“Exiles” in the Bible

[Study Aired September 26, 2024]

INTRODUCTION

For God’s people, “an exile” in His word typifies a point within a Christian’s life before they go without the camp with Christ to bear his reproach, filling “up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church” (Heb 13:13-16, Col 1:24). Chapter 13 of Revelation is a chapter that reveals that not everyone is given this knowledge (1Co 8:7, Rev 13:18) to know that being beasts (Ecc 3:18) we must go into exile and come to see the mark of the beast as being something that is on all men, and that the only way to be reinstated with God and have that mark removed is through judgement (6.6.6. – see the studies on the spiritual significance of the number 3 and the number 6). We all must go into Babylonian captivity, but very few are blessed in this life to come out of it through God’s chastening grace that receives us in this life as His sons (Mat 22:14, Heb 12:6).

Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp [after we lose our first love and are brought into exile and then begin to come out of it by God’s grace], bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing^{G3306[menō=abide, dwell, stay, endure, remain, tarry]} city (1Co 15:50), but we seek one to come [being freed from Babylonian exile and enduring to the end (Mat 24:13) in order to inherit a continuing city, Jerusalem above, the mother of us all, in the fullness of that inheritance which will occur at the first resurrection].
Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1Co 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Only God can give true spiritual increase, and all the planting and watering in the world does not change that truth (1Co 3:6), and so while we are in these earthen vessels we do water and plant abundantly in the churches of Babylon only to find out by God’s grace that these actions that are not accompanied with the understanding of God’s sovereignty and the faith of Christ are merely talents or seeds which are planted and watered in the earth and can’t be given any increase until an appointed time by God (Isa 55:11, Lev 26:4, Isa 58:8). The appointed time happens as a result of God’s goodness that leads us unto repentance through his chastening grace and judgement that teaches us to forsake ungodliness and worldly lust in this age (Tit 2:11-12, Heb 12:6).

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

This increase, or withholding of increase, is by design (2Th 2:5-8). God’s reason for doing this is to drive the point home to all of humanity, in time, that all the increase in our life comes from God alone, and all the good and evil done in life is orchestrated by our Sovereign Father who works all things according to the counsel of His own will (Isa 45:7, Eph 1:11).

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Isa 45:8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

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:

2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
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:

Very few are given that privilege and honour to lay up treasure in heaven as a result of the increase that God gives us in this age (Mat 22:14, Luk 10:20). The main contention the rest of the world will have in the second resurrection, is stated clearly in (Mat 7:22). We must be given power to give all glory to God, and to fully acknowledge in our hearts and minds that it is Christ who has been working all along within these marred vessels of clay both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure, and in doing so we become witnesses of these things (Php 2:12-13, Luk 24:47-48).

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

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.

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?

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.

Luk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luk 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

It is God’s words that will judge those who are in the second resurrection, and it is God’s word that is judging the elect today (Joh 12:48, 1Pe 4:17). We don’t think of ourselves as having rejected God’s words and Christ, but when we don’t acknowledge his absolute sovereignty in all things we are rejecting His power and who He is within His creation, and this keeps the man of perdition on the throne, the beast that has his power from the dragon (Rev 13:4). That precise moment of judgement coming upon the world for thinking that they have free moral agency is typified by the events that have Joseph speaking to his brothers who will learn at the hand of Joseph that they do not have any power of themselves (Gen 45:5-7), and this event with Joseph and his brothers typifies for us the great white throne judgement of all the world by God’s elect. If we contrast what is said in the second resurrection by humanity (Mat 7:22) with the wonderful works of God (Psa 107:8-31) that we must give thanks to God for, and stop taking credit for any of the light and darkness that are in God’s total control (Isa 45:7), then we can begin to be freed by the son of God and become a new creation that acknowledges that we are His workmanship, that He does as He sees fit with (Rom 9:19-22), including putting us all in our appointed time into an spiritual exile.

Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Psa 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Psa 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

Psa 107:8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psa 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psa 107:21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psa 111:4  He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. 

Act 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Rom 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

In the first chapter of Matthew’s gospel we have a broad overview of how God has always intended to work with humanity, with each generation via the exiles that we all must experience, exiles that will all ultimately be used to bring all of His creation to him (1Co 15:28, 1Co 12:6). I say ‘exiles’ (plural) because this is a process just as there are many baptisms as we die daily and are buried into His death so we can be raised in the newness of life found in Christ (Rom 6:3-4, 1Co 15:31)

Mat 1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Mat 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

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

It is after these three groups of fourteen generations are mentioned that the birth of Christ is spoken of in (Mat 1:18), and these are signified events (Rev 1:1) that point to the process of judgement [3 groups of 14 generations] that all generations must experience in order to be prepared to be born again (Mat 1:16-18, Col 1:27, Joh 3:3). There are 3 fourteens that add up to the number 42 and this number reminds us that it will be through the witness of God’s power [2] that the whole [4] of humanity will be saved by putting off our carnal Adamic fleshly minds represented by the number 6 [4+2=6] (Rev 13:16-18).

Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 
Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

This mark of the beast spoken of in the book of Revelation represents how everyone who is born of flesh is immediately in a marred body of sin that God has created. God’s elect are that part of His workmanship who are being judged first (1Pe 4:17), and know that there is another fold that God is working with, but not to the point of overcoming in this life (Joh 10:16), and not to be preserved as the bride of Christ will be, but rather reserved unto the second resurrection to be judged then (1Co 15:31). God’s elect are part of a dying daily process that changes us to become a new creation as we come out of Babylonian exile, through much tribulation in this life (Mar 13:8, Act 14:22).

Mar 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

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.

It is only by God’s power that we can come out of her my people and experience a true liberty from sin that can only be found in Christ (2Co 3:17, Joh 8:36). Again, overcoming physical vices does not preclude that someone is laying up treasure in heaven, or that they have overcome the most insidious of all sins, which is the sin of self righteousness. That sin takes an ongoing miracle from God to overcome as we die daily (Php 3:9, 1Co 15:31).

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

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Our sojourn as God’s elect requires our constant examination of ourselves, as God’s goodness leads us unto repentance (Rom 2:4) and we are washed by the blood of lamb of all of those iniquities which is the self righteousness that just naturally clings to us (2Co 13:5, 1Co 9:27, 1Co 15:31). God tells us to confess our faults and He will deliver us, and in order to keep us all humble as we are daily delivered, we are also told that, in the final analysis, our escape will be a narrow but a certain one (1Pe 4:17-19).

1Pe 4:17 For the time 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?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

The 3 sixes that make up the mark of the beast can also represent those three generations of human experience within us (14+14+14=42), as all things are ours (1Co 3:2) and there is one experience unto all men that we will go through at our appointed time in order to come to know our Lord through that judgement within all those generations. The blessed generation in this life is the one that is being judged today (1Pe 4:17) and coming to see that we are guilty of all the sins of the world and the death of the prophets and of Christ, from Abel to Zacharias (Mat 23:35). We cannot begin to come out of the exile God puts us in until we are given to acknowledge our current wretched miserable poor and blind condition of being in weak flesh (Rev 3:17), but if we are granted to acknowledge that we can’t see, then our Lord can begin to heal us and deliver us from our captors who we could never overcome except the Lord set us free (Joh 9:41, Joh 8:36, Rom 7:24-25).

Mat 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Mat 23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

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 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.

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.

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

The bible is about two men, and we are God’s workmanship that have those two men wrestling within us (Eph 2:8-10, Gen 25:22, Rom 9:13, Eph 6:12). We must experience our own personal exile into Babylon to then come out of that exile, if it is God’s will to do that for us in this age (Heb 6:3). There are many micro and macro examples throughout God’s word of how our first man Adam must go in and come out of exile, and the goal in this mini series is to bring out a few key verses that speak to this point. Christ divested himself of the power that he had and was born into sinful flesh (Php 2:5-7, Psa 51:5) so we could escape our sinful condition through Him (2Co 5:20-21). Christ coming out of Egypt, as Israel did by way of Moses, is a shadow of how Christ is delivering the Israel of God first (Gal 6:16) by the power of God’s holy spirit (Hos 11:1).

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 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.

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.

Mat 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

Hos 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Christ had his own period in Egypt as a child where we read where Joseph was warned of an angel in a dream to take “the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him”. This departure to Egypt was typical of the exile that God’s elect go through in this life being hidden in Christ (Col 3:3, 1Jn 4:17) and kept from that wicked one Satan who wants to sift the manchild. Pharoah is a type of Satan who wanted to kill all the children two years and under, in order to kill Moses who represents Christ (Exo 1:22, Mat 2:16). The two years and under is the number of witness, and we are God’s witnesses with the spirit of God within us of these things, being hated of all the world (Rom 8:9, Col 1:27, Luk 24:48).

Luk 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

We are those angels to each other that bring this sobering message that we will be hated by all men for his name’s sake (Mat 10:22), and along with that message we learn that the dream is one as we’re given an absolute hope (Rom 8:9, Col 1:27) and joy (1Th 1:6, Php 4:4) of knowing that we can be more than conquerors through Christ (Rom 8:31-37) who is the author and finisher of our faith and who God is dragging us to, delivering us from Babylonian exile (Heb 12:2, Joh 6:44).

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.

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.

It is only by God’s sovereign power in our life that anyone of us can come out of her my people (2Co 6:17-18), and so perhaps the most important lesson we can take from this study is the truth that we serve a merciful and loving God who has always intended to perfect holiness within His creation, each man in His own order (1Co 15:23), through giving us an experience of evil to humble us thereby (Ecc 1:13) and ultimately receiving us through those experiences (Heb 12:6) that will bring us to trust in the living God (2Co 1:9) who has already written our books and declared the salvation of all souls from the very beginning (1Co 15:22, 1Ti 4:10, 1Jn 2:2). This process of judgement that is upon the elect is symbolized by the number 3, and so the 6.6.6. found in the book of Revelation tells us that all of human flesh must be judged in order to become a new creation in Christ. The only sign Christ gives the evil generation that we come to see by God’s grace as being ourselves, is the sign of Jonah, and it is only those who can acknowledge that they are that evil generation who were seeking a sign, who will be given the understanding of this parable of Christ, and every other parable, that reveals that many are called and few are chosen (Mat 20:16, Luk 10:24). Those who are chosen are being judged by Christ who is in the heart of our earth, earth, earth, three times mentioned in Jeremiah to remind us that we are going through a life-long process of judgement as God’s elect (Mat 12:39-40, Jer 22:29).

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,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jer 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD

In the coming studies on exiles mentioned in the bible I have compiled a list of some of the more obvious and less obvious examples that have been given to us that I hope to break down and share in the coming weeks. Here is the current list of the studies we will look at in the coming weeks on what “exiles” in God’s word symbolizes for us today:

1: Adam and Eve are exiled from the garden of Eden

2: The first two times the word exile is used in the bible

3: Some occurrences of the word outcasts, exile, or exiles in God’s word

4: The most notable exiles of Egypt and Babylon

5: Events in the bible that typify how we must come out of exile by God’s power

6: Characters in the bible who typify the spiritual zeal and Godly strength needed from Him to endure through the exile and come out of it, going unto perfection in the blessed and holy first resurrection.

7: Christ’s own examples of preaching to the captives, setting us free with God’s word that heals us and brings liberty.

Ezekiel 32:17–32 A Lament Over Pharaoh and Egypt – Part II

[Study Aired September 23, 2024]

INTRODUCTION

Today’s study concludes the Lord’s words regarding Pharaoh, king of Egypt and the Egyptians. It show us the end result of the judgement of Pharaoh and the Egyptians together with the mighty nations that are accomplices to Egypt. In the final analysis, Pharaoh, the Egyptians and the multitude of the strong nations of this world shall all be brought to the grave. In other words, the beast or the flesh of the entire human race shall die through the Lord’s judgement.  This study helps us to know those who shall be part of the second death, that is, those who shall be in the lake of fire.

Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

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 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The cities and empires whose destruction are indicated together with Egypt at the end of this chapter include Assyria, Elam, Meshech, Tubal, Edom and Sidon. All these cities and empires shall end up in the pit or death together with Egypt, through the Lord’s judgement. Does it mean that all is lost for the multitude of these cities and empires? No. The Bible says that there is hope for a tree if it is cut down. Trees represent the people of the world. Therefore, there is hope for the human race of every generation and nation.

Job 14:7  For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 
Job 14:8  Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
Job 14:9  Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. 
Job 14:10  But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
Job 14:11  As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:
Job 14:12  So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
Job 14:13  O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.  

We Must First End Up in the Pit

Eze 32:17  It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Eze 32:18 Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit. 

As indicated in the previous study, the number twelve means foundation and the fifteenth day of the month signifies the time that we are given new lease of life when the Lord comes to deliver us from our old man or flesh as He builds our foundation in Him.

Isa 38:4  Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,
Isa 38:5  Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
Isa 38:6 And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city. 

The multitude of Egypt in verse 18 refer to the people of the world who are dominated by the flesh. The daughters of the famous nations symbolize the physical churches of this world or Babylon. Verse 18 is therefore foretelling of the evil experience that humanity together with our brothers and sisters in Babylon must endure for their old man or flesh to be put to death, that is, go down into the pit. As the Lord’s elect, we are to wail for these multitude of Egypt and the daughters of famous nations as we judge them or cast them down during the lake of fire age. According to Strong’s Dictionary, “wail” in verse 18 means ‘to groan’. The reason we are to groan for humanity and our brothers and sisters in Babylon is that their salvation depends on us as we wait to be perfected for their salvation.

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 
Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

2Co 5:2  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

2Co 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Eze 32:19  Whom dost thou pass in beauty? go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised. 
Eze 32:20 They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword: she is delivered to the sword: draw her and all her multitudes. 

To understand verses 19 and 20, we need to know that, as explained in previous studies, the Lord has endowed our old man or flesh which is referred to as Tyrus or Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, with beauty and resources to flourish. Beauty here implies the attractiveness of our flesh. As a result of the attractiveness or beauty of our flesh, all humanity succumb to their flesh. That is to say that we all worship or are dominated by the beast or our flesh.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

The beauty that the Lord has bestowed on our flesh or the attraction of the flesh is what causes our flesh to be proud. As we are aware, pride always comes before a fall.

Eze 27:3  And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty. 
Eze 27:4 Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty. 

Eze 28:17  Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

Pro 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 
Pro 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

In verse 19, the Lord is rhetorically asking whether any can surpass the beauty of our flesh. What we need to know is that in spite of her beauty or attractiveness, she shall be destroyed or put to death through the Lord’s judgement. This judgement is symbolized here in verse 20 as the sword. We are also told that this destruction of our flesh or our old man is not only for us His elect but also for the multitude of Egypt, that is, the people of the world including our brothers and sisters in Babylon. It is through the Lord’s judgement that our old man or flesh dies and as a result, we are able to learn righteousness. In this life, it is the flesh of the Lord’s elect that is being put to death through the Lord’s judgement. In the lake of fire age, the flesh of the whole of the human race together with our brothers and sisters in Babylon shall also be put to death.

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

It is the Lord’s elect who shall administer the Lord’s judgement to all humanity in the lake of fire age.

Isa 42:1  Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

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.

Eze 32:21  The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword. 
Eze 32:22  Asshur is there and all her company: his graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword: 
Eze 32:23  Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living. 

Verse 21 says that the strong among the mighty or the mighty chiefs shall be in the grave together with godless people, Pharaoh and his helpers. As we have indicated, Pharaoh represents our old man or flesh. The mighty chiefs here signify the rulers of this world who are not given to know Christ and therefore are dominated by the flesh. Verse 21 is therefore saying that we His elect, together with the rulers of this world, the godless people of this world and all that help our flesh, shall be judged and as a result, our flesh or old man shall be brought to death.

In verse 22, Asshur which is the same as Assyria is mentioned here as being in the grave with his whole army as a result of being slain by the sword. Assyria and her company represent Babylon and her multitude of followers. What this verse is saying is that all the multitude in Babylon are spiritually dead, being put to death through false doctrines propagated by this army of horsemen, that is, false messengers with two hundred million false doctrines.

Rev 9:13  And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
Rev 9:14  Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
Rev 9:15  And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
Rev 9:16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. 

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Verse 23 show us that the grave of the Assyrians are at the uttermost part of the pit. This is another way of saying that our brothers and sisters in Babylon shall be the last on the line for their old man or flesh to be put to death through the Lord’s judgement.

Eze 16:53  When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:

Eze 16:55  When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.

It is worth noting in verse 23 that the Assyrians were noted for causing terror in the land of the living. This terror is the false doctrines that is propagated in Babylon by these horsemen (false messengers) which causes us much pain.

Joe 2:4  The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
Joe 2:5  Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
Joe 2:6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. 

Eze 32:24  There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit. 
Eze 32:25  They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain.  

Elam was one of the places which God’s people were exiled according to the Book of Isaiah. It was in Shushan, in the province of Elam that Daniel had a vision from the Lord by the river Ulai. They were warlike people who kept the Lord’s people captives. Elam therefore represent Babylon where the Lord’s people are kept captives and cannot worship the Lord in a way that will please Him.

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.

Dan 8:2  And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.

In order for the Lord’s elect to be free to worship the Lord in truth and in spirit, Elam or Babylon must be destroyed within us through the Lord’s judgement.  In the Book of Jeremiah, the Lord has promised that Elam shall experience the wrath of the Lord as He comes to judge her.

Jer 49:34  The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,
Jer 49:35  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.
Jer 49:36  And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.
Jer 49:37  For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: 
Jer 49:38  And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD.
Jer 49:39 But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.

This end result of this judgement by the Lord is what we are shown in verse 24 and 25 where Elam and her multitude are slain by the sword and are therefore brought to the grave or the pit. This implies that Babylon or Elam within us shall be dealt with by the Lord and this will happen in this age.

Rev 16:19  And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 
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.

Outwardly, Elam and her multitude representing our brothers and sisters in Babylon shall be judged and brought to experience the second death together with people of the world who are symbolized here in verse 24 as uncircumcised people. As noted in the case of the destruction of Assyria where it was noted for causing terror in the land of the living, Elam is also accused of causing terror in the land of the living. This is all to show us that Assyria and Elam are the same as Babylon as they take the Lord’s people captives. As indicated earlier, causing terror in the land of the living means making the Lord’s people suffer or be in pain as a result of the false doctrines propagated in Babylon.

Joe 2:6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. 

In both verses 24 and 25, we are also told that Elam and her multitude shall bear their shame with them who go down the pit. As indicated in verses 24, those who go down the pit are the uncircumcised people who represent the people of this world who are dominated by their flesh. This implies that in the lake of fire age, many shall be ashamed including our brothers and sisters in Babylon. This is contrary to the Lord’s elect who shall not be ashamed.

Rom 10:11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 

Isa 54:4  Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. 
Isa 54:5  For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Isa 54:6 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.

Eze 32:26  There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living. 
Eze 32:27  And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living. 
Eze 32:28 Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword. 

Meshech means ‘drawing out’. It represents a people of the line of Japheth, son of Noah. Tubal, on the other hand, means ‘thou will be brought’. The grandson of Noah was called Tubal and therefore they are also a tribe that descended from Noah. In Psalm 120, we are told that it is really a curse to dwell in Meshech as the Psalmist was praying for the Lord’s deliverance from people that hate peace and are always speaking lying words.

Psa 120:1  A Song of degrees. In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.
Psa 120:2  Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. 
Psa 120:3  What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
Psa 120:4  Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
Psa 120:5  Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
Psa 120:6  My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. 
Psa 120:7 I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.

During the Lord’s life on earth, He was accusing the people of Jerusalem that they do not know the things which will bring them peace. Thus, Jerusalem is just like Meshech and Tubal who hate peace. This means that Meshech and Tubal also represents Jerusalem which is in bondage with her children – that is Babylon. In Psalm 120, we saw that the Psalmist was crying to be delivered from lying lips and from deceitful tongue in his sojourn in Meshech. This is Babylon which thrives on the propagation of false doctrines through their false ministers of the gospel.

Luk 19:41  And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
Luk 19:42  Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 
Luk 19:43  For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
Luk 19:44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

Verses 26 to 28 therefore show us the end result of the Lord’s judgement of Meshech and Tubal. That is to say that Babylon shall be destroyed or put to death and her lot shall be among the uncircumcised people of the world. As the Lord’s elect, Babylon within us must be put to death in our walk with Christ. Outwardly, the physical churches of this world or Babylon shall be destroyed in the fulness of time when those whom the Lord has put in their hearts to destroy her rise up against her.

Rev 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 
Rev 17:17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

In verse 27, we are told that Babylon shall not lie among the mighty of the uncircumcised people who died with their weapons of war. That is to say that our brothers and sisters in Babylon shall be the last on the line to be saved.

Eze 32:29  There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.

Edom means red and it speaks of our Adamic nature which is our flesh. Edom is also known as Idumea. The people of Edom were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother and therefore represent our flesh or old man. This is what the Lord says concerning dealing with Edom, our flesh:

Eze 25:12  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them;
Eze 25:13  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.
Eze 25:14  And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.

The Lord’s vengeance on Edom by the hand of His elect implies that judgement of the Lord’s elect, which destroys our old man or flesh, is the vengeance upon Edom. Edom’s kings and princes represent the devil and his cohorts who empowers our flesh. The death of our flesh or old man means the devil’s influence or hold in our lives is limited. Thus, the death of Edom is also the death of its kings and princes. The slaying of Edom by the sword means that it is the fire of the word of the Lord which destroys our flesh. Edom lying in the grave with the uncircumcised means that our flesh is not different from the flesh of the people of the world, as all flesh of humanity shall end up being destroyed or end up in the grave. In this age, it is the Lord’s elect who are given to overcome the flesh or Edom. The rest of humanity shall eventually have the victory over Edom or the flesh during the lake of fire age.

Amo 9:12 That they (His elect) may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.

Eze 32:30 There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, which are gone down with the slain; with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit. 

Zidon in the Old Testament is the same as Sidon in the New Testament. It is a city of Phoenicia, north of Tyre and it means hunting. In the Book of Judges, Sidon is portrayed as a quiet and secure city with no one possessing authority to correct them.

Jdg 18:7  Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure; for there was none in the land, possessing authority, that might put them to shame in anything, and they were far from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with any man.  (ASV)

In this sense, Sidon is Babylon as our brothers and sisters there feel secured in this life and do not have Christ as their Lord to correct them.

Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

However, the Lord shall judge her in the fulness of time when her sins have reached the heavens.

Eze 28:20  Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 28:21  Son of man, set thy face against Zidon, and prophesy against it,
Eze 28:22  And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.
Eze 28:23  For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Eze 28:24 And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD. 

Here in verse 30, we are shown the end result of the Lord’s judgement where Sidonians together with the princes of the north (their leaders) shall be destroyed as they lie slain with the sword with the uncircumcised. As indicated earlier, the sword which is the instrument of judgement, is the spirit of the Lord’s mouth and His brightness which destroys our flesh or old man. In Ezekiel 28:24 above, we are told that Sidon is like a pricking briar and a grieving thorn unto the house of Israel. We know from the Lord’s words that briars and thorns represent the false doctrines of man’s wisdom and tradition propagated in Babylon which is the terror of the Sidonians in verse 30.  The spirit of the Lord’s mouth is therefore like the hail that comes to destroy these refuge of lies.

Eze 2:6  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.       

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. 

Eze 32:31  Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword, saith the Lord GOD. 
Eze 32:32  For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.

As we have indicated in earlier studies, Pharaoh signifies our old man or flesh. The slaying of Pharaoh and all his army by the sword symbolize the destruction of our flesh using the sword as the instrument of judgement by the Lord. In verse 32, the Lord is saying that He has caused His terror in the land of the living. The Lord’s terror is His judgement and it is His judgement that our flesh and that of the people of the world who do not know the Lord (uncircumcised) are destroyed or slain. It is through the Lord’s judgement that we are made capable of waging war against everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of the Lord and bring into captivity our old man or 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;  

We are grateful to our Heavenly Father for His faithfulness in dealing with everything that impede our growth in Him. May His Name be Praised !!

Ezekiel 32:1–16 A Lament Over Pharoah and Egypt

[Study Aired September 16, 2024]

INTRODUCTION

Today’s study reflects the destruction of Pharoah and Egypt. As we have indicated in the previous studies, Pharoah represents our old man or flesh. Today’s study deals with the judgement of Pharoah and Egypt and the resulting benefit that shall follow after the judgement.

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. 

The study concludes with the destruction of the beasts such that there shall be no foot of man or the hoofs of the beasts to trouble the waters. As a result, the waters shall flow like oil. These concluding statements show us the salvation of all men of every age which shall come about after the destruction of the beasts within man.

1Ti 4:9  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

 

A lamentation for Pharoah, King of Egypt

Eze 32:1  And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Eze 32:2 Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers. 

The number twelve means foundation and it is also the number of Christ. In our walk in the churches of this world, our foundations in Christ were destroyed.

Psa 11:3  If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? 

This means that the twelfth year in the twelfth month in the first day of the month when the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel implies that the Lord’s coming to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness is to build our foundation in Him as we go through the judgement of our old man.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
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: 

Isa 44:28  That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

Zec 8:9  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

As indicated in the previous studies, Pharoah, king of Egypt, represents our old man or flesh.  Here in verse 2, the Lord requesting Ezekiel to take up a lamentation for Pharoah, the king of Egypt, is to let us know the evil experience we must pass through for the destruction of our old man or flesh symbolized by Pharoah, the king of Egypt. In this verse, the Lord compared Pharoah with a young lion of the nations and also a whale in the seas. A key characteristic of a young lion is his persistent pursuit to capture a prey as shown in the following verses:

Psa 17:12  Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

Isa 5:29  Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.

Pharoah likened to a young lion of the nations therefore implies that our old man or flesh was made to dominate or capture mankind or people of the world as a prey. A whale represents the sea of our flesh or old man. Therefore, Pharoah being described as the whale in the seas is to show us that Pharoah represents our old man or flesh.

Job 7:12  Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

One key role of the whale as described in verse 2 is churning up muddy waters with his feet. This implies that if we are dominated by the flesh, that is our walk in the flesh, we end up coming up with muddy waters which refer to the false doctrines of man’s wisdom and tradition. As a result, we make the word of the Lord of no effect in our lives.

Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

Mar 7:7  Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 
Mar 7:8  For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

Mar 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Eze 32:3  Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will therefore spread out my net over thee with a company of many people; and they shall bring thee up in my net. 
Eze 32:4 Then will I leave thee upon the land, I will cast thee forth upon the open field, and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee.

The company of many people represent the physical churches of this world or Babylon. Our flesh is likened to fishes of the sea where the Lord cast His net over us, making the churches of this world drag us from the sea to the land. Being cast forth upon the open field in verse 4 means that our walk in the churches of this world is likened to an open field where we live like people of the world as our flesh is empowered by the devil and his cohorts, signified by the fowls of the heavens. It is at this point that the beasts of the whole earth dominate us to the fullest. We need to understand that our flesh or old man or the beast within us was made to be taken and destroyed. Thus, in our walk in the churches of this world, the Lord seeks an occasion to come and destroy our flesh as He allows us to be dominated by the beasts of the whole earth.

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;

Jud 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Jdg 14:1  And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
Jdg 14:2  And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
Jdg 14:3  Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
Jdg 14:4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. 

Eze 32:5  And I will lay thy flesh upon the mountains, and fill the valleys with thy height. 
Eze 32:6 I will also water with thy blood the land wherein thou swimmest, even to the mountains; and the rivers shall be full of thee. 

As indicated in the previous study, the mountains and valleys on a positive note represent the assembly of the Lord’s elect, as shown in the following verse:

Eze 6:3 Say this, ‘You mountains of Israel, listen to the word of the Almighty LORD! This is what the Almighty LORD says to the mountains and hills and to the ravines and valleys: I am going to attack you with a sword and destroy your worship sites.

In verse 5, therefore, the laying of our flesh upon the mountains and the filling of the valleys therefore signify the unveiling of the dying of our old man or flesh through the Lord’s judgement in the assembly of the Lord’s elect.

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The life of the flesh is in the blood and therefore, the land being watered with the blood of our old man or flesh in verse 6 signifies the death of our flesh or old man within our bodies (land). The streams being full of the flesh in verse 6 implies that we shall come to see that the false doctrines (the rivers) in our heavens emanates from the flesh and is about man’s wisdom and tradition.

Lev 17:11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Eze 32:7  And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. 
Eze 32:8 All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD. 

These verses describe the day of the Lord which is the time of His judgement of our old man or flesh. This is what Apostle Peter describes about the day of the Lord on the day of Pentecost:

Act 2:19  And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
Act 2:20  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Verses 7 and 8 show us that all the bright lights of heavens, together with the stars, shall be darkened as the sun is covered with the clouds and the moon is not giving her light. Comparing these verses with Apostle Paul’s description of the Lord’s day of judgement shows us that the sun being darkened is equivalent to the sun being covered with a cloud, and the moon not giving her light is the same as the moon not giving her light because it covered with blood. The sun being darkened means that when we are dominated by the flesh, we are not able to see Christ who represents the sun, because of the smoke that comes out of our bottomless pit. That is to say that out of our flesh (bottomless pit) comes false doctrines which prevent us from knowing Christ.

Rev 9:2  And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 

As part of the Lord’s judgement of our old man or flesh, we are given over to the desires of our hearts which include believing the false doctrines from our flesh. This is to give the Lord the occasion that He is seeking to come and judge us.

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 
Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

The moon turning into blood or not giving her light implies that we become guilty for the death of the Lord’s saints because we hate them. This is because the little knowledge of the Lord has been taken away from us. We know that hating our brothers or sisters is the same as being a murderer and therefore we are guilty of the death of the Lord and His saints. This is all to give the Lord the occasion that He is seeking to come into our lives to destroy our old man or flesh.

Mat 23:34  Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Mat 23:35  That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 
Mat 23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

Eze 32:9  I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not known. 
Eze 32:10 Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall. 

When Joseph’s brothers came to realize that Joseph was alive, they were troubled, thinking that Joseph would seek revenge or judge them because of the trouble they took Joseph through, especially when Jacob, their father died.

Gen 50:15  And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. 
Gen 50:16  And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
Gen 50:17  So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
Gen 50:18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.

Our brothers and sisters in Babylon who represent the “many people” shall be troubled as they see that the judgement of their old man is at hand.

Isa 13:8  And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

As indicated by Apostle Peter, if we, His elect are scarcely saved through the Lord’s judgement, what shall be the end of them (“many people”) who do not believe? Many people shall be stunned, especially, the leaders of Babylon, signified as the kings of the many people in verse 19, as they see the judgement of the Lord at hand.

1Pe 4:17  For the time 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?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 
1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

 

The Judgement of the Lord

Eze 32:11  For thus saith the Lord GOD; The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee. 
Eze 32:12 By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall, the terrible of the nations, all of them: and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt, and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed. 

When we are dominated by the flesh or our old man, the Lord gives us over to be ruled by the sword of the King of Babylon. As we have indicated in previous studies, the negative aspect of “sword” refers to words that are spoken which destroy us. The sword refers to the lying words and false doctrines of the adversary.

2Ti 2:17  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
2Ti 2:18  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Psa 64:2  Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
Psa 64:3  Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

These negative words spoken is one of the tools that the Lord uses to cause people to speak bitter words to us, His elect.

Eze 38:21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.

Jdg 7:22 And the three hundred [men with Gideon] blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host [of the Midianites]: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

In verse 12, we are made aware that the swords of the mighty is what causes the multitude to fall including the terrible of the nations. This implies that it is through false doctrines propagated in Babylon which caused many to become spiritually dead. These false doctrines is what gives Babylon control of the nations of this world.

Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Rev 17:2  With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 

The woman sitting upon many waters means that Babylon or the physical churches of this world have control over people (multitude) and nations. As indicated in verse 12, this control is through the false doctrines or the sword of the king of Babylon which destroys the pomp of Egypt and all the multitude.

The pomp of Egypt refers to the attractiveness or the pride of the world which involves the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. “The multitude” signifies the people of the world including our brothers and sisters in Babylon. Through the Lord’s judgement of our old man, the attraction of the world, the old man or flesh in the lives of the people of the world, shall be destroyed.

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

Eze 32:13  I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters; neither shall the foot of man trouble them anymore, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them. 
Eze 32:14  Then will I make their waters deep, and cause their rivers to run like oil, saith the Lord GOD.

The “great waters” in verse 13 signify the false doctrines of man’s wisdom and tradition. These false doctrines comes from our flesh or our old man or beast. The destruction of all the beasts shall take place in the Lake of Fire as all mankind from Adam to date shall be judged. The fact that the feet of humans and the hoofs of beasts cannot stir up the water anymore implies that the beast within man, which is the source of the false doctrines in our heavens, shall be destroyed completely, such that there will not be any false doctrines.

As described in verse 14, the only river available shall run like oil. This river is the water of life which proceeds out of the throne of the God and of the Lamb. Oil represents the Spirit and it is the spirit that gives life. The Lord causing the rivers to run like oil therefore signifies that all humanity shall come to have the spiritual understanding of the word of the Lord which gives 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. 

Rev 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 
Rev 22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 
Rev 22:3  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Rev 22:4  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Eze 32:15  When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country shall be destitute of that whereof it was full, when I shall smite all them that dwell therein, then shall they know that I am the LORD. 
Eze 32:16 This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her: the daughters of the nations shall lament her: they shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all her multitude, saith the Lord GOD. 

In verse 15, Egypt symbolizes the world. The making of the land of Egypt desolate therefore represents the Lord’s judgement of the world during the lake of fire age.  The result of this judgement is that all shall come to know who the Lord is.

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. 

1Ti 4:9  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. 

1Ti 2:3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 

The daughters of the nations in verse 16 signifies the physical churches of this world who shall lament the destruction of the old man in their lives, which is the source of all worldliness. This is the order in which these daughters of the nations shall be saved:

Eze 16:53  When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:

Eze 16:55  When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.

May the Lord continue to deliver us from our old man or flesh. Amen!!

Ezekiel 31:1–18 Pharoah Shall Be Slain

[Study Aired September 9, 2024]

Introduction

Today’s study continues with the prophecy against Egypt with focus on Pharoah, the King of Egypt. As we have indicated in previous studies, Pharoah represents our old man or flesh. Today’s study compares Pharoah to the Assyrian who is likened to a cedar of Lebanon.

As we are aware, the Bible is full of metaphors and sometimes it compares our walk with the Lord with the growth of trees. A metaphor is a figure of speech that implicitly compares two unrelated things, typically by stating that one thing is another. For example, we, His elect, are likened to palm trees and cedars of Lebanon.

Psa 92:12  The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 
Psa 92:13  Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Psa 92:14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

The house of the Lord is the same as the courts of our God. These verses therefore show us that it is when we are given to come into the assembly of the Lord’s elect, that is the house of the Lord, that we grow spiritually like trees as a result of what every joints supplies, that is, the water of the word.

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, 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, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:  

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.   

Our growth spiritually, is dependent on our fellowship with our brothers and sisters as we all grow together in the unity of the faith. This unity of the faith means that we all have the same mind of Christ.

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. 

This dependence of our spiritual growth based on the fellowship of our brothers and sisters is given a witness in Proverbs which says that He who finds a wife, finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. The wife here signifies the bride of Christ who represents the fellowship of the Lord’s elect.

Pro 18:22  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. 

The favor of the Lord here is being given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God which comes through being part of the bride, that is, finding a wife.

In Today’s study, the focus is on the cedars of Lebanon. To understand our discussion for today, we need to know some basic characteristics of cedars of Lebanon. They grow up to 120 feet tall (about 10-12 story buildings) and their branches are wide-spreading (about 30-50 feet from its truck). They are known in Biblical times as the kings of trees. They cast down their roots as deeply as is their heights upward.

Hos 14:5  I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

According to Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary, his roots as Lebanon means the roots of the trees of Lebanon especially cedars. A tree with deep roots is able to survive in all kinds of conditions. Apostle Paul used this to tell us to be rooted and grounded in God’s love. In other words, we must be rooted and grounded in the resources the Lord provides for us because He loves us.

Eph 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 
Eph 3:18  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

The Assyrian Compared to Cedars of Lebanon

Eze 31:1  And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Eze 31:2 Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness? 

The number eleven signifies the ruin and disintegration of the perfection of the flesh and that of the number three is about the process of spiritual maturity through judgement. The number one shows us that everything is of God. With this in mind, the eleventh year in the third month of the first day of the month in which the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel in verse 1 signifies the coming of the Lord to His elect to start the process of spiritual maturity through His judgement of our old man or flesh.  This process entails the ruin and disintegration of our flesh. The time that our Lord comes to us with His judgement is when our sins have reached their fulness. In this case, the sins of Pharoah the King of Egypt, who represents our flesh or old man has become complete. In the Book of Revelation, it is when the sins of Babylon have reached their fulness or become complete is the time that the Lord shall come to judge her.

Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Rev 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

In verse 2, Pharoah refers to our old man or our flesh and his multitude represent the people of this world who are dominated by the flesh including our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world. It is this multitude that do evil as they are dominated by the flesh. 

Exo 23:2  Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:

Exo 12:38  And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.

Here in verse 2, the Lord wants to show us the dominance and the destruction of our old man by seeking a comparison with one of the greatest empire in ancient times – the Assyrian empire. By comparing our old man or flesh (Pharoah) to the Assyrian empire, the Lord is showing us how He has resourced our flesh or old man to dominate us until the set time that He has appointed, to come and deal with him. In Second Thessalonians, Paul shows us how our old man or flesh has flourished as he dominates or is worshipped by every human being until the set time that the Lord has appointed, where He comes and deal with him with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness.

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
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:

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Eze 31:3  Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. 
Eze 31:4  The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field. 
Eze 31:5 Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth. 

In verse 3, the Assyrian is compared with a cedar in Lebanon. In the Bible, those who are rich or kings use cedar to build houses to live in. In this case, cedars of Lebanon represent our tabernacle or our flesh or bodies since we, His elect, are spiritually rich in Christ. Since the Assyrian in verse 3 was likened to a cedar of Lebanon, it implies that the Assyrian represent our flesh or old man.

2Sa 7:2  That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

2Sa 7:7  In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?

Son 1:17  The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

Here in verse 3, the Lord is showing us that our old man or flesh is like a cedar of Lebanon with a shadowing shroud, high stature and its top being among the thick bough. This implies that our flesh or old man is a formidable force to deal with and it is only in Christ that we can win the victory over him.

1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Being a formidable force within us is another way of saying that our flesh or the beast within us is such that no one can make war with Him.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

Verse 4 focuses on the deep or the waters that makes our old man great as he sent out his little rivers unto all the trees of the field. The deep refers to the sea of mankind. The waters refers to the false doctrines of human wisdom and tradition which come from the sea of human flesh which nourish all mankind (except the Lord’s elect), signified here by the trees of the field. Our flesh from which comes the waters that nourish all mankind is another way of saying that our old man or flesh or beast is worshipped by all mankind.

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.    

Verse 5 is about how the height of the cedar tree is exalted above all the trees of the field and his branches are long because of the multitude of waters when it shoots up. As we are aware, it is Christ our Lord who is exalted above all humanity in the world. Verse 5 starts with “therefore”, meaning that it is the waters in verse 4 which causes our flesh or old man to be exalted, thinking that he is God. These waters refer to our false doctrines in our heavens which make us believe that we have our own freewill which is the prerogative of God alone. Thus, what is being said in verse 5 is that our flesh exalts himself to the status of God because he thinks he is the one in control of his own destiny.

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Isa 14:13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 
Isa 14:14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Isa 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Eze 31:6  All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations. 
Eze 31:7  Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters. 

All the fowls of heaven making their nests in his boughs in verse 6 signify the devil being the empowering force behind our old man or flesh.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

The beasts of the field signifies our flesh. All the beasts of the field bringing forth their young under his branches means within us or out of our flesh comes forth false doctrines of man’s wisdom and tradition.

Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 

When we are dominated by the flesh or spiritually dead, then it means that we have been given over to the fowls of the air and the beasts of the field.

1Sa 17:44  And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

In verse 6, we are also told that it is under the shadow of our old man that all great nations dwell which means that everyone not born of God is under the sway of our flesh.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

Verse 7 continues the description of our flesh by indicating that our flesh or old man is like cedar which is big and beautiful with its many branches. This is because its roots reach down to many sources of water.  Just as all the good and evil things that were created by the Lord serve the very purpose for which they were created, our old man being beautiful means he serves the purpose for which it was created. Being big with many branches means our flesh has a dominant influence on people of the world except the Lord’s elect. This dominance over mankind is due to many waters or sea of flesh that he is in contact with. This many waters represent the false doctrines emanating from the sea of flesh. That means false doctrines of man’s wisdom and tradition.

Gen 1:31  And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

Mar 7:7  Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 
Mar 7:8  For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

Mar 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Eze 31:8  The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty. 
Eze 31:9  I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him. 
Eze 31:10 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height; 

The reference to the garden of Eden in verses 8 and 9, where the cedar is distinct in terms of its beauty among all the trees is to let us know that the flesh or our old man was the epitome of the Lord’s creation. That is to say that the Lord’s hands specifically formed our flesh or old man to be the excellence of His creation, just as the Lord’s hands formed the crooked serpent.

Job 26:13  By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. 

In Isaiah 14:12, our old man or flesh is referred to as Lucifer, the son of the morning. The accolade “Lucifer” which means the shining one and son of the morning all describes our old man’s status as the excellency of the Lord’s creation. However, being worshipped by the whole world resulted in pride and therefore had to be brought down through the Lord’s judgement. This is all part of the Lord’s work as our flesh or the beast within was made to be taken and destroyed.

Isa 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 
Isa 14:13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa 14:14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Isa 14:15  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Isa 14:16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

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;

Jud 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

The Lord’s Judgement

Eze 31:11  I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness. 
Eze 31:12  And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him. 
Eze 31:13 Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches: 

As indicated in verse 11, as a result of the wickedness of our old man or flesh, the Lord has come to judge him by giving him over into the hands of the mighty one of the heathens. The mighty one of the heathen signifies the devil whom the Lord has given over the kingdoms of this world. Thus, delivering our old man or flesh to the devil implies being judged, resulting in the death of our flesh or old man.  We must remember that the man who slept with his father’s wife and was therefore handed over to Satan was for the purpose of the destruction of his flesh.

1Co 5:3  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
1Co 5:4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

In verse 12, the Lord will use foreigners from the most ruthless nation to judge our flesh. The instrument of judgement here is the sword which the Lord shall cause every man’s sword to be against his brother.

Eze 38:21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.

Jdg 7:22 And the three hundred [men with Gideon] blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host [of the Midianites]: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

As a result of the Lord’s judgement, its branches fell on the mountains and every valley with his broken branches falling into all the rivers of the land. In the Bible mountains and valleys can signify worship sites or the assembly of believers. This implies that it is through the assembly of the Lord’s elect and the word of the Lord that we come to see the destruction of our old man or flesh which prepares us to be manifested as the sons of God. That is what will result in the salvation of all humanity as the people of the earth come out of the shade of the flesh or old man.

Eze 6:3 Say this, ‘You mountains of Israel, listen to the word of the Almighty LORD! This is what the Almighty LORD says to the mountains and hills and to the ravines and valleys: I am going to attack you with a sword and destroy your worship sites.

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

In verse 13, we are told that on its fallen trunk dwell all the birds of heaven and on its branches are all the beasts of the field. It is as we are judged that we come to see that our old man received his power from the devil. We also come to realize that we are indeed beast before our Lord.

Psa 73:22  So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. 

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Eze 31:14  To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit. 

As we have indicated, trees represent people. The judgement of the Lord together with His elect during the lake of fire age shall result in the salvation of all people of every age. This judgement shall destroy the pride in man and everything that mitigate against the rule of Christ in the lives of all humanity. It shall also destroy all the false doctrines of man’s wisdom and tradition which is signified here in verse 14 by the stopping of the flow of the many water sources. The old man of every man or woman shall be destroyed completely as symbolized by the trees being given over to death.

1Ti 4:9  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.        

1Ti 2:3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  

In this age however, it is only the Lord’s elect that are being judged to become saviors of all mankind as judgement shall be given to them to judge the human race from every generation.

1Pe 4:17  For the time 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? 
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

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.

Eze 31:15 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.

Here in verse 15, we are being told that the judgement of our old man or flesh as the Lord’s elect is an evil experience as we mourn during this process of His judgement. That is why the two witnesses in the Book of Revelation were clothed in sackcloth to symbolize the mourning of the Lord’s elect as we go through the Lord’s judgement in this age.

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 

Verse 15 emphasizes the benefits of the Lord’s judgement as the Lord destroys all the false doctrines in our heavens by covering the waters from the sea and holding back the rivers to stop the many water sources from flowing in our hearts and minds.

Verse 15 also indicates that all those in Lebanon shall mourn the destruction of our flesh. Lebanon means white. On a positive note, white refers to the light of the truth of the word of the Lord. In other words, it is those whose garments are being made white who are given to know the truth of the Lord’s words. Thus, Lebanon being caused to mourn our old man’s destruction means that the Lord’s elect shall mourn as we go through the Lord’s judgement of our old man.

Ecc 9:8  Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.   

Isa 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

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.

In verse 15, we are made aware that all the trees of the field faint for the destruction of our old man. The word “faint” used in verse 15 means mourning according to Strong’s Dictionary. The trees of the field refers to all humanity who are not given to know Christ in this age. This implies that all humanity shall also mourn the death of their old man as they go through the Lord’s judgement during the lake of fire age.

Eze 31:16  I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth. 
Eze 31:17  They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen. 
Eze 31:18 To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD. 

It is instructive to note that in verse 16, the nations shall shake at the sound of the destruction of our old man. The nations mentioned here refers to non-Hebrew people. In other words, those who are not the Lord’s elect. The word “shake” is used most of the time in the Bible to indicate the Lord’s judgement as shown in the following verses:

Hag 2:7  And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. 

Joe 3:16  The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

The nations shaking at the noise of the destruction of the old man of the Lord’s elect therefore implies that the judgement of the Lord’s people or elect shall have repercussions on the rest of humanity as the Lord’s elect are being prepared to judge all humanity. In verse 16, the judgement of all humanity is what will result in the comforting of all trees of Eden, the choicest and the best of Lebanon as they all shall drink the water of life. All the trees of Eden, together with the choicest and the best of Lebanon refers to all humanity of God’s creation.

Rev 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Verse 17 continues with the judgement of all humanity as it states that they (the nations) had gone down in the grave with the tree which represents our flesh or old man. All those who live in the tree’s shadow represent all those who are dominated by the flesh. They shall be judged by the Lord as indicated by their scattering among the nations.

In verse 18, we are made aware that Pharoah is the cedar of Lebanon who represents our flesh or old man and that the judgement of our flesh will surely be carried out by the Lord to lay waste our old man. This is to assure us that what the Lord has begun in us, He is able to bring to completion as He makes us His vessels of honor.

May His name be praised. Amen!!

Ezekiel 30:1–26 A Lament For Egypt

[Study Aired September 2, 2024]

Introduction

Today’s study continues with the prophecy against Egypt which focuses on her destruction, and that of her allies and confederate, and all her interests and concerns.  As indicated in the previous study, Egypt is a symbol of Babylon of which we were part of during our sojourn in the physical churches of this world. This is made clearer later in the chapter when the Lord mentioned that He will give the land of Egypt to the King of Babylon.

Egypt also refers to our walk when we were dominated by our flesh as we  conform to the standards of this world. The chapter gives details of the judgement of Egypt and her cities which is our judgement. This evil experience of the Lord’s judgement that we go through in this life is to drag us to know Him. We can therefore learn from this chapter that the Lord’s ways are not our ways. This is to assure us that in the midst of all that we are going through in this life as we wonder why things happen the way they do, the Lord is at work in us to bring us to an expected end!!

Isa 55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

Jer 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 
Jer 29:12  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

The Sword Shall Come Upon Egypt

Eze 30:1  The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 
Eze 30:2  Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day! 
Eze 30:3  For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen. 
Eze 30:4  And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down. 
Eze 30:5 Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.  

The word of the Lord coming to Ezekiel in verse 1 is the same as Christ coming to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
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: 

As indicated in 2 Thessalonians 2:8, the coming of the Lord to us is accompanied by His judgement of our old man. Verses 2 to 4 affirms to us the judgement of the Lord when He come to us with His words. The day of the Lord is the time of the Lord’s judgement. A cloudy day in verse 2 means a gloomy day and that day being the time of the heathen means that it is a time of trouble for our old man who is signified by the heathen. Why is the day of the Lord a gloomy day? It is because the Lord is taking us through an evil experience which brings us to our wits ends. During this period, it is as if our Lord is not with us or has forsaken us. That is what it means when our sun is darkened in the day of the Lord. This is what Peter has to say about the day of the Lord:

Act 2:19  And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
Act 2:20  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 
Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The moon turning into blood implies that through the Lord’s judgement, we come to see that our mother (moon), which represents the churches of this world, are rather putting us to death spiritually just as they had put to death physically, the Lord’s messengers.

Luk 11:49  Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
Luk 11:50  That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
Luk 11:51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

It is during this period of our fiery trials that when we call on the name of the Lord, we are saved.

Psa 107:12  Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
Psa 107:13  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. 
Psa 107:14  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. 
Psa 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

As indicated in the previous study, we came to the conclusion that when our walk with the Lord is dominated by our flesh or old man, then we are just like the people of the world or Egyptians. In verse 4, the sword coming upon Egypt is the Lord judging us as we walk in the flesh. In this case, the Lord is using the sword as His instrument of judgement. Here in verse 4 and 5, Egypt together with Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia and Chub are all being judged. To understand why these nations are being judged together with Egypt, we are given a clue in verse 5 which says that all these nations are in league with Egypt. In other words, Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia and Chub all exhibit the traits of worldliness associated with Egypt. All these nations therefore represent our flesh which must be destroyed through the sword.  The sword on a positive note means the word of the Lord.

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

The negative aspect of sword used in verse 5 refers to words that are spoken which destroy us. The sword refers to the lying words and false doctrines of the adversary.

2Ti 2:17  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
2Ti 2:18  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Psa 64:2  Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
Psa 64:3  Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

These negative words spoken is one of the tools that the Lord uses to judge us.

Eze 38:21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.

Jdg 7:22 And the three hundred [men with Gideon] blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host [of the Midianites]: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

Eze 30:6  Thus saith the LORD; They also that uphold Egypt shall fall; and the pride of her power shall come down: from the tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord GOD. 
Eze 30:7  And they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are wasted. 
Eze 30:8  And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have set a fire in Egypt, and when all her helpers shall be destroyed. 
Eze 30:9 In that day shall messengers go forth from me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid, and great pain shall come upon them, as in the day of Egypt: for, lo, it cometh. 

In verse 6, we are told that they that uphold Egypt shall fall. This means that our old man which is the source of all worldliness including pride shall be destroyed through the Lord’s judgement. The towers of Syrene is a border town of Egypt on the frontier of Ethiopia. The fact that the destruction stretches up to the towers of Syrene means that the Lord will do a thorough work with our old man such that nothing of our old man shall be left untouched. In this case, the instrument of the Lord’s judgement is the sword which is the fire of the word of the Lord which brings about tribulation and persecution because of the word we have received.

Mat 13:21  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 

The Lord judgement shall utterly destroy our old man as revealed in verse 7 where our old man shall be desolate and wasted. It is through this evil experience that we shall come to know the Lord. As we have indicated in previous studies, cities can represent churches and in this case, Babylon.

Rev 17:18  And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Rev 18:9  And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
Rev 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

The destruction of the cities in verse 7 therefore refers to the destruction of Babylon within our hearts and minds. In verse 8, we are told that all the helpers of Egypt shall be destroyed. These helpers are the churches of this world or Babylon which strengthen our old man. The destruction of these helpers therefore refers to the ruin of Babylon within us.

The messengers coming forth in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid symbolize the false apostles in Babylon who peddle the gospel as they come with messages which make us afraid and bring pain. All of this happened to us when we were in Babylon which is symbolized here as Ethiopia.

Joe 2:3  A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
Joe 2:4  The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
Joe 2:5  Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
Joe 2:6  Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. 
Joe 2:7  They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march everyone on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
Joe 2:8  Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk everyone in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
Joe 2:9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

Eze 30:10  Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon. 
Eze 30:11  He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy the land: and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain. 
Eze 30:12  And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the LORD have spoken it. 
Eze 30:13 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph; and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt. 

In verse 10, the Lord is saying that He will use Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, to bring an end to Egypt. That is to say that the Lord will use our time in Babylon as the occasion that He is seeking to come and judge us to destroy the source of worldliness (Egypt) within us. In verse 11, we are made aware that the evil experience that we go through in Babylon which entails being inundated with false doctrines, symbolized by Babylon drawing their sword against us, brings us to spiritual death. These false doctrines are propagated by these false teachers and prophets.

2Pe 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 
2Pe 2:2  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

In verse 12, selling the land into the hand of the wicked means our bodies become dominated by our flesh or old man. Through the Lord’s judgement, our rivers become dry, which implies that the Lord shall destroy our false doctrines. Our land being waste means that our old man or flesh shall be destroyed. Verse 13 continues to emphasize the destruction of our idols and images which represents our false doctrines, together with our old man. As the Lord takes us through this process of judgement, our old man or flesh become apprehensive or fearful, knowing his time is short.

Eze 30:14  And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No. 
Eze 30:15  And I will pour my fury upon Sin, the strength of Egypt; and I will cut off the multitude of No. 
Eze 30:16 And I will set fire in Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be rent asunder, and Noph shall have distresses daily. 

The names of these cities of Egypt which the Lord is dealing with through His judgement reveal the characteristics of His judgement. Pathros means part of Egypt. What this means is that the Lord’s judgement is a process which is carried out in parts. In the Book of Revelation, we see that our judgement is carried out in parts as shown in the following verses:

Rev 8:8  And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

Rev 8:10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

Zoan was the dwelling place of Pharoah at the time of the exodus of Israel and the city of No means disrupting. Thus, in verse 14, the Lord is telling us that the seat of our old man or flesh symbolized by Pharoah, and everything within us that disrupt the kingdom of the Lord from being established within us shall be destroyed with the fire of the word of the Lord as He carries out His judgement gradually.

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.

In verse 15, the Lord will pour out His fury upon Sin, a city in eastern Egypt which serves as the strength of Egypt. The Lord will also cut off the multitude of No. Sin means thorny or clay. We know from the scriptures that thorns spiritually represent false doctrines.

Eze 2:6  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

As indicated, No which is a city in Egypt means disrupting and therefore the multitude of No signify those false apostles whose message disrupt the kingdom of the Lord from being established in us. What verse 15 is telling us is that both the false doctrines in our heavens which represent the strength of our old man or flesh and these false apostles who propagate these false doctrines shall be dealt with through the Lord’s judgement or fury. In other words, we shall see who these false apostles really are and therefore, shall not influence us again.

The Lord setting fire in Egypt, in verse 16, signifies the Lord coming to us to destroy our old man with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness. The Lord’s judgement shall destroy everything including the false doctrines in our heavens. It is instructive to note that in verse 16, Noph is mentioned as being distress daily as the Lord sets fire in Egypt. Noph is another name for Memphis which was the capital city of Egypt and it means presentability. What this implies is that being presented to the Lord as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord is through the Lord’s judgement and that this work is done daily in our lives. As a result, we die daily to the things of the flesh.

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.

Eze 30:17  The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword: and these cities shall go into captivity. 
Eze 30:18  At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity. 
Eze 30:19 Thus will I execute judgments in Egypt: and they shall know that I am the LORD. 

The city of Aven in Egypt means trouble or sorrow. The young men of Aven therefore refer to the Lord’s elect who are going through trouble or sorrow as a result of the evil experience of the Lord’s judgement. Pibeseth signifies mouth of loathing which represents our old man or flesh who blaspheme against the Lord. We were all blasphemers but as we fall by the sword of the Lord’s judgement, we become counted as faithful.

1Ti 1:12  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 
1Ti 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 

Tehaphnehes means “thou will fill hands with pity”. What verse 18 is telling us is that even as the Lord judges our old man and our day become darkened, He will show us pity and not tempt us to a point that we cannot bear.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

Through the Lord’s judgement, the Lord shall break the yoke of our flesh as He takes his strength away.  In verse 18, we are also told that cloud shall cover Egypt as her daughters are taken into captivity. The cloud covering Egypt means that the world is shielded from the Sun who signifies Christ. We, His elect, are the cloud of witnesses which are shielding Christ from being seen by the world and Babylon. That is why the whole world and our brothers and sisters in Babylon are in captivity of the devil.

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,

It is when someone recognizes us as ambassadors of Christ that the Sun or Christ is unveiled to that person.

Luk 13:35  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

In verse 19, the Lord is assuring us that through His judgement we shall come to know the Lord.

Egypt Shall Fall to Babylon

Eze 30:20  And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Eze 30:21  Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword. 
Eze 30:22 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand. 

The number eleven signifies the ruin and disintegration of the perfection of the flesh and that of seven speaks of the completion of the perfection of the flesh. The number one shows us that everything is of God. With this in mind, the eleventh year in the first month of the seventh day of the month in which the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel in verse 20 signifies that what the Lord is coming to tell us relates what He is doing regarding the ruin and disintegration of our flesh and that this destruction only takes place after our sins are complete before Him. In this case, the sins of Pharoah the King of Egypt, who represents our flesh or old man have become complete. Our sins being complete is the same as our sins reaching the heavens. In the Book of Revelation, it is when the sins of Babylon have reached its fulness or become complete that the Lord shall come to judge her.

Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Rev 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.  

In verses 21 and 22, the Lord is showing us what He is doing through the judgement of our old man. As we have indicated, Pharoah, King of Egypt symbolizes our old man or flesh. Here in verse 21, the Lord is saying that the arms of Pharoah is broken and that it shall not bound up to be healed and that it shall never be strong again to hold the sword. This verse is telling us that through the Lord’s judgement, our old man or flesh is destroyed, such that he cannot come back to haunt us with the sword or his false doctrines. In verse 22, the destruction of our old man involves the demolition of the works of the flesh (his arms) and his strength which deals with His ability to influence us. The  annihilation of our old man or flesh also involves making the sword to fall out of his hands which signifies the destruction of the false doctrines in our heavens.

What is shown here about the destruction of our old man or flesh through the Lord’s judgement is the same as what is shown in the Book of Daniel about Daniel’s vision. In the vision about the four beasts which together represent the whole of our old man or flesh, we can see that it was through judgement that his dominion is taken away and given to the Lord’s elect.

Dan 7:17  These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. 
Dan 7:18  But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even for ever and ever.

Dan 7:26  But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 
Dan 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. 

Eze 30:23  And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. 
Eze 30:24  And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh’s arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man. 
Eze 30:25  But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt. 
Eze 30:26 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries; and they shall know that I am the LORD. 

In verse 24, the Lord is saying that it is He who strengthens the arms of the king of Babylon to make Pharoah groan of a deadly wound. Spiritually, what this verse is saying is that it is in Babylon or the physical churches of this world that the beast or our old man is given a deadly wound. However, as we see in the Book of Revelation, this deadly wound becomes healed.

Rev 13:3  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

In verse 25, we are made aware that it is the Lord who has strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon as He put His sword in his hand. At the same time, the arms of Pharoah shall fall down. We can see in verse 25 that it is the Lord who has caused Babylon to be strengthened with resources and has given them false doctrines (sword) to accomplish His purpose of keeping the multitude in the world (Egypt) including Babylon from getting to know the truth and be saved in this age.

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.  

On the other hand, as the Lord’s elect, the Lord has given the king of Babylon to rule over us for a period of time. It is this period of our walk in Babylon that the Lord uses as the occasion to come into our lives with His judgement to destroy the works of our old man or flesh within us which is symbolized by the arms of Pharoah falling down as the king of Babylon stretches His sword against the land of Egypt in verse 25.

The Egyptians being scattered among the nations in verse 23 and 26 is the Lord breaking down the flesh or our old man such that he cannot be gathered together to become a force to reckon with in the lives of His elect. That is how we get to know the Lord as we serve Him.

Psa 107:8  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 

Ezekiel 29:1-21 Prophesy Against Egypt

Introduction

[Study Aired August 26, 2024]

Today’s study is about King Pharoah and Egypt. The Lord told Ezekiel to speak His words concerning the impending destruction of Pharoah and also the desolation of the land of Egypt. The chapter also promise a restoration for the Egyptians after forty years and the giving of the land of Egypt by the Lord to Nebuchadnezzar as a reward for the destruction of Tyre. The chapter ends with a promise of the Lord’s goodness to the people of Israel who represents His elect.  

The Prophesy Against Pharoah, the King of Egypt

Eze 29:1  In the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Eze 29:2  Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt: 
Eze 29:3 Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself. 

The tenth year in the tenth month on the twelfth day of the month spiritually suggests that it is when the sins of our flesh have become complete (significance of the number 10) that the Lord (significance of the number 12) comes to us with His word. His coming is the beginning of the judgement of our old man. 

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
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:

Verse 2 shows us that the King of Egypt, Pharoah, is the focus of the Lord’s words. The question is, who does Pharoah signify spiritually?  To answer this, we need to look at what is said about Pharoah in verse 3 which states that the King of Egypt, Pharoah, is the great dragon that lies in the midst of his rivers. In the following verses, the rivers are the same as the deep which refers to the sea:

Isa 44:27  That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:

Eze 31:15  Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him. 

The midst of thy rivers in verse 3 refers to the sea of flesh. The King of Egypt lying in the midst of his rivers therefore means that the King of Egypt or Pharoah is our flesh. Just as we represent Christ and therefore, we can be referred to as Jesus, the children of Satan (Those who live by the flesh) who is the great dragon, can be referred to as the great dragon. Thus, the King of Pharoah is not Satan but represents our flesh or old man who is empowered or influenced by Satan.

Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 
Act 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

Here in verse 3, Pharoah is saying that he has his own river and has made it for himself. The river here is the false doctrines emanating from our flesh, that is, man’s wisdom and traditions, which the devil is using to deceive the whole world.  

Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 

Mar 7:7  Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 
Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 

Eze 29:4  But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales. 
Eze 29:5  And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven.

In view of the sins of our flesh, the Lord comes to us with His judgement. In verse 4, the Lord is saying that He will put hooks in our jaws and will cause the fish of our rivers to stick unto our scales by putting us out of the midst of our rivers. Putting the hooks in our jaws means the Lord will be dragging us. The scales in this case, spiritually indicates the pride of our old man as shown in the following verse:

Job 41:15  His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.

The Lord used the phrase “I will make you fishers of men” to refer to those that He will drag to Himself through the apostles. The fish of our rivers in verse 3 therefore refers to us His elect who were dominated by our old man or flesh through the deception of the false doctrine of man’s wisdom and tradition which makes us proud.

Mat 4:18  And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 
Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

In verses 4 and 5, the Lord is saying that He will bring us up out of the midst of our rivers by throwing us into the wilderness where we shall fall into the open fields and not be gathered together. In this situation, we become like meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven. As the Lord’s elect, we shall surely be delivered from all the false doctrines of man’s wisdom and traditions. However, verses 4 and 5 show us that the Lord’s deliverance is through an evil experience which starts with the Lord dragging us into the wilderness which represents Babylon or the physical churches of this world where we are starved of the word of the Lord. 

1Sa 3:1  Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. (ESV)

This Babylon is also likened to open fields which means that the churches of this world is part of the world system. At this stage, we, His elect, are not part of the assembly of the church of the firstborn as we have not yet been gathered together with His people as the Lord has promised. 

Jer 29:14  And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. 

During this walk with the Lord in the wilderness or open fields, we are given as meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven. The beasts of the field refers to these men who walk in the flesh but parade as apostles of Christ in the churches of this world, deceiving us. This is how the apostles, Peter and Jude, referred to them:

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;

Jud 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 

As Jesus indicated, the fowls of the heaven signify the devil or evil one when He explained the parable of the sower to His disciples. 

Mat 13:3  And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 
Mat 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 

Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside. 

Being meat to the fowls of the heaven therefore means that we become victims of the devil as every word of the Lord that is shown in our hearts is  taken away.

Eze 29:6  And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. 
Eze 29:7  When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand. 

In verse 6, the house of Israel here refers to the Lord’s elect. The inhabitants of Egypt signify all those who walk according to worldly principles of man’s wisdom and tradition which we were being fed with when we were in the churches of this world. It also means all those who are dominated by the flesh. Verse 6 shows us that walking in the flesh is likened to a staff of reed or an unreliable walking stick. The verse is therefore telling us that as the Lord’s elect (house of Israel), we shall come to see that we cannot rely on our walk in the flesh or worldly principles before Him. 

Verse 7 shows us the unreliability of our flesh in serving the Lord. When we depends on our flesh or the worldly wisdom and traditions of this world, we are going to be disappointed. The verse likens our walk in the flesh as walking with a stick which when we use, it splinters and tear up our shoulders and when we lean on, it breaks and wrench our backs. All of this is showing us that there is no good thing in our flesh or our old man when it comes to serving the Lord.

Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 
Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

As we can see from Romans 7:24-25, when we are under the control of our old man or flesh, we are wretched, poor and blind until the Lord Jesus Christ comes to us with His judgement. 

The Benefits of the Judgment of the Lord

Eze 29:8  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cutoff man and beast out of thee. 
Eze 29:9  And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste; and they shall know that I am the LORD: because he hath said, The river is mine, and I have made it. 
Eze 29:10  Behold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia. 
Eze 29:11 No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years. 

Verse 8 is shows us the way the Lord comes to deal with us to destroy our old man or flesh – by  coming to us with His judgement. The Lord’s judgement in this case is the sword which He uses to cut off man and beast from our lives. The man and beast here refers to the beast within manor our flesh, which the Lord deals with through the spirit of His mouth (sword) and His brightness.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
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:  

The land of Egypt in verse 9 refers to our bodies when we are under the dominion of the flesh. In such a state, we are just like anybody pursuing the things of this world. As indicated earlier, the rivers in verse 9 symbolize the false doctrines of man’s wisdom and traditions of this world. These rivers are what sustain Egypt or Babylon. At the time of Jacob and his sons, Egypt represents Babylon. Here in verses 9 and 10, the Lord has promised to come and judge our old man or body (the land of Egypt) together with destruction of her rivers which is the false doctrines. The land of Egypt becoming desolate and waste implies that nothing can grow on the land since there is no water or river to nourish the land. Since the land is our bodies, the Lord’s judgment ensures that our old man or flesh together with the false doctrines in our heavens are destroyed, paving the way for the birth and growth of our new man created after the image of Christ.

It is instructive to note that in verse 11, we are told that the land shall not be inhabited for forty years and that no foot of man or the foot of beast shall pass through it. The number forty signifies the period of our fiery trial or judgement. 

Gen 7:4  For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
Gen 7:17 And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

As the Lord’s elect, our period of judgment lasts until our last breadth. This implies that during this period of our lives as we are being judged by the Lord in this life, our land shall not be inhabited by any beast or man. That is to say that our old man or flesh shall be put to death and shall not have any influence in our lives again. 

Psa 119:67  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Psa 119:71  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. 

Psa 119:75  I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.  

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. 
Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.  

Eze 29:12  And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. 
Eze 29:13 Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered: 

As indicated earlier, Egypt also refers to Babylon. The Lord making Egypt the most desolate country in the world means that the Lord shall destroy Babylon within us through His judgment of our old man. The forty years represents the period we are being judged in this life. 

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 came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 

Outwardly, the Lord shall judge Babylon in the fulness of time.

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. 
Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 
Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 
Rev 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

In verse 13, we are being assured that the Lord’s judgment of Babylon will result in the saving of our brothers and sisters in Babylon as they will be gathered together after a symbolic forty years. 

Eze 29:14  And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom. 
Eze 29:15 It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations. 

These verses continue to assure us that the Lord’s judgement of Babylon shall result in restoration as He brings again the captivity of Egypt. As indicated, Egypt represented Babylon at a certain stage of the Lord’s people and therefore the Egyptians represent our brothers and sisters in Babylon of which we were part of when we were in the churches of this world, conforming to its worldly standards. In verse 14, the Lord is saying that the Egyptians shall possess their land. This implies that the Lord’s judgement shall result in the possession of their soul just as the people of Israel, the Lord’s elect, shall possess their bodies and offer them as living sacrifices to the Lord. However, as stated in verse 14 and 15, our brothers and sisters in Babylon shall not be given to rule the nations as they shall be the basest of the kingdoms. As stated in verse 15, they shall no more rule over the nations. It is only the Lord’s elect who are given to rule the nations of this world as they overcome the flesh or old man through the Lord’s judgment in this age. 

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Eze 29:16  And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, which bringeth their iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after them: but they shall know that I am the Lord GOD. 

A simpler rendition of this verse is as follows:

Eze 29:16  The nation of Israel will never trust Egypt again. The people of Israel will remember how wrong they were whenever they turned to Egypt for help. Then they will know that I am the Almighty LORD.'” (GW)

The house of Israel in verse 16 refers to the Lord’s elect. As the Lord’s elect, we shall not have confidence in the flesh which is the hallmark of all those who walk in the flesh who are symbolically represented by Egypt. As the Lord takes us though His judgment to destroy our old man or flesh, we shall come to remember how wrong we were when depended on our flesh or have confidence in our flesh. At the end of the day, this process of the Lord’s judgment will cause us to know who the Lord really is as we come to have the mind of Christ.

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 
Php 3:4  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 
Php 3:5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 
Php 3:6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 
Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

The Reward for King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon

Eze 29:17  And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 

The first day of the first month of the twenty-seventh year when the Lord came to Ezekiel is very significant. The number one symbolizes that everything is from the Lord. The number twenty-seven is used in the Bible to signify the visiting of the Lord with His goodness after His judgment. This is made clear in the following verses:

Gen 8:14  And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried (after the flood).

2Ki 25:27  And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;   

This implies that the word of the Lord spoken to Ezekiel on the first day of the first month in the twenty-seventh year, is to show us the goodness of the Lord as He comes to visit us after we have gone through His judgment.

Eze 29:18  Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it: 
Eze 29:19  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army. 
Eze 29:20 I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD. 

These verses show us the goodness of the Lord which is extended to all His creation, even people who do not know Him. In verses 18 to 20, the Lord is saying that He is a rewarder even to the people of this world that He uses to judge us. Here the Lord is rewarding the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar  with the land and people of Egypt for sending him to conquer Tyre. Seeing that our Lord is a rewarder, we are assured that He will surely come to us with His reward!! Faithful is He who has called us!! 

Heb 11:6  And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 

Spiritually, the verses also show us how the Lord is rewarding our brothers and sisters in Babylon even for the work that He has given to them – to keep the multitude from coming to know Him in this age.

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. 

If we look around, we can see how the Lord has given to the churches of this world, the wealth of this world (Egypt) even for this evil work that they are doing. 

Rev 18:16  And saying, Alas, alas, that great city (Babylon), that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 
Rev 18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 

Eze 29:21  In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the LORD. 

In this verse, the Lord is telling us that He has not forgotten His elect and that He will cause us to be strong in Him through what He gives to us through what every joint supplies. That is what will guarantee our reward in the fulness of time as we come to know Him.  Knowing this, we can clearly see that our labor shall be rewarded even in this life and in another age. However, what we receive here in this life is only a down payment for the real riches that awaits us.

Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 
Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 
Mat 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 

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. 

May the Name of the Lord be praised!! Amen!! 

[Study Aired April 27, 2024]

In this, the third book and study in Hosea, the Lord is reviewing the marriage template. He commanded Hosea to take a known harlot to be his wife to precisely mirror Christ’s wife reflecting Israel’s whorish behaviour to him and her coming chastisement and ultimate redemption.

The remaining eleven chapters detail our Lord’s indictments of Israel, beginning with accusations, judgment, her unrepentance and its consequences, her punishment, His love through chastisement, and His bringing to the minds of Israel and Judah His loving intentions since their conception for a brilliant future. In the meantime, Israel pushes to the back of their minds the many prophets’ consistency in speaking of the same impending doom of exile.

Israel’s entire saga from Egypt to exile was preordained before creation, overwhelmingly primarily for the Elect of God, His Bride, and not her 1,000 sisters remaining in Babylon (the world). The incredible violence Israel inflicted on her neighbours, both ordained by God and upon her own idols of her heart as her neighbors chastised her, is the precise pattern the Elect of God today have spiritually experienced and are now spiritually fleeing Babylon, to which they were exiled over 2,500 years ago.

All of Deuteronomy 28 details God’s warning against Israel for the unwitting inevitability of them not keeping the commandments of God with incredibly sore trials, and it is well worth a review. Since that chapter is 68 verses long, it is left up to the student of Christ to do his own review. However, the last five verses of Deuteronomy 28 for this study in Hosea portray Israel’s looming exile and slavery. Unforeseen by her, imminent slavery will be a harrowing affair until they settle down in Babylon and fully engage the idol of their heart to deem Babylon infinitely richer than the Promised Land they left!

Following is what was prophesied to happen if they failed to keep their espoused dues, and is now about to become reality.

Deu 28:64  And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. 
Deu 28:65  And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:
Deu 28:66  And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee, and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: 
Deu 28:67  In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see. 
Deu 28:68  And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.

Israel being sold into Egypt is a metaphor for Babylon, the world, which represents Egypt, Sodom, Syria, and Old Jerusalem as one. Since Egypt represents the world, it is the kingdom of the old man of carnally-minded people – we originally are symbolised as Egypt. We first get enslaved to Egypt, and after a long process of rebellion, we end up enslaved happily in Babylon, where the food and lifestyle are unsurpassed, and we believe the delusion that we are saved. The burden of the Egyptians is bondage from which the spirit of Christ will set His Bride free today; her day of judgment.

Verse 67 covertly states that His Elect, languishing in Babylon, yearns to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls. Hence, the time frame seems tediously slow since “In the morning you shall say, Oh, that it were evening! And at evening you shall say, Oh, that it was morning, for the fear of your heart with which you shall fear, and for the sight of your eyes which you [the Elect only] shall see.” 

In Hosea chapter 3, he very briefly summarizes what the Lord has commanded him to do regarding marrying a known whore and what will result from that marriage. Our Lord always has a stupendous and glorious outcome for our obedience to His commands.

Hosea Redeems, His Wife

Hos 3:1  Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.
Hos 3:2  So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: 
Hos 3:3  And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. 
Hos 3:4  For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: 
Hos 3:5  Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. 

Returning to verse one:

Hos 3:1  Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. 

A wife “beloved of her friend” H7453 denotes (1. friend, companion, fellow, another person a. friend, intimate b. fellow, fellow citizen, another person (weaker sense). From H7462 – 1. to pasture, tend, graze, feed a. (Qal) 1. to tend, pasture 1a b. to shepherd 1a c. of ruler, teacher), and is clearly identified as previous adulterous connections with many paramours and the inevitability of ‘loving’ her immersion in flagons of doctrinal lies.

Gomer is “beloved of friend, yet an adulteress,” which suggests that she is well-liked by the community and no doubt quite lovely to look upon, but “yet an adulteress.” That description speaks volumes to the Elect of God and depicts their sorrowful, unwitting state while in Babylon’s churches, spiritually flirting lewdly as a two-fold child of hell (Mat 23:15) for every man and woman’s salacious attention.

Isa 3:16  Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: 

Isa 3:17  Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.

The Gomer within us is “according to the love of the Lord towards the children of Israel” and our former sexual (spiritual) lustful search for the flagons and intoxication of unwitting doctrinal lies. Our Lord’s love for us is to initially send us into Babylon to drink the fullness of her vile cup until we fall and indifferently display our secret parts and spew her brew.

Because of every conceivable sin against Christ’s commands, and for this cause, particularly whoredoms and every other sexual abomination sullying marriage, the Lord says,

Jer 25:15  For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.
Jer 25:16  And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.
Jer 25:17  Then took I the cup at the LORD’S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the LORD had sent me:

Jer 25:27  Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.
Jer 25:28  And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.
Jer 25:29  For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

Hos 3:2  So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: 

Notice Hosea ‘buys’ Gomer in that he “bought her”, the hire of a whore, for fifteen pieces of silver. The “another Jesus” (2Co 11:4) we served in Babylon we hired for half the price of Judas’s pay for betraying Christ for 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and officers of the temple guard. The number 10 denotes Gomer’s completeness of corruptible flesh, and 5 for the coming faithfulness of ‘the Christ’ to bring us into a full marital relationship with Him, our Husband. The number 15 can also be viewed as 3×5, equalling the spiritual progression of the Bride of Christ from her filth and chastisement for grace through faith, represented by silver’s symbolised redemptive process. 

Silver, from H3700, means to 1. to long for, yearn for, long after a. (Qal) to long for b. (Niphal) 1. to long for (deeply) 2. being longed for ~ and this perfectly fits Hosea’s speaking “comfortably” through his ‘allurements’ to Gomer in his pleading, typifying our Lord’s same pleading for us to be faithful to his espousals.

A one-and-a-half “homer [H2563] of barley” represents Christ (Definition: 1. cement, mortar, clay a. mortar, cement b. clay c. mire) and symbolises the mire of our powerful ‘glue’ (cement; mortar) that unwaveringly espouses us to him having taken us out of the “mire” of our Babylonish whoredoms to be one in him, the “barley” and first of the first fruits as a wave sheaf (Lev 23:9-14). One-and-a-half is precisely half the number of Christ’s three years of ministry that we mirror in our progressive learning not to play the harlot.

Hos 3:3  And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.
Hos 3:4  For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod [Priestly garment], and without teraphim [Idols]: 

In fact, the children of Israel have lived without a king ever since they went into exile, and to this very day, for the entirety of that time, His Bride alone knows Him as her King of kings and High Priest.

England’s royalty is a God-given utter sham with absolutely no connection to Christ, even though they implicitly state otherwise that they are the direct descendants of King David and thus an up lineage to Christ. They believe it to the point of having a large stone, called “The Stone of Destiny” or the “Stone of Scone” (Google it), deludedly the very one Jacob dreamed his Genesis 28:10-22 dream upon and set beneath the ancient coronation seat where all her kings and queens are crowned.  The Stone of Destiny

The fabled stone must have taken Jacob some time to chisel into shape such an unlikely singular ‘pillow.’ Equally preposterous is the accompanying story about the prophet Jeremiah escorting Zedekiah’s daughter to England in an effort to substantiate the connection of Britain’s royalty with King David:

“Some of the earliest Danite settlements in the Isles were in Ireland. As these colonies became more developed, ruling clans of Danite kings arose. Eventually, however, these kings were superseded in Ireland by a Milesian line of kings made up of royalty from the Jewish line of Zarah (I Chron. 2:4, 6). As will be brought out below, this royal line developed when Danite and Judah-Zarahite refugees settled parts of ancient Greece prior to Israel’s enslavement while in Egypt. This Milesian line eventually made its way to Ireland. Jeremiah’s mission was to join the Davidic throne to the “Irish” throne through the marriage of Tephi, Zedekiah’s daughter, to an heir of the Milesian line—a prince named Eochaidh. This is how Jeremiah was to plant a “tender one” in what would eventually become a “high mountain”—the Israelite birthright kingdom of Great Britain.” [End quote] 

From –   The Prophet Jeremiah’s Mysterious Royal Commission

It all is part of the immensely grand and strong delusion and foundation of British-Israelism and Zionism to similarly “cement” Judeo-Christianity in whoredom with her 40,000 + splinter sects to sustain monetary and government hegemony for world domination. The entire swindle is, at this moment, seemingly in the process of utter decay as the Beast in Revelation 17:1-18 turns upon the multinational conglomerate.

Gen 28:11  And he [Jacob] lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 

Notice that Jacob took an unknown number of stones (Plural) for his “pillows”, which he probably covered with material or hides. This suggests he used them to support his body from the unyielding earth. These stones were not a singular great block, as seen beneath England’s coronation throne! 

It appears that the stratagem of the early British monarchy to hold the empire together typically involved the lockstep of church and state, and no better foundation is there than God’s word. So, some enterprising monarchists hit upon the substantiating brilliance of including Jeremiah 33:14-26 to ratify the Empire. Please read it all for yourself, yet I will only include the following verses.

Jer 33:17  For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel [For the monarchists’ identity, Britain]; 
Jer 33:18  Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually. 

Regarding verse 18, Britain never offered burnt offerings continually and neither did Israel after they went into exile dispersed among the nations.

Hos 3:5  Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. 

The children of Israel did figuratively return to Old Jerusalem by never leaving Babylon and continuing to eat their own bread and drink their own water unwittingly as the Great Whore of Revelation. Its correct spiritual parallel means the remnant, a small flock of the Lord’s Elect, are the ones who return to seek their Christ, their God and are represented as King David in these very “latter days” today, since the cross. Our Lord abides in His Elect, His Temple in this age to perform His good word spiritually within.

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Jer 29:10  For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
Jer 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 
Jer 29:12  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 
Jer 29:13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 
Jer 29:14  And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. 
Jer 29:15  Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon; 

May our Lord continue to bless his raised-up prophets in Babylon today and keep all his commandments.

Numbers 33:1-56  Recounting Israel’s Journey in the Wilderness

[Study Aired December 25, 2023]

Introduction

We are going to look at the journey of the Israelites from Egypt up to the land of Moab, where they were camping and getting ready to cross over the Jordan to engage the people of Jericho. Today’s study shows us our life as we leave the world (Egypt) and become part of Babylon, until the Lord starts preparing us to leave Babylon behind to possess our land, which is our bodies. This study highlights the spiritual significance of the names of various locations and how they apply to our walk in the past, present and the future. What we need to understand is that we all go through the same experience in this wilderness of life, although the details are different for each individual. This is what the scriptures tell us about this common experience we all go through:

Ecc 9:2  All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. 
Ecc 9:3  This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 
Ecc 9:4  For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 
Ecc 9:5  For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

These verses show us that we all go through the experience of evil resulting in our spiritual death until we are joined to all the living (Ecc 9:4). 

Ecc 1:13  And I gave my heart to seek and to investigate by wisdom concerning all which is done under the heavens. It is an evil task God has given to the sons of men, to be afflicted by it.

The living here is Christ, and it is when we are joined to all (not partially) of Christ that we are given hope of the joy that is set before us. It is in this sense that a living dog is better than a dead lion. That is to say that being in Christ is what makes us a living being, and that in Christ, even though we are the least among men (living dogs), we are far better than the princes of this world (dead lion) who are spiritually dead. 

In Ecclesiastes 9:5, we are shown that it is the living who are aware that they shall die. That is to say that it is those who are in Christ who are aware that they have to die to their flesh through the evil experience the Lord has given them. This is the experience of those who are in Christ:

Psa 107:4  They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
Psa 107:5  Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. 
Psa 107:6  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:7  And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. 
Psa 107:8  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 
Psa 107:9  For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

As we go through Israel’s journey in the wilderness, as recounted in chapter 33, we are being shown what has happened to us in our journey in this life with the Lord and His mercies toward us. Our response to the Lord’s mercies is to offer our lives as living sacrifices to Him, which is our spiritual worship.

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.

The Command by the Lord to Record the Journeys of Israel

Num 33:1  These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. 
Num 33:2  And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out.
Num 33:3  And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. 
Num 33:4  For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments. 
Num 33:5  And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth.

What is instructive about these verses is that it was at the command of the Lord that Moses decided to write down the journeys undertaken by the people of Israel in the wilderness. Why would the Lord ask Moses to record Israel’s journey from one station to another in the wilderness? It was because the Lord wanted us to understand how He had led us through this life in the past so that we can have confidence in Him that what He starts, He is able to bring to completion. That is why when the Lord appeared before Apostle John, the first thing He did was to show Him how He had led him in the past.

Rev 1:10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 
Rev 1:11  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 
Rev 1:12  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 
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. 

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. 
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Our journey with the Lord started in Rameses in verse 3. Rameses was in Egypt and therefore represents our life when we did not know Christ. We were just like the people of the world in all that we did. Rameses means ‘out of’ or ‘from.’ It was from or out of the world that the Lord called us to come to Him.

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 
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. 
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.

In verse 3, it was on the fifteenth day of the first month that the Israelites left Rameses (Egypt). The number fifteen signifies being given a new life in Christ as shown in the following verses:

Isa 38:4  Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, 
Isa 38:5  Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. 
Isa 38:6  And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.

This means that it was when the Lord gave us a new life in Christ that we started our exit from Egypt. Leaving Egypt was possible because the Lord had dealt a blow to the firstborn of the Egyptians as they bury their firstborns in verse 4. The firstborns of the Egyptians represent our old man or our flesh to which the Lord had dealt a deadly wound and therefore could not influence our exit from the world (Egypt).

Rev 13:3  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

In verse 5, the people of Israel left Rameses and came to Succoth which means ‘booths’ and is part of the land of Egypt. The word “booths” means tents. This implies that one of the first things we learned as we started our exit from the world is to walk by faith just like Abraham. Walking by faith is signified by living in tents as we look for the city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God. This was what happened to Abraham. 

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 
Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

A Summary of Our Journey in this wilderness of life

Num 33:6  And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness. 
Num 33:7  And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pihahiroth, which is before Baalzephon: and they pitched before Migdol. 
Num 33:8  And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.

From Succoth, the people of Israel came to Etham which means ‘with them’ or their ‘plowshares’ which are creative tools that benefit mankind. Etham was part of Egypt. At this stage in our walk, the Lord has given us the tools we need (the word of God) to leave the world. From Etham, the Israelites went to Pihahiroth which means a place where sedge grows. Sedge is a grass-like plant that grows in wet ground. As we are aware, all mankind is like grass. As His elect, we are like sedge that grows in a place where there is water in the ground, which is the word of the Lord. In other words, at this point of our walk with Christ, we have received little water from the earth. That is, we have started to hear very little of the truth of the word of the Lord from our brothers and sisters from Babylon (earth) to start our growth as we leave Egypt or the world completely. Pihahiroth faces Baalzephon which means ‘Lord of the north.’ This is to say that everything happening to us is under the supervision of our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, everything is going according to the purpose of His counsel. Specifically, the people of Israel settled at Migdol, which was a fortified city on the Egyptian border and can be regarded as part of Pihahiroth. Migdol means ‘tower’ and therefore this is to show us that we have come to trust in the Lord as our tower of refuge as we were just about to exit the world (Egypt).

Isa 25:4 But you are a tower of refuge to the poor, O LORD, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall, or like the relentless heat of the desert. (NLT)

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:

From Pihahiroth, the people of Israel passed through the sea into the wilderness of Etham and after three days, they ended up at Marah which means ‘bitter water.’ Passing through the sea means that we are helped by our flesh during this early walk with the Lord just as Abraham was helped by his father Terah (flesh) when the Lord appeared to him for the first time.

Act 7:2  And he said, Brethren and fathers, hearken: The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,
Act 7:3  and said unto him, Get thee out of thy land, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee. 
Act 7:4  Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Haran: and from thence, when his father was dead, God removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell:

Gen 11:31  And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

Isa 60:5  Then thou shalt see and be radiant, and thy heart shall thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned unto thee, the wealth of the nations shall come unto thee.

The people of Israel journeyed three days from the wilderness of Etham to Marah. Marah means ‘bitter’ (water). This signifies that the judgment of our old man or flesh as part of the process of becoming spiritually mature involves being given bitter water, that is, false doctrines, thus giving the Lord the occasion to come and judge us. 

Num 33:9  And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there. 
Num 33:10  And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red sea.

These verses are to point to us our destination (where we are supposed to end up) in this wilderness of life. Our final destination, after going through the famine of the word of the Lord and drinking polluted water in the churches of Babylon, is the church of the firstborn, signified by Elim which was an oasis of seventy palm trees and twelve springs of water. The number seventy is seven multiplied by ten (70=7×10). The number seven signifies completeness, and the number ten means the fullness of the flesh. Thus, the seventy palm trees represent the assembly of the complete number of the elect who recognize the fullness of their flesh and are being delivered through the Lord’s judgment. The number twelve is the number of Christ and so the twelve wells signify the whole counsel of the word of Christ. In other words, the church of the elect is where we have the pillar and ground of the truth!! That is where we are to encamp in this life.

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, 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, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

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.

Encamping by the Red Sea in verse 10 signifies that we are in the world but not of the world. That means we are part of this world just like others, but we are not to follow the world’s standards. 

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Our lives in Babylon

Num 33:11  And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.
Num 33:12  And they took their journey out of the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah.
Num 33:13  And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush.

The journey of the Israelites up to this point summarizes the path the Lord takes us through to become His sons. The rest of the verses show us the details of our journey. From the Red Sea, the Israelites came to the wilderness of Sin. Sin means ‘thorn.’ They came out of the wilderness of Sin and came to Dophkah which means ‘knocking’, and then they settled in Alush which signifies “I will knead bread.” The settlement in these three stations – wilderness of Sin (thorn), Dophkah and Alush – signifies that when we left the world (Egypt) we came to the physical churches of this world (Babylon) where what we hear causes us to focus on the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, thus, choking the word of the Lord from being effective in our lives. We end up using our strength (knocking) to serve the Lord instead of letting the Lord do His work in us (resting in Him). We therefore become worse off and end up kneading our own bread, that is, having our own gospel instead of Christ’s words. 

Isa 4:1  And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Num 33:14  And they removed from Alush, and encamped at Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink.
Num 33:15  And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai.
Num 33:16  And they removed from the desert of Sinai, and pitched at Kibrothhattaavah.
Num 33:17  And they departed from Kibrothhattaavah, and encamped at Hazeroth.
Num 33:18  And they departed from Hazeroth, and pitched in Rithmah.
Num 33:19  And they departed from Rithmah, and pitched at Rimmonparez.

From Alush, they encamped at Raphidim, which means ‘resting place’ where there was no water for the people to drink. From Raphidim they came to the wilderness of Sinai which means ‘thorny.’ The next four stops after Sinai were Kibrothhattaavah (Graves of lust), Hazeroth (Settlement), Rithmah (an area of open uncultivated land) and Rimmonparez (pomegranate of the breach). What these locations mean is that in Babylon, we think we have a resting place (Raphidim) but we do not know that the truth of the word of the Lord has eluded us. This is because what we hear are false doctrines (thorny) which rather energizes the lust of the flesh within. As a result, we become spiritually dead due to lust of the flesh (the meaning of graves of lust). We therefore settle down in Babylon in an uncultivated place with no defenses as we become the prey of the enemy. We therefore bear fruits of the evil one who is our father.

Eze 2:6  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

Num 33:20  And they departed from Rimmonparez, and pitched in Libnah.
Num 33:21  And they removed from Libnah, and pitched at Rissah. 
Num 33:22  And they journeyed from Rissah, and pitched in Kehelathah.
Num 33:23  And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in mount Shapher.
Num 33:24  And they removed from mount Shapher, and encamped in Haradah.
Num 33:25  And they removed from Haradah, and pitched in Makheloth.
Num 33:26  And they removed from Makheloth, and encamped at Tahath.
Num 33:27  And they departed from Tahath, and pitched at Tarah.

From Rimmonperez, the Israelites came to Libnah (out of) and then to Rissah (Ruin). The next six stations that the Israelites encamped were Kehelathah (Assembly), Shapher (Beauty), Haradah (Fear), Makheloth (Place of assembly), Tahath (Station) and Tarah (Delay). Out of the fruits we produce in Babylon, we end up in ruin. We consider our assembly a beauty, but we do not know that we are poor, wretched and miserable. We do not have the fear of the Lord in our place of assembly, and because of our position or station, both the former and the latter rain (the truth of the word of the Lord) are held or delayed from us.

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: 

1Ki 8:35  When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:

Num 33:28  And they removed from Tarah, and pitched in Mithcah.
Num 33:29  And they went from Mithcah, and pitched in Hashmonah.
Num 33:30  And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth.
Num 33:31  And they departed from Moseroth, and pitched in Benejaakan.
Num 33:32  And they removed from Benejaakan, and encamped at Horhagidgad.
Num 33:33  And they went from Horhagidgad, and pitched in Jotbathah.
Num 33:34  And they removed from Jotbathah, and encamped at Ebronah.
Num 33:35  And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at Eziongaber.
Num 33:36  And they removed from Eziongaber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh. 
Num 33:37  And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.
Num 33:38  And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month. 
Num 33:39  And Aaron was an hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor. 

From Tarah the people of Israel went to Mithcah (Sweetness), departed to Hashmonah (Fatness) and finally came to Moseroth (Bonds). What these locations suggest is that when we follow after the sweetness and fatness of this world, we end up being in bondage to this world. That was what happened to us in Babylon. The subsequent six stations in which the Israelites dwelt were Benejaakan (Sons of twisting), Horhagidgad (Cavern of Gidgad), Jotbathah (Pleasantness), Ebronah (Passage), Eziongaber (Backbone of a man) and Kadesh (Holy). Being sons of twisting the word of the Lord while we were in Babylon, we ended up hiding in our caverns (false doctrines) thinking we were in a pleasant place. We did not know that this broad passage or way is the way to destroying our very spiritual foundation (our backbone).  

Psa 11:3  If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

In spite of our failures, the Lord uses this experience of evil to teach us holiness later as we come to Kadesh. From Kadesh the Israelites came to Mount Hor. Hor means ‘mountain.’ This implies that as far as we were concerned when we were in Babylon, holiness had become a mountain which we cannot climb.  It is instructive to note that Aaron the High Priest died on Mount Hor. Aaron’s death on Mount Hor signifies the death of our Lord Jesus Christ to make holiness accessible to us.

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Num 33:40  And king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.
Num 33:41  And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah.
Num 33:42  And they departed from Zalmonah, and pitched in Punon.
Num 33:43  And they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth. 
Num 33:44  And they departed from Oboth, and pitched in Ijeabarim, in the border of Moab.
Num 33:45  And they departed from Iim, and pitched in Dibongad.
Num 33:46  And they removed from Dibongad, and encamped in Almondiblathaim.
Num 33:47  And they removed from Almondiblathaim, and pitched in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.
Num 33:48  And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. 
Num 33:49  And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth even unto Abelshittim in the plains of Moab.

In verse 40, King Arad of Canaan heard of the coming of the Israelites. This implies that even when we were in Babylon, our flesh can sense that its time is short. From Mount Hor, the Israelites pitched in Zalmonah which means ‘shady.’ They then moved to Punon (Darkness) and ended at Oboth (Waterskins). Our inability to walk in holiness as we came to Kadesh implies that the devil has shaded (blocked) us from seeing the light of Christ. Over time, we are plunged into darkness as our vessels (waterskins) lack water or the word of the Lord in Babylon. From Oboth we came Ije-abarim (Ruins of Abarim) where our relationship with Christ was ruined.  

Amo 8:11  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Amo 8:12  And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

We end up being like our father, the devil, as we continue our walk with Christ and find ourselves in the land of Moab (of his father). 

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.

The Israelites then moved from Iim (from) to Dibongad or Dibon (wasting away). From (Iim) our father, the devil, we waste away during our time in Babylon. As we continue our journey, we come to Almondiblathaim which means ‘concealing the two cakes.’ The cakes here represent the word of the Lord, and the number two means a witness. The concealing of the two cakes means that we are not given to know the principle that where two or three words of the Lord say the same thing, we have a witness and that what is being said is established.

2Co 13:1  This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established

From Almondiblathaim we proceed to Abarim (Regions beyond) facing Nebo (prophet of a Babylonian deity). Because we are not given to know the principles the Lord has given us in His words to guide us, we end up going beyond (Abarim – regions beyond) what is written, and in the process, we come to serve another Jesus (Nebo) without knowing it. 

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 with him.

Our final journey takes us from Bethjesimoth (from or out of) to Abel Shittim (Meadows of acacias). Meadows refers to pastures. What is instructive about Acacias is that it has about 160 species of trees and shrubs. This implies that out of serving another Jesus, we finally end up as sheep grazing from many different pastures (meadows of acacias) as we take in 200 million false doctrines in the land of Moab (Babylon). 

Rev 9:16  And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand (200 million false doctrines): and I heard the number of them.

The Need to Drive out the Inhabitants of Canaan

Num 33:50  And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 
Num 33:51  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan; 
Num 33:52  Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places: 
Num 33:53  And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.
Num 33:54  And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man’s inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit. 
Num 33:55  But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.
Num 33:56  Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.

In verses 50–52, we are commanded by the Lord to ensure that our old man or our flesh, represented by the inhabitants of Canaan, is totally destroyed, or put to death in our lives. The fact is, we cannot do it in our strength. In verse 53, the Lord told Moses that because He has given them the land, they shall dispossess the inhabitants. This is to tell us that it is Christ who through us shall destroy the old man or the flesh within us. It is not the work of man. The Lord who has started this destruction of our old man or flesh shall see to its completion. However, we need to be patient as He does His work within us.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 
Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

In verse 54, the land was to be divided among the families for an inheritance by lot. The lot here signifies that everything that we do to possess our inheritance is the work of the Lord. All we have to do is to believe that He is able to drag us to the finish line!!

Pro 16:33  The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

Joh 6:28  Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 
Joh 6:29  Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Verses 55 and 56 show us the consequences of not completely destroying the inhabitants of Canaan. The inhabitants of Canaan shall become pricks in our eyes and thorns in our sides. Pricks here in verse 55 are the same as thorns. What we are therefore being told is that if the old man or the flesh within us is not completely destroyed, it shall become a thorn in our lives. To understand a thorn in our lives, let’s take a look at what Jesus said about the parable of the Sower where some of the seeds fell on thorns:

Mat 13:3  And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

Mat 13:7  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:  

Mat 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

The thorn in our eyes and on our sides if we do not destroy our old man or the flesh is that we shall focus on the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. These shall choke the word of the Lord sown in our hearts and mind from bearing fruits in our lives. In other words, we shall become worse off.

2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein (through the thorns in our eyes and on our sides), and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

May the Lord continue to be merciful to us as He destroys our old man or our flesh. Amen!!

2Ki 23:19-37  The pillar of the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night

[Study Aired April 27, 2023]

2Ki 23:19  And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel. 
2Ki 23:20  And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men’s bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem. 
2Ki 23:21  And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant. 
2Ki 23:22  Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah; 
2Ki 23:23  But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem. 
2Ki 23:24  Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. 
2Ki 23:25  And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. 
2Ki 23:26  Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal. 
2Ki 23:27  And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there. 
2Ki 23:28  Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 
2Ki 23:29  In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him. 
2Ki 23:30  And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s stead. 
2Ki 23:31  Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 
2Ki 23:32  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done. 
2Ki 23:33  And Pharaohnechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold. 
2Ki 23:34  And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there. 
2Ki 23:35  And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaohnechoh. 
2Ki 23:36  Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
2Ki 23:37  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done. 

Christ’s body will be “the pillar of the cloud by day” and “the pillar of fire by night” before the people throughout the thousand-year reign which God will not take away (Exo 13:22). 

Exo 13:22  He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

That witness of God’s pillars (Rev 3:12) will have the same effect the parables of Christ have had on all of us in our time of ignorance and blindness not discerning the word correctly, not having been given the eyes or ears to see and hear the truths (Mat 13:13) which were always right in front of us (Act 17:27) like the pillar in the wilderness.

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.

Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Act 17:27  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

Flesh has no excuse regarding what God has physically witnessed to us about His existence (Rom 1:20), but without the spirit of God within (Rom 8:9), we can’t be anything other than blind and ignorant to what He is showing us His word means spiritually. Therefore, we can say with apostle Paul concerning doing evil that we did it in ignorance and were blind Babylonians in our thinking (Mat 13:16, Eph 4:18, 1Ti 1:13, 1Pe 1:14, Eph 1:11).

This section of 2 Kings highlights for us this blindness God can cause to fall upon us, demonstrated in type and shadow via the nation of Judah who, after the death of their zealous king Josiah, a type of Christ, go back into their same idolatrous ways. God has to make us a pillar and witness to us that we cannot become that new creation without His deliverance: “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar [1Jn 4:17, Joh 5:30, Joh 15:5] in the temple of my God.

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.

Joh 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Remembering that the example of Lot’s wife is an admonition to us that our natural mind wants to go back to a pattern which fashions ourselves “according to the former lusts in your ignorance”, and, God willing, our hearts will be as Lot who lost his wife who represents Babylon out of which we come as we are scarcely saved (1Pe 4:17-18) by being given the power to keep our eyes on the pillar of light set before us, actions typified by Lot who forsook all to ‘come out her my people’ and not look back (Rev 18:4).

1Pe 4:17  For the time 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?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 

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. 

Our labor in the Lord is never in vain, even if it does not produce the immediate effect we are hoping. We need to be encouraged and not discouraged by the failure of the nation of Judah and their ultimate captivity into which God brought them. Their captivity and all the events that unfolded were to admonish God’s elect today that we can become more that conquerors through Christ, overcoming in this life, but we must go through the fiery trials of this life; the judgment that will purify the bride and make it possible for us to discern good and evil (Heb 5:14). This is another way of saying we will be able to be used by the Lord as “a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night” because we have been blessed to be judge and become those pillars by the hand of the Master Potter, of whose workmanship we are (Eph 2:10).

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. [“a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night“]

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.

God is seeking an occasion against the world who are being witnessed to (Rev 11:3) through the church that they are blinded (Rom 11:7) and cannot see the light side of that pillar unless they are dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44), which for Christ’s body today is a lifelong process of being dragged to Him. We are being blessed to have Christ as our hope of glory within who can give us the power (Rev 11:3) to go from glory to glory and unto perfection on the third day (Heb 12:2, Php 4:13, Exo 26:31, 2Co 3:18).

Exo 26:31  And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: 

2Co 3:18  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.

In this week’s study, we will look at more of the cleansing process of the land of Judah that typifies a work of the saints that will set the stage for the lake of fire, or great white throne judgment. All mankind must be baptized with water and with spirit as Christ told us in John 3:5. True spiritual baptism is what the elect of God must go through first (Rom 6:1-3, Act 14:22) if we are going to be made meet for the master’s use (2Ti 2:21, 2Ti 2:12) and given the honor to work with the world and bring them into the knowledge of God’s judgments and truth (Isa 26:9).

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.

2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

2Ki 23:19  And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel. 

The words of the law cannot be performed if we are double minded and unstable (Jas 1:8, Jas 4:8). A cleansing of evil spirits must take place in order for true worship to happen as we draw near to Christ, to whom we are dragged (Joh 6:44), in order to cleanse our hands and purify our double minded hearts so we become stable in Christ (1Pe 5:10, 2Ti 1:7). 

Jas 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

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.

1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

This cleansing process Josiah put the nation through typifies what Christ is doing in the lives of His children today, making the bride ready. “The high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel” represent Christ destroying our pride-filled hearts that contended with God for so long, provoking Him to anger. The Lord takes that spirit away which He caused to be there in the first place (Isa 63:17). This section that reads: “and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel” reminds us that our strength to overcome comes from God, from the house of Bethel, which means bread, which we know represents the true bread from heaven, Jesus Christ our savior (Psa 104:15, Luk 18:1).

Isa 63:17  O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

Psa 104:15  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart. [Luk 21:26]

Luk 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2Ki 23:20  And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men’s bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem. 
2Ki 23:21  And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant. 
2Ki 23:22  Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah; 
2Ki 23:23  But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem.

It is only through the strength of Christ that we can slay “all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men’s bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem” within us and burn “men’s bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem“. After we destroy those things by the grace and faith of Christ, we return to Jerusalem, which typifies our being raised in heavenly places where we are seated together in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:6). 

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 

“The passover” is a meaningless event if we partake of it unworthily (1Co 11:27-29), and in these verses we’re reading we see an example of the passover being taken worthily as a result of the diligence of king Josiah, who represents Christ, who destroys “the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars of our hearts and minds.

1Co 11:27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
1Co 11:28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1Co 11:29  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

Christ commands us, as Josiah did the people, to “Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant.” This statement given to all the people of Judah to keep the passover typifies for us today the need to keep our lives undefiled and holy before God which we know is impossible without Christ delivering us from our sins (Joh 8:36) by His body and blood, which represent His word that is the true bread from heaven, the true passover we keep spiritually. The flesh and bones is also part of the passover and represents Christ’s body, the scapegoat (Eph 5:30, Lev 16:21) that is being preserved through the life of Christ within each of us, each member being a joint that supplies in love what we need from one another (Eph 4:16).

Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 

Lev 16:21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: [Php 2:12-13]

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Christ is our passover, and we labor to enter into that communion (1Co 10:16), that rest which is found in Him (Heb 4:11). When we confess our faults, He is faithful to forgive all our sins, all our iniquities, so that “Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah.”  This statement typifies for us today what only Christ is able to do through the body of Christ that is strengthened by His life working in us (Php 4:13, Col 1:27). 

1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 
1Co 10:17  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

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

What a wonderful blessing to know that the bride will be made ready, and that readiness will come as a result of Christ, who is typified by Josiah, who judged the nation. It is “in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem” which numbers add up to nine (1+8) that represents judgment. The number one (1) represents the day of the Lord and the eight (8)  represents the new man formed out of that judgment which happens on the day of the Lord.

2Ki 23:24  Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. 
2Ki 23:25  And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

The words of the law that the land of Judah was called to perform cannot be accomplished unless “the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem” are put away by Josiah, who represents our faithful High Priest who cleanses us of all our sins and iniquities (1Jn 1:9). He is our advocate to that end and is greater than our conscience which condemns us and is easily beset by the sin in our lives (1Jn 2:1-2). When we are washed and cleansed of our sins, God is merciful to renew a right spirit within us (Psa 51:10), typified by “the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD“; a type of the law of Christ that quickens us (Gal 6:2, Joh 6:63, Rom 5:5).

1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

1Jn 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1Jn 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 

Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

This section, “And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him“,  reminds us that God is a jealous God and with His spirit within us, we are going to experience that jealousy regarding keeping the temple undefiled as we become consumed for the temple of God we are by the life of Christ within us (Col 1:27). That makes us a peculiar people who are zealous of good works, typified by the actions of zealous king Josiah (Tit 2:14-15). Those works are clearly connected to cleansing the temple, which then brings forth fruit and true spiritual worship which our Father seeks out and finds in His people (Joh 4:23).

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: 

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he [Joh 8:36] might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works
Tit 2:15  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

2Ki 23:26  Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal. 
2Ki 23:27  And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there. 
2Ki 23:28  Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

The conclusion of the matter is to fear God and work righteousness as we learn that God will not be mocked (Ecc 12:13-14). So we have this section of scripture reminding us that God puts us through severe trials so we don’t sin any longer (1Pe 4:1). He does not turn away “from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal“ because he loves us and is receiving us through those corrections (Heb 12:6) that make us one with Him as He gives us the power we need through Christ (Php 4:13) to overcome and endure the much tribulation of this life necessary in order to enter into the kingdom of God (Act 14:22).

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. 

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

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

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.

What we are being told is that if God can remove a nation, or nations, and cast off His chosen city Jerusalem, then we can be sure He can also do this to us, and will do this and receive us back in this age if we are His (Psa 37:28, Psa 94:14, Psa 138:8, Psa 119:8). We don’t avoid this captivity is what we’re being told, and at the same time we also are being reminded that the same God who has the power to bind and bring us into captivity can also deliver us and reinstate us, if it is His will to do so in this life.

Psa 37:28  For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.  captivity can also deliver us from ourselves each one of us at our appointed time.

Psa 94:14  For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

Psa 138:8  The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Psa 119:8  I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

2Ki 23:29  In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him. 
2Ki 23:30  And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s stead. 

Pharaohnechoh, king of Egypt, coming up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates, a place that means “break forth”, reminds us that our enemy is given to break forth at times and prevail against our flesh (Job 1:12). That does not mean that our spiritual life is going to be destroyed. Rather, it becomes a testimony for us, and eventually all the world, that nothing will ever be able to separate the body of Christ from the love (Rom 8:35-39) of God that receives us through those severe Job-like trials in our lives which are needful to try the faith of Christ in us (Luk 21:18, Rev 13:7-11).

Job 1:12  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. 

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Luk 21:18  But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 
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 13:9  If any man have an ear, let him hear. 
Rev 13:10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 

This period of time in 2 Kings has an is-was-and-will-be application, as do all the words of God. Looking at the sum of God’s word and considering that God is working all things according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11), helps us understand this principle and frees up these stories that were written for the elect’s sake today (2Co 4:15).

Satan, who is the god of this world (2Co 4:4), is figuratively represented by “Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt.” All of the cleansing of the land, which Josiah accomplishes from a physical standpoint, may seem futile to us seeing the kingdom went right back to its evil practices after Josiah is killed. However, the lesson is twofold for God’s elect; one side showing us that our flesh and blood being ruled over by Christ, who is typified by Josiah, cannot inherit the kingdom of God (“according to all the law of Moses” of v25 above), and that it is through that death of the flesh we will inherit eternal life (1Co 15:50). That’s the present way we can look at this section of 2 Kings, but it also has an outward dispensational way of looking at it, knowing that the saints’ rulership during the thousand years will not change anyone’s heart, as was typified by king Josiah’s rule, which is why the corrupt kings kept coming after Josiah was no longer ruling.

2Ki 23:25  And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

Being slain at Megiddo is another way of telling all mankind that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, but all men will be saved each man in his own order. If we are predestined to be in the first resurrection, then we will have been tried and tested in this life, which is what it takes to keep our garments, otherwise our Megiddo moment will be in the great white throne judgment (Rev 16:14-16).

Rev 16:14  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 
Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Rev 16:16  And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon^G717.

ArmageddonG717
– Original: Ἀρμαγεδδών
– Transliteration: Armageddon
– Phonetic: ar-mag-ed-dohn’
– Definition: Armageddon = the hill or city of megiddo

• In Rev 16:16 the scene of a the struggle of good and evil is suggested by that battle plain of Esdraelon, which was famous for two great victories, of Barak over the Canaanites, and of Gideon over the Midianites; and for two great disasters, the deaths of Saul and Josiah. Hence in Revelation a place of great slaughter, the scene of a terrible retribution upon the wicked. The RSV translates the name as Har-Magedon, i.e. the hill (as Ar is the city) of megiddo. 

– Origin: of hebrew origin H2022 and G4023
– TDNT entry: 08:48,8
– Part(s) of speech: Noun Location 
– Strong’s: Of hebrew origin [H2022] and [H4023]; Armageddon (or Har-Megiddon) a symbolical name: – Armageddon. 

These physical locations discussed (Megiddo [2Ki 23:29] and Armageddon [Rev 16:16] which are the same location) remind us that the one thing common to all men is judgment. Gog and Magog is another physical type of judgment that represents the lake of fire judgment that will come upon all the world in the second resurrection when those who have not been blessed to be judged in this age (1Pe 4:17) will be judged by God’s fiery words in the great white throne judgment (Joh 5:29, Rev 20:13-15).

Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 
Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

2Ki 23:31  Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 
2Ki 23:32  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done. 
2Ki 23:33  And Pharaohnechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold. 
2Ki 23:34  And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there. 

Notice who is running the show here. It is Pharaohnechoh who takes the twenty-three year old evil king Jehoahaz in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he [Jehoahaz] might not reign in Jerusalem, “And Pharaohnechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath.” Pharaohnechoh is a type of Satan who keeps this king in bands just as the devil has kept the world in the bondage of corruption (Rom 8:21) until this day. Also, “that he might not reign in Jerusalem” means taking away all possibility for righteous rulership which typically can only manifest from Jerusalem, which typifies Jerusalem above, the mother of us all. Pharaohnechoh was the vehicle God used to stop grace [Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he began to reign. 2+3=5] from abounding in the king’s life which spiritual bondage prevented fruitful growth [Riblah: H7247]. Part of that bondage is expressed by the “tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold“, symbols of God’s word which is being peddled making merchandise of the brethren (2Pe 2:3, 2Co 2:17). A talent is worth 3000 shekels, and one hundred talents would be worth 300,000 shekels. Again we see the process of grace being taken away from the nation with these symbolic numbers reminding us that the way the world is being taxed today is by not being judged, which keeps the world in the bondage of sin, and that is what God has caused Satan to do until this day (2Co 4:4).

Riblah H7247  riblâh rib-law’

From an unused root meaning to be fruitful; fertile; Riblah, a place in Syria: – Riblah.

Total KJV occurrences: 11

Then Pharaohnechoh, who is type of Satan, made “Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.” This is telling us that the god of this world has the power God gives him to put the basest of men in charge and elevated to positions of power (Dan 4:17), even as others are taken away and destroyed as Jehoahaz was.

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. 

It is significant that Pharaohnechoh changes the name of Eliakim the would-be predecessor of king Jehoahaz to Jehoiakim as a negative shadow of the devil giving someone who is elevated a new name in this world, unlike the positive rendition of that written in Revelation regarding the new name God’s elect are given in Christ (Rev 2:17, Rev 3:12). 

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.

Jehoiakim is also given “the room of Josiah his father” by Pharaohnechoh, a type of the devil who gives people power in places where they ought not to be, symbolizing the man of perdition being on the heart of our thrones until he is not (2Th 2:8). The father’s bed is to be undefiled, and Josiah, who typifies Christ, had a bed that was undefiled, and now with this latest king Eliakim whose name was changed to Jehoiakim (H3079) there was going to be defilement in the nation of Judah once again, symbolized by where Eliakim rested, whom God raised up to defile the bed of his father, Josiah.

H3079 yehôyâqı̂ym BDB Definition:

Jehoiakim = “Jehovah raises up”

1) son of Josiah and the third from the last king of Judah; subject vassel of Nebuchadnezzar who reigned for 11 years before he died a violent death either in combat or by the hands of his own subjects

2Ki 23:35  And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaohnechoh.

This is how the business of religion is run in this world, and these verses are clearly showing us that it is the god of this world, represented by Pharaohnechoh, who is pulling the purse strings of those who promise us liberty in Babylon but are actually in bondage, revealed by those very actions of putting a tax on the people, symbolizing their wanting dominion over the faith of others (2Pe 2:19, 2Co 1:24).

2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 

2Co 1:24  Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. 

2Ki 23:36  Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. 
2Ki 23:37  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

This chapter ends by revealing the fruit of Satan’s world with its false version of grace, symbolized by the age of Jehoiakim who was twenty five (5×5) when he began to reign. He reigned for eleven years [“The Ruin and Disintegration of the Perfection of the Flesh”] telling us that no stable foundation of righteousness was ever established, reminding us that the so-called foundation of Babylon must come crashing down, first in the lives of the elect, and then in the whole world which will be judged by the saints who will bring “lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail” to wipe away the refuge of lies in this world (Rev 18:2, Rev 11:19).

Rev 18:2  And he 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 11:19  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

That is when the world will begin to see a new version (2Co 5:17) of Exodus 13:22 “the pillar of the cloud by day” and “the pillar of fire by night.”

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

Exo 13:22  He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

The Book of Joshua – Part 5: Circumcision and Moses’s Laws Becoming Personified – Joshua 5:1-15

[Study Aired March 18, 2023]

The reproductive members of all male beasts of the field are protected by an outer sheath that keeps them moist and free from damage for composed employment for their female counterparts. It is not so for the human male member. The Lord certainly required his pudenda to be hidden with protective clothing and from involuntary inconvenience.

God designed physical masculinity to represent His spiritual headship. 

God’s stunning detail of every part of creation is for the man, who represents Christ. To fulfill the Lord’s plan, the man had to have the capacity to reproduce. The physiology of the primary instruments of his reproduction was specifically designed to distinguish his authority and beautifully complement the mystery of his female’s spiritual ascension.

Mar 4:11  And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables: (Rom 11; 16:25; 1Cor 2:7; Eph 3:4)

God, who is spirit, is neither male nor female, neither  was the Word before He became Jesus. Yet, at creation, he made practically all organic things to be either male or female.

Mar 10:6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 

Speaking of the resurrection:

Mar 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are as the angels in Heaven.

Masculinity and femininity are first recognised by their outward appearance but gender is assured by their genitalia. 

God gloriously highlighted His supreme headship by creating a replica of His perfect image, naming Him His Son. Having come from His creator, the Son is subordinate to His Creator, without genitalia denoting His Sonship.

1Co 11:3 But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

By the Lord’s design from the outset, mankind, represented by Adam and Eve, partially abdicated man’s headship through Eve’s unwitting rulership over Adam. They effectively stated that they didn’t want their Lord to be their head and that the man and the woman would co-rule their life together, yet with a greater bias towards Eve’s influence on everything, particularly over Adam.

Rom 1:25  For they [all of mankind] changed the truth of God into a lie, and they worshiped and served the created thing more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 
Rom 1:26  For this cause, God gave them up to dishonorable affections. For even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature.

The phenomenal way women have changed their natural use that nature dictates is patently obvious in her being against the headship of men, particularly her husband. Everywhere in nature, except for arthropods (spiders), and a few other anomalies, the male rules females. Christ deliberately created that order as “ensamples” for mostly His Elect to juxtapose the natural against the spiritual. It is only by Satan’s influence on mankind that our females tenaciously resist the order of headship, and our males limply acquiesce.

Male headship is verified by every male being fully functional as a male and for the nation of Israel, ratified in the covenant by circumcision. A man’s damaged pudenda symbolically feminises him. He is excluded from the assembly if:

Deu 23:1 He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. 

Everyone is familiar with the physiology of circumcision. We shall see that the Lord will deeply etch His covenant with Israel a second time since Moses through circumcision.

Initially, there is no better way in Israel than circumcision. It highlights that headship by physically reminding every male several times a day of his God-given headship, pointing to his authority in his family and church governance under Christ.

The New Generation Circumcised

Jos 5:1 And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
Jos 5:2 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. 
Jos 5:3 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 
Jos 5:4 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
Jos 5:5 Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised. 
Jos 5:6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. 
Jos 5:7 And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way. 
Jos 5:8 And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. 
Jos 5:9 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. 

First Passover in Canaan

Jos 5:10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. 
Jos 5:11 And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. 
Jos 5:12 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. 

The Commander of the Lord’s Army

Jos 5:13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
Jos 5:14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 
Jos 5:15 And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. 

The Study’s Body:

Jos 5:1 And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel. 

In these apparent end times of the maturing of the Bride of Christ, she is essentially well-versed in her awareness of her enemies within, not that she is self-satisfied with her diligence in routing her land of the Amorites and Canaanites. She knows those Amorites and Canaanites are like blackberry roots, briars that, even after a good fire, sucker up afresh. Especially since the Amorites in the West of their Promised Land, clear across to the Canaanites on the Mediterranean Sea, represent a saturation of filth against the word of God. 

Her inward Amorites and the origin of their abbreviated name means H559 – to proudly and loudly boast of one’s (self) righteousness. It reminds her of her once being the two-fold child of hell.

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. 

Her inward Canaanites and the origin of their abbreviated name for her, spiritually, denote them as H3667 – merchants and traders in the word of God. 

Those two landholding enemies combined highlight the overwhelming magnitude of her formally corrupt mind that needs to be humbled daily.

She is fully aware that she is a symbolic close relative of Ham and his progeny, whose name means H3665 – to be humbled, subdued, brought down, and into subjection ~ and that is a massive lesson her sister in the Promised Land is about to physically learn. Her power, she will learn, is in her Lord’s strength to kill the enemies within with the Lord’s physical sword. No wonder her enemy’s hearts melted!

In the meantime, some of her thirteen-year-old heart no doubt melted for what was to happen as they, too, learned to understand authority through headship.

Jos 5:2 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. 
Jos 5:3 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 

The sharp knives for the Bride spiritually represent her Lord’s word that cuts off the flesh of the covering from the seat of her Shulamite-like arousal, exposing his kisses and wine of truth. 

For the Israelites, this is the second witness to circumcision that they could only see as enforcement of recognition for their covenant relationship with their Lord. For the Bride of Christ’s hindsight reflections, she is ecstatic for the revelation that the old flesh of her sisters from Mt Sinai is a symbolic “hill of foreskins”. Her Lord’s glory is revealed in the New Covenant, not excised with hands by a sharp stone but a spiritually sharp sword of His word. She unashamedly doesn’t half-step into devoting herself to his love.

Son 1:2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. 
Son 1:3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments [understanding His word] thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. 
Son 1:4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

Jos 5:4 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.

The Bride of Christ is the “men of war” who are leaving behind her hill of foreskins of her enemies within, lying dead in her wilderness of sin by her daily refinement of putting on her Lord’s clean white linen. Joshua and the priests, who represent the Bride who came out of Egypt, were all circumcised, yet, the ones born along the way were not circumcised, and the Commandments of Moses needed to be ratified in the symbol of circumcision. 

Jos 5:5  Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.

The second witness of the Israelites’ circumcision represents the then-coming Lord’s spiritual circumcision of our hearts. It is one of many instances of the elder serving the younger. The ‘young’ Israelites were not yet circumcised. Those who died in the wilderness were circumcised and broke their covenant with the Lord. The younger males of thirteen years and above, who were understandably not valiant to self-circumcise, were circumcised by more professional hands. For young and old alike, the “token” of bloody circumcision must have been indelibly etched in their minds as it was in Zipporah’s mind upon circumcising her son. However, as with childbirth and the Covenant, the remembrance soon disappears. (Exo 4:19-26; Gen 17:21-27)

The wonders the Lord is about to do to Israel and on Israel’s behalf will be bloody as they effectively circumcise all the heathen from their land by death. Again, it depicts the elder serving the younger. Just as the firstborn of Egypt died, those younger Israelites born free of Egypt began life afresh in the Covenant agreed in their flesh.

Exo 4:25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. 
Exo 4:26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. 

Gen 17:24 And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 
Gen 17:25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 

Today, the Elect of God are bloody before Christ, their husband. They are circumcised spiritually, not by their hands, but by their spiritual Zipporah, the Church, as they live by the sharp circumcision of Christ’s word.

Almost daily, etched in our hearts are these glorious spiritually bloody verses,

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. 

Jos 5:6  For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. 

Gen 17:11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. 

Psa 44:3 For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy [the Lord’s] right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

Gen 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant. 

For any in the Body of Christ who refuse to be spiritually circumcised, he, like those physically circumcised who died in the wilderness, has denied the Lord’s covenant ‘betwixt’ Christ and him. They have effectively said that they will eat their own bread and drink their own water by their own sword and strength, as their forefathers in the wilderness strove to do for forty years. We do it whenever we fail to ask the Lord for his strength to resist the Devil. (James 4:6-10)

Jos 5:7 And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way. 
Jos 5:8 And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. 

It is the Bride of Christ who is raised up in their stead whom Christ has spiritually circumcised. If we identify as that young woman, we begin with uncircumcised hearts since we are born in the wilderness and are now circumcised. We abide in the Body of Christ until we are healed and made whole in Him, particularly in the First Resurrection.

Jos 5:9 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal [meaning, a wheel rolling] unto this day. 

Our Lord has wheeled away our disgrace for trying to save ourselves by our former gods from Egypt. Upon the beginning of the first Passover in Canaan, that figurative wheel within wheels of the Lord’s word conveyed today by the Lord’s Elect cannot be stopped until all is fulfilled through the one event coming to all of mankind. That wheeled roller-coaster ride of one event began with Abraham’s circumcision and is about to get more bloody and violent in Israel. Thankfully, by being given to look back spiritually on Israel, we will be the first to finish that “one event” (Ecc 9:1-6). We learn to welcome dying gracefully by the power and might of our Lord as we are being made whole by our spiritual circumcision.

Col 2:6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 
Col 2:7 rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 
Col 2:8 Beware lest anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.
Col 2:9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. 
Col 2:10 And you are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power,
Col 2:11 in whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, 
Col 2:12 buried with Him in baptism [having our sins burned out by his fiery word], in whom also you were raised through the faith of the working of God, raising Him from the dead. 
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 
Col 2:14 blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. 
Col 2:15 Having stripped rulers and authorities, He made a show of them publicly, triumphing over them in it. 

The Lord’s word is merciless against our old man, yet, he knows our frailty as we tremble for what happened to our old man ground by the wheels of sin in Israel. As such, we learn discretion by becoming his word as he is the word ~ as he is, so are we by his word, wheels within wheels.

In the one-thousand year reign by Christ and His Christs, they will rule the “fitches” of humanity with a rod of iron. That will not be a time of judgment, and not a soul will have his heart changed to be aroused by His word. Change will begin when the smoking flax bursts into flame, beginning with Gog and Magog surrounding the camp of the Saints and death and resurrection, sending them over to the beginning of their fiery end, spiritually circumcised in the Lake of Fire. 

Isa 28:26 For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him. 
Isa 28:27  For the fitches [black cummin] are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod. 
Isa 28:28 Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen. 
Isa 28:29 This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working. 

Mat 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

For now, Israel will unwittingly continue the legacy of their forefathers and contemptuously attempt in frustration to fulfil all of the handwritten ordinances and fail. Our gracious Lord is painfully aware of our frailty and has made known to his Elect an assured end when we pursue him with our entire heat.

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 
Jer 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 
Jer 29:14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. 

The wheels of the plan of God are beginning to turn much faster, with the very first Passover being kept in Cannan. This was a young, newly circumcised Israel eating the remnants of their forefathers, grizzling and groanings represented by the “old corn” (wheat) made into unleavened cakes and new beginnings.

Jos 5:10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. 
Jos 5:11 And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. 
Jos 5:12 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. 

The Lord was gradually teaching Israel to trust in him. The six-day miracle of manna was now gone and replaced by the incredible natural richness of Cannan. We fed on the old corn of Babylonian Christianity aroused by her, the Great Whore, the mother of harlots, for six days (= six thousand years) on milk and honey.

The pictorial spirituality for us is that Christ is our manna, our bread from heaven, whose words we keep; he is the strong meat nourishing our circumcised hearts before inheriting Him, our promised land. 

Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode [G3438: mone, dwelling place, residence] with him.

The root of this word is G3306, and it is similar to ‘meno’:

G3306
μένω
menō
men’-o

A primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): – abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own.

The word appears 118 times and is always translated in some form of ‘abide’. If Christ and His Father ‘abide within us’, then this will be given to us, within and without.

Our Babylonian Christian brothers and sisters initially fed us, as does Israel in the wilderness. They ploughed in the heat of the day as the elder served the much later, younger heir.

Isa 61:5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

Israel, under Joshua, and for our benefit and spiritual mimicking, was beginning the painful process of growing up into full-grown perdition (utter destruction).

Jos 5:13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 

The man Joshua is certainly one bold warrior to march up to a no doubt powerful-looking opponent holding his sword drawn. It is precisely how we challenge our enemies within; with the intrinsic fiery sword of our Lord’s word.

Is the thing we are about to do for the Lord or against him?

Num 14:8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 
Num 14:9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations [primarily within], baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

In spiritual terms, it means baptising our heresies with fire and circumcising our old man of our lustful flesh.

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. 

Jos 5:14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 

Of course, the host’s captain for us is Christ, who has come into our hearts as we enthusiastically hear what He has to say.

Jos 5:15 And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. 

Israel is about to commence their first Passover in the Promised Land. Our walk in the flesh, in shoes made by us from animal hide, represents our sweaty walk of workmanship. The Lord’s command for Joshua to remove his shoes unknowingly to him will be amplified by the new symbols of washing one another’s feet on the night of Passover before Christ’s death and Christ himself becoming the holy land.

The long and torturous saga of evil flesh and its God-given spiritual correlations are still in their infancy upon crossing the Jordan. The ‘holy land’ on which Moses stood, and now Joshua, along with circumcision, stone memorials, war, harlotry, evil passions and mankind’s sexuality, all temporarily point to their spiritual counterparts. Their highly variable physical applications titillate our lusts, yet, much to the distant future unwitting consternation of all but Christ’s Bride, none but her are ever given to entirely overcome the flesh. Even the most outstanding physical marriages, along with their physical desires, will be dust in the Kingdom since there is neither male nor female in Christ and the Father.

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 
Gal 3:24 So that the law is become our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 
Gal 3:25 But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor. 
Gal 3:26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus. 
Gal 3:29  And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise. 

The Israelites’ feet stepping into the physical holy land heralds the coming of over three thousand years of feet running to mischief and uncircumcised hearts firmly establishing the Great Whore. 

The Bride of Christ is the priests of Abraham’s seed, and her circumcision of the flesh and every other symbol that points to its spiritual counterpart is fast disappearing. Her circumcised heart is what makes her Husband and she blissfully one spirit.

For the Bride of Christ, her Husband is her inheritance, and he is the promised holy land in which she stands with beautiful feet. 

Son 7:1 How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince’s daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman. 

He makes her shoes for his glory and is beautifully represented by the Shulamite, whose name means “the perfect, or the peaceful”. Her shoes, he made, are worn in his presence since together, they are the holy ground on which they stand.

Next week, Lord willing, “The Fall of Jericho”.