Rev 18:9-14 – In One Hour thy Judgment is Come, Part 2

[Study Aired May 11, 2025] 

Rev 18:9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
Rev 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
Rev 18:12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
Rev 18:13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
Rev 18:14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

Introduction

Our last study of the judgment of this great harlot within us was concerned with what the holy spirit called “the kings of the earth” who committed fornication with her. In this study our concentration will be upon that part of this great harlot which the holy spirit calls “the merchants of the earth” who are made rich by “their merchandise” which we no longer appreciate nor value as our eyes and ears are being opened to the adulterous ways of this great spiritual harlot.

Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

Why would anyone ‘buy’ into the false doctrines of an immortal soul being tormented for all eternity for sins committed in a life that is a vapor which appears for a moment and vanishes away after they learn that Christ did not come to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved?

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Jas 4:13  Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Jas 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Jas 4:15  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

Consistent with all the rest of scripture, James is teaching us that our perception of being able to freely choose what we will do is in reality just an illusion, and our will and all our actions are in fact a work of the Lord which we unwittingly are performing “after the counsel of His own will”:

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

That God is working all things after the counsel of His own will is a doctrine which ‘the merchants of the earth’ despise and have replaced with the false doctrine that God has given mankind a will that is completely free of His influence. That bit of ‘merchandise’ flies in the face of this Truth, which is also consistent with all the rest of scripture:

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

For many years, while in the clutches of this great harlot, I quoted Philippians 2:12 as scriptural proof of the fabled doctrine of mankind having been given a will which was free from any influence from God. I was shocked when the Lord finally opened my blinded eyes to see that the reason we are to “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling” was “for [G1063: ‘gar’, because] it is God that [was] working in [us] both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

Our ‘will’ and our ‘do[ing], our actions, even “the answer of our tongues”, good or evil, are “from the Lord.” That is the Truth which is consistent with all the rest of the Word of God:

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

What this verse is telling us is that when we begin to form a thought, “the preparations of [‘our] the heart” for good or for evil, we are being influenced by the Lord, and therefore “the answer of the tongue is from the Lord” and not from our fabled ‘free will.’

Why would anyone buy into the misery-producing doctrine which teaches that most of our loved ones who have died are at this moment writhing in excruciating pain in literal flames of eternal, never-ending fire, when the Truth is that Christ has stated plainly that He wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of The Truth:

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

The blinded carnal mind subconsciously makes that verse to say that the Lord ‘desires’ that all men should be saved, but our free will prevents Him from accomplishing His ‘desire’ to “have all men to be saved.” Is that true? Is Paul simply telling us that God’s futile desire is for all men to be saved? Allowing that 1Timothy 2:4 should read ‘Who desires all men to be saved’ it turns out that none of the Lord’s ‘desires’ are futile desires, but are certain to be done. We know this is so simply because the Lord tells us it is so:

Job 23:13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Job 23:14  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

Unlike many who turn this knowledge that God intends to save all men into the licentious and lascivious doctrine of ‘greasy grace’, the True doctrine of Christ is that “grace chastens us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts” and to live righteously in this world:

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching [G3811: ‘paideuo’ chastening] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  

“The seven last plagues” which will “fill up the wrath of God” upon Babylon within us are that ‘chastening grace’ which prepare us to be able to begin “enter[ing] into the temple.”

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

Christ is our temple, and we cannot begin to enter into Him or into His rest until we have begun to fulfill these seven plagues of the seven angels.

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

When the seven plagues are beginning to be fulfilled within our life, then we hear these words, “It is done.” Before “it is done… great Babylon must come in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.”

Giving Babylon within us “the cup of the wine of the fierceness of God’s wrath” is the great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.“ This earthquake is accompanied by “a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent”:

Rev 16:20  And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found[The false doctrines of Babylon which dominate our beast].
Rev 16:21  And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed [Aorist tense] God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

Oh, yes, we do blaspheme God by simply believing that God is a monster who will torment His creatures in eternal fire. The verb ‘blasphemed’ is in aorist tense meaning it is a simple fact without regard to any particular tense. Even the apostle Paul “was a blasphemer”:

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

Revelation 15:1, Psalms 107 and 2 Thessalonians 1, are all referring to the judgment of the seven last plagues. “All our persecutions and tribulations” are described as “a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God”, which ‘judgment’ is a “great and marvellous” work of the Lord’s judgment upon the beast we all are by virtue of being shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin:

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:

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

Psa 107:1  O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 107:2  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
Psa 107:3  And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
Psa 107:4  They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
Psa 107:5  Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
Psa 107:6  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:7  And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
Psa 107:8  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful [“Great and marvelous… seven last plagues”] works to the children of men!

Psa 107:21  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:22  And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Psa 107:23  They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psa 107:24  These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble [vs 6].
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful [“Great and marvelous” (Rev 15:1)] works to the children of men!

What does this “hail out of heaven… the weight of a talent” accomplish? Here is what spiritual hail will do in the life of the believer.

Exo 9:19 Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.

Isa 28:17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

What does a spiritual earthquake accomplish?

Isa 29:4 And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.
Isa 29:5 Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.
Isa 29:6 Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

Act 16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

Babylon is our prison. Let us see what this great earthquake such as was not since men were on the earth accomplishes within us, and let’s see why a plague of hailstones the weight of a talent is needed to accomplish within us what has not to this time been accomplished. Let’s see now how this event brings us to “lose the desire of our souls.”

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

We have seen that “the kings of the earth” are our carnal desires which are all based upon the lies of Babylon which have ruled our lives. They are seven “heads, mountains, and kings” simply because they complete the hold which Babylon has upon us. As is revealed in Genesis, “the dream is one”, and these three symbols all symbolize just one beast. In reality Babylon’s judgment is the judgment of these “kings of the earth” whose loss is so severe that they are pictured as distancing themselves from Babylon within us, “standing afar off for fear of her torment”, saying “That great city… in one hour is thy judgment come.” The truth is that Babylon’s judgment is the judgment of these seven kings.

“One hour” indicates that these things all happen quickly and are not done over an entire age. These seven last plagues all fill up God’s wrath within us. Therefore they are our judgment, and while it seems like an eternity, it really lasts but for “a small moment.”

Isa 54:7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
Isa 54:8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

“In a little wrath…” These plagues are “the seven last plagues which fill up the wrath of God”, which is “for a small moment” before “He will with everlasting kindness have mercy upon us.”

The remainder of this study will concentrate on the merchandise of the merchants of Babylon, and why we stop buying their merchandise:

Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

Let’s read again what has taken place within us when the seven angels have poured out their plagues within us and we have begun fulfilling the seven plagues of the seven angels. Here is what then takes place within us:

2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Now we know why Christ did not reveal to us the day of His birth in a body of flesh and blood, and we are told that we are to “know no man after the flesh.” These are, without question, just a part of “the fruit our souls desire.” All the celebrations of the flesh are now known no longer within us. “The merchants of the earth” are now completely robbed of a market for their merchandise, and now “no man buys their merchandise any more.”

As a “new man” our desires and priorities have all been changed. We are no longer focused on the things of this earth. We will, in our own time, come to appreciate these words.

2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

“All things are become new” most certainly includes the ‘merchandise’ we now ‘desire.’ If we do not know Christ Himself after the flesh, then we certainly are not going to be celebrating the birth of His flesh which was resurrected and “changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” so as to keep it from corrupting.

Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Spirit is a realm which is outside of time with all of its limitations. It is a realm which is abhorred by the realm of the flesh to which we are to be crucified with its affections and lusts.

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Now let’s examine the ‘merchandise’ which “the merchants of the earth” have to offer:

Rev 18:12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
Rev 18:13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
Rev 18:14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

There is no need to repeat all the things which “are departed from [us]” which are listed in these three verses. I have underlined those things which are found in abundance in Babylon which are also used to build upon the foundation of Christ:

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
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.

The “gold, silver, and precious stones… the pearls… and fine linen, and the fine flour” of Babylon all appear to our carnal mind as the “gold, silver and precious stones, and the fine linen and fine flour” which signify the materials we are to use to build upon the foundation of Christ and clothe and feed His elect. See what we are told about the gold and silver of Babylon:

Jas 5:2  Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
Jas 5:3  Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

“Eat your flesh as it were fire” are the very words used to describe what we do to this great harlot when we first come to see how she has deceived and has taken advantage of us:

Rev 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

James 5:2-3 are addressed to “ye rich men”:

Jas 5:1  Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

Notice where Revelation 18 tells us these rich men gain their wealth:

Rev 18:15  The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

That the rich men to whom James speaks are the same as the merchants who are made rich by Babylon’s merchandise is made manifest in that Revelation 18:13 tells us that part of the merchandise of this great whore is “slaves and the souls of men”:

Rev 18:13  And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

Is that not exactly what holding back wages, and “killing the just” amounts to:

Jas 5:4  Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
Jas 5:5  Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
Jas 5:6  Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

Verse 14 sums it all up. These are the symbols of “the fruits [our] soul lusts after.” These are the symbols of all the merchandise of the “merchants of the earth” who pedal their goods in this great harlot system which claims to be teaching the doctrines of Christ:

2Co 2:17 For we are not as the majority, who are peddling the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God in Christ, are we speaking. (LEB)

Anyone who charges you a penny for “the things of the spirit” is “peddling the Word of God” and is not yet in fellowship with the Christ of the gospel of God. The ‘gold, silver and precious stones, and pearls’ of such ‘peddlers’ are the “cankered” gold and silver of:

Jas 5:3  Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

It is spiritually cankered gold and silver, spiritual abominations with which Babylon the great appeals to our souls. “All things which were dainty and goodly.” All the songs and celebrations of all that Babylon has to offer.

However, the merchandise of “the merchants of the earth” who have gotten rich by peddling their cankered gold, silver and precious stones and moth eaten ‘linen’ to us for so long, have taken all these things and turned them into idols and have committed fornication with their own idols, “images of men” idols of the heart. This is what Ezekiel has to say about this very same harlot:

Eze 16:13  Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
Eze 16:14  And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.
Eze 16:15  But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.
Eze 16:16  And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.
Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,
Eze 16:18  And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them.
Eze 16:19  My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them [the images you made of My gold and My silver (vs 17)] for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD.
Eze 16:20  Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them [these false doctrines] to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter,

The gold, silver and precious stones, and the fine linen and fine flour are the very things with which we are admonished to build upon the foundation of Christ and with which we are to be clothed and fed.  Babylon has taken the Lord’s gold and silver and has used them to form idols of her heart, made to appear as the Lord’s Words. Babylon has taken the Lord’s clothes and His food and used it to make the idols of her heart appear to be the Word of God. Her fine flour is also being used to feed  her idols to whom she has sold herself. Such perversions of the Lord’s Words are never to be mixed in with His “gold, silver and precious stones” when we are building on the foundation of the Christ and serving Him in His tabernacle:

1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ [but not after the flesh].
1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
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.

God’s fire burns up all the wood, hay and stubble, but gold, silver and precious stones are only purified and are created by this heat and this fire. The gold, silver and precious stones all symbolize the things which are to be found in the temple of God. Babylon has used these things to form idols of men, meaning lies with which she has made all her dainty things and together they are “odors and ointments” which our flesh, in and of itself, simply cannot refuse. These are all expressed “not in words which man’s wisdom teaches.”

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

These symbols of these verses of this revelation of Jesus Christ are “the hidden wisdom, which God has ordained before the world unto our glory.” These words of “hidden wisdom” are the exact opposite of “the fruits your soul desires.” These words of “hidden wisdom” are “the power of God.” What is this “hidden wisdom”?

Job 28:20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
Job 28:21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
Job 28:22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
Job 28:23 God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
Job 28:24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;
Job 28:25 To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
Job 28:26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
Job 28:27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

The mind that has wisdom knows that these seven kings, seven mountains and seven heads of this beast on which the great harlot sits and rules are the same ‘beast’ whose number is 666. The mind that has wisdom knows that number is the number of all mankind who all, by nature, are in rebellion against the law of God:

Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has a mind [of wisdom] calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is the number of mankind, and its number is six hundred sixty-six.

The mind that has wisdom knows that the waters on which the whore sits are measured by God, and can do nothing more or less than He decrees. The mind that has wisdom “trembles at the word of the Lord” and knows that the fear of the Lord is wisdom. This is the goodness of God. This is the gospel of the kingdom of God, and this is the revelation of Jesus Christ within His Christ.

Rev 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
Rev 17:10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

In our next study, if the Lord wills, we will see that the beginning of the destruction of Babylon necessitates the destruction of the merchants who are the purveyors of the lies of Babylon, and who are made rich by her lies and deceits which no longer hold us in their snare. We will be reminded of what ‘the sea’ signifies and who has ships in ‘the sea’, and who is “made rich by reason of her costliness.”

Rev 18:15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
Rev 18:16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
Rev 18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
Rev 18:18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city is] like unto this great city!
Rev 18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

No Man Can Buy or Sell Unless They Have the Mark

[Study Aired August 26, 2019]

The following is a discussion started on our email list.

I found this article through a link on Facebook. Feels as if it brings new meaning to Revelation 13:17. I know Revelation is spiritual and is kept inwardly, but this could be the beginning of the outward fulfillment. Doesn’t necessarily mean that it is, just could be.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90394048/uh-oh-silicon-valley-is-building-a-chinese-style-social-credit-system

First we will look at the spiritual significance of this verse.

The following is from the study titled “Revelation 13:14-18” from the website. Here is the link to the full study: http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/rev-13_14_18/

Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

The mark, name, number and image of our beast are one and all associated with our knowledge of, and faith in, the doctrines of the great red dragon who is the father of the beast within us. We are even told that when we worship the beast, we are actually worshiping the dragon.

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

We have all had the name, number, mark and image of the beast which are all one package. Notice how that is demonstrated in these two verses:

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 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, [and] over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

So the “mark of the beast” and the “number of the beast” are both demonstrations of “his name”. The name of the beast has no more to do with whether it is Lucifer or Beelzebub, than the blaspheming of God’s name has to do with how His name is pronounced. The ‘name’ of the beast, like the name of God, has only to do with what others see in us while we all claim to be of Christ. That is what Christ meant when He made this statement:

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

That is what Paul meant when he said this:

Rom 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Rom 2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
Rom 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

The word ‘name’ in scripture has nothing at all to do with whether God’s name is pronounced with a Y or a J, or whether it is pronounced at all. God wants His “good name” to be respected by how we live our lives in obedience to the “things He says”. That is the meaning of “a good name”.

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

Ecc 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

The image, number, mark and name of the beast, like the name of God, is recognized as being upon us by the life we are living. When we tremble at God’s Word, we will never blaspheme His name, and we will always do the things He says to do. When we fail to do that, then we automatically blaspheme God and those that dwell in heaven, and we demonstrate that we have the image, name, number and mark of the beast.

The “two horns like a lamb” of the beast that comes up out of the earth, tells us that this part of our self-centered beastly progression is cloaked in a religious experience. Another symbol of this part of the “things that are all ours” is the great harlot of Rev 17-18.

Rev 18:1  And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Rev 18:3  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

“The merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies… Come out of her my people…” It is by coming out of Babylon that God’s people are considered to be “the smell of death” to those who are in Babylon, and it is by coming out of Babylon that we can no longer “buy or sell” her merchandise. While we are in Babylon, our beast with two horns causes us to prosper in the sales of her goods. However, when we leave “that great city”, we have “gotten the victory over the image, name, number and mark of the beast. When we “come out of Babylon”, we deny that we have a will that is free from the will of God, and in doing that we are destroying “the beast with two horns like a lamb, who speaks as a dragon”, who is the same as the “man of sin, the son of perdition” who sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God”.

Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:12  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:13  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 13:15  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

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?

The “worship of the image of the beast” of Rev 13:15, and the worship of oneself “sitting in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” is one and the same spiritual fornication and adultery in which we all indulge, at that time and place in our progression.

Put another way, our beast with two horns like a lamb, speaking as a dragon, is the same as our man of sin, who sits in the temple which we are, and demands our unwavering self-serving worship, of doing what we want to do and seeking just what is permissible to please ourselves, instead of seeking what is commendable to please the incoming king who destroys our two-horned lamb and our man of sin within us in “the day of Christ”.

2Th 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

The gold, silver and precious stones of God are His doctrines, His thoughts and His mind.

Rev 3:13  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 3:14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Rev 3:15  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Verse 17 describes the true worth of the merchandise of Babylon, while verse 18 contrasts Babylon’s merchandise with the true wealth of the “keeping of every word of God” (Mat 4:4), and the wealth of obeying His commandment to “keep the things written in this book” (Rev 1:3).

Rev 3:14-18 explains it all. What imparts to us the image of the beast is that which we value and which we so eagerly “buy and sell”. Just as our new man is “renewed in knowledge after the image of Christ”, so is our old man renewed in knowledge after the image of his father the devil. It is the doctrines, the thoughts and the mind of both God and the Adversary, which are also their gold, silver and precious stones, and it is the loss of all that “merchandise” which causes the death of both. We all choose the merchandise of Babylon and the worship of our own “man of sin”, first. But when Christ does come into our hearts and minds, all the delicacies of Babylon suddenly are seen for their true worthlessness, and our “man of sin” we have served for so long begins to be destroyed by the brightness of the coming of Christ into our hearts and minds to claim His rightful place on the throne of our hearts.

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

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

Rev 18:10  Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Rev 18:11  And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
Rev 18:12  The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

2Th 2:8, Rev 18:10-12, and Rev 3:17-18, are all one and the same event.

Ecc 9:2  All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

Here again is that “one event”.

Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

The above verse is the explanation of the spiritual and what is kept inwardly which is acknowledged in this statement.

“I found this article through a link on Facebook. Feels as if it brings new meaning to Revelation 13:17. I know Revelation is spiritual and is kept inwardly, but this could be the beginning of the outward fulfillment. Doesn’t necessarily mean that it is, just could be.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90394048/uh-oh-silicon-valley-is-building-a-chinese-style-social-credit-system”

Now let’s explore further to see if this could be the beginning and a new meaning of the outward fulfillment of Rev 13:17 “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

“China’s social credit system? It’s a technology-enabled, surveillance-based nationwide program designed to nudge citizens toward better behavior. The ultimate goal is to “allow the trustworthy to roam everywhere under heaven while making it hard for the discredited to take a single step,” according to the Chinese government.”

We need to remind ourselves with the following admonition from Paul.

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
1Co 3:5  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
1Co 3:8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1Co 3:9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
1Co 3:10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 
1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 
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;
1Co 3:23  And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

If we follow Paul as he followed Christ, we can conclude that in Paul’s generation the ones that fulfilled Rev 13:17  (And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name) are the following:

2Ti 1:15  This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

Those who turned away are the ones that “can buy and sell” the lies of Babylon because they have the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

We all experience this, as the study above mentioned. Lord willing, we continue onto perfection because we are given the following, and we will also give this to all mankind eventually.

1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 
Rev 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Mat 10:8  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

As in Paul’s generation there are those forsaking us as we have experienced in our fellowship. They cannot receive what is freely given to us and must buy and sell what the Harlot has to offer.

Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

This will continue until all is fulfilled in this age.

So, what are we to do as we become subject to the happenings of the article which was shared?

“Many Westerners are disturbed by what they read about China’s social credit system. But such systems, it turns out, are not unique to China. A parallel system is developing in the United States, in part as the result of Silicon Valley and technology-industry user policies, and in part by surveillance of social media activity by private companies.”

This is what we do being ambassadors of Christ.

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

Rom 13:1  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom 13:3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Rom 13:4  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Rom 13:5  Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Rom 13:6  For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Rom 13:7  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Tit 3:1  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
Tit 3:2  To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
Tit 3:3  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Tit 3:4  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Tit 3:7  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Tit 3:8  This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 
Tit 3:9  But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
Tit 3:10  A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
Tit 3:11  Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

In conclusion, we should not seek after the outward appearance of things that are in the world or yet to come.

1Sa 16:7  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

We are given a higher calling.

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

As these things continue to invade “our freedom” realize what our true freedom is.

Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Gal 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Gal 5:14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

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The Virtuous Body of Christ - Part 7 Discussion

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“The virtuous body of Christ” - Part 7

April 17, 2016

with Steven Crook

 

Mar 4:26  And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
Mar 4:27  And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
Mar 4:28  For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
Mar 4:29  But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

Good or bad, we always want the harvest of the earth. Physically, it is required for us to live or die if we don’t have it and this is equally as true spiritually. Whether the beasts of the planet partake of the earth and then we use them for sustenance or if we grow crops for our food needs, we benefit from the “fruit” brought forth from the earth.

In our study today, we are going to consider verses 15-18 of Proverbs 31 and how they connect to the kingdom of God of which we are all being trained as kings and priests to rule in.

Today we find ourselves continuing to be admonished by the story of the virtuous woman as told in Proverbs 31.
In verses 15-18 we are told this about the wondrous lady and her qualities by our mother who tells us they are valuable to us as a husband and king.

Pro 31:15  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Pro 31:16  She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Pro 31:17  She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Pro 31:18  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

The first quality found in the verses for today comes from the virtuous woman who is ready to work.

Notice, she does not wait for the morning when everyone else arises but she rises earlier than them to provide for the needs of her home. It is also implied that she must be wealthy because she has maidens which are given a portion as well.

She arises while it is yet night to do these tasks. So then we must consider the timing of her actions and who they benefit. They benefit her but also her household since she is obviously a part of her own household.

Here is what the night represents to us scripturally:

Gen 1:5  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Exo 14:19  And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Exo 14:20  And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

Job 17:11  My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
Job 17:12  They (THE THOUGHTS OF THE HEART) change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
Job 17:13  If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
Job 17:14  I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

Psa 104:20  Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

Psa 139:11  If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
Psa 139:12  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

Rom 13:10  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Rom 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Rom 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.2
Rom 13:13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

1Th 5:3  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Th 5:7  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
1Th 5:8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

I attempted to use scripture to tell a story there about our transition from night to day. Light was brought forth from darkness just as we are brought forth from night, darkness and death into day, light and life.

In fact, the way darkness is revealed is by bring light to it from WITHIN it. There are many examples I could use, but there is one that is an example that comes from a recent exchange I read on the mailing list this week.

Gen 19:1  And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
Gen 19:2  And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
Gen 19:3  And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
Gen 19:4  But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
Gen 19:5  And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
Gen 19:6  And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
Gen 19:7  And said, I pray you, BRETHREN, do not so wickedly.

There is a lot that is being said in this story but I am only going to point out applicable parts to our verses today. Notice it is evening when the angels of the Lord come to Sodom. Lot petitions them to stay with him all night but then the men of the city, who Lot references as BRETHREN, come to “do wickedness” to Lot’s guests.

Lot was a watchmen of the gate who knew what would happen to these men and no doubt tried to prevent this by welcoming them in to his home. With all of

Lot’s actions, it was the angels who ended up saving Lot in several ways. The angels saved Lot from the mobs by blinding them and then saved Lot from the LIGHT which would be brought upon Sodom and Gomorrah.

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

And a few verses later:

Gen 19:22  Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
Gen 19:23  The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
Gen 19:24  Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
Gen 19:25  And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

The angels of the Lord saved Lot and his family thereby showing us a type of the Passover. This was given to us in that they ate unleavened bread.

I also want you to notice that it was FIRE, which produces a large amount of LIGHT, which was called down from heaven form those which were WITHIN the city while it was DARK. Light was brought forth from darkness in this type and shadow and points us to those that are used, while it is night, to bring about the light of the Word of God.

1Th 5:6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Since we are talking about the traits of a virtuous woman we should consider this personality trait that she is who rises early to get to work and in this case it is for the work of the Lord. While other sleep she is providing for her household.

The fruit of our hands

Our next verse points us to why we want to be diligent. We mentioned in our last study that this virtuous woman seeks wool and flax and willingly works with her hands. Well, now we will see that she is benefitted by the work of her hands due to the increase that is gained.

Pro 31:16  She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

First she considers a field and then buys it. There is an obvious spiritual connection to what this field is and what is IN this field.

Mat 13:37  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Mat 13:38  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
Mat 13:39  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

I started this study off by reading from Mark 4. In Mark 4, the earth is mentioned along with seed and harvest of the kingdom.

Let us now connect this with the vineyard and a great treasure.

Deu 28:12  The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

Pro 15:6  In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

Mat 12:35  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Mat 13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Mat 13:52  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Luk 5:37  And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
Luk 5:38  But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
Luk 5:39  No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

I have continuously stated that WE are, and anyone who God knows of, the body of Christ. We are the virtuous wife that Christ seeks. Christ means anointed. So anyone that is anointed is seeking this virtuous wife but what tells us that we are to ONLY SEEK this wife external to us?

In other words, the kingdom of God is WITHIN you!
If it hasn’t been realized yet, the wine that comes from vineyards, has just been PURCHASED by this virtuous woman but her currency is the blood of Jesus Christ.

The wine is DOCTRINE. That is why you see and immediate issue of doctrine being posed by the Pharisees right after Jesus speaks about the old and new wine being put in old and new bottles.

Luk 6:1  And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.
Luk 6:2  And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

Once you realise that you are standing on solid ground, a ROCK so to speak, then you are able to GIRD yourself with this strength.

Your legs are the most powerful muscle groups in your body as far as power goes. The thing that supports your walk is STRENGTH from your legs. Likewise, the thing that supports the STRENGTH of your work is YOUR ARMS.

Why do I mention your WALK and WORKS?

Pro 31:17  She girdeth H2296 her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

When we gird ourselves, we are places the girdle on our hips and legs around about the area of our waist.

H2296
châgar
BDB Definition:
1) to gird, gird on, gird oneself, put on a belt

Jdg 3:16  But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.

1Sa 25:13  And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

Since we are considering what this strength might be, and we know from scripture that our strength IS THE LORD, it is good for us to know the Lord Himself is covered in strength who then becomes our very covering.

Psa 93:1  The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

Having all this understanding, wisdom and knowledge helps us as this virtuous body of Christ to know that what we have is truly valuable.

Pro 31:18  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

We covered in the last study that the merchandise that we have is not from Babylon the great whore who has fallen but from the Lord. Merchandise is something that by definition must be purchased.

However, that purchasing process started because our Husband purchased us with His blood. Then, he gives us a crown as His queen along with a robe and ring which all give us very standing and power.

When we realize all that we have been freely given, it will cause our light to never go out.

In the tabernacle, the Lord commanded that a golden candlestick of oil and light burn day and night.

This is the same Light that must be lit so that the fire of the Word of God burns brightly within us.

Exo 38:21  This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.

Rev 15:1  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
Rev 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
Rev 15:3  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Rev 15:4  Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Rev 15:5  And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Rev 15:6  And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

When we combine the concepts that the husband and wife are one with Jesus Christ and His bride being One, then we can conclude that when we arise in the night to take care of the needs of our household, we are doing so for the household of God.

When we purchase the WORLD, which we are, we do so with the blood of Christ and then we search WITHIN it to find the Light the burns there because this is where our Husband is and because we are concerned with the household and kingdom of God, we are ALWAYS conscious that our friends, family and enemies will all have this Light in them in the Lord’s timing.

This realization will help us keep focused on knowing that all is of the Lord and we are always seeking to work diligently for the kingdom.  None of us are perfect and we definitely have seasons which produce more work than others, but we should not let that discourage us from realizing just how much our Husband loves His wife.

Audio Links

“The virtuous body of Christ” – Part 6

April 10, 2016

with Steven Crook

As I stare looking at the empty page set before me which will soon hold the contents of this study, I ceremoniously grasp the seriousness the Lord commands us with when he tells us to “become as little children”.

In order for any of the Word of God to take root in us, we must be empty of the things which might already fill the space which the Lord intends to depart to us His gifts and fruits of the Spirit.

In our study today, we are going to explore a few of these things which are so badly needed in the lives of Christians today and have been all throughout history.

In fact, we MUST “gather these things up” so that we can have life in Jesus Christ.

Though we are the virtuous body of Christ, we must also spiritually be children who are moldable into what the Lord tells us to become.

Become as little children

Notice the question posed to Jesus which prompts His very important answer to His disciples.

Mat 18:1  At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Mat 18:2  And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
Mat 18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:5  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Mat 18:6  But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mat 18:7  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

What follows this story is a litany of questions which were obviously on the minds of the disciples. Why is that? Didn’t the scripture they already had have the answers to these questions?

Many of those questions did have answers for the “old way”, but here is the Messiah giving all apparently NEW ways and ideas on how to view God the Father and what our relationship with Him is. So ask away they did.

The answer to who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven was answered with, “be converted and become as HUMBLE little children”.

Oh what an insult to our carnally minded natural man that is! Throw away all that makes us an adult and be like children?! What do you mean Lord?!

Our verses today will help us KNOW how to pursue this great and mysterious task of being silent women when our Husband Jesus Christ is present and therefore be humble in order to receive what it is He has prepared for us whenever we seek His answers.

Pro 31:13  She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Pro 31:14  She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

On the surface it appears that verse 13 is speaking about clothing and being willing to work with your hands to shape these items into something that can be used to cover us up. Verse 14 just seems to be put there with no connection to verse 13, but it is very connected. How is that?

A part of “being as humble children” is looking into the things we are told with an acceptance that those things are being told to us honestly by those we trust.
So when we read she seeks wool and flax we might think, “Okay, but why wool and flax?”

Let us look at the Word of God and ask Him why a virtuous woman seeks wool and flax.

Pro 31:13  She seeketh woolH6785, and flaxH6593, and worketh willingly with her hands.

The Hebrew word used as wool is “tsemer” and is used 16 times.

H6785
tsemer
Total KJV Occurrences: 16
wool, 11
Jdg_6:37, 2Ki_3:4, Psa_147:16, Pro_31:13, Isa_1:18, Isa_51:8, Eze_27:18, Eze_34:3, Eze_44:17, Hos_2:5, Hos_2:9
woollen, 5
Lev_13:47-48 (2), Lev_13:52, Lev_13:59, Deu_22:11

This word is a root word and means “to be shaggy”.
H6785
tsemer
tseh’-mer
From an unused root probably meaning to be shaggy; wool: – wool (-len).
Total KJV occurrences: 16

What are some of the attributes of wool? Wool is the natural CLOTHING and covering of sheep. It is white but absorbs color dye very well (as well as blood), flame resistant and will not combust, water resistant and is very durable.

As few times as it is mentioned in the old testament, it is mentioned even less in the new testament.

Heb 9:19  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
Heb 9:20  Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
Rev 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Rev 1:15  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Wool also is a great insulator but it is the air it TRAPS that makes it a good insulator. Air doesn’t allow heat to travel very well compared to other materials.

Those are some of the attributes of wool so what is our comparison/ and contrast of wool to flax?

Pro 31:13  She seeketh woolH6785, and flaxH6593, and worketh willingly with her hands.

Flax comes from crops and is a food and fiber. It can be cultivated and also produces oil.

Interestingly, flax in Hebrew is used the same amount of times as wool.

H6593
pishteh
Total KJV Occurrences: 16
linen, 9
Lev_13:47-48 (2), Lev_13:52, Lev_13:59, Deu_22:11, Jer_13:1, Eze_44:17-18 (3)
flax, 7
Jos_2:6, Jdg_15:14, Pro_31:13, Isa_19:9, Eze_40:3, Hos_2:5, Hos_2:9

It is also only used twice in the New Testament.

G3043
linon
Total KJV Occurrences: 2
flax, 1
Mat_12:20
linen, 1
Rev_15:6

Mat 12:18  Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
Mat 12:19  He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
Mat 12:20  A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax G3043 shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
Mat 12:21  And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Rev 15:6  And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen G3043, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

However, in order to understand what flax is to us as a virtuous wife of Christ we must understand it’s root in Hebrew, literally and spiritually.

H6593

pishteh
pish-teh’
From the same as H6580 as in the sense of comminuting (common-ew-ting); linen (that is, the thread, as carded): – flax, linen.
Total KJV occurrences: 16

H6580

pash
pash
Probably from an unused root meaning to disintegrate; stupidity (as a result of grossness or of degeneracy): – extremity.
Total KJV occurrences: 1

H6580
pash
Total KJV Occurrences: 1
extremity, 1
Job_35:15

The definition of “comminute” is:

verb (used with object), comminuted, comminuting.
1.
to pulverize; triturate.
adjective
2.
comminuted; divided into small parts.
3.
powdered; pulverized.

What do we do with all this information? There are obviously no coincidences with the Lord. What do wool and flax have to do with willingly working with our hands?

Pro 31:13  She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

If you have followed my awesome hands series or heard the study I did on a “willing offering”, then you would have gotten a little bit more understanding of what scripture refers to when it mentions “willing”, because we know there is no free will outside of God’s will according to scripture.

So, what then is willingly working with our hands according to the sum of the Word? This word is actually a different word used than the Hebrew word used as “willing” in the awesome hands series, and this time in Proverbs is the only time it is actually translated as “willingly”.

Here then is the true usage of the word:

H2656

chêphets
khay’-fets
From H2654; pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind): – acceptable, delight (-some), desire, things desired, matter, pleasant (-ure), purpose, willingly.
Total KJV occurrences: 39

H2656
chêphets
Total KJV Occurrences: 39
pleasure, 16
Job_21:21, Job_22:3, Psa_111:2, Ecc_5:4, Ecc_12:1, Isa_44:28, Isa_46:10, Isa_48:14, Isa_53:10, Isa_58:3, Isa_58:13 (2), Jer_22:28, Jer_48:38, Hos_8:8, Mal_1:10
desire, 9
2Sa_23:5, 1Ki_9:8-11 (4), 1Ki_10:13, 2Ch_9:12, Job_31:16, Pro_3:15
delight, 3
1Sa_15:22, Psa_16:2-3 (2)
purpose, 3
Ecc_3:1, Ecc_3:17, Ecc_8:6
desired, 2
Psa_107:30, Pro_8:11
acceptable, 1
Ecc_12:10
delightsome, 1
Mal_3:12
desireth, 1
1Sa_18:25
matter, 1
Ecc_5:8
pleasant, 1
Isa_54:12
willingly, 1
Pro_31:12-13 (2)

This verses actually means and should say that this virtuous woman, who seeks out wool and flax, also pleasurably and desiringly works with her hands.

That not all though. This word “pleasure” or “desire” has a root.

H2654
châphêts
Total KJV Occurrences: 74
delight, 17
Gen_34:19, Num_14:8, Deu_21:14, 1Sa_18:22, 2Sa_15:26, 2Sa_24:3, Est_6:6, Psa_40:8, Psa_68:30, Psa_119:35, Pro_18:2, Isa_1:11, Isa_13:17, Isa_58:2 (2), Jer_6:10, Jer_9:24
delighteth, 12
Est_6:6-7 (2), Est_6:9 (2), Est_6:11, Psa_37:23, Psa_112:1, Psa_147:10, Isa_62:4, Isa_66:3, Mic_7:18, Mal_2:17
delighted, 10
1Sa_19:2, 2Sa_22:20, 1Ki_10:9, 2Ch_9:8, Est_2:14, Psa_18:19, Psa_22:8, Psa_109:17, Isa_65:12, Isa_66:4
pleased, 8
Jdg_13:23, 1Ki_9:1, Psa_51:19, Psa_115:3, Psa_135:6, Isa_42:21, Isa_53:10, Jon_1:14
desire, 6
Job_13:3, Job_21:14, Job_33:32, Psa_40:6, Psa_73:25, Jer_42:22
please, 5
Son_2:7, Son_3:5, Son_8:4, Isa_55:11, Isa_56:4
pleasure, 3
Eze_18:23, Eze_18:32, Eze_33:11
desirest, 2
Psa_51:6, Psa_51:16
like, 2
Deu_25:7-8 (2)
will, 2
Rth_3:13, Pro_21:1
desired, 1
Hos_6:6
favourest, 1
Psa_41:11
favoureth, 1
2Sa_20:11
moveth, 1
Job_40:17
pleaseth, 1
Ecc_8:3
well, 1
Isa_42:21
would, 1
1Sa_2:25

Pro 18:2  A foolH3684 hath noH3808 delightH2654 in understanding,H8394 butH3588 H518 that his heartH3820 may discover itself.H1540

Pro 18:2  A fool hath no delightH2654 in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

How then does this all come together? I could read a lot of these verses but I believe the following verses really bring this together nicely.

Pro 3:13  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Pro 3:14  For the MERCHANDISE of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
Pro 3:15  She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire H2656 are not to be compared unto her.

1Co 1:22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1Co 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, AND the wisdom of God.

1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Merchant ships carry merchandise. What is the virtuous woman like that seeks wisdom and understanding?

Pro 31:14  She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar

All of these words are symbols, types and shadows, of the things which they also represent in the physical world.

The negative application that this woman seeks wool and flax, things of the flesh (wool from sheep) and of the earth (flax that grows from the earth), is that they provide for our physical covering and give us something to do in the flesh (work with our hands).
These things are not negative alone except they provide for US to take credit for whatever work we do.

However, the positive and spiritual reason this virtuous woman seeks wool is for Jesus Christ as our HEAD and COVERING. She spiritually seeks flax because we want to SHAPENED into the VERY IMAGE of our Husband and that takes PULVERISATION of whoever “WE” are as Steven Crook or whoever we are known as in the flesh. We want to be ONE with Him which has been a very common theme and thread throughout all of these studies in this series.

Isn’t this concept told to us in scripture and even proven to us in the aspect of marriage where a woman drops her maiden name to take on the name of her husband?

The “merchandise” of this woman’s ship IS the food she is bringing from “afar”. When we see that this merchandise has a positive and negative application, then we can see the true meaning of seeking wool and flax, working with our hands delightfully and bringing the “true food from heaven” from afar off.

Joh 2:12  After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
Joh 2:13  And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
Joh 2:14  And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
Joh 2:15  And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
Joh 2:16  And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
Joh 2:17  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
Joh 2:18  Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

What we, as the virtuous bride and body of Christ seek is to have our Husband’s wisdom, understanding and knowledge. We want to KNOW God the Father and His Son.

Contrast this “merchandise” of wisdom, understanding and knowledge with that which is TORN down as Jesus described above and replaced with the true temple of God.

Rev 18:9  And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
Rev 18:10  Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Rev 18:11  And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

Rev 18:15  The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
Rev 18:16  And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
Rev 18:17  For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
Rev 18:18  And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

In what hour do you suppose, that the great riches which come from the GREAT WHORE Babylon, which include FINE LINEN and SCARLET WOOL, come to and end and brought to nought?

Luk 10:18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luk 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Luk 10:21  IN THAT HOUR Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

Mar 13:11  But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Joh 16:21  A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

The wool and flax we seek is our covering Jesus Christ and His crushing us to powder so that we can be made anew, but we seek this not only for OURSELVES but for the ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD we have been placed to oversee spiritually.

See, this virtuous woman we have been reading about wants these things so the WORK she DOES with her hands can produce a PROFIT for her home and her home is the KINGDOM of God which has MANY children. Then, we can give all glory to God and present back to Jesus Christ the talents He has given us.

We know that we do not know “the hour” of visitation of our Lord AND Husband, but we want to be prepared when He comes.

In our next study, we will continue to see how we are to remain diligent with the work the Lord has given us to look well after his household.