Exiles in the Bible – Adam & Eve and the first instances ‘exile’ is used

[Study Aired September 27, 2024]

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

The first real typical mention of exile in the bible is found in (Gen 1:1-2) where we are told that the heaven and the earth that God created were incomplete. The earth “was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” What this heaven and earth are a shadow of is the marred vessel in the Potter’s hand that was shapen in iniquity and in need of being made anew right from the foundation of the world (Psa 51:5, Jer 18:4).

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

The universe is not teaming with life and the earth at this time in God’s creation is as much a representation of all the physical heavens as well, that have not been made anew in the Potter’s hand, not teaming with spiritual life, but rather ‘the dead burying the dead’ (Luk 9:60). In fact we are told in the final analysis that the physical heavens and earth will be destroyed, giving way to the new creation, and that destruction is again typical of the destruction of the first marred vessel that must be made anew in the Potter’s hand (Rev 21:1). The ‘new spiritual heaven and earth’ are words that represent the new creation that is going to be formed through Christ as God gives the abundant increase of new life, through Him (1Co 3:6). The natural precedes the spiritual (1Co 15:46), and Christ did create all the natural world including the universe that we live in, in a marred condition. This marred creation must precede the new spiritual heaven and earth, and the very Lord Jesus Christ who created the physical is going to have all men drawn to him (Joh 6:44) who is the author and finisher of the new heaven and earth that is formed through the faith of Christ and is a gift from God (Rev 21:1, Heb 12:2, Eph 2:8, Joh 3:5).

Luk 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

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.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh;[where the dead bury the dead] and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit [by being baptized into his death as we die daily].

Adam and Eve were exiled from the garden of Eden not because of what they became, but rather because of what was made manifest in their already marred-in-the-hand-of-the-Potter condition. God’s plan of salvation started off with the marred clay that He purposed to put into exile where an experience of evil would unfold to humble mankind (Ecc 1:13 CLV) bringing us to see our need for our Creator. Our bodies, without Christ ruling in our heavens and earth, are servants of sin that have yet to be made free from our own iniquities, which is the natural self-righteous state that all flesh abides in (Php 3:9, Rom 7:24). The bondage of sin as we reside in sinful flesh that cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50) is what separates us from our Creator, but thanks be to God, the same marred vessel that is subject to vanity can also be subject to our hope of glory within, Jesus Christ, who knows how to cleanse our heavens and earth and form a new creation (Rom 8:21-22). This process of forming a new vessel that was marred in the Potter’s hand at the beginning, in the beginning, is the way that God has purposed His plan to unfold. Satan was part of that initial creation, the marred crooked serpent (Job 26:13) that was placed in the garden along with Adam and Eve and everything else that God created, and what are we told of this creation, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good“. It was all good, and everything that would unfold going forward was very good in that it would ultimately lead to the salvation of all of His creation when God is all in all (Gen 1:31, Rom 9:18-23, 1Co 15:28). This, all to say, that the exile that Adam and Eve went into, as all exiles in the word of God are, is part of God’s “very good” plan that mankind as a whole will one day acknowledge (Jer 14:20, Heb 8:12, 1Jn 1:9).

Ecc 1:13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

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

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

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

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

Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

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

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

Jer 14:20 We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.

Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

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

2: The first time the word exile is used in the bible

To give some context to these first verses that involve the subject of exile, we need to understand the evil intention of Absolom the son of David. This fifteenth chapter of Samuel is all about the betrayal of Absolom to his father, and Ahithophel who was David’s trusted counsellor who was drawn away by Absolom’s flattering tongue that was seeking power and rulership over the kingdom of Israel. When David got wind of what Absolom was up to, he put a plan into action to flee from Jerusalem and avoid the imminent attack of his son. In the course of these events, king David instructed Ittai the Gittite not to flee with him from Jerusalem, reminding him that he was an exile and that he should stay in Jerusalem, which typifies our time in Babylon. Notice the response of Ittai which sounds very much like what Ruth said (2Sa 15:21, Rth 1:16-17). Based on what Ittai responded to David, he no longer needed to stay in Jerusalem and typified for us what God’s elect become after we go into exile and ‘come out of her my people’ (Rom 12:1-2, 2Co 6:17).

2Sa 15:19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

2Sa 15:21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.

Rth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my 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 [how we come out of exile].
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. [1Jn 2:16-17]

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. [Joh 17:15, Joh 15:19]

Ittai declares whether in death or life (Rom 14:8), “even there also will thy servant be”, and Ruth declares “where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God”. Where we lodge is in heavenly places (Eph 2:6) that are obtained by being given the power to lay down our life and be led by the spirit of God (Rom 8:14-15), going where God would have us go as sojourners in this earth seeking a new country (Heb 11:14, Joh 21:18).

Rom 14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

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

Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

Joh 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

The main point I wanted to make with this section of the study is that there is an appointed time to go into that exile and to leave it. For God’s elect, we are blessed to ‘come out of her my people’ in this life (2Co 6:17), which means we are coming out of spiritual exile which can only happen through the much tribulation of this life, typified by the family and close associates who were against David who is a type of the elect. So that persecution is needful for us to grow, as it was for David, and moves God’s plan forward (Mat 10:21-23).

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

Mat 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents [Absolom], and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mat 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

This next section of Samuel is so encouraging and instructive for us as it typifies how God will provide a way for us to come out of this exile (2Sa 15:30-34), and despite ourselves if we are His, we will endure and be blessed to be dragged to Christ who is our strength in this life through whom we can endure all things (Php 4:13). The direction that David went is symbolic of our turning our eyes unto the author and finisher of our faith as we are spiritually raised in heavenly places (“went up by the ascent of mount Olivet” – 2Sa 15:30). David had a humble and contrite heart as he went up and wept, and had his head covered, which is a positive use of a man covering his head, David typifying the church in this instance who is likened unto a woman. He is barefoot which symbolizes his walking in the spirit and not being bound by the letter of the law (Act 7:33, Joh 1:27). All the people with him, each one had their heads covered as they went up weeping as well. This hiding or covering symbolizes for us today that we are hidden in the Lord (1Pe 3:4, Rev 2:17, 1Co 2:4-7, Col 3:3).

2Sa 15:30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
2Sa 15:31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
2Sa 15:32 And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
2Sa 15:33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
2Sa 15:34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

It is significant that although we are hidden in Christ as exiles, we are also completely exposed to God who exposes our old man of sin through the process of ongoing judgement that occurs when we are in exile and coming out of it (Col 3:3, Heb 4:13, 1Co 13:12-13, Psa 103:13-18).

Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Heb 4:13 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.

1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Psa 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psa 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
Psa 103:15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
Psa 103:16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
Psa 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

The first time a word is used in the bible is often very significant, and the first use of the word ‘exile’ is no exception to this rule, found in (Gen 9:21 , Gen 35:7). This first use of the word ‘exile’ in (Gen 9:21) is very revealing as it is a type and shadow of the spiritual drunkeness that our old man experiences in Babylon. We all must go into Babylon to come out of her, and while we are there we are unknowingly in a spiritually drunken state.

Gen 9:21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered^H1540 within his tent.

This next use of the word ‘exile’ in God’s word is in (Gen 35:7), and explains in type and shadow language that in order to come out of exile we must bury all the idols of our hearts, and by doing this we are demonstrating by our actions, and not just our words that we want to seek the Lord with all our hearts, and minds and souls, which will result in our finding him, or rather in His appearing unto us (Jer 29:13).

Gen 35:2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
Gen 35:3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
Gen 35:4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
Gen 35:5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.
Gen 35:6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.
Gen 35:7 And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared^H1540 unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

2Sa 15:19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile ^H1540.

H1540 Exile gâlâh BDB Definition:

1) to uncover, remove

1a) (Qal)
     1a1) to uncover
     1a2) to remove, depart
     1a3) to go into exile

1b) (Niphal)
     1b1) (reflexive)
          1b1a) to uncover oneself
          1b1b) to discover or show oneself
          1b1c) to reveal himself (of God)
     1b2) (passive)
          1b2a) to be uncovered
          1b2b) to be disclosed, be discovered
          1b2c) to be revealed
     1b3) to be removed

1c) (Piel)
     1c1) to uncover (nakedness)
          1c1a) nakedness
          1c1b) general
     1c2) to disclose, discover, lay bare
     1c3) to make known, show, reveal

1d) (Pual) to be uncovered

1e) (Hiphil) to carry away into exile, take into exile

1f) (Hophal) to be taken into exile

1g) (Hithpael)
     1g1) to be uncovered
     1g2) to reveal oneself

Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root

Jer 44:15-30  They Shall Know Whose Words Shall Stand, Mine or Theirs

[Study Aired July 3, 2022]

Jer 44:15  Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,
Jer 44:16  As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.
Jer 44:17  But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
Jer 44:18  But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.
Jer 44:19  And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?
Jer 44:20  Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying,
Jer 44:21  The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind?
Jer 44:22  So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.
Jer 44:23  Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.
Jer 44:24  Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:
Jer 44:25  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.
Jer 44:26  Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth.
Jer 44:27  Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.
Jer 44:28  Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs.
Jer 44:29  And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the LORD, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil:
Jer 44:30  Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaohhophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.

In this chapter we will finally discover why these Jews who claim to be the Lord’s people never had any real intention of being obedient to the Words of the Lord even though they had sought out Jeremiah to seek the Lord’s counsel for them concerning whether to return to Egypt, promising to be obedient whether the Lord’s counsel was for their good or their evil:

Jer 42:1  Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,
Jer 42:2  And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)
Jer 42:3  That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.
Jer 42:4  Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.
Jer 42:5  Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.
Jer 42:6  Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.

The truth was that all these men already had their minds made up to go to Egypt where they knew they would fit right in because of the traditions they had been keeping for generations. Jeremiah had told them he would speak only what the Lord told him to say, and all these Jews and their leaders knew that Jeremiah had been rescued from dying at the hands of the priests for what he was repeating for the Lord. They knew how Hananiah the false prophet had humiliated Jeremiah by taking the wooden yoke off of Jeremiah’s neck and breaking it before all the people and labeling Jeremiah a false prophet for saying the Babylonian captivity would last 70 years, and still Jeremiah remained faithful to the Lord’s very unpopular words. These Jews and their leaders knew that Hananiah had died just three months after Jeremiah had prophesied that he would die that very year. They knew all about the deprivations Jeremiah had endured when Irijah, the captain of the ward, falsely accused Jeremiah of falling away to the Chaldeans. They knew that Irijah had convinced the princes to have Jeremiah placed in prison because the Lord had instructed Jeremiah to tell the king and all the people that they must submit to the yoke of the princes of Babylon. All Judah was aware of what Jeremiah had endured while being starved in prison, and yet he remained faithful to the Lord’s words.

So, Jeremiah had proven to be faithful to the Lord’s words, which words he now addresses to all the leaders and all the people who had coalesced around Gedaliah whom Nebuchadnezzar had made governor over the land after Nebuchadnezzar had deposed Zedekiah from the throne of Judah. Now these remaining Jews are sending this proven prophet to the Lord to inquire of the Lord what they should do after Johanan had rescued them from the hand of Ishmael and his men. This was the Lord’s answer to the people and their leaders. This is what they had taken an oath to obey:

Jer 42:8  Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,
Jer 42:9  And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him;
Jer 42:10  If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.
Jer 42:11  Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.
Jer 42:12  And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.
Jer 42:13  But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,
Jer 42:14  Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:
Jer 42:15  And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;
Jer 42:16  Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.

‘Abiding in the land’ signifies abiding in the words of Christ:

Joh 8:30  As he spake these things, many believed on him.
Joh 8:31  Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples;
Joh 8:32  and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (ASV)

Fearing “the king of Babylon” is fearing to break away from the bondage of this world and its king, the adversary and His ways, of “keeping days, months, times, and years… the traditions of men”. These are the Lord’s words for those who are given to abide in them:

Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements [G447: stoicheion] of the world:

This Greek word ‘stoicheion’ is defined in Colossians 2 as “the tradition of men”, and it is defined in this chapter of Galatians as the “keeping of days, months times and years” (vs 9).

Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, [under ‘stoicheion’, ‘after the tradition of men’]
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Gal 4:8  Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements [G4747: ‘stoicheion’], whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

What are these “weak and beggarly elements” which kept ancient Israel in “bondage to the stoicheion of this world” and which the holy spirit is concerned is keeping us in bondage to the elements of this world. For all who are given to abide in the Lord’s words, this is what the holy spirit is talking about:

Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Paul is inspired of the holy spirit to repeat this dire warning in:

Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments [G4747: stoicheion] of the world, and not after Christ.

The tradition of men, the rudiments and elements of this world, are “not after Christ” and that, it turns out is why these Jews did not want to stay in the land wearing Christ’s cloths and eating His bread:

Jer 44:15  Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,
Jer 44:16  As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.

These words from these Jews graphically demonstrate how important it is to keep and live by this verse of scripture:

1Th 5:12  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
1Th 5:13  And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

There are two parts to this commandment from the Lord. We are both 1) to know them which labor among us, and 2) we are commanded to “esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” Love is defined by scripture as being obedient to the Lord:

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

These Jews knew Jeremiah’s decades-long history of fidelity to the Lord’s very unpopular message, but they did not at all ‘esteem him highly in love for his work’s sake’.

What happened to this promise these same people made just ten days before they rebelled against their own words with “the Lord [as] a true and faithful witness”?

Jer 42:5  Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.
Jer 42:6  Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.

It does indeed bode well for us “when we obey the voice of the Lord”. On the other side of that same coin, if we do not believe and obey the Lord, we abide in His wrath and things will not go well for us, and the very things we fear will overtake and destroy us:

Job 3:25  For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

Joh 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

You may be the richest, most powerful man in the world, but what good is that if you “abide [under] the wrath of God”?

Mat 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mat 16:27  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Like Esau, we all think of future promises as inconsequential to present needs and desires, and we willingly ‘sell our birthright’, our most valuable possession, to satisfy the present momentary needs and desires of our flesh:

Gen 25:29  And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
Gen 25:30  And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
Gen 25:31  And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
Gen 25:32  And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
Gen 25:33  And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
Gen 25:34  Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Our ‘birthright’ inheritance is in Christ, and in this story, Christ is signified by the land which was the inheritance of these Jews. The Jews in this story had already, long ago sold any claim they had to the land because of the hypocrisy of their way of life. They know this better than anyone, and they also know that their way of life will fit in with life in Egypt better than having to listen to the prophets of the Lord in the promised land.

Eph 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11  In whom also [in Christ] we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Col 3:24  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Israel and Judah typify the Lord’s apostate wife who has always had an eye for the ways of this world, and who hates the apparel and food of her own husband. They have “come to the prophet with the stumbling block” of their self-righteous iniquity and with the multitude of the idols of their own hearts:

Jer 44:17  But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.

The same is true today. “We, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities” of every nation on earth “burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her” by observing “days, months, times and years” according to “the traditions of men” in every country on earth, with absolute impunity, as if Galatians 4:10 and Colossians 2:8 were not even in the scriptures, to which scriptures these very same professing Christians give so much lip service. It is for their self-righteous iniquity that the Lord answers them “according to the idols of their hearts” (Eze 14:1-9), and this is what they and Christians today truly believe:

Jer 44:18  But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.
Jer 44:19  And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?

Exactly when did these Jews, or any of our ancestors, ever “leave off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her”? Even the American pilgrims, who outlawed the observance of Christmas and Easter as the Pagan holidays and the times of debauchery they were, still kept either the seventh-day sabbath or the first day of the week as a “Christian sabbath”. Neither had these Jews ever ‘left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven’.

It may appear impossible that a people who have “burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her”, and who had just three months earlier had been carried off into Babylon as slaves and are now fleeing into Egypt for fear of the Chaldeans, could possibly be so blind as to make such a statement, defending the queen of heaven. However, we ourselves have all lived under such hypocrisy, and we have witnessed how the Truth is loathed by those to whom this degree of “strong delusion” is given. This all happened to these Jews, and it is recorded for our admonition (1Co 11:10). It should serve only to make us to tremble at the Lord’s ability to send to us such blind, self-righteous hypocrisy, and we should all take heed to the apostle’s warning:

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Jer 44:20  Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying,
Jer 44:21  The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind?
Jer 44:22  So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.
Jer 44:23  Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.

Notice that Jeremiah doesn’t even acknowledge that they had ever “left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven” because he knows it never happened. Jeremiah is as non-plussed by the absolute, total blindness of his own people to their own rebellious ways as you and I are when things like this happen. He is asking them,  “Can’t you see what your rebellion against the Words of the Lord have produced??? Can’t you see the results of the Lord’s anger, and His wrath towards you for ignoring His commandments and observing the days, months, times and years of the queen of heaven??? Your brothers are in Babylon as slaves, and you are back in Egypt fleeing from the same people who carried your brothers away captives.”

Jer 44:24  Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:

Notice how the holy spirit has chosen to tell us to whom Jeremiah is speaking. We are told that he is addressing “all the people and… all the women.” The captains and “all the proud men” are not mentioned in this case, because the word ‘woman’ signifies the church and all of her daughter churches, “Samaria and her daughters, and Jerusalem and her daughters.”

Eze 16:1  Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 16:2  Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,

Eze 16:26  Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, great of flesh; and hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger.

The Lord’s people identified more with the pagan Egyptians and their traditions than they did with the Lord and His commandments; especially this commandment:

Deu 12:29  When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
Deu 12:30  Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
Deu 12:31  Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
Deu 12:32  What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

By sending Jeremiah to enquire for them of the Lord these self-righteous, rebellious types of us, demonstrated that they were burning incense to the queen of heaven and thinking they were doing so to the Lord their God. When forced to face their hypocrisy, they did what we all just naturally do, and they refused to repent and continued on in their rebellion.

Ezekiel was a prophet of the Lord who had been carried away into Babylon, and the Jews in Babylon were of the same rebellious spirit as these Jews in Egypt. Speaking specifically of those Jews who had been carried away into Babylon, this is what he tells them as types of us:

Eze 16:55  When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou [Jerusalem (vs 1-2)] and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.

There was “no place found for repentance” in either group.

Jeremiah continues:

Jer 44:25  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.

Judah and Jerusalem had long been in league with Egypt, as an ally against Assyria and Babylon. They had been “committing fornication” with the Egyptians and the Assyrians for many decades. It was all done “after the counsel of [the Lord’s] own will” (Eph 1:11). The Lord gives us our very thoughts. Our hearts are in His hand, and He is intent upon turning our hearts to the destruction of our flesh and to the destruction of the entire kingdom of our old man:

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Pro 21:1  The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

Judah and Jerusalem were doing what the whole world was doing. They were doing what Egypt had been doing all along, and they knew they would fit right in down in Egypt just as the Jews who had been carried away to Babylon felt right at home in that country.

Jer 44:26  Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth.

Even the churches of this Babylonian system acknowledge that ‘Egypt’ signifies this wicked world into which we have all been placed by virtue of being born. This 26^th verse is the Lord placing a curse upon His own people… “My name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt.” This curse typifies what Christ is telling us when He cursed the fig tree:

Mat 21:19  And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

This ‘fig tree’ signifies the Lord’s people of that time.

Joe 1:6  For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.
Joe 1:7  He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.

At that time the kingdom of God was an outward kingdom. It was the kingdom of physical Israel with ‘a lawgiver’ still residing in Judah:

Gen 49:10  The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

This is the definition of ‘Shiloh’:

H7886
שִׁילֹה
shı̂ylôh
shee-lo’
From H7951; tranquil; Shiloh, an epithet of the Messiah: – Shiloh.

The sceptre would not depart from physical Judah “until Shiloh come”, and in the very first recorded sermon of His reformative ministry, immediately following His baptism by John and His temptation by the devil, Christ prophesied of the gospel going to the Gentiles and that teaching almost cost Him his life:

Luk 4:24  And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
Luk 4:25  But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
Luk 4:26  But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
Luk 4:27  And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
Luk 4:28  And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
Luk 4:29  And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
Luk 4:30  But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

Christ repeated this prophecy to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well:

Joh 4:19  The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
Joh 4:20  Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Jeremiah’s curse upon the Jews in Egypt that “[the Lord’s] name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt” was a prophecy that the Lord would place a curse upon His own people, as Christ cursed this fig tree, which in turn signifies His own people of that time:

Jer 44:27  Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.
Jer 44:28  Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs.

If “there be an end of them” because they are “consumed by the sword and by the famine… until there be an end of them” then the only way they will ever “know whose words shall stand, mine or theirs” is if their own wickedness corrects them:

Jer 2:18  And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? [the Nile, referring to the Jews in Egypt] or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river? [referring to the Jews in Babylon]
Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

It is only Christ “whose words shall stand [and] shall not pass away”:

Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Jer 44:29  And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the LORD, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil:

Seeing signs from the Lord means nothing to those who are devoid of spiritual eyes and ears. It all happened to them, and they benefit nothing from their own chastening, because it all happened to them and is written simply for our admonition (1Co 10:11).

Jer 2:30  In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
Jer 2:31  O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?

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

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1Pe 1:10  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

These words in Jeremiah chapter two… “We are [our own] Lords; we will come no more to thee” are a prophecy of what these remnant Jews tell Jeremiah in this 44^th chapter which we quoted above, and I will repeat here:

Jer 44:17  But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
Jer 44:18  But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.
Jer 44:19  And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?

Jer 44:30  Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaohhophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.

Indeed ‘our own wickedness will correct us, and our backsliding will reprove us’, and if we are blessed of the Lord to do so, we will be given to see and know “in this present time” that it is indeed a bitter thing for us to ‘forsake the Lord and to have His fear taken away from us’.

Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

If it is the Lord’s will, it is you and I upon whom the Lord’s glory will be revealed and upon whom “the creature [all men of all time is] waiting for [our] manifestation”.

Video Links

Study Aired May 27, 2012

Job 18:1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
Job 18:2 How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.
Job 18:3 Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?
Job 18:4 He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?
Job 18:5 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.
Job 18:6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.
Job 18:7 The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.
Job 18:8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.
Job 18:9 The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.
Job 18:10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.

Introduction

This is Bildad’s second attempt to make himself feel righteous at the expense of his ‘friend’ Job. Of course that is not what Eliphaz, Bildad or Zophar would ever admit to being the motivation for their attacks upon their friend Job. Neither would any of us admit to being motivated by self- righteousness as we look down on others who are suffering. The first thing we just naturally think is, ‘I wonder what that brother or sister did to deserve the lesson God is teaching them at this time?’ We do not ‘just naturally’ think, “That is exactly what I needed to show me my own self- righteousness!” As Job we tire of the process of the judgment of our carnal- minded “old man”, and as Bildad we add to Job’s torment with accusations that apply equally to ourselves and to all mankind. It is all men who must live by every Word of God:

Job 16:9 He [ God] teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy [ God] sharpeneth his eyes upon me. (Job)
Job 18:5 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. (Bildad)
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.

It is always appropriate to open our studies by quoting 1Co 3:21-22, but the verses preceding those verses are also very revealing of the universal application of every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

1Co 3:13 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.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

“The thoughts of the wise” refers to the thoughts of our own carnal mind which reproves, contends with and condemns the ways of our own Maker, as He, in His love, corrects, chastens and scourges us for our own good. God’s chastening and scourging of our carnal- minded “first Adam” is essential to “make manifest… every man’s work of what sort it is”. The work of any man is first the works of Job. We all “suffer loss” with Job, and we are all “saved… by fire” because “the world… life… death… things present, [ and] things to come, all are [ ours]”. That is what this book is demonstrating for us. Our righteousnesses do not impress our Maker at all. The truth is that our own righteousnesses are one of the most detestable things in this world to a God who has declared that all flesh is corruption. For us to dare to challenge that assessment of our own God is a necessary ‘loss’ which we all must endure to come to know the truth of these words:

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

As Paul just told us:

1Co 3:20 … The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

Bildad is the shadow and type of each of us as the first Adam who sees no need for God to be his enemy. As a carnal- minded man we think of ourselves as wise, while thinking of those who are being subjected to God’s judgment as below ourselves and surely deserving of the affliction they are enduring.
So Bildad, the type of our own carnal mind, begins his second assault upon his close friend, Job:

Job 18:1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
Job 18:2 How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.
Job 18:3 Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?

It is clear that the truth of these following verses of God’s Words has not yet been revealed to us while we think as Bildad thinks:

Ecc 3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work
Ecc 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

“Every purpose and… every work” includes every evil purpose and every evil work. As long as we are unaware that God judges the righteous and the wicked within us, we cannot receive “the things of the spirit”, which “things” teaches us that all men are “themselves… beasts”. When we do come to see this truth, we will no longer be looking outwardly for an outward “false prophet” or an outward “beast” or an outward “man of sin… sitting in the temple of God showing himself that he is God”.

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [“The day of Christ”, verse 2] shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Paul is no longer Bildad. Paul is who we are when we come to know that we are the beast, we are “that man of sin… sitting in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” by demanding that we fulfill all the lusts of our own flesh.
Here it is again. Here is what Paul meant when he spoke of the temple in which this “man of sin” sits demanding our worship “as God”:

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

“Him shall God destroy” is what this book of Job is all about. Job did not see himself as a man of sin. He saw himself as “perfect and upright…”. In time it was revealed to Job that he was in truth someone who thought he knew better than his own God how to deal with mankind. Our “old man” simply cannot accept the Biblical truth that God has determined from before the foundation of this world, that he must be destroyed. This resentment of God’s ways is common to us all as long as we remain “that man of sin… sitting in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God”.

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.

This assessment of ourselves as “the first man Adam” is common to us all as “that man of sin… sitting in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God”.

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Here now is what we all struggle to comprehend: It is only through the Lord’s consuming and destroying of ‘that man of sin… the son of perdition”, who is our “old man”, that “[ we] ourselves” are saved “yet so as by fire”. That process of the destruction of our old man is “the patience and faith of the saints”, and in keeping the patience and faith of the saints and keeping the commandments of God is also the love of God:

Rev 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

There it is. “They that keep the commandments of God” are they who “drink of the wine of the wrath of God”, and are “tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb” first. They that “keep the commandments of God” know that the love of God is the destruction of our old man by the wrath of God upon that old carnal- minded “first man Adam”. The patience and faith of the saints includes the keeping of the commandments, and the keeping of the commandments is the love of God. “All things are ours… life… death… things present and things to come”. It is all inexorably connected together.
Bildad, of course would agree that Job is “that man of sin”. The trouble with all of us, as we are foreshadowed by Bildad, is that we see no personal application for the words “that man of sin sitting in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God”. As Bildad we can only see this phenomenon in that evil man, Job:

Job 18:4 He [ Job] teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?

Is that “the comfort of the scriptures”, or is this not a perfect example of how we, like Peter, tend to “cut off the ear” of the very person we proclaim we are trying to bring to our Lord?
Bildad, as the type of our self- righteous old man, continues:

Job 18:5 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.
Job 18:6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.

Let us think of these words in the light of their application to the spirit of Bildad within us, as we look down on Job, whose suffering is made a spectacle to all men.
Here is the very same spirit of Bildad in Christ’s own apostles, as just another type of us:

Joh 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
Joh 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Is not this the same spirit of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar? Are they not telling Job that he has sinned, and therefore this terrible condition has come upon him. Is that not the same spirit we all just naturally subscribe to when we believe the doctrines of all the ministries which connect our own works to God’s blessings or His curses? Of course it is. So we attend church regularly. We pay our tithes, and we do many wonderful words besides. Now, Eliphaz, Bildah, Zophar and Christ’s own carnal disciples tell us that God is now obligated to us, and He now has to bless us, because we are just that righteous and deserving of His blessings.
But what does Christ tell his disciples when they ask him why this man was born blind? Is there any connection at all to this man’s works or the works of his parents and his being born blind?

Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

This is the man who provoked these words from the mouth of our Lord:

Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

Job and all three of his “miserable comforters” think they are “they which see”. As such they too, have been born blind, and they cannot see.
Just as we are both Job and his miserable comforters, we are also the man who was born blind as well as being the priests and the Pharisees who cast him out of the synagogue. We are all first born blind. We all first cast out of our synagogue those whose eyes have been opened by our Lord. Only after we are miraculously granted to see just how blind we are will we miraculously be given our sight.
The apostle Paul, while still known as ‘Saul of Tarsus’, is the Biblical New Testament shadow of how we all live out the experience of Job and his miserable comforters who think of themselves as those who see and know God because of all their own righteousness and their own “many wonderful works”.
Here is what God thinks of all of our righteousnesses and all of our many wonderful works:

Act 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Act 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Act 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Act 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Act 9:7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Act 9:8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
Act 9:9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Saul was “breathing out threatenings and slaughter, “thinking [ he] was doing God a service”. He believed he already could see and hear the word of God. And indeed, if a dictionary and an education from men were all that was required, then he would surely have been able to see and hear the words of God. But such is not the case. Until “his eyes were opened” to the fact that he could not see his own hand in front of his face, Saul of Tarsus was spiritually as blind as a bat. He, like all of us, had to come to see and acknowledge that it was he who had been born spiritually blind.

Joh 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

That is the spirit that is in Bildad as he continues his assault upon his friend Job. That is the same spirit that is in us all as we judge as great sinners, those who are the first to be judged (1Pe 4:17).

Job 18:7 The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.
Job 18:8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.

“His own counsel shall cast him down… he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks upon a snare” are all the divine way of telling us that the very thoughts of our old man are sin:

Pro 15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

Here is this same message out of the mouth of our Savior:

Luk 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

Who is wicked? Is Job wicked? What is God’s answer to that question?

Job 40:1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
Job 40:2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
Job 40:3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
Job 40:5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
Job 40:6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Job 40:7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 40:8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

Job was contending with the Almighty. He was reproving God, and he was disannulling God’s judgment and condemning God to make himself righteous. That is what we all do when we are suffering the seven last plagues which fill up the wrath of God upon our old self- righteous first man Adam.
Is not Bildad himself included in his own disdainful words to Job?

Job 42:7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
Job 42:8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
Job 42:9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.
Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

These words are the Old Testament shadow of these words which refer to all those in whom Christ now resides in this age:

Rev 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

It is of utmost importance that we note that the LORD turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends:
If we do not see and appreciate the fact that our belief comes only through the unbelief of our friends and brothers in Babylon, we will not be “accepted of the Lord”.

Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

But until our eyes are opened to our own blindness we blithely continue to point one finger at others and three fingers at ourselves while applying these words to that evil man, Job:

Job 18:9 The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.
Job 18:10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.

Truer words were never spoken concerning our “old man… the first man Adam”. What we simply cannot see while we are pointing our accusing finger is that we are “that man”.

2Sa 12:5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
2Sa 12:6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
2Sa 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

The spirit of Bildad was alive and well in King David as he indignantly saw the sins of others but could not see his own.
Next week, if the Lord wills we will continue to look back and see who our own old man is in the type of Bildad the Shuhite.

Job 18:11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.
Job 18:12 His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side.
Job 18:13 It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength.
Job 18:14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.
Job 18:15 It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.
Job 18:16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.
Job 18:17 His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.
Job 18:18 He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.
Job 18:19 He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.
Job 18:20 They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted.
Job 18:21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.

Good day to you, Elder Mike..

Great to see you and the family in good shape last Sunday. It really was refreshing to see all having been fed such good food of the Lord’s table. It is truly a blessing just to have a small part in The Christ. Despite being troubled with many things in my life now, such as work issues, unbelieving family members, etc. Like Mary, I am always thankful nevertheless that I am being caused to chose the good part, to sit at Jesus’s feet and hear his word. As you know more than most, this life can encumber us with many seeming ‘good’ services which can take us away from the presence of the Lord, as Martha.
I was just studying on the site and one question a brother asked you coincided with a verse I was looking at and a very interesting topic. The Brother said…

I have a question about how the sons of God will be manifested to creation.

Immediately all I remembered was Judas’s own questions (not Iscariot)… what a coincidence!

Joh 14:22 Judas saith unto him, (not Iscariot), Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

The answer of the Lord bears witness exactly to what you are affirming today in that…

Christ wants us all to first experience that manifestation within, in the spirit, before we will be counted able to be manifested as such to an outward unconverted world. In these days of world wide crisis, it is few indeed who are even concerned with the things that are within, where the real manifestation must first take place. If Christ is not first manifested to us, then we will not be the ones being made manifest to this world as “the sons of God.”

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

I find amazing how the same question being asked in the days of Christ in the flesh is also the question being asked to HIS CHRIST in our days now. Great joy to me that the SAME answer is being given to the Lord’s flock… and His Christ is not thinking above what is written. Jesus Christ manifested to the world in the body of his flesh, but no one knew and received him in the flesh. In the Spirit, he is now manifesting to us who in times past did not seek after him, but sought our father the Devil…

Rom 10:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
Rom 10:21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. [ the Carnal World within me!]

… even as pre- pentecost, the disciples then and now sought after the flesh of Christ, not God who is Spirit. Jesus’s answer above placed emphasis on the strongest meat you have been putting on my conscience the past few months,  the MEANS/ MODE or the HOW he will manifest to the World within me… that is… If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. This takes place in Loving CHRIST and doing righteousness, which meaning of Love is written above and witnessed again by apostle John..

1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

As you emphasized earlier all must take place “ within, where the real manifestation must first take place. If Christ is not first manifested to us, then we will not be the ones being made manifest to this world as “the sons of God.”
Again, solid foundation of Scripture uttered inspired by Apostle Paul… and where this manifestation must first take place.

2Co 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
2Co 4:11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
2Co 4:12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

The manifestaion of Risen Jesus in our body of flesh is nothing less than our “dying daily” to the flesh; a death process which is the Judgement taking place upon the house of God now. The Judgment manifested upon our Flesh as apostle Peter and Paul reminded us…

1Pe 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
2Th 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
2Th 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

A great secret of how God is manifested in that it is all “within, where the real manifestation must first take place.”.. sufferings/ persecutions and trubulations being the signs/ token God gives us of His Manifestation within. Whom the Lord manifests to is he that Love him, he that Love him is he that Keep his WORD, he that God Loves is he that receives chastening and scourging and wrath upon his ungodliness and unrighteousness. Yes, God does SO Love the World, and he is giving his Sons begotten of HIS Spirit a purpose and work to manifest to the entire creation at his appointed time, but that time will be a time of Great Rebuking, Chastening and Scourging, such has not been since the beginning of the world until that appointed time, no, nor ever shall be , a time otherwise known as the Great White throne judgment a. k. a the Lake of fire. The ONE PURPOSE OF HIS MANIFESTATION TO US FIRST, and then HIM in Us to manifest to the rest of the creation is;

1Jn 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin….
1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world….. the means to that end…
1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; [1Jn 1:9-10 with Joh 8:44 – ALL HAVE SINNED..] for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

ALL “within, where the real manifestation must first take place.”……

1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

The Lord has seen fit to give us a scroll to bear witness to this great mystery of his ways, and I thank him ALWAYS that His Word in the pages of Scripture has opened my heaven. His Scripture IS a means of this manifestation..

Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Rom 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Yes…. you and your household brought me the Gospel, when I did not seek after you, though you have been stretching your hands all day to disobedient brothers like me around the World. You manifested to me when I did not ask after you. What Great mercy, what Love God has towards us. I am still marvelling and in awe of all and How God is working all according to the counsels of his own will. Yes, it is a great secret that ALL is “within, where the real manifestation must first take place.”…… matter of fact, IT IS THE GREATEST SECRET UNKNOWN TO MEN… that is..

Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest…… to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:!!!

His full manifestation to us within is still in earnest, hence it is still “the hope of Glory”, nevertheless..

Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 4:17 Here in is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Wow! We will be manifesting to the world, as James/ John/ Paul/ Peter and all God’s elect Sons in that One Spirit. WHAT A CALLING, WHAT AN OFFICE!
I thank you for bearing with me to hear this small thought of mine I have in my email every now and then. It really does open my eyes to a lot of things. Forgive me and correct me wherein correction is needed as you always do in keeping the Doctrine of the Lord pure. I’ve written to my Ma Elder Sandi asking for travel details, etc. of getting to see you and the family (God willing) by end of the year.
Ok, I’ll leave and love you now. Please continue to take care of yourself and the Family. Greet all for me and they are all in my heart.
Your brother in the Christ of our Lord,
A____

Hi Mike,
I’m sorry to bother you with so many questions this month, I was hoping you could clarify the question that I asked at the last bible study! I’m not even sure what the comment was, but you mentioned something in regard to this comment brought to your attention by one of the brethren centered around the verse where Paul says he was the chief of sinners!
At present my understanding is that we have the potential to do the worst sins but only because of Christ staying the hand of Satan and by our being strengthened by Christ do we not follow through! We are able therefore to be sifted like wheat except that Christ is in our person! Conversely we are being crushed by Christ now so we can be in the first resurrection if that is God’s intention!
We can therefore say we are guilty by association with the flesh of Adam of the death of Christ, which would be the greatest of sins, and paradoxically the only action which could forgive all other sins!
If this was what you were saying, I apologize for not picking up on that with our last exchange, rather I know you believe this because of previous things you have spoken on, and my real question is just what that gentleman meant by the comment that you explained! It didn’t seem right to me somehow, but I can’t even tell you what that somehow is at this point!
I’m still very underemployed, but I can tell you that I really believe God is working all this out, and the prayers of the brethren have helped immensely! The fact that I’m enduring through this trial of my faith is evidence of that in itself, and I should say that when you see your own prayers being answered it really encourages you to double up your efforts for the needs of others, so God knows exactly what He’s doing in all of this as always!
And if you could pass on my thanks to whoever posted the Revelation series on audio, this is a great help for those who have Ipods and the like so we can walk and listen and be mobile with the studies! We’re pretty spoiled in this day and age, I can’t imagine what the brethren in Paul’s day would think if they saw all the incredible technology we have!
Your brother in the person of Christ!
T____

Hi T____,

Thanks for your question. You are exactly right. It is our association with Adam and the simple acknowledgment that “in Adam” we are “required the blood of all the righteous prophets from Abel to Zecharias,” which makes us “chief of sinners.” We did not personally commit the murder of Abel or the murders of the millions of Jews, Russians and Chinese who were slain by Hitler, Stalin and Mao Tse Tung, but “in Adam” we have partaken in “all things” both past present and future:

Luk 11:49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and [ some] of them they shall slay and persecute:
Luk 11:50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
Luk 11:51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

That is the “two- edged” nature of God’s Word. If we are purified of our sins in Christ, we are also “guilty of all” in Adam.

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

That why Paul cried out:

Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

But Paul also rejoices in the answer to his own question:

Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

I hope this helps to clarify what I meant by saying that ‘we are manifestly not the worst person who has ever lived.’ While God may have hedged the worst things of the flesh, out of our lives, that do not mean that it is not in our flesh, just waiting for the right circumstances and conditions to bring it out of us. If Christ is not in us, then the first Adam is.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Hi Mike

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond so thoroughly, and informatively. Whenever you get one of your super- busy times, just leave my mails to last, or even the day after that or just whenever you find time.
Regarding the upcoming presidential election, I realised my curiosity was a little vain as God will surely work all things according to the counsel of His own will, who cares what I want to amuse myself with LOL!
No matter who is elected, it is all of God. I realise more than ever that a man can receive nothing unless it is given to him by God; ignorance or insight, stubborness or repentance, it is all of God.
Whatsoever the Lord requires, that shall He get, even His enemies serve Him GLORY!! God is running this show, and if anyone should ask “which show”, I would reply “all of them”.

“He takes the wise in their own craftiness.” (Job 5:13)

It’s true of my old craftiness why should it not be true of all craftiness?
Yes, all things; spiritual truth, secular truth, spiritual darkness, secular darkness, every created thing anywhere in any realm GOD is the absolute MASTER of it ALL. He is God of the baby and the bathwater, and He will dispose of both as He sees fit. What a mighty refuge is the sovereignity of God.
The photography analogy was a good one. I am bursting with enthusiasm to see the picture!!!
Whether it be the mystery of iniquity or the mystery of godliness inward or outward ALL SHALL BE REVEALED!!! I sense I cannot understand except by receiving more of the mind of Christ, and for that to happen, I must go through more plagues for only as the old me is decimated can the new me to that extent progress, because no flesh can glory in His presence.
Until the next bit of flesh is consumed by the Fire, that space is not free yet to receive the new man’s dominion.
There is the order; death first, then resurrection.
I am only at an impasse until the next bit of the old me dies. I better just simmer down and let God do the revealing before I hurt myself. LOL!
Mike, I am always getting over- excited. I think a phone call would be so very good and at least less cumbersome as I trip over my fingers trying to type at the speed of thought.
Wherever I go I am only really ever looking for one thing:

Col 1:26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

I know Him no longer after the flesh. but as spiritual me coming to life through death of old me. I am that corn of wheat that must fall to the ground and die.

Joh 12:25  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

I don’t really love my life as much any more (at least not as much as I did before and more than I will if I continue). It’s His life I want, I mean His life is my life. It’s no longer I that lives, Christ lives in me. Anyway it’s hard to put into words, but you see what I mean. It is getting abundantly clear to me that the story of Jesus is the story of me. It makes sense as I am a member of His body.

1Co 6:15  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid.
1Co 6:16  What? know ye not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
1Co 6:17  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

Well, still plenty of the old me left to die to make room for the Lord, but the old me doesn’t look quite as intent as he used to LOL!

Isa 26:12  LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.
Isa 26:13  O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.
Isa 26:14  They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.
Isa 26:21  For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

GLORY!!!

Joh 8:56  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Mat 28:9  And as they were going to report to His disciples, that behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held His feet and worshipped Him.
Mat 28:10  Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go, report to My brothers that they should go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Thanks Mike. I don’t know what I would do without your ministry and friendship. It would be like trying to get on without an arm or a leg or something.
Much love to you and those dear to you. My main hope is that you all receive a mega- blessing from Dad. He sure knows how to make His children’s day doesn’t He?
Through all the trials and adversity His comforts delight our soul.
God Bless you all richly in all things,
F____

Good morning F____,
You said:
“My main hope is that you all receive a mega blessing from Dad, He sure knows how to make His children’s day doesn’t He?”
That is exactly what I get every time I get a letter from you! It is always so full of God’s Word that it is always “a message from Abba.”
You know how it is. It’s not always some huge new understanding, but it is always a huge confirmation of what He has already shown us is His mind in all things. Like the scripture in Isaiah you reference:

Isa 26:12  LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.
Isa 26:13  O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.
Isa 26:14  They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish

Reading  verse twelve, “You have wrought all our works in us” in the Old Testament is nothing more or less than Christ saying “I can do nothing of Myself, My Father does the works,” or “without me you can do nothing;” or Paul saying “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me”; or “all things are of God”.
Verse thirteen is simply a confession of our sins and our complete submission to them. It is a recognition that even our faith in God is a gift from God. It is just another way of  stating Ephesian 2:8

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [ it is] the gift of God:

And verse 14 is nothing more or less that Rom 6:

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

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

It is just wonderful what the “Christ in you… live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” understanding opens up to our spiritual eyes for those who have been given eyes to see.
I’ve got to get going, but your letters always light up my day because I know I am going to be getting “a message from Dad.”
Your brother in the Christ,
Mike