Pro 16:21-33 “The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD”

(Aired on July 31, 2025)

Pro 16:21  The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
Pro 16:22  Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
Pro 16:23  The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
Pro 16:24  Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Pro 16:25  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Pro 16:26  He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
Pro 16:27  An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
Pro 16:28  A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
Pro 16:29  A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
Pro 16:30  He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
Pro 16:31  The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
Pro 16:32  He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Pro 16:33  The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Last week we briefly discussed how “The lot^H1486 is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD”, which is another way of saying what we read in these two verses, (Eph 1:11, Rom 8:28).

Act 17:28  For in him we live, and move, and have our being;[“The lot”] as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things [“The lot”] after the counsel of his own will:

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things [“The lot”] work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The word “lot”^H1486 is the same word found in these few verses: Lev 16:8(2); Lev 16:9; Lev 16:10; Num 26:55; Num 26:56; Num 33:54, and explain with their spiritual message how and what the “the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD” should mean to God’s elect today. We also recently discussed how Peter is the stone that is built upon the rock spoken of in this verse, (Mat 16:18). Peter’s lot in life is that of the elect’s predestined lot to be that stone built upon the “rockG4073”, the petra who is Christ!

H1486 Lot gôrâl    gôrâl  go-rawl’, go-ral’
From an unused root meaning to be rough (as stone); properly a pebble, that is, a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively a portion or destiny (as if determined by lot): – lot.
Total KJV occurrences: 77

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art PeterG4074, and upon this rockG4073 I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

G4074 Petros pet’-ros
Apparently a primary word; a (piece of) rock (larger than G3037); as a name, Petrus, an apostle: – Peter, rock. Compare G2786.
Total KJV occurrences: 162

G4073 petra  pet’-ra
Feminine of the same as G4074; a (mass of) rock (literally or figuratively): – rock.
Total KJV occurrences: 16

With these definitions in mind let’s look at these few verses that use the word “lot”^H1486 and then we can go through the last part of this chapter of proverbs that concludes with the title verse, “The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD” [Lev 16:8(2); Lev 16:9; Lev 16:10; Num 26:55; Num 26:56; Num 33:54”].

Lev 16:8  And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; (Act 4:27-28) one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat (Rom 8:28).
Lev 16:9  And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering (Psa 22:18, Joh 19:24, Act 4:27-28).
Lev 16:10  But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive (Rom 6:11, 1Co 15:22) before the LORD, to make an atonement with him,(1Jn 4:17) and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness (Col 1:24).

Num 26:55  Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
Num 26:56  According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few (Mat 22:14, Psa 139:16).

Let’s also remember that God spoke our existence into reality, the “lot”^H1486 (Col 1:16), which we naturally think of as our lot that is cast into our lap, when in reality, it is God who created all things, to work out His own plan and purpose which is unfolding in this prescribed manner, “The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD” (Php 2:12-13).

Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

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.

All our books are written by God (Psa 139:16) so again what appears to be disorder from the human vantage point is a perfectly ordered plan all being worked according to the counsel of Him, who works “all things” after the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11, Rom 8:28).

Psa 139:16 Your eyes saw my embryo, And my days, all of them were written upon Your scroll; The days were formed When there was not one of them.”

Our first verse:

Pro 16:21  The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

God’s word is like honey on our lips that we love, and it increases our learning, and once we ingest that honey it becomes bitter in our belly (Rev 10:9-10) to the end that God’s word would sanctify us and give us a wise heart that becomes prudent through much tribulation in this life. That is what it takes for the honey to be digested (Act 14:22). Christ is our wisdom and the one working in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure, which is to see that the trial of our faith will occur and produce something precious in the eyes of our Father (1Pe 1:7, Psa 116:15, 1Co 15:31).

Rev 10:9  And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Rev 10:10  And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

1Pe 1:7 that the testing of your faith, much more precious than gold which is perishing, yet, being tested by fire, may be found for applause and glory and honor at the unveiling of Jesus Christ,

Psa 116:15  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints [bitter death of the first man Adam within us through the sword of his word].

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

Pro 16:22   Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

Without the keys to the kingdom which are a gift from God (Mat 16:19), our wisdom, our instruction is as that of a fool’s folly (Pro 14:7-9, 1Co 2:6-8).

Pro 14:7  Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
Pro 14:8  The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
Pro 14:9  Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: (Mat 25:29)
1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: (Isa 3:1) for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

It’s not anyone’s fault that they can’t see or hear spiritually, it is what God has ordained to hide the truth from the masses through the parables (Mat 13:10-11), and with the same parables give “a wellspring of life unto him that hath it”(Joh 4:10).

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Joh 4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Those who have it, have it because of God’s mercy that has opened our spiritual eyes and ears, and we know that God is no respecter of persons, so we must not be highminded with this understanding, thinking somehow that we figured it out by ourselves (Rom 11:20, 1Ti 6:17, 2Ti 3:4), but rather understand that unlike this woman (Joh 4:13-15) who was with Christ in the flesh, we are being dragged to Christ as God’s children and provoked unto love and good works through Christ and His body (Tit 2:14)

Joh 4:13  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
Joh 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Joh 4:15  The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Pro 16:23  The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

Our whole life is now earmarked to add learning to our lips, like the ‘noble Bereans’ Lord willing, who were given that wise heart that is not just seeking but also finding treasures daily in God’s word (Heb 11:6), adding learning to his lips (Act 17:11).

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Act 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

The lips must be purged with God’s fiery trials in our lives (Isa 6:6-7) as God’s workmanship whose good pleasure is to give us His kingdom which we can receive as a result of Him trying us (Act 14:22, Heb 12:6) in this life, which will in time, “make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1Pe 5:10).

Isa 6:6  Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
Isa 6:7  And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

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.

Pro 16:24  Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

We’re all growing in learning how to speak pleasant words that are as an honeycomb as we are dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44). It is such a blessing to be encouraged or to encourage others in the body of Christ, and when we go through trials the God of all comfort (2Co 1:3-4) will comfort us to that end that, with that comfort He gives us, we can then bring that same comfort to our body (Col 1:24) and it will be “health to the bones” (Eph 5:30).

2Co 1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

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

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

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

This proverb is twice mentioned (Pro 14:12, Pro 16:25) as a witness (2) against all flesh whose natural inclination leads to death. That is how God made us, and only Christ can turn the tide of carnality by setting us free from sin (Joh 8:36, 2Co 3:17, Rom 8:14-16), from the self-righteous spirit that wants to do our own will (Php 3:9) and does not know better that God’s ways lead to life and not death (Joh 14:6, Joh 6:44).

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

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.

Pro 16:26  He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

We hopefully are being blessed to be given a hunger and thirst for righteousness in this age (Mat 5:6), labouring in the word (Joh 6:27, Joh 4:32), craving those things that will lead to growth so that we can have something to give to others, both physically and spiritually (Eph 4:28-32).

Mat 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Joh 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Joh 4:32  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

Eph 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Eph 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Pro 16:27  An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

Imagine getting a shovel and going down to a graveyard and digging up someone’s physical bones. That is what we do when we dig up the past of those who have been made white by the blood of the lamb, and in doing so we are guilty of counting that sacrifice of Christ of no value (Heb 10:29).

Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, [digging up dead men’s bones including your own] and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

This ungodly man who is at the door of our hearts is called “the accuser of our brethren” (Rev 12:10) and only Christ can rule over him and cast him down within us, which He will do if our names our written in heaven (Luk 10:18-20). Otherwise our lips will continue to be the opposite of the lips that are being saved by God’s chastening grace, bringing forth our own self-righteous condemnation of others and our own selves with lips that are “as a burning fire”.

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Luk 10:18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven [cast down].
Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
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.

Pro 16:28  A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

Here’s a little more information regarding how the devil’s devises work, which we are not ignorant of  (2Co 2:10-11).

2Co 2:10  To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; [one body whose actions can affect each other positively or negatively]
2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

It is the froward or perverse mawerrn who sows contention or strife, as opposed to these words “be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”. With such a spirit that soweth strife, and gossips with the intention of separating chief friends, we have these verses that remind us of what an abomination this all is unto God (Pro 6:16-19).

Pro 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Pro 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Pro 6:19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Pro 16:29  A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.

Was I ever this violent man? At one point we do think, ‘no Lord I was not’, then by the grace of God we are brought into remembrance of what great violence we did to the word of God and in our ignorance enticed ‘my neighbour’ to believe the lies that we were convinced was truth at that time. So yes, we are all guilty of being the one who “leadeth him into the way that is not good” because the way that seems right to us leads to death until we are shown better.

Pro 16:30  He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

It came very naturally to us to devise froward things in our hearts, and the Lord answered us according to the idol of our own hearts to reinforce our deception at that time (Mat 25:24-26). Our eyes were shut to the truth, and our hearts were hardened so that our former way of life was filled with lips that continually brought evil to pass (Gen 6:5).

Mat 25:24  Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Mat 25:25  And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Mat 25:26  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: [Eze 14:4]

Gen 6:5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Pro 16:31  The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

Christ is the way of righteousness, and despite what all the religions of this world teach, there is only one “hoary head” that can lead us unto God (Rev 1:14), and it is the Father who is dragging His workmanship to Christ so that “through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” can be experienced in this life (Php 3:9).

Rev 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

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

Pro 16:32  He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

This powerful verse, parallels with these verses, (Ecc 9:14-18), that speak of our hope of glory within, Christ (Col 1:27), who is the “poor wise man”, of a humble, poor and contrite spirit who gives us victory over our spirits within (Php 2:12-13) making us, by God’s grace, able to be “slow to anger” and  “better than the mighty” as we’re given power to rule over the powers and principalities of this world, becoming more than conquerors through Christ, ruling over “his spirit” our spirit within, through our Lord who is higher than all the powers and principalities that we wrestle against (Eph 6:12, Eph 1:21-23).

Ecc 9:14  There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it [Satan the man of perdition], and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
Ecc 9:15  Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
Ecc 9:16  Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard [Luk 6:46].
Ecc 9:17  The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
Ecc 9:18  Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

Pro 16:33  The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

These verses we’ve just read, (Ecc 9:14-18), are as much ‘the lot that is cast into the lap’ as any other part of God’s word that we live by (Mat 4:4). All things are ours (1Co 3:21-23) “but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD” who is working all things according to the counsel of His own will.

1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; [The lot is cast into the lap]
1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23  And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

Let us give thanks and praise to God for his mercy and goodness toward His little flock in this age that is experiencing all things working together for good as his love is shed abroad in our hearts to fulfill His will, his purpose that we’ve been called unto (Psa 30:4-12, Rom 8:28).

Psa 30:4  Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Psa 30:5  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Psa 30:10  Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.
Psa 30:11  Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
Psa 30:12  To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Ezekiel 25:1-17 The Judgment of Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia

[Study Aired July 29, 2024]

Introduction

Our study for today is based on the nations which surround the people of Israel in Canaan. These nations were sworn enemies of Israel, and the fact that four were mentioned signifies that these countries represent the whole of the enemies of Israel. In this study, we shall come to know what these nations represent spiritually and their judgment by the Lord.

The study also focuses on the Lord accusing each of these four nations of their hatred for the people of Israel and the end result of the Lord’s judgment of these nations. 

The Judgment of the Ammonites

Eze 25:1  The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 
Eze 25:2  Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them; 
Eze 25:3  And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity; 
Eze 25:4  Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.

The Ammonites were descendants of Lot through the incestuous relation of Lot and his daughter. Lot was the nephew of Abraham, and therefore the Ammonites are fleshly related to the people of Israel.

Gen 19:36  Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. 
Gen 19:37  And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. 
Gen 19:38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

The Ammonites therefore represent our flesh or the old man of the Lord’s elect. The reason the Lord was judging the Ammonites is stated in verse 3. They were glad when the sanctuary of the Lord was dishonored, the land of Israel was ruined and when the nation of Judah went into exile. As we are aware, it is our enemy who rejoices in our misfortune. The Bible speaks of our enemy being the devil who gives his power to our flesh or old man or the beast within us. That is to say that it acts through our flesh or old man. 

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? 
Rev 13:5  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 
Rev 13:6  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 
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.

As described above, the beast within us or our old man or flesh is always blaspheming against our Lord. It is therefore at variance with our Lord Jesus Christ and His elect. That is why the mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God and things of the spirit.

Rom 8:5  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 
Rom 8:6  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Rom 8:7  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
Rom 8:8  Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 
Rom 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (ESV) 

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 
Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Our victory over the flesh is through walking in the spirit. In order to transition from being a carnally-minded person to a spiritually-minded being, which is pleasing to the Lord, there is the need for us to be judged by the Lord. In verse 4, the Lord told Ezekiel that He will deliver the Ammonites to the men of the east for a possession. In the Book of Job, he is described as the greatest of the men of the east because of his riches. These physical riches signify spiritual riches of the men of the east. On a positive note therefore, the men of the east symbolize the Lord’s elect with our Lord Jesus Christ symbolized by Job as the greatest man of the east. This is also confirmed by the fact that the east is where the sun, which represents our Lord Jesus Christ, rises. We, the Lord’s elect, are the first to taste of the rising of the sun or our Lord Jesus Christ in our lives in this age. 

Job 1:1  There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 
Job 1:2  And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 
Job 1:3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

Mat 2:1  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

It is the Lord’s elect to whom the Lord has given possession of the old man or the flesh. This possession is described in verse 4 as setting their palaces in her and making their dwelling place in her. However, this possession is a process that takes a lifetime. It is through possessing our bodies or overcoming our flesh that we can offer a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. 

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.

This possession or overcoming is actually accomplished by the birth and growth of the new man as the old man or the flesh dies daily through the Lord’s judgment. 

Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

In verse 4, we are also told that the men of the east shall eat the fruit of the Ammonites and shall drink her milk. The fruit and the milk of the Ammonites refer to the labors of our flesh. This implies that our labors shall not be in vain but shall assist us in achieving the purpose of Christ in our lives. This is the same as Terah, Abraham’s father, assisting Abraham in fulfilling the Lord’s purpose by taking him from Ur of the Chaldees to Haran, close to the promised land. 

Isa 60:1  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 

Isa 60:5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

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. 
Gen 11:32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran. 

Eze 25:5  And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couching place for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 

In verse 5, the Lord said that He shall make Rabbah, which was the capital city of the Ammonites, located east of the Jordan, a stable for camels. This is the same as making the Ammonites a couching place or a resting place for flocks. On a positive note, a city in the Bible can mean a church as shown in the following:

Rev 21:10  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 

Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

According to Strong’s Dictionary, Rabbah means ‘great.’ A camel is a beast that is used to carry heavy burdens in the desert, and a stable is a habitation of flocks or pasture. This statement of Rabbah being a stable for camels is the same as the Ammonites being a couching place or rest for flocks. What the Lord is telling us in verse 5 is that He is gathering us together to give us rest from the burdens of this world and also to feed us His words (pastures). It is as we get to know His words that we come to know Him. 

Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

Eze 25:6  For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel; 
Eze 25:7  Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. 

The Ammonites clapped their hands and stamped their feet as they rejoiced for the misfortune that had happened to the people of Israel. This shows us that they really hated the Israelites. As indicated, the Ammonites represent our flesh or the old man who is at enmity with the new man in the lives of the Lord’s elect. Verse 7 shows us the end result of the Lord’s judgment of our old man or flesh. The judgment of the Lord is symbolized in verse 7 as the stretching out of the hand of the Lord upon us.

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.  

As a result of the Lord’s judgment, our old man is delivered for a spoil to the heathen as shown in verse 7. A spoil refers to the booty or plunder or the precious possession of those who are defeated in battle. During the Biblical times, the spoil served as the reward for victory won during a battle. This implies that the old man being delivered as a spoil for the heathen means that as the Lord’s elect, we shall surely win the victory over our old man or flesh through the Lord’s judgment. 

Gen 49:27  Benjamin (representing the Lord’s elect) shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.

Num 31:53  (For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)

Jer 30:16  Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.

The Lord causing the Ammonites to perish and be destroyed out of the countries in verse 7 is to show us the defeat of the old man through the agency of the Lord’s judgment. It is through this victory over the flesh, which is a process, that we come to know the Lord.

Rev 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 

Loving not our lives unto death means that as the Lord’s elect, He has caused us to be prepared to go through the fiery trials, or the evil experience given to us by Him, in order to inherit the promise. It is another way of saying that because of the joy that is set before us, we despise the sufferings that are marked for us.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

The Judgment of Moab and Seir

Eze 25:8  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen; 
Eze 25:9  Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim, 

The Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, through an incestuous union with his elder daughter. They were therefore fleshly related to the people of Israel and therefore represent our flesh or our old man, just as the Ammonites also signify our flesh. Seir or Mount Seir are the alternative names of the mountainous tract in Palestine occupied by the descendants of Esau, who was the elder brother of Jacob. We can therefore also say that Seir is our flesh or our old man.

In verse 8, we are told that the Lord coming to judge the Moabites and the people from Seir was because they said that there is no difference between the house of Judah and the heathen. This accusation by the Moabites and people from Seir is justified as the house of Judah who represents us, the Lord’s elect, since we had not lived up to the standard of the Lord at a certain point of our walk with Christ when we were in Babylon. Thus, we were just like the heathen.

2Ki 17:13  Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. 
2Ki 17:14  Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. 
2Ki 17:15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.

Spiritually, the assertion by the Moabites and the people from Seir that we are just like the heathen implies that when we are under the control of the old man or the flesh, who is set in his ways, we cannot bring about the change that comes with knowing Christ. We are just like the heathen or our brothers and sisters in Babylon who think that no one can overcome the beast or the flesh within us.

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 order to live a life worthy of the Lord, our old man, represented here by the Moabites and the people from Seir, must be destroyed through judgment to pave the way for our lives to be controlled by the new man after the image of Christ.

In verse 9, the Lord is saying that as a result of the Lord’s elect being no different from the people of the world, He is going to open up the cities that protect the borders of Moab. These cities were three, and they are Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon and Kiriathaim. As we have said earlier in this study, cities represent churches. The names of these cities therefore give us insight into the fact that the role of the churches of this world or Babylon is to protect the old man or the flesh within us represented here by Moab. Bethjeshimoth means ‘house of desolation’ or ‘desert.’ This house of desolation is Babylon or the physical churches of this world whose false teachings preserve our old man instead of destroying it.  Baalmeon signifies the ‘lord of the habitation’ which means that Babylon is actually worshiping our old man, who is the lord of the habitation. Kiriathaim means ‘two cities’, and it signifies that the churches are witnesses against one another that they are not serving the interest of Christ, our Lord, but that of the flesh.

Rev 2:9  I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 

The Lord opening up these cities implies that the Lord will show us, His elect, what Babylon is all about. This revelation is given to the Lord’s elect who walk in the spirit and not according to the flesh. The fact that these cities are three implies that it is through the process of spiritual maturity through judgment that we come to see who Babylon really is.

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.

Eze 25:10  Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations. 
Eze 25:11 And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the LORD. 

Again, in verse 10 the Lord is saying that He will hand over the Moabites together with the Ammonites to the men from the east. As we have indicated earlier, the men from the east represent the Lord’s elect who are given to possess our old man or flesh. The Ammonites not being remembered among the nations implies that our old man shall be completely destroyed in our lives. In verse 11, we are made aware that it is through the judgment of the Lord upon our old man (Moab) that we come to know who the Lord is. 

Jer 24:7  And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

Eze 6:10 And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.

The Judgment of Edom

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 people from Edom were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s twin brother. The Edomites therefore represent our flesh or our old man. We know from the word of the Lord that vengeance belongs to the Lord. That is to say, as the Lord’s elect, we should not take vengeance on our enemies. 

Psa 94:1  O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. 
Psa 94:2 Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. 

Heb 10:30  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

As shown in verse 12, the sins of the Edomites were that they took vengeance on the Lord’s people, which was the prerogative of the Lord alone. In this sense, the Edomites were taking the place of the Lord to avenge His people. Any time we are meting out vengeance to someone, we are taking the place of our Lord. This is what the man of sin within us or our flesh does when we are under its control as he thinks of himself as God sitting in our temple or the throne of our hearts and mind. 

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there comes 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? 

The Lord stretching out His hands on Edom in verse 13 means the Lord coming to judge the man of sin or our old man with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness. Cutting off the man and the beast from Edom signifies the destruction of the old man through the Lord’s judgment. In verse 13, we are also told that the Lord shall make desolate Edom, from Teman to Dedan. The Edomites settled in the mountainous region of Seir. The word Teman means ‘from’ and Dedan signifies ‘low country.’ Thus, making desolate Edom from Teman to Dedan means the Lord will destroy the Edomites from their mountainous region to the low country in South Arabia. In other words, the Lord will do a thorough work of destruction of our old man through His judgment.

Rom 9:28  The Lord will carry out his sentence on the land, completely and decisively.” (GW)

The instrument of the Lord’s judgment in this case is the sword. The negative application of the use of the sword refers to false doctrines or bitter words spoken against us. 

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:

In verse 14, the Lord is saying that He will take vengeance upon Edom using the people of Israel as His instrument of judgment. In other words, the Lord will judge the old man of every elect in this age. This judgment is the evil experience we are going through in this life with the Lord coming with His brightness and spirit of His mouth.

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:

The Judgment of Philistia

Eze 25:15  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred; 
Eze 25:16  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast. 
Eze 25:17 And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them. 

The Philistines dwelt on the southern coast of Canaan and consisted of a confederation of city-states generally referred to as Philistia. They were sworn enemies of the people of Israel and had engaged Israel in battles, notably, Samson’s slaying of a thousand Philistines and David’s fight with the Philistine’s giant, Goliath. Initially, the Philistines had the upper hand over Israel, but over time, the Israelites became stronger and a dominant force in Canaan. Just like us, our flesh dominated us for a certain period of our lives until Christ came to us. Being the enemies of Israel, it is no wonder that in verse 15, the Philistines had taken revenge with a despiteful heart derived from hatred of the Lord’s people. The Philistines therefore represent our old man or our flesh that sits in our temple claiming himself to be God. 

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. 

As indicated earlier, the Lord stretching forth His hands upon the Philistines (verse 15) means the Lord coming to judge our old man. As shown in verse 16, the Lord’s judgment shall result in the cutting off of the Cherethims and the destruction of the remnant of the sea coast. The word “Cherethims” means ‘executioners’ or ‘killers’. It therefore refers to our flesh or old man that gradually puts us to death. The remnant of the sea coast also refers to our flesh. This implies that the cutting off of the Cherethims and the destruction of the remnant of the sea coast signifies the destroying of our flesh or our old man. In verse 17, the Lord is assuring us that He shall execute vengeance upon the Philistines with furious rebukes. That means that the Lord shall judge our old man with the spirit of His mouth or His fiery words. It is through judgment that we come to know the Lord.

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

May the Lord continue the work He has started in us to bring it to completion in the fullness of time. Amen!!

The day of Noah’s and Lot’s Baptism 

[Study Aired August 25, 2020]

Luk 17:20-37 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

In our last study we saw that Noah’s name means “rest” and rest is what we are seeking to enter. We saw that we must first go through a water baptism so that the new man can be saved. Noah entered the ark with his family, saving eight souls. Along with the eight there were the beasts two by two, clean and unclean. These beasts were at peace during the time in the ark. Tonight, we will focus on Lot and the baptism of fire. 

Tonight’s study will focus on the following verses. We will search out the meaning of “Baptism by fire”.

Luk 17:28-30 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Lot separated from Abram and dwelled in Sodom. This represents us leaving the world and moving into the churches. Sodom was full of evil men. These evil men represent the false teachers and their doctrines of the world churches.

Gen 13:5-13 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

According to Hitchcock, Jordan means “the river of judgment”. This gives us a clue to the meaning of this story Christ is referencing. Lot journeyed east, which is toward the Lord. Looking east is looking toward the morning sun.

Psa 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 

Rev 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Here is the story of Lot and Sodom.

Gen 19:1-29 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.  And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

The cities in which Lot dwelled and all the inhabitants were destroyed by fire and brimstone. This is symbolic of our baptism by fire.

Mat 3:11  Truly, I give baptism with water to those of you whose hearts are changed; but he who comes after me is greater than I, whose shoes I am not good enough to take up: he will give you baptism with the Holy Spirit and with fire: 

Psa 11:4-7 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. 

What is the “fire” with which we will be baptized? Fire is the “Word of God”.

Deu 4:11-12 And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.

Deu 4:23-24 Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Deu 4:35-36  Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire. 

Deu 9:3  Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. 

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

The words of the Lord our God are a consuming fire. The Lord has given His words to His witnesses.

Rev 11:3-6  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. 

We must first endure the baptism of fire in order to become the witness of Christ. Christ uses Satan, the leviathan, and his angels to perform this task with false doctrines. We are all first of our father the devil. We offer strange fire because we believe the lies of Satan. However, through our baptism by fire we are saved.

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.

Lev 10:1-2 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Job 41:1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?……Job 41:19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.

1Co 5:4-5 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 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.

1Co 3:13-15 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

1Co 5:4-5 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 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.

We must first endure the baptism of fire in order to become a faithful witness of Christ. Christ in us is that faithful witness.

Pro 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

Rev 1:4-6 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Christ gives us the ability to endure this baptism. Christ will give the elect the ability to endure until the end of the ages.

Isa 33:14-16  The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.

Mar 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

The Son of Man is revealed through our baptisms of water and fire.

Luk 17:26-30 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

I will end tonight’s study with these encouraging words from James 1.

Jas 1:2-18 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 

Here are next studies verses.

Luk 17:31-37 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

The day of Noah’s and Lot’s Baptism

[Study Aired August 18, 2020]

Luk 17:20-37 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

“The Kingdom of God is within you”? Christ once again answers their questions with parables. His answer tells us, the elect of God, what we can expect to happen when he comes within us.

Joh 14:15-21 If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Today’s study titled “The day of Noah’s and Lot’s Baptism” is in reference to the destruction of our old man and all of mankind’s old man by water and fire. The Lord uses these things to destroy the old man within everyone. John being the end of the prophets makes the following statement which announces the baptisms we endure.

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

Luk 3:16-17 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. 

John baptizes with water representing our time under our tutors the law and the prophets. The Lord also tells us that we must be baptized with his baptism.

Gal 4:1-7 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Mat 20:20-23 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. 

Christ uses the stories of Noah and Lot to explain to his disciples the process of the kingdom of heaven coming within us. The following is an excerpt from Smith’s Dictionary about Noah.

Noah

“No’ah. (rest). The tenth in descent from Adam, in the line of Seth, was the son of Lamech, and grandson of Methuselah. (B.C. 2948-1998). We hear nothing of Noah till he is 500 years old, when it is said he begat three sons.”

Noah’s name means “rest”, and this is what we are in the process of entering. This rest we are seeking is not given to all in this age but only to the chosen few.

Heb 3:7-18 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

The fathers and prophets could not enter the “rest” because of their unbelief, but we are being baptized by the water and the fire of Christ, His Word, which causes us to believe. Continuing in Hebrews chapter 4 we learn more about the “rest” that Noah’s name means.

Heb 4:1-13 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 

Here is the story of Noah that Christ tells his disciples and is now telling us, (if you are in him and he is in you, having ears to hear and eyes to see). Our journey entering the “rest” begins with the baptism of water. Pay attention to the hidden mystery in this story. Remember Christ’s words are spirit and they are 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. 

Gen 7:6-23 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. 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. And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days. 

Just as Noah’s faith moved him with fear, our faith moves us with fear to prepare and save our house.

Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Peter explains the baptism of Noah and the saving of the eight which is the new man within.

1Pe 3:8-22 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Peter compares “if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake” and “that ye suffer for well doing” to the flood Noah experienced. This baptism in not for cleaning the flesh but for asking God to clear our mind of sin and that we all may be of one mind.

1Pe 3:8-9 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

(CEV) 1Pe 3:21 Those flood waters were like baptism that now saves you. But baptism is more than just washing your body. It means turning to God with a clear conscience, because Jesus Christ was raised from death.

(GW) 1Pe 3:21 Baptism, which is like that water, now saves you. Baptism doesn’t save by removing dirt from the body. Rather, baptism is a request to God for a clear conscience. It saves you through Jesus Christ, who came back from death to life. 

In Peter’s second epistle he connects the baptisms of water and fire which Noah and Lot experienced with the false prophets and teachers among us. This is a warning to each of us to examine ourselves and to be diligent to not let false doctrines and teachers to enter the body of Christ.

(EMTV) 1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and in this way let him eat from the bread and drink from the cup. For he that eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not judging correctly the body of the Lord.

2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Here is Peter’s warning to us. Here Peter gives us the meaning of Noah’s and Lot’s stories.

2Pe 2:1-22 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. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 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. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 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; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 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. 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, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 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. 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. 

Next Peter shares his reason why we must seek understanding of the old testament stories.

2Pe 3:1-18 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 

In our next study we will dig deeper into the story of Lot and the fire and brimstone that comes from heaven.

In Hosea 11:5:  He shall not return to the land of E​gypt, but the Assyrian will be his king because E​gypt) refused to return. What exactly does that mean?

Thanks, R____

Hi R____,

You ask what this verse means:

Hos 11:5  He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.

What we are being told is that once Christ begins to give us an unsettled and uncomfortable spirit of conviction of how we have given our lives over to the desires​ of our flesh and after He has begun to drag us out of our sinful ways, then, if indeed He is dragging us to Himself, we will never again be allowed to return to that completely carnal way of life. Instead we will begin to see that we still fall short in our daily lives and to sooth our conscience,​ we will begin attending a church which is nothing less than one of the 40,000 plus daughters of the great whore of Revelation 17-18.

A ‘whore’ is an unfaithful wife, and that is what every church organization with a statement of beliefs and a 501-C-3 tax status is. Christ is not an ‘organization’. Rather, Christ is a living organism dwelling within everyone who He is calling out of organized religion to do the things He tells us to do.

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luk 6:47  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

There is not one church or one minister in a thousand who does not teach you to get out and vote and join the military and defend your family and your country. There is not one church which does not teach you to defend yourself at all costs. I am no fool. I know it is naturally impossible to be obedient to these words of Christ:

Mat 5:38  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Mat 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Mat 5:40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Mat 5:41  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Mat 5:42  Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 
Mat 5:43  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 

All of these are “the things that I say”, and they are literally impossible for our natural man to do. But “Christ in [us]” can do all things:

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

Christ twice tells us:

Mat 20:16  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

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

“Few” is defined for us in these words in answer to His disciples’ question, “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. [8 people saved out of possibly many ​millions.]
Mat 24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Luk 17:32  Remember Lot’s wife. [Three out of “Sodom… and all the cities of the plain”]
Luk 17:33  Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

That is the meaning of not returning to Egypt, but being given over to the Assyrians, who are the same people as the Babylonians who carried Israel off into captivity.

We are warned:

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.

“Babylon the great,​ the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth” is not just Christendom. It includes Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and all the religions ​of this world. That includes secularism and atheism, which “worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator”.

It is only when we “come out of [Babylon]” that we can begin to truly know Christ and His Father, which is eternal life.

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

I hope this helps you to see the spiritual message in these words:

Hos 11:5  He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.
Hos 11:6  And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.
Hos 11:7  And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.

YbiC, Mike

(Key verses: Gen 19:1-16)

In our discussion on the foundational theme of faith, we come to Chapter 19 of Genesis where the focus is placed on Lot, the nephew of Abraham, and the ultimate judgment of God on the city where he and his family live, namely Sodom. Lot moved with Abraham from Ur in the Chaldees to Canaan. In this whole process he also, like Abraham, became rich in goods, even after their stay in Egypt, which caused them to split because of the limited pasturage and water holes:

Gen 13:8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
Gen 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

God brings separation for various reasons to fulfill His purposes in our lives. This separation is also symbolized by a door in the scriptures – the door of faith through which He also cause spiritual blindness on some and enlightenment on others (Psa 24:7; Mat 6:6; Mat 25:9-13; Mat 28:2; Mar 1:32-33; Mar 2:1-4; Joh 10:1; 1Co 16:9; Col 4:3; Jas 5:9):

Act 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Like the cloud that made a division between the Egyptians and the Israelites in the wilderness, in the same sense the faith of Christ is the door, or way, to God that brings the division through His righteous sword (Exo 14:20; Joh 14:6; Gal 2:16; Php 3:9; Eph 6:17; Rev 3:20-22):

Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Through this door of faith a few are given to enter and find pasture and are enlightened by truth, while many are kept outside to be deceived by darkness and its fake light (Gen 4:7; Mat 6:23). Those in the darkness are deceived by their own “lesser light”, even as Satan and his messengers appear as light to those in the dark (Gen 1:14-19; 2Co 11:14-15). It is only the light of the truth of Christ that can set us free from our own deceptive carnal hearts when we are first given to apply the blood on our own doorposts which brings the initial separation with the world, which is spiritually called Egypt:

Exo 12:23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

Smiting and destroying the outside Egyptians is just the start of a process of separation which few will be able to complete in this life (Mat 22:14). Abraham gave Lot the option to choose where he wanted to live. Lot then “journeyed east” which is actually the wrong direction as it is the opposite direction in which God wants us to move if we obey Him. When we follow God’s way, we enter in at God’s “door” in the east, and then we move from east to west as the tabernacle and temples in the Old Testament also symbolized. Lot’s movement was very important for those who know these things were written for our learning (Rom 15:4):

Gen 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
Gen 13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
Gen 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

Lot and Abraham “separated themselves the one from the other” as Lot had to face his own trials at that point in time as every man will have to “prove his own work” for his own spiritual development and personal reward in Christ (Eze 18:20). It is not profitable to plough with another man’s heifer (Jdg 14:18):

Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

While Lot was under Abraham’s covering, he did not face the very important fiery trials of faith through which all must go to be spiritually matured:

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

This choice of Lot opened the door to his trials and tribulations – the hedge which Abraham supplied around Lot was now removed. Although Lot initially pitched his tent towards Sodom, he and his family eventually lived in the city, and there his “righteous soul” was very unhappy with what he had to endure day in and day out:

2Pe 2:7 …just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2Pe 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

Lot is used in this passage as a type of the righteous elect who are “in the world” but are not “of the world” (Joh 1:10; Joh 9:5; Joh 15:19; Joh 16:33; Joh 17:14-16). It was in Sodom where Lot and his family came face to face with extreme wickedness and also the necessary temptations which are the very trials that reveal the natural heart’s desires and lusts (1Jn 2:16). More importantly these trials also supply the needed exercise to be become overcomers in this life to mature in faith (Jas 1:2: Jas 1:12-13; Rom 8:35-39; Heb 5:14):

Gen 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

God kept Lot faithful while he lived righteously among all the evil and promiscuous seductions in Sodom. The two angels met Lot at the gate of Sodom, which confirms Lot’s relationship to that city:

Gen 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate [Hebrew: “sha‛ar” = gate/door] of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.

Sitting “in the gate” of the city in those days included positions of rulership and being a judge of that city (Gen 19:9; Deu 21:18-21; Rut 4:1-11; 1Sa 4:18; Pro 31:23). The gate of the city relates to the door of a house as things enter and exit at that point. This links spiritually to the heart in us through which all “issues of life” pass. The door to our heart, which is the spiritual word for our mind (which is also our heaven), is to be guarded by doing the commandments of the Lord with all diligence (Rom 12:2).

Pro 4:23 Keep [Hebrew: nâtsar = guard] thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

In the scriptures, a gate of a city or the door of a house is also associated with deliverance, but also linked with bondage or slavery (Gen 4:7; Exo 12:23; 2Ki 7:1; Job 38:17; Mat 12:35):

Psa 118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
Psa 118:20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.

Deu 15:16 And if he [the slave] says to you, I will not go away from you, because he loves you and your house, because it has been good for him with you;
Deu 15:17 then you shall take an awl and put it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. And also to your slave-girl you shall do so.

Lot was diligent to keep the law of God as he understood it, and he was different in that sense from the inhabitants of Sodom, and it was obvious for all to see. He was a servant to others, hospitable and always looked at the needs of others, even strangers, more than himself. This is also demonstrated when he met these two visitors:

Gen 19:2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
Gen 19:3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

The Sodomites had other ideas which were contrary to Lot’s ideas, as the mind of the flesh is contrary to the mind of the spirit of God (Gal 5:17):

Gen 19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
Gen 19:5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

The sin of homosexuality is what Sodom became notorious for, but it encompasses a broader spectrum of sins in which all mankind in Adam is naturally involved. Every sin found on this earth is in all of us, as we are from Adam who was made marred and devoid of truth and spirit life from the hand of the Potter:

Jer 18:4a And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter:

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

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.

Those who can receive this will accept that we are guilty of all sin, as we live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, even the very commandments that come from God’s mouth which we cannot obey naturally:

Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Naturally homosexuality refers to man on man intimacy on a sexual level which spiritually points broadly to our own intimacy with mankind, even the man of sin in us (Ecc 3:18; 2Th 2:3-4). Sodom refers to our natural inclinations when we love ourselves and follow the ways of mankind in various ways (Rev 13:15-18). This is when we are impressed by natural beauty, wisdom and achievements of mankind in which God has ensnared all of us in our appointed time (Lev 18:22; Rom 1:27 1Co 1:19-29; 1Co 3:4; 1Co 3:19; Jas 3:15-16):

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 for ever. Amen.

The same spirit of homosexuality is seen in us when we want to rule and exercise authority over other fellowmen and sow our ideas and words (our evil spiritual seeds) in others to impress them or to show superiority over them:

Mar 10:42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

This is the spirit of the world in us when we are controlled by pride and lusts, which is not after the spirit of our heavenly Father:

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.

We are all naturally born in Sodom, and we live there until God drags us out of this wicked city of flesh (Joh 6:44). Adultery and lies are all linked to Sodom in us when we also associate with others in their wickedness and false doctrines under the guise of being prophets of the new Jerusalem:

Jer 23:14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

The young and old in Sodom surrounded the house of Lot to get to “know” the visitors on a sexually intimate level. We all meet the Sodomites in us from the first day we are born when we scream and shout for attention. In this immature spiritual state we want everyone to hear our problems and demand that our needs be met first:

Eze 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
Eze 16:50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

Pride, material gain, haughtiness and idleness are some of the sins in our sodomite hearts as we are greedy to get the most from others at the lowest price and with the least effort. These evil attitudes can be clearly seen and witnessed by others around us:

Isa 3:9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

Our own speech and daily living betray the sodomites within us as we also depend on our human abilities and fleshly alliances with others with the same mindset in our own valley of Siddim (“birds of a feather flock together”). However, this valley of Siddim is always full of slimepits which reveal the snares and trappings of our natural dependence on earthly strength and material gain (Gen 14:10; Jas 5:1-2):

Gen 14:8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim.

Lot’s solution to this evil request from the men of Sodom to “know” the visitors is for some very troublesome – he wanted to give his own virgin daughters to these men:

Gen 19:6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
Gen 19:7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
Gen 19:8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

This also indicates that Lot knew that these Sodomites will not be interested in his daughters. Sodom is not interested in purity and the narrow way of God. The twisted false doctrines and the broad way are more acceptable than the truth in natural minds who like to “make [them]selves of the number” (2Co 10:12). Lot “shut the door after him” is showing us how “the door of faith” makes a division between our natural relationships and our spiritual relationships. This division is also revealed by the enemies in our own household:

Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Sodom in us is a very aggressive and competitive brute beast which is very impatient when things are not going according to its liking and understanding (Pro 10:9; Pro 19:3):

Gen 19:9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

We fornicate spiritually when we aggressively pursue intimacy with false and twisted doctrines of the harlot Babylon (“spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt”), which is foreign or strange to the doctrine of Christ (Rev 11:8). These cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and all other fleshly cities in us will all be consumed by the fiery words of God’s truth (Jer 5:14; Jer 23:29; 1Co 3:13-15; Heb 12:29):

Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange [Greek: heteros = altered or twisted desire/contrary to nature] flesh are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

God’s true messengers will bring us into the house of God and will show us not to have contact with those who have been blinded to the truth. We will progressively learn how God shuts the door of faith to those who will “wear[y] themselves to find the door…of faith” unsuccessfully in this life. The door of faith is shut to them who come with their stubborn idols in their hearts to God’s Word (Eze 14:1-9).

Gen 19:10 But the men [the two visitors] put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.
Gen 19:11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

God gives spiritual blindness to all those who claim they can see long before they can even notice it, even as they are 100% convinced that know where the door is (Joh 9:39-41; 2Th 2:11). This judgment will be brought by God’s own messengers, even now through His very few elect who will also be the lake of fire bringing His justice and truth to all in the generation of the first Adam (Isa 33:5-24; Rev 20:4-6; Rev 20:14-15):

Gen 19:12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:
Gen 19:13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.

The ways of God are indeed foolishness to those who are easily influenced by deceitful Sodom as Lot’s own sons-in-law mocked him when he told them the truthful words of the messengers of God (1Co 2:14):

Gen 19:14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

God initiates salvation, and He also works it – from start to finish. Our flesh does not want to let go of the attachments of Sodom, but God is indeed a true Saviour who will bring us all out of this evil city of flesh (1Ti 2:4-6; 1Ti 4:9-11):

Gen 19:15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
Gen 19:16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

——————

Detailed studies and emails relating to these foundational themes in Scripture are available on the iswasandwillbe.com website, including these topics and links:

Do The Scriptures Condone Homosexuality?
Are Homosexuals Born That Way?
The Fate of Sodom

(Key sections in Genesis for this discussion: Gen 12:4-5; Gen 12:9-10; Gen 13:1-11; Gen 14:1-16; Gen 19:1-38)

[Study Posted July 24, 2014]

God’s revelation of Jesus begins with the unveiling of our old man or the things in the natural and their purpose in the plan of God (Rev 1:1; 2Th 2:1-5). Although the natural things are the total opposite of the spiritual things of God, it is through the spiritually dead things we are first introduced to the invisible spiritual things of God as we live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (1Co 15:45-46; Mat 4:4):

Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last.

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:

In our discussions on the foundational theme of faith we know that God used Abraham to typify what the faith of Christ is about (Eph 2:16; Php 3:9; Gal 3:6-9). It is only through the gift of the faith of Christ that our justification and sanctification are worked so we become the righteous spiritual sons of God:

Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

By the redemptive work of God’s chastening grace, all will be saved through “the law of faith”, and that is indeed not a work of our flesh and our will, but it is the gift of God, as God alone works all things after His will (Eph 2:8-10; Tit 2:11-12; Heb 12:6; Eph 1:11):

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Rom 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

The life of Abraham is shown to us to learn how this gift of faith is given and how that develops as Abraham sojourned with his tent and his altar always looking for the true city of God:

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: 1
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Mankind was never in spirit or perfect, but made flesh first (“of the ground”) and is in a process of being made or conformed in spirit after the image of God, even Jesus Christ (Gen 1:26-27; Gen 2:7; Gen 3:19; Psa 51:5; Jer 18:4; Joh 3:5-6; Rom 8:20; Rom 8:29; 1Co 15:22-28; 1Co 15:50). We all start off in the house of our old man, the first Adam, as Abram (only later called Abraham) started in the house of his father, Terah, in Ur in the land of the Chaldees in Mesopotamia. From here Abram’s family started the journey together on their way to go to the land of Canaan. Terah and his family stopped halfway in a place called Haran – which was still in Mesopotamia (“on the other side of the flood” or river Euphrates) – where Terah eventually died (Jos 24:2; Act 7:2-4). As our old man dies, we are driven forward by God.

It is a painful and humiliating process to be separated from our physical attachments. Every physical thing we attach to ourselves serves a purpose on our journey to spiritual perfection, even though we will lose it all in the end. Sarai, Abram’s wife, was barren at first, and they took Lot, Abram’s dead brother’s son to live with them (Gen 11:30-31). This barrenness of Sarai typifies our own carnal barrenness in the flesh even when we are given the gift of faith as one of the first principles of the doctrine of Christ (Heb 6:1-2; 1Co 1:7; 1Co 3:1-4). However, this foundation, even faith, needs expansion and growth as that is how we all will get to spiritual maturity, which is the end purpose of faith, even the salvation of our souls (1Pe 1:9). This first stage of immature faith is also represented by Abram’s connection to his nephew Lot:

Gen 12:4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
Gen 12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

Lot’s name means “covering” or “veil” as we all initially cannot see that the principles of the doctrine of Christ are not the perfection or maturity in Christ. The false doctrine of having spiritual perfection or maturity when we first encounter Christ in the flesh is an evil stronghold few can escape from in this age (Joh 6:26-27; 2Co 5:16; Gal 3:3). This deceit also applies to faith, and this is what the life of Lot typifies for us. Lot is even referred to as “just” and “righteous” in the scriptures:

2Pe 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
2Pe 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2Pe 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

This righteousness of Lot was not the righteousness of Christ, as Lot and all people in the Old Testament (including all Gentiles) lived under laws which are after carnal or outward commandments. These laws did not clean the inside or the heart and mind of mankind (Mat 23:25-28). There are many examples in the scriptures of this outward righteousness – the cleaning of “the outside of the cup and of the platter” (Gen 6:8-9; Luk 18:9-25; Php 3:4-6). Paul, who also once was deceived by this self-righteous spirit sent by God, calls this type of righteousness “dung” because no one will be justified before God with it (Gal 2:16; Php 3:8-9). This is what Isaiah called this righteousness:

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

It is only by the faith of Christ, which was typified by Abram, that anyone will be made righteous inside and acceptable to God (Heb 11:6). Lot moved around under the leadership of Abram and grew a type of faith in his own moral judgements, which proved to be devastating to him and his whole family in the end. Through the life of Lot we learn how to discern this counterfeit faith in ourselves and how to move and grow away from that, if God permits (Heb 6:3). Lot also represents our immature stage as a carnal Christian who is unable to endure the severity of the fiery trials of faith and needs protection and a hedge around. Lot’s development and trials also typify the process of our leaving of Babylon and its constant pulling to return to the womb and the familiar territories when we are given a clear command to “come out of her my people” and trust God alone to deliver (Psa 22:8-10; Psa 71:6; Isa 66:9; Rev 18:4). Spiritually Egypt and Babylon play their roles as the earthly womb or a hedge of protection for our old man and his natural spirit of lust for the things of the world at different stages of this developing maturity (Job 3:1-23; Rev 17:1-5):

Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Jas 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

When Abram and his family arrived in Canaan it was not long after that when a famine caused them to move south, and they eventually ended up in Egypt where they all, Lot included, were increased with worldly goods:

Gen 12:9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
Gen 12:10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

This is our time of spiritual compromise when we think we can sidestep the inevitable judgment of God on our flesh – the famine in our land. It is under these conditions that Abram convinced Sarai to lie to the Pharaoh to save his own life (Gen 12:11-20). This reveals how our first deadly wound inflicted by the sword of God is healed as we want to save our life again (Rev 13:1-3). The healing of this spiritual wound and prosperity of our flesh is not good for our spiritual growth as that brings us back to worldly desires as we again admire and worship the beast in us (Mat 13:20-22; Rev 13:4-18). Going south is to avoid the trials (the spiritual famine) which are actually meant for good, but our natural mind cannot receive this seeming contradiction:

Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

To complain about our trials betrays our spiritual immaturity, even when we are deceived to believe we are strong or mature in faith, as Job also openly expressed as coming from his self-righteous state of mind (Job 10:7-9; Job 27:5-6). However, trials and tribulations are good to the development of the spirit man in us because they take away the life or blood of the old man. This was typified by the blood of the animal which was drained at the north end of the altar (Lev 1:4, 5,11; Lev 3:2, 8; Lev 6:25; Lev 7:2). Judgment comes from the north spiritually, and that is why we all go south to avoid the killing of our beast (Jer 6:22-23):

Eze 1:4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

Jer 1:14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

When Abram and his family left Egypt, he and Lot were increased with goods:

Gen 13:1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
Gen 13:2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

Gen 13:5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

The riches and blessings, with the accompanying cares of this world, always bring a spirit of lukewarmness regarding spiritual matters, and we are taken to a deeper delusion not to see our miserable Laodicean condition:

Rev 3:15 I know thy [the church in Laodicea] works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
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:

This lukewarm situation always brings about strife and contentions, even with our own spiritual family as represented by the herdsmen of Abram and Lot:

Gen 13:6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
Gen 13:7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

When he was prompted by Abram to choose a separate route and dwelling place, Lot “lifted up his eyes” and from his physical perspective and desires he was attracted to the well-watered areas of “all the plain of Jordan” (Rom 8:5-8; 1Jn 2:16):

Gen 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
Gen 13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan [Hebrew: “yardên” = “descender” (as it descended to the Dead Sea)/ “river of judgment” (according to Hitchcock’s Bible Names)]; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

All of these confirm the meaning of Lot’s name and his desire to return to the protection and immaturity of natural man in “the garden of the Lord”, as far as Zoar, which means “little” or “insignificant”. From God’s spiritual perspective, the first man Adam and all physical things are relatively insignificant because that is what spiritual death is all about – even the river Jordan (Rom 8:5-8). Journeying east is always in the wrong spiritual direction as God’s light always starts or rises in the east and moves westward, as the entrance of the physical tabernacle and temples in the east also typified. We must move with the Sun (of righteousness) because that is when we get healing, as our faith gets stronger within the heat of His “oven” – God’s burning fiery furnace (Dan 3:16-30; 1Co 3:13-15). This is how our wicked old man is turned into ashes:

Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Mat 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Mat 4:3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

Lot started in his tent which he pitched “toward Sodom”, but eventually he and his family settled in the city (Gen 14:12; Gen 19:2). While Abraham remained a sojourner with his tent and his altar, Lot had no place for a tent anymore; even less did he need an altar (sacrificing self and earthly desires). In this state of mind we make choices and say things which will open us up to deeper evil spiritual levels. This is what happened to Lot and his family:

Gen 14:1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
Gen 14:2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

Gen 14:12 And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

As the kings in our flesh will always want to have control and rule, we are captured by their strong wiles as we fall seven times to be humbled completely in that process (Eph 6:11; Pro 24:16). Nevertheless, God will send His angels to rescue us, and in this case Abram heard about Lot’s capture. Abram interceded and was in fervent chase to rescue Lot and his family. Abram and his three hundred and eighteen trained servants pursued these kings and their armies up to Dan. Dan means “north” and north is associated with judgment as earlier explained, and this again confirms that forgiveness and salvation are always accompanied by judgment (Lev 1:4-5,11; Lev 3:2,8; Lev 6:25; Lev 7:2; Jer 6:22-23; Eze 1:4; Jer 1:14):

Gen 14:13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.
Gen 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained [Hebrew: “chânı̂yk” = experienced / disciplined / exercised] servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

A next level in Lot’s life is revealed when he and his family returned again to live in Sodom and get even more involved there. Now Lot wanted to be more relevant to play a more significant role in his community, even as Lot sat as a judge to point out the problems of Sodom to prevent being taken captive again. He wanted to save the flesh from its inevitable fate. In this stage of our spiritual growth we not only want to expose the world’s evil, but even employ our efforts to improve the doomed cities of flesh and corruption. The gate of a city is a place of importance in the scriptures, and this is the position to which Lot also aspired (Deu 21:18-21; Rut 4:1-11; 1Sa 4:18; 2Sa 18:1-5; Est 2:19-23; Job 29:7-25; Psa 69:12; Pro 1:21; Isa 28:6). Lot sat in a prominent position, even as a judge at the gate of Sodom, where the two angels of God eventually came to pronounce God’s true judgment on the evil cities in that region (Gen 19:9). The two angels also represent the true witness or the true church of God and the doctrine of Christ. God’s judgment overrides the subjective judgment within the gates of brass (our own carnal mind) as His judgment alone can make “the crooked places straight” (Psa 107:16 Isa 45:2; Isa 26:9):

Gen 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.

Lot is now more spiritually awakened to see where his loyalties should be, even as the world questions his preference to protect the two angels rather than his two daughters (Gen 19:1-11; Mat 10:36-40). In all his labors to help Sodom, Lot failed miserably as all his efforts fell on deaf ears as even his sons-in-law mocked him when he told them of what the coming judgment of God entailed:

Gen 19:14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

Lot and his family were eventually dragged from the city by the two angels – they did not leave of their own free will because no person was ever given such a will by God (Gen 19:16). Every step of every creature is from the Lord, and He alone is the Saviour of every person at their appointed time (Jer 10:23; Pro 20:24; 1Ti 2:3-4; 1Ti 4:9-11; 1Co 15:22-28). Lot was not saved from Sodom because of him being just and righteous, but because “God remembered Abraham”. It is because of the work and the faith of Christ that the earthly cities in us all will be overthrown through the fire of God’s word:

Gen 19:29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

Lot was told to flee to the mountain, but because of fear of death he did not want to go there:

Gen 19:19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
Gen 19:20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

This reminds us of the Israelites who also sent Moses up into the mountain “less they die” (Exo 20:18-21). It is indeed on the mountain of the Lord where all flesh will die and the spirit will be saved (Gen 19:18-23; Mic 4:1-2; Oba 1:21; Mat 24:16):

Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Lot was unable to see that mountain of salvation as he preferred Zoar instead:

Gen 19:22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I [the angel of the Lord] cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
Gen 19:23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.

Lot’s hesitation to leave Sodom was also much stronger in the hearts of his family. Although Lot’s wife left physically, her emotional attachment to Sodom was her downfall. Lot’s wife could not let go of her entanglement with the things of the world, and she deliberately disobeyed God’s commandment not to look back and was turned into a pillar of salt (Gen 19:26). At the end of the day it will be in the application (the “keeping”) of God’s word that spirit and the savour of life is made manifest. Spirit life is not in the “sayings of the book” (the letter) or the quoting of scripture verses, which is a savour of death – even Satan and devils believe and tremble, but they cannot “keep the sayings of the book” (Mat 4:6; Luk 4:10-11; Mat 7:24-27; Rev 1:1-3; Mat 5:13; Luk 14:33-35; 2Co 2:15-17; Jas 2:19; Rev 22:9):

2Co 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest [“he who does the will of My Father”] the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

God promised Lot protection in Zoar, yet Lot moved from Zoar because he was afraid yet again:

Gen 19:30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.

Lot did not fear the Lord in respect of obeying and doing the word of the Lord at any stage. It is in this dark cave of fear to let go of earthly things and obey God’s commandments where other evils are being birthed. The word for cave in Hebrew is “me‛ârâh” which comes from the root word “ûr” which means naked. When there is no fear of God in us, we are exposed to the attacks of fleshly evil (Gen 3:1-5; Psa 51:5; Jer 18:4; Rom 8:20). This is Lot’s story and the story of all flesh from start to finish (Gen 1:2; Job 1:21; Ecc 5:15; Rev 3:18; Rev 17:16). Lot’s two daughters made their father drunk and slept with him to produce an offspring for them without Lot even having knowledge of this (Gen 19:30-35; Job 38:2; Isa 5:13; Hos 4:6). This is how the nations of the Moabites and Ammonites came about, and these tribes were usually closely associated with each other in their evil role in causing many problems for the physical nation of Israel, including the sexual seduction of their women, (Num 22-24; Deu 2:8,9; Jdg 3:12-30; 2 Ki 3; Deu 2:37; 1Ki 11:33; 2Ch 20:1; Neh 13:1-2; Psa 83:5-7; Jer 48; Zep 2:8):

Gen 19:36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
Gen 19:37 And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.
Gen 19:38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

Our own sins will testify against us, and our own wickedness shall correct us (Isa 59:12; Jer 2:19). Even through the evil God produces good as only He can do, when He brought the physical line of Jesus through a Moabite woman, called Ruth (Gen 50:20; Mat 1:5; Rth 4:21-22). God also caused king David to subdue the Moabites to become his servants typifying the judgment and rulership of Christ over all flesh and evil, even with the waters of the Word that will overflow every cave of fear and hiding place of evil (Rev 6:12-17):

2Sa 8:2 And he [David] smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.

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.

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[Detailed studies and emails relating to these foundational themes in scripture are available on the www.iswasandwillbe.com website, including these topics and links:]

Job 1:1-3 “That Man Was Blameless and Upright”

Revelation 11:7-14

Revelation 11:7-14

“Base Metals In Scripture – Copper (The Best Flesh Has To Offer – The Judgment Of The Flesh) – Part 2