the fiery Word of God:

Jer 5:11  For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD.
Jer 5:12  They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:
Jer 5:13  And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.
Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

This statement, “I will make my words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them” is expressed again is this way:

Rev 16:20  And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
Rev 16:21  And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

This is the function of this “great hail[storm]”:

Isa 28:15  Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
Isa 28:16  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Isa 28:17  Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
Isa 28:18  And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

It is through the words of those who have endured all these fiery judgments ahead of us that we have endured these fiery trials, this great earthquake and this great hailstorm, and it will be through our words that others will come to the Lord. That is what is being said in our last verse of our study today:

Isa 66:19  And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

We are those who are being ‘comforted by Jerusalem above, the mother of us all. Lord willing we are the body of Christ which builds itself up in love’, we are those by whom the Lord’s glory will be “declared among the Gentiles”, and it will be through us “and [our] seed]” that those who have never known our Lord will hear of His glory.

Isa 61:9  And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.

That is our study for today. Here are the verses for our next study:

Isa 66:20  And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.
Isa 66:21  And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.
Isa 66:22  For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
Isa 66:23  And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
Isa 66:24  And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Isa 66:1-6 Your Brothers That Hated You… Shall Be Ashamed

[Study Aired October 18, 2020]

Isa 66:1  Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Isa 66:3  He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
Isa 66:4  I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
Isa 66:5  Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
Isa 66:6  A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.

These last two chapters of Isaiah give great emphasis to the doctrine of Christ that many are called, but few of those “many… called” are chosen to be His “very elect”.

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders [The “many called”]; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Here is how Christ presents this doctrine to us:

Mat 22:1  And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
Mat 22:2  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
Mat 22:3  And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Mat 22:4  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
Mat 22:5  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
Mat 22:6  And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
Mat 22:7  But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Mat 22:8  Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Mat 22:9  Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
Mat 22:10  So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Mat 22:11  And when the king came in to see the guests [our judgment in “this present time”, Rom 8:18 and 1Pe 4:17], he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat 22:12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth [The garment is the doctrine and works of Christ… “…with such an one know not to eat” (1Co 5:11 and 2Jo 1:10-11)].
Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

Notice that “them that were bidden made light of it”. This is most people to whom the “blessed and holy first resurrection” is like Esau’s birthright to them. It is not presently tangible, and satisfying the lusts of the flesh and fitting in with this world, is just far more attractive to them than a far-off promise of greatness… “They made light of it” and no doubt considered it to be something that was common to all men. But the first resurrection, which is “the marriage supper of the Lamb” is not at all common to all men. Life is common to all men, but being judged in this present time is not common to all men

Gen 25:31  And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
Gen 25:32  And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
Gen 25:33  And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
Gen 25:34  Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright…

Look very closely at these words… “I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?” When we get weary in well doing and say… ‘This calling is just to hard to bear… I don’t really care whether I am in the first or second resurrection…’ we have just “despised our birthright” and sold it for nothing more than temporary relief from a judgment we will still have to endure at a later time in the judgment which will indeed be “common to all men”.

1Co 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

2Jn 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Compare the words of this parable of the wedding supper for the King’s Son to these words of Isaiah 65:

Isa 65:1  I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
Isa 65:2  I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
Isa 65:3  A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick [Their own doctrines and their own works];
Isa 65:4  Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
Isa 65:5  Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
Isa 65:6  Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,
Isa 65:7  Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom [What we sow is what we reap (Gal 6:7)].

Being hopelessly lost in our sins is common to both the many called and the few chosen. What is not common to both groups is being the “few… chosen… who first trusted in Christ” and who are the first to be judged “in this present time”:

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

“We… who first trusted in Christ” are the Lord’s elect to whom this 65^th chapter of Isaiah is addressed:

Isa 65:9  And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.

The preeminence of His elect is emphasized again in:

Isa 65:21  And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
Isa 65:22  They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
Isa 65:23  They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
Isa 65:24  And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Isa 65:25  The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

To whom do all these references to ‘they’ and ‘their’ in these five verses refer? They one and all refer to the few chosen to be “the first to trust in Christ”. They all refer to “mine elect” who now possess the kingdom inwardly as “the earnest of the promised possession” (Eph 1:14) and will possess it outwardly as well during the thousand-year reign.

Knowing how closely Christ identifies with His body, notice how similar these words of Isaiah 65 are to the words of Isaiah 11:

Isa 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Isa 11:3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
Isa 11:5  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Isa 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isa 11:7  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Isa 11:8  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.
Isa 11:9  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Isa 11:10  And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Isa 11:11  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

Here is Christ’s version of this same prophecy:

Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

“The remnant of [the Lord’s] people” are His “few chosen”, His “elect” of Isaiah 65 verses 9 and 22:

Isa 65:9  And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.

Isa 65:22  They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

Chapters 11 and 65 are both speaking of the time of “my holy mountain”, a time when no beast of the earth will hurt anyone within “my holy mountain”:

Isa 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isa 11:7  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Isa 11:8  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.
Isa 11:9  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Isa 65:25  The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

“[The beasts] shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain” is speaking specifically of the time of “the kingdom of God” which is “within [us] at this time, which will also “rule the outward nations at the appointed time. It is the same ‘kingdom with [us]’ Christ came to proclaim:

Mat 4:23  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Mat 9:35  And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

The kingdom of God which Christ is first proclaiming here is:

Luk 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Once again, it is first “the kingdom of God [which] is within you” that is first proclaimed here in Isaiah:

Isa 11:9  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Isa 65:9  And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.

Isa 65:22  They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

It is these chosen few of whom Christ is speaking when He speaks of “entering into life”:

Mat 18:9  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

Mar 9:45  And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

“All… in Adam… shall… be made alive [in] the end”, but when Christ speaks of “enter[ing] into life”,  Mark 5:47 reveals He is referring particularly to the “few… chosen [of] the first resurrection… the resurrection to life… [those] enter[ing] into the kingdom of God”, which ‘kingdom’ precedes “the resurrection to damnation” (Greek: krisis, judgment):

Mar 9:47  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29  And shall come forth [“each in his own order” (1Co 15: 23) first]; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and [then over a thousand years later] they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [Greek: krisis, judgment).

It is those in the “blessed and holy first resurrection” who will inherit that “kingdom”. That kingdom comes down to mankind out of heaven, uniting the new earth with the new heavens:

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

There is a future “redemption of the purchased possession”, nevertheless “the earnest of our inheritance” has already been fully paid, and we who have been given the holy spirit of promise are already “seated together with Christ in the heavens”:

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

What is so revealing about these verses is that the phrases “we were dead in sins” and “in the ages to come” are both in the Greek present tense. “Hath quickened us together with Christ [and] hath raised us up together, and made us to sit together in the heavens in Christ” are both in the Greek aorist tense.

In other words, we are at this very moment in the process of being given life, and together with Christ we are being made to sit together in the heavens in Christ. We are those “heavens” into which “Christ [has] entered… heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us”.

Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

That is the “heaven” and the “earth” of the first two verses of this last chapter of Isaiah:

Isa 66:1  Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Way back here in the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah, Christ answers His own rhetorical question in very clear words:

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look [as “the place of My rest”], even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Those who know that Christ’s death and resurrection were expedient before the holy spirit could be given, will know these words are a prophecy of the sacrificial death of our Lord and His Christ for the sins of this world.

Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

This is the Lord’s assessment of failing to understand the efficacy of His sacrifice:

Isa 66:3  He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

“They have chosen their own ways” refers to what was just stated. They have chosen to replace the sacrifice of Christ with their own works and doctrines. The sacrifice of an ox, a lamb, the offering of an oblation, the burning of incense, one and all represent the works of our own hands. “idols of [our] hearts” (Eze 14:1-9). The physical Old Testament sacrifices were outward actions which are types of our own self-righteousness and doctrines and the rejection of the sacrifice of our Lord and His doctrines and His Christ. Nevertheless, we do those ‘good works’ “in His name” and therefore we think He should accept our works instead of His works. We are so convinced of our own righteousness ‘in His name’ that Christ tells us what we say to Him when we are being judged:

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

These words certainly apply to many who will be in the great white throne judgment, but they also apply to each of the Lord’s elect who all come out of Babylon. It is while we are there in Babylon that we are taught so many false doctrines, including the lie that the single most important factor in bringing us to Christ is our own fabled ‘free will’.

That false doctrine of mankind being given a will that is free of the will of God, and free from any influence of God, is one of many lying prophecies which are prophesied in Christ’s name, and which are used by the Lord Himself to deceive us:

Eze 14:9  And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

Many demons have indeed been cast out of us just to be replaced by seven demons worse than the one that was cast out:

Mat 23:15  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Luk 11:24  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
Luk 11:25  And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
Luk 11:26  Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Many evil spirits of alcoholism, pornography, gambling, etc. are indeed cast out of many in Babylon. However, “swept and garnished” is not to be mistaken for bring “rooted and grounded” in the Truth. ‘Swept and garnished’ is not the same as being obedient and being filled with the fear of God and the love of God. Christ’s own disciples healed the sick and cast out devils long before they were even converted:

Luk 10:8  And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
Luk 10:9  And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Luk 10:17  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

After three and one-half years of being Christ’s disciple, Christ said these words to Peter the night of His apprehension of the Jews:

Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Luk 22:33  And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
Luk 22:34  And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

It is possible to be given the power to cast out devils and false doctrines in others and still hear the words, “I never knew you, depart from me ye workers of iniquity.” That is why the Lord told the seventy disciples:

Luk 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

It is our own old man who first places more value and more store in the doctrines of men, rather than the Truths of the scriptures. It is our own old man who places miracles and signs and wonders above obedience and fidelity to the Words and doctrines of Christ. It is first and primarily to our own old man that these words are written:

Isa 66:4  I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

The Lord chose to delude me first with the deceptions of the Pentecostal churches. Then He chose to take me from under the law of the Gentiles and He placed me under the false doctrines of the Worldwide Church of God and under the deeper delusion of the law of Moses. From that delusion He took me into the even more insidious delusion of the Concordant Publishing Concern Bible Conferences, teaching that we are under no law at all. The Lord chose my delusions.

When the Lord speaks, we do not hear unless He makes us to hear. He can even take the ‘hearing’ and the ‘light’ we had away from us, and we simply cannot hear words like, “In the multitude of counsellors there is safety” and “Tell it to the church.”

Now notice how the holy spirit changes the subject from our old man to our new man, with absolutely no segue:

Isa 66:5  Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

“Your joy” is the joy of “Christ in [us] the hope of glory” (Co 1:27) and “they shall be ashamed” refers to our own “old man… the first man Adam”. It is Christ in us who values our birthright and wants more than life itself to be with Him in His kingdom. It is Christ in us who “trembles at His Word [and] works out His own salvation with fear and trembling” (Php 3:11-12):

Col 1:25  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Col 1:26  Even the mystery [G3466: ‘musterion’, secret] which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

“The dispensation of God which is given to [Paul] for [us] to fulfil the word of God” is the same dispensation given to each of us to “fill up in [our] bod[ies] that which is behind of the afflictions of the Christ for His body’s sake, which [body] is the church.”

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

It is very few to whom it has been made known that Christ did not die as our “substitute”.  Oh, yes, He did indeed die for our sins. That is a scriptural truth:

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Now let me ask you… Where in that verse of scripture, or anywhere else in the Bible do you find the word ‘substitute’? Of course, the Truth is that it is not there because “Christ died for us” does not say, “Christ died in our stead, so we need not die.” If you teach that Christ died as a substitutionary atonement, in your stead so you would not have to die, you would be directly contradicting this, and so many other verses of scripture, which speak of being “dead with Christ (Rom 6:1-4), presenting your body a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1), [being] crucified with Christ…” and this verse of scripture:

Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

What is it that we “suffer for His sake”?

Rom 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Col 2:20  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Part of “the dispensation of God which is given to [us] for [us], to fulfil the word of God;” is also this:

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Those “few chosen” who will be in that “blessed and holy first resurrection” and will rule and reign with Christ a thousand years will not be the faint of heart. They will be equipped, through the trials of this life, to “render recompence to [their] enemies” and the enemies of Christ.

Isa 66:6  A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.

Just look at how merciless Christ is to our old man in this age.

Joh 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease.

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

That is just how merciless we will be to the rebels of the thousand-year reign, as well as the carnal minds of those who will come up before us in the great white throne judgment. There will be no need for physical violence because, just as the Lord is now slaying our old man, so will we deal with the wicked:

Isa 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Our severe trials of this life and of this age are in the process of destroying our old man, and that experience is preparing our hearts to be equally merciless to the carnal minds of all the rest of mankind at their appointed times.

This 66^th chapter is the last chapter of Isaiah. The theme of this book is expressed clearly in this New Testament verse:

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Here are a couple of examples of how this comforting and encouraging theme is expressed in this prophecy of Isaiah. It is to be found right here along with the secondary theme of this prophecy:

Isa 10:27  And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

Isa 41:13  For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Isa 41:14  Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

This is the same promise Christ makes to us in the New Testament:

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

The next two verses of Isaiah 41 are also the secondary sub-theme of this prophecy, which we will see is also a theme we will find in the next prophecy of scripture, the prophecy of Jeremiah, which we will begin after we finish this last chapter of Isaiah.

Here is that secondary sub-theme of this prophecy of Isaiah. It is expressed in the very next verses of Isaiah 41:

Isa 41:15  Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

Isa 41:16  Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

Lord willing, we will be the kings and priests who will be judging this world with Christ in the “first… resurrection to life” (Joh 5:27-29, Rev 20:1-6). As kings and priests we will be the judges of the nations of this earth, “a new sharp threshing instrument” for the subjection of the carnal mind during the time when “the kingdoms of this world will be the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ” (Rev 11:15), and beyond that time right over into the great white throne judgment (Rev 20:11-12).

Here now are the verses for our next study:

Isa 66:7  Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
Isa 66:8  Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
Isa 66:9  Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.
Isa 66:10  Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

Isa 66:11  That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
Isa 66:12  For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
Isa 66:13  As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
Isa 66:14  And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

[Study Aired March 31, 2020]

Luk 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 
Luk 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Luk 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. 
Luk 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery. 

Our first two verses are dealing with the Pharisees and their covetousness. 

Luk 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 
Luk 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. 

The prophets have been warning Israel of this for generations. 

Isa 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 
Isa 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. 

Jer 8:10 Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for everyone from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest everyone dealeth falsely. 

Eze 22:25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.
Eze 22:26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 

Each of us has been like these Pharisees in our walk. If our heart is not moved to be changed, we will miss our reward, as demonstrated in the parable of the “Rich Fool”. 

Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 
Luk 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 
Luk 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 
Luk 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 
Luk 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 
Luk 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 
Luk 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. 

What did the Pharisees treasure? What did they covet most? This brings us to our next verse. 

Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 

The Pharisees coveted the law and the prophets. These were their doctrines and way of life. Of course, they were not able to keep the law. 

Joh 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? 

Gal 6:13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 

Christ came to fulfill the law and the prophets and to change the law. The Pharisees did not want this to happen. 

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 

Luk 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 

Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 

Mat 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 
Mat 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 

The Pharisees hated Him for this. 

Luk 19:47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, 
Luk 19:48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him. 

Joh 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 

Back to the verse we see there is a continuation into something different. 

Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 

The ASV translation puts it this way. 

Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it. 

As you know, these parables are all dealing with the kingdom of God, and this is within each of us. 

Luk 17:20 And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you. 

Every man enters the kingdom violently. 

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

Joh 12:30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 

Continuing with the next verse we see that the law will not fail until it has completed what it was designed to do. 

Luk 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. 

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

“That except your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Here is Christ’s explanation to this teaching in the last verse of the study. 

Luk 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

The wife represents the church, in this case Babylon, the great whore, and until we divorce this wife, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Putting away is not enough. 

Deu 24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 

If we do not completely divorce this wife, we are committing spiritual adultery. 

Just as in the days of Christ, the Pharisees of today’s “Christianity” have their own laws. Just yesterday we were among them. The following is a list of the “Christian” treasures which they covet. This list came from the online source below. https://www.equip.org/bible_answers/what-is-essential-christian-doctrine/ 

The essential tenets of the Christian faith are: Deity of Christ Original sin Canon Trinity Resurrection Incarnation New creation Eschatology 

We must be careful to not commit spiritual adultery and must divorce the above doctrines and all idols of the heart. Day by day we are dying to these things by the renewing of our minds. 

1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 
Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 
Eph 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Eph 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 
Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 

Isa 52:1-8 They Shall See Eye to Eye, When the LORD Shall Bring Again Zion - Discussion

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Isa 52:1-8 They Shall See Eye to Eye, When The LORD Shall Bring Again Zion.

[Study Aired January 12, 2020]

Isa 52:1  Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. 
Isa 52:2  Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. 
Isa 52:3  For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money. 
Isa 52:4  For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. 
Isa 52:5  Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. 
Isa 52:6  Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. 
Isa 52:7  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 
Isa 52:8  Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.

The first verses of this chapter are meant to be contrasted with these last two verses of chapter 51:

Isa 51:22  Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: 
Isa 51:23  But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.

The Lord’s people, His very bride, have for so long been despised of the world and all its religions. They have been lying as dead ‘in the streets of that great city… wherein our Lord was crucified’ in the sense that we “reckon [ourselves]… to… be dead with Christ”, and in the sense that we are “the savor of death unto death” to this world:

Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 
Rom 6:7  For he that is dead is freed from sin. 
Rom 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 
Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 
Rom 6:10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 
Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

And this is the symbolic ‘death of the two witnesses’ of:

Rev 11:7  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 
Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 
Rev 11:9  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 
Rev 11:10  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

This is actually a description of what happened, and what is happening to Christ, because “as He is so are we in this world” (1Jo 4:17). 

With no spiritual understanding it appears that a time will come when we will ‘finish our testimony and then be killed by the beast’ just before Christ returns to this earth. However, with the mind of the spirit we know that neither Christ nor we stop testifying against our own old man and this world until we draw our last physical breath.

Christ’s testimony, just as our own testimony, was “finished” the moment it was rejected of “His own”:

Joh 1:10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 
Joh 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

He, too, “counted [Himself] as… dead in the streets of that… city” long before He was nailed to the cross, and the scriptures themselves tell us that He did as He tells us to do:

Luk 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily [“die daily” 1Co 15:31), and follow me.

Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is [spiritually] crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 
Rom 6:7  For he that is dead is freed from sin. 
Rom 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 
Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 
Rom 6:10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 
Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

He that is ‘dead’ has ‘finished [his] testimony’ and is “lying dead in the streets of that great city where also our Lord was crucified”:

Isa 51:22  Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: 
Isa 51:23  But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.

Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 

Christ “reckoned [Himself] to be dead… from the foundation of the world”:

Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Outwardly, our witness against this world is the light of our lives in a dark dying world, as explained by Christ Himself:

Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 
Mat 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Our ‘light’ is seen as “good works” only by “all that are in the house” of God in “this present time” (Rom 8:18). In time, seeing Christ in us, the world also will ‘glorify [our] Father which is in heaven’, but in the meantime, they do no such thing, and instead we are to them as dead men in the streets of spiritual Babylon. “The streets of that great city…” symbolize the ways of the harlot system which rules over the kings of this world. In those ‘streets’ we are as dead men:

Rev 11:7  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 
Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

“When they shall have finished their testimony”, and “where also our Lord was crucified”, are both in the aorist tense, and are continuing in our lives. “Make war against them… overcome them… and kill them”, are all in the future tense, telling us that what is happening in the aorist tense will continue to happen into the future until the end of this age.

Our witness is ‘finished’, and we are to this world ‘killed… the savor of death unto death’ at the moment our witness is rejected just as it was with Christ:

Luk 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Joh 10:30  I and my Father are one. 
Joh 10:31  Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

Christ considered Himself to be on the cross “daily” as He served His Father and spoke His Father’s words. As such He was, to this world and to our own ‘old man’, “the savor of death unto death”:

2Co 2:16  To the one [our old man] we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other [the new man within us] the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

The very fact we are on the cross and rejected by this world is to this world proof positive that we are not favored of God:

Mat 27:39  And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 
Mat 27:40  And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 
Mat 27:41  Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 
Mat 27:42  He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 
Mat 27:43  He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

Such words are logical carnal reasoning to our old man. If the Christ we believe in is so powerful why is He not ruling this world with a rod of iron right now?

The answer to that question, posed by the Jews and their leaders, symbols of the religious leaders of this day, is that if Christ had come down from the cross before His death, we would have no propitiation for our sins. The price would not have been paid, and our faith would not have been tried. It is not simple faith, that saves us. “The devils also believe and tremble”. 

Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 
Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works [without being tried in the fire] is dead?

What saves us is “the trial of [our] faith… [which is as precious as] gold tried in the fire”:

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it [our faith] be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold [faith] tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

The fact that it has been almost 2,000 years since the death and resurrection of Christ, and the fact that the religions of this world appear to be so firmly ensconced in their rulership over the kings of this world, and the fact that so very few can see and hear the voice of the True Shepherd, all serve as fiery trials of our faith, and it is few indeed who have been given to believe these words:

Hab 2:2  And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. [Heb 12:1]
Hab 2:3  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 
Hab 2:4  Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith [tried in the fire].

“The vision is yet for an appointed time” and the last thing any of us should do is to tell ourselves it is all spiritual and it is all within and “all [outward] things continue as they were from the fathers”:

2Pe 3:3  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 
2Pe 3:4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 
2Pe 3:5  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 
2Pe 3:6  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 
2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

We are to see our old man as ‘chief of sinners’, and as ungodly as anyone who is cast into the lake of fire at the great white throne judgment. But we are also given the faith to see our old man as being given the gift of faith which is “tried with fire… in this present time” (Rom 8:18), and therefore, by the sovereign hand of God made to be “the first to believe on Him… (Eph 1:12) the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb… (Rev 14:4), the church of the firstborn [Heb 12:23], [to be in] the resurrection to life” as opposed to “the resurrection of judgment”.

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven [the book of life], and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 
Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape [the lake of fire], if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

It is all because the Lord Himself, “after the counsel of His own will” (Eph 1:11), has chosen us as His people through whom He will “fill all in all” (Eph 1:23):

Isa 51:22  Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: 
Isa 51:23  But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.

Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 

Any and all who are faithful to Christ’s doctrine have been walked on “as the street” by the rulers and religious leaders of this age. 

The time will come, and it is here in earnest even now, that we are no longer to see ourselves in that way:

Isa 52:1  Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. 
Isa 52:2  Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. 
Isa 52:3  For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money. 

“Shake yourself from the dust; arise and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose yourself from the bands of your neck, O captive daughter of Zion…” That is the peace of mind which, at this very moment, is the fruit of being sealed with His spirit and knowing God and His Son, even as we are to this world “the savor of death”. 

The best is yet to come in the form of “the redemption of the purchased possession”:

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 
Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 
Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 
Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 
Eph 1:8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 
Eph 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 
Eph 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 
Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 
Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 
Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

‘Firstfruits’ are not the only fruits, and ‘the first to trust in Christ’ who are given to be “to the praise of His glory” are not the only people who will “trust in Christ”.

Notice the similarity between these words here in chapter 52, addressed to “Jerusalem… the daughter of Zion” and the words of the previous chapter addressed to the “Arm of the Lord”:

Isa 51:9  Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? 
Isa 51:10  Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? 
Isa 51:11  Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. 
Isa 51:12  I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;

Again in this same chapter:

Isa 51:16  And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people. 
Isa 51:17  Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.

‘Jerusalem… the daughter of Zion… the Arm of the Lord’ are one and all symbols of the same thing. They all symbolize those who are called “overcomers” through “the sufferings of this present time… this present evil world” to whom the Lord is here saying “You are My people”. This is how we are to regard “the sufferings of this present time”:

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Gal 1:4  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Rev 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

“A new name… the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem” are all speaking of His doctrine, which is “rather to be chosen than great riches”:

Pro 22:1  A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

There is within us at this very moment, in “the earnest of our inheritance”, a “new heavens, a new earth, and a new name, New Jerusalem”:

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 
Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Pro 22:1  A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Isa 65:17  For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

Isa 66:22  For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 

Rev 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

The ‘new earth’ is being wed to the ‘new heaven’… “and the two become one”:

Mar 10:8  And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 

Christ’s “new name” is nothing less than His “new covenant”… His doctrine, which is “rather to be chosen than great riches”:

Pro 22:1  A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. 

Son 1:3  Because of the savour of thy good ointments [Your doctrines] thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

These words of Isaiah 52 tell us:

Isa 52:1  Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

These words are the very foundation for these words in:

Rev 21:9  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 
Rev 21:10  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 
Rev 21:11  Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 

Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. 

These next verses summarize the journey of every man who has ever been dragged to the Lord:

Isa 52:4  For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. 
Isa 52:5  Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.

Do not make the mistake of thinking these words about blaspheming the name of God are addressed to those among whom the Lord’s people were scattered. Not so! It is we, the Lord’s own elect, who are the first to blaspheme His name by refusing to be obedient to His doctrine as the Lord makes so very clear concerning our ‘qualifications’, or the lack thereof, as His chosen people:

Eze 36:19  And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. 
Eze 36:20  And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land. 
Eze 36:21  But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. 
Eze 36:22  Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. 
Eze 36:23  And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

When the world sees how the Lord has been so merciful to you and to me, to a people who have so blasphemed His name by all their rebellious ways… “the heathen shall know that [the Lord] is [indeed] the Lord”. 

We will all “give an accounting” of all our shameful sins and our rebellious ways, but the Lord’s mercy endures forever (Psalm 136), and “He [has] devised means, that His banished be not expelled from Him”.

2Sa 14:14  For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

We are all separated from the Lord by our own sins:

Isa 59:1  Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 
Isa 59:2  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 
Isa 59:3  For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

In spite of the fact that we, the Lord’s chosen people, have “blasphemed His name continually” (vs 5), He has determined that He will still drag us to Himself:

Isa 52:6  Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. 

The Lord will do the same for all men, “every man in his own order”, but the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb (Rev 14:4) are His firstborn, and the double portion of the inheritance belongs to them (Deu 21:17 and Exo 4:22) , and it is they who will be used of the Lord to bring forth all the rest of the family of God to Himself, and that is truly “the good news of the kingdom of God” brought to us by the Lord Himself:

Isa 52:7  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 

Meaning:

Mar 1:14  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel [“good tidings] of the kingdom of God,

King David had a great appreciation of a united Israel, which gratitude he expressed in these words:

Psa 133:1  A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 
Psa 133:2  It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 
Psa 133:3  As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion [The Lord’s elect]: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Paul tells us that we are “overseers of the Lord’s flock… watchmen” who should be willing to lay down our lives for the Lord’s sheep:

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 
Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 
Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 
Act 20:31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

By this time Paul had already admonished the church at Corinth, and all of us, with these words:

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

The last verse of our study today is the fruit of our obedience to all the scriptures which make 1Corinthians 1:10 possible in our fellowship today:

Isa 52:8  Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion. 

If indeed we are ‘Zion’ and ‘holy Jerusalem’ then we will even now “see eye to eye” concerning the doctrines of the Lord, and we will “all speak the same thing, and… there [will] be no divisions among us, but [we will] be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment”.

That is our study for today, and here are the verses for our next study:

Isa 52:9  Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. 
Isa 52:10  The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. 
Isa 52:11  Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. 
Isa 52:12  For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward. 
Isa 52:13  Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. 
Isa 52:14  As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: 
Isa 52:15  So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.