Proverbs Chapter 6 – Part 3

Pro 6:20-35″ Take Heed to Thyself“

[Study Aired Dec 26, 2024]

This last section of Proverbs chapter six is primarily about the benefit that is given to those who are blessed to read, hear, and keep the sayings of the prophecy of God’s word in this age (Rev 1:3).

We may not always think of the book of Proverbs as a form of prophecy, but all of God’s words are prophetic words, and when we understand what they are saying to us with the gift of eyes that see, and ears that hear (Luk 8:10 , Eph 2:8), they become profitable in how they can edify, exhort, and comfort those who are drawn to its spiritual message, which is an eternal message that does not change (2Ti 3:16-17 , 2Ti 2:20-22 , 1Co 14:3 , Joh 6:63 , Joh 17:3 , Joh 6:68).

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent [Joh 20:21 , Joh 3:17].

Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.[Isa 55:11]

Taking heed to ourselves, is a lifelong endeavor that requires an ongoing miracle that is being accomplished in the body of Christ, who are given to die daily and keep under ourselves, so that God’s word does not return void in this age, but rather brings forth much fruit by the grace of God, that requires that we water and plant, labour in the word, and wait on the Lord to give the increase that comes from him alone (Mat 13:8-9 , Joh 3:30 , 1Co 3:6-7).

Mat 13:8  But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 
Mat 13:9  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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

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.

Pro 6:20  My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Pro 6:21  Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
Pro 6:22  When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

These first three opening verses of our study remind us that our labour in the Lord is not in vain (1Co 15:57-58). Our father’s commandment that we are to keep and the law of thy mother, is referring to the commandments of God and the order that He establishes in the church, for our good (Jerusalem above the mother of us all), through the manifest knowledge that is foundational in what it is first doing in our lives (Mat 16:18), and ultimately what it will do for the rest of humanity who will come to know God and Christ through the church (Eph 3:10).

1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

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

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

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

The first commandment with promise, spoken of in (Eph 6:1-3), is speaking to God’s elect who come out of Babylon in this age, that is likened unto a mother of harlots (Rev 17:5) and Satan who is the god of this world and our first father (Joh 8:44) whose lies we reject, as sons of God (1Jn 3:1) in this age who have been promised that blessing of being in the first resurrection, being given that extended period of time or life with our Father and Christ and Jerusalem above the mother of us all (Gal 4:26) before the rest of the world (Rev 20:6).

Eph 6:1  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Eph 6:2  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Eph 6:3  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Knowing these promises are true and that God is going to destroy the physical realm, we really have nothing to hold onto in this life, and nothing should compare to that which God has set before his people who are blessed to be bound to the altar, meaning we are living by the faith of Christ (Psa 118:27 , Gal 2:20), therefore we are given great incentive to “Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck“. The “them” is the merciful and truthful words of God (Pro 3:3) that, if we continue in them, they will set us free in this life (Joh 8:35-36). The heart represents where our desire comes from (Mat 6:21 , 1Th 2:19-20), and the neck is what we are burdened with, and Christ’s ways are a joyful burden that we bear for each other (Gal 6:2). The apostle Paul was beloved and at the end of his ministry he was kissed on his neck, as a symbol of the body’s appreciation for all that God gave him to suffer and bear for the body’s sake (Act 20:37).

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

1Th 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
1Th 2:20 For ye are our glory and joy.[“where your treasure is, there will your heart be also“]

Act 20:37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,

“When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee“, is telling us that the comforter will lead us into all truth (Joh 16:13). The spirit of God will bear witness that we are His in this life (Rom 8:14-17) and when we lie down and rise up, and walk through this life we don’t lose heart (Luk 18:1), as we pray without ceasing and learn that our Creator who we serve is faithful and merciful and will never leave or forsake His own in this life (Heb 13:5 , Php 1:6). It is through the fervent continual prayers of the saints that availeth much that the importunate widow learns that “the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear”(Isa 59:1 , Mat 7:11).

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

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

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

Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Pro 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
Pro 6:24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
Pro 6:25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
Pro 6:26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
Pro 6:27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
Pro 6:28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
Pro 6:29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

Where there is no vision, the people perish (Pro 29:18) and that vision comes from the word of God, from his commandments which are “a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life“. What the light of God’s word does specifically for us is “To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman“. This strange woman is Babylon, which we are called out of by the grace and faith of God (Eph 2:8). The admonition for God’s elect is to remember Lot’s wife (Luk 17:32) and don’t look back, “Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids“. Rather we need to keep our eyes fixed on Christ (Rom 12:1-2) and the promises that tell us we will be more than conquerors through Him (Rom 8:37).

If it were possible, Satan would deceive the very elect (Mat 24:24), and how would he, or how does he go about trying to do that, is explained in this verse, “by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: (Heb 12:16-17) and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life“.

Heb 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Contrast this careless spirit of Esau, with that of Moses, one chapter earlier, who typifies the elect of God who are blessed to have a hunger and thirst for righteousness in this life (Heb 11:26 , Mat 5:6).

Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

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

Can we taste of the heavenly things of God (Heb 6:4-8) and then go back into the harlotries of this world and expect to not be burnt by such actions? This is what God’s word reveals on that matter, “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.” This fire that burns a man who goes into it, is speaking of the strange fire, that is the unholy things that defile a man (Lev 10:1-2), as opposed to the coals from the altar that represent God’s words that sanctify and purify us in this life (Isa 6:7).

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

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

Isa 6:7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

Pro 6:30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
Pro 6:31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
Pro 6:32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
Pro 6:33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
Pro 6:34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
Pro 6:35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

The thief being talked about here is the one that goes “in to his neighbour’s wife” in the previous verse (v 29), which represents a church that they go into, after they have been in a relationship of fidelity with the body of Christ (2Ti 4:10).

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

Loving this present world has the unfaithful going toward “Thessalonica, Galatia, Dalmatia“, places of Asia which represent the world! Another way of telling us that these were men who started in the spirit, but would conclude their life in the letter is (Gal 3:3-4), trying to be perfected in the law, in the world, being part of the whole Babylonian system once again that have forsaken God’s word (Rev 1:11 , 2Ti 1:15).

Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Gal 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

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

We are told to not despise this thieving spirit whose actions parallel with that of Esau whose pleasures of sin for a season (Heb 11:25) was more important than his birthright, which would require that he suffer in this life (Heb 12:16-17 , Heb 11:25).

Heb 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

We’re not to think that this thief is not in us, because he is being destroyed day by day as we die daily, and but for the grace of God go we, as we’re permitted by God’s mercy to continue to be apprehended by Christ who gives us the power to forget what is behind us, and press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling in Him (Php 3:13-14). We are apprehending because we have been apprehended of God through Christ the fit man (Lev 16:21), giving us no reason to despise others who have left us for one reason or another, “do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry“.

That man who satisfies his soul, lacks understanding, and his soul is destroyed in this life as a result of his ignorance, and in this life that dishonour that he gets, and that reproach, shall not be wiped away as mentioned earlier; and this is all being accomplished for the elect’s sake, to remind us of the severity of God, and the goodness of God that He has extended to the body of Christ, if we continue in His goodness (Heb 6:3-8 , Num 16:2-3 , Rom 11:22 , Rom 2:4-6).

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

Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity [the 250 men of renown]; but toward thee, goodness [God’s judgements that destroys those 250 men of renown within us (25×10) or (5x5x10)], if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Rom 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

God is a jealous God (Exo 20:5) and he is the man being spoken of in verse 34, “For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance“. He will have his vengeance on all such who are found in the lake of fire. And when those who are resurrected in the second resurrection say, ‘haven’t we done many wonderful works?’ (Mat 7:22), in other words, ‘why are you judging me, I’m an outstanding citizen’, God will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts“, to the point that even what they thought they had, will be taken away (Mat 25:29 , Rom 11:22 , Heb 12:25).

Mat 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Our prayer for each other is that our Father will give us the strength to endure His chastening grace today, so that we are received in this age through His judgements upon us, which will burn out the spirit that thinks we’ve somehow contributed to our salvation, or the salvation of others, when it fact it was all a work of God within us that made it possible for each joint to supply in love, to the building up and edifying of the church (Heb 12:6-7 , Php 2:12-13 , Eph 4:16 , Psa 127:1).

Psa 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

“Musical Instruments in the bible” Part 2 – Wind [Halil=pipe]

[Study Aired September 21, 2023]

In our last study we looked at our singing voice as an instrument that can praise God and worship Him with holy words and sounds that typify the elevated way in which the body of Christ can exalt God in spirit and in truth (Joh 4:23). 

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.

Each voice has its own unique sound and quality that can interact with other voices to create harmonies that are endless in their application. All of this is a shadow of the truth that the word of God, and the relationship that we have with our Father and Christ through each other, is unsearchable (Joh 14:20) There is no end to the peace it will produce (Job 5:9, Psa 145:3, Pro 25:3, Rom 11:33, Eph 3:8, Isa 9:7). Harmony comes to the body of Christ by way of having the same mind, and it fills us with joy to know we are walking in accord with Christ and His body (Php 2:1-12, 3Jn 1:2-6).

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you [spiritual harmony].

Job 5:9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; [within and without Joh 14:20] marvellous things without number.

Psa 145:3  Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable [within and without (Joh 14:20)]. 

Pro 25:3  The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable [within and without (Joh 14:20)]

Rom 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! [within and without (Joh 14:20)]

Eph 3:8  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ [within and without];

Isa 9:7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this [Zec 4:6]. 

Php 2:1  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 
Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind [spiritual harmony].
Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves [the humility of Christ within the bride produces harmony (Luk 14:8, Rev 19:7-8)]. 

Luk 14:8  When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; 

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready [she’s taking a lower seat].
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 
Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 
Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 
Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [He took the lower seat (1Jn 4:17)]
Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 
Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 
Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth [Rev 3:9, 1Jn 4:17];
Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 
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 [the One who creates the harmony in the body of Christ and whose good pleasure it is to give us the kingdom (Luk 12:32)].

3Jn 1:2  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3Jn 1:3  For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 
3Jn 1:4  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth [how spiritual harmony is formed in the body of Christ as we continue in the truth that sets us free (Joh 8:31-32)].
3Jn 1:5  Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers [Jas 2:26, Gal 6:10, 1Ti 6:18-19];
3Jn 1:6  Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

Another ‘classification’ of instruments, known as wind instruments, is what we will look at today, followed by string, percussion, and finally that ‘one-off’ category of the dulcimer that is kind of a hybrid of string and percussion, and very closely related to a piano, I would say [sumponia=dulcimer].

We’ll go through the list of the wind instruments in the bible, including the [Halil = pipe], [Hatsotserah = trumpet], [Kehren = cornet], [Mashroqiy = flute], [Shofar (another form of trumpet)], and the [Ugab=organ]. As we go through each of these instruments, we want to always keep in mind that they represent the body of Christ, the many members [instruments (Rom 6:12-13)] which make up that body (1Co 12:8-13), and are unique in their own way, but of the same spirit. You could say they utilize the same wind [spirit] that produces the sounds of these multifaceted instruments found in God’s word. 

Rom 6:12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

1Co 12:8  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 
1Co 12:10  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 
1Co 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1Co 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members [instruments], and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: [Joh 14:20] so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14  For the body is not one member, but many [the spiritual orchestra of God conducted by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ].

We will start with our first entry, ‘Halil’, which is Pipe by definition in the Strong’s dictionary, and we will look at its various uses in scripture to help us see not only the type of sound it produces, but also on what occasions it is used as this also has spiritual meaning for us. There is a negative and positive use of the pipe and the example in (1Sa 10:5) demonstrates the positive harmony of the prophets, each with their own instruments that typify their spiritual gifts, being used to prophesy the anointing of Saul as king. 

1Sa 10:5  After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:

There are a lot of double entendre being expressed here because, although Saul saw himself as being small and unworthy to be anointed (1Sa 9:21) at this point in his walk, God was anointing and elevating him to the position of king, seeing Israel had rejected God as king and wanted to be as the nations around them with a physical leader (1Sa 8:7). For the sake of our study, we are focused on the point that a pipe was part of the musical entourage who were rejoicing at the prospect of Saul now being the king over Israel. In time we learn that Saul is a type of the rejected anointed. Pipes can be used in celebration of something, but they also can express a mournful dying sound like our more modern day bag pipes do. Saul in effect is more typical at this stage in his life of this more unassuming and spirited instrument called a pipe.

1Sa 9:21  And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me? 

1Sa 10:5  After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:

Hebrew:
Halil
KJV Name: Pipe
Strong’s: #H2485
References: 1Sa_10:5, 1Ki_1:40, Isa_5:12, Isa_30:29, Jer_48:36

The halil was one or two pieces of wood that were hollowed out with two or more holes. Its first Scriptural mention involved it being played by a group of prophets. This pipe was commonly played at festive occasions and during pilgrimages to Jerusalem. It could also be used during mourning (Jer 48:36) and at funerals.

Concerning the negative use of pipes with a combination of instruments, (Isa 5:1-16) centered around Israel going into captivity, “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands” (Isa 5:11-12). Notice the grouping of these instruments used in this negative environment of reveling is almost identical to the positive use in the event connected to Saul’s coronation. There is hope in these verses [Isa 5:1-15] which explain how we initially defile the vineyard of the Lord in Babylon and misuse the wine of His word getting drunk on it and worshiping God with our own traditions of men, to then, Lord willing, be dragged out of Babylon to see the Lord exalted in judgment within our lives [Isa 5:16-17, 1Pe 4:17]

Isa 5:11  Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! 
Isa 5:12   And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.

Isa 5:16  But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
Isa 5:17  Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.

The next entry where the word pipe is used is Isaiah 30:20. We read in Isaiah 30:27-31 of events that are connected to God’s wrath and judgment upon Assyria and the protection of Israel against their enemies.

Isa 30:27  Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire: 
Isa 30:28  And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.
Isa 30:29  Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel. 
Isa 30:30  And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.
Isa 30:31  For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod. [It is the Lord’s voice within us, the truth of His word that quickens us and beats down the Assyrian within us.]

Then we have another example of the use of pipes which God likens to the mourning He has in His heart for the riches that Moab has lost having turned to idolatry, which is very akin to the story of Saul who ended up forgetting the time when he saw himself as small, and began to turn to lying spirits and divination to find guidance in his life, rather than humbling himself under the mighty hand of God (Jer 48:35-37, 1Pe 5:6).

Jer 48:35  Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods. 
Jer 48:36  Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished.
Jer 48:37  For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

H2485
châlı̂yl
khaw-leel’
From H2490; a flute (as perforated): – pipe.
Total KJV occurrences: 6

– Original: חליל
– Transliteration: Chaliyl
– Phonetic: khaw-leel’
– Definition: 

1. pipe, flute 

– Origin: from H2490
– TWOT entry: 660d
– Part(s) of speech: Noun Masculine 
– Strong’s: From H2490; a flute (as perforated): – pipe. 
Total KJV Occurrences: 6 

• pipe, 3

 1Sa_10:5; Isa_5:12; Isa_30:29 

• pipes, 3

 1Ki_1:40; Jer_48:36(2) 

H2490
châlal
khaw-lal’
A primitive root (compare H2470); properly to bore, that is, (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one’s word), to begin (as if by an opening-wedge); denominatively (from H2485) to play (the flute): – begin (X men began), defile, X break, defile, X eat (as common things), X first, X gather the grape thereof, X take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound.
Total KJV occurrences: 142

When you get a lot of pipes together, something powerful can happen as expressed in this verse (1Ki 1:40) that was centered around the anointing of Solomon as king of Israel (1Ki 1:39-40). In the positive view of Solomon’s life, he is a type of Christ and the body of Christ ruling throughout the symbolic thousand-year reign of the saints. It is with a great voice of a trumpet that the kingdoms of this world are announced as becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ (Rev 11:15). God’s kings and lords will be teaching the world to pipe with pipes, and to rejoice with great rejoicing, so that the earth, which represents the church, can be rent and the seed of God’s word received. The word that goes forth will not return void in the great white throne judgment (Isa 55:11).

1Ki 1:39  And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon. 
1Ki 1:40  And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

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

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

There is just too much to cover for the next entry, which will be the word [Hatsotserah=pipe], so I’ll end this shorter-than-normal study at this point, including some history and verses connected to our next study.

Hebrew: Hatsotserah
KJV Name: Trumpet
Strong’s: #H2689
References: Num_10:2 – Num_10:10, Num_31:6, 2Ki_11:14, 2Ki_12:13, 1Ch_13:8, 1Ch_15:24, 1Ch_15:28, 1Ch_16:6, 1Ch_16:42, 2Ch_5:12-13, 2Ch_13:12.

The hatsotserah, a different musical instrument than the shofar, is mentioned 29 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. Hatsotserahs were trumpets that were straight, narrow and quite long (possibly .9 meters or 2.9 feet). They were constructed out of silver (Numbers 10:1-2) or gold, had a flared end and produced a high shrill tone.

This type of trumpet was used to signal the Israelites, when they wandered the wilderness for forty years, to assemble and break camp (Num 10:5). It was an important part of temple worship (1Ch 15:28, 2Ch 15:14) and considered one of the sacred utensils (2Ki 12:13, Num 31:6). The hatsotserah was blown on New Moons and other festive occasions as well as at the temple’s daily offerings (2Ki 11:14, Hos 5:8, Psa 98:6).

Acts 21:9  Philip had Four Daughters Which did Prophesy, Part 2

[Study Aired August 13, 2023]

The goal of our study today is to understand the way in which Philip’s four daughters prophesied. Paul repeatedly forbids women teaching and preaching in the church:

1Co 14:31  For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
1Co 14:32  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1Co 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
1Co 14:34  Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
1Co 14:35  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

We ended our last study taking notice that the apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the holy spirit, had forbidden women to teach or “usurp authority over the man” in the church.

We had also noted that he said that a woman can prophesy if she has her head covered.

Let’s go now to the Old Testament of which Paul told Timothy to “study to show thyself approved unto God,” and see if we can find out what all is included under the definition of this word ‘prophesy.’

It turns out that the Old Testament reveals that the word ‘prophesy’ includes…

1) Singing
2) Playing Musical Instruments
3) Prayer
4) Relating dreams
5) Edification, Exhortation and Comfort

Therefore, it is possible to prophesy without teaching, but you cannot teach without prophesying. ‘Prophesying’ is a very broad brush while teaching is a very focused part of prophesying.

That is right! When we investigate how this word is used in the Old Testament, we find that ‘prophecy’ is a word which is used to include much more than simply speaking as a teacher or a preacher. Let us read what the Holy Spirit inspired to be called ‘prophecy’. When we see how this word was used in the Old Testament, we will then have a much better understanding of how Paul used this word in the New Testament, and we can then understand that he was not contradicting himself at all when he tells us that a woman who ‘prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head’, and in the same breath tell us that “Let your women keep silence in the church for it is not permitted for a woman to speak” (1Co 14:34)

1) Prophesying Includes Singing

The seventy elders who were to help Moses judge the people were all prophets:

Num 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him [Moses], and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

Where were these leaders and elders when they were prophesying? Were they in the camp teaching the people? They could have been, but no, that is not where they were prophesying:

Num 11:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.
Num 11:17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

Num 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

These seventy men were all standing with Moses at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. The only person in the group who prophesied of what was about to happen with these seventy men and who also prophesied of the imminent arrival of flocks of quail which would fall upon the camp of Israel three feet deep a day’s journey on either side of the camp, was Moses. So, what were these 70 men doing while ‘they prophesied and did not cease… standing with Moses at the tabernacle’?

Let’s read on and see what others did when they, too, ‘prophesied’ and maybe then we can get a feel for what was happening with these men at the tabernacle of the congregation:

2) Prophecy Includes Playing Musical Instruments:

Samuel was both a prophet and a judge. In that capacity, we will see that Samuel prophesied of future events while telling Saul, whom he had just anointed to be king, that Saul would ‘prophesy with a company of prophets… with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp’:

1Sa 10:5 After that thou [King Saul] shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
1Sa 10:6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

1Sa 10:9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
1Sa 10:10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
1Sa 10:11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, [with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them;] then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
1Sa 10:12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?

How did King Saul prophesy with these prophets? The answer is: “With a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them… they [did] prophesy.”

King David appointed men to “prophesy with” musical instruments:

1Ch 25:1 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
1Ch 25:2 Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied [with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals] according to the order of the king.
1Ch 25:3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.

1Ch 25:6 All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king’s order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.

These men all “prophesied with harp… under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God.”

Of all these men, it is also stated that they “prophesied with a harp… for song… to give thanks and to praise the LORD.” That is what the seventy men were doing when they ‘prophesied without ceasing while standing with Moses at the tabernacle’ (Num 11:25).

Even an evil spirit prophesied through King Saul as David played upon his instrument:

1Sa 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.
1Sa 18:11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

It is obvious that when King Saul “prophesied in the midst of the house” he was not “speaking unto men to edification, exhortation and comfort” (1Co 14:3). What wicked King Saul was doing was singing to David’s music just as He did at the very beginning of his reign when he ‘prophesied’ with the “company of prophets” with musical instruments. Let’s read it again:

1Sa 10:5 After that thou [King Saul] shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy.

1Sa 10:10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

Is this not the same thing that took place among the seventy elders at the tabernacle of the congregation?

Num 11:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.
Num 11:17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

Num 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

Is this not why Miriam, Moses’ sister, is called a prophetess? Did not God speak through Miriam as she led the women in song in celebrating the destruction of the Egyptian army in the depths of the Red Sea?

Exo 15:20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
Exo 15:21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

3) Prophecy Includes Prayers:

1Ki 18:27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them [the prophets of Baal], and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
1Ki 18:28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
1Ki 18:29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

The prophets of Baal were praying and begging their God to come down and burn up their offering. We are also told “they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice…”

It should be very clear that prophesying has a much broader application than simply teaching in a congregation and speaking unto men to edification, exhortation and comfort (1Co 14:3). It should by now be clear that Paul was referring to this much broader application when he made the statement that women could indeed prophesy with their heads covered and yet they are not permitted to teach “as also saith the law.”

What Is Love?

Of course, there always have been and there always will be false prophets. The last thing in the world these false prophets want you to do is to expose them and their false doctrines. Consequently, such prophets will aways, of necessity, be accusing God’s true prophets of being less than loving when God’s true prophets “try the spirits” and find them to be false spirits. It is considered ‘unloving’ to apply God’s Words concerning the function of women in the church. We then end up right back in the same position as those who teach the false, cancerous and deadly doctrine of “agreement in the essentials and tolerance in the non-essentials, but love in all things.” It is the very same doctrine which has produced the 40,000 plus Christian denominations, all claiming to be serving the same God while teaching conflicting and opposing doctrines and “saying peace, peace, when there is no peace.” Here are a few of the scriptures which are considered ‘unloving’ by the heretics of “historical orthodox Christianity.”

“A man that is an heretick, after the first and second admonition reject,” becomes words of hatred proffered by that same hateful apostle whom we are told in Babylon that he “hated women”:

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.

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

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Are these the doctrines of Christ or are these false doctrines from false apostles? Are these spiritual Truths or are these words merely ink on paper? Are those who take these words seriously just modern-day Pharisees who know their Bibles but don’t know and recognize Christ? The difference is the difference between life and death. Here again is Paul’s answer to that question:

1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

Here, too, is the verse just before John’s admonition to keep any other doctrine out of your spiritual house:

2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Are you “abiding in the doctrine of Christ, or have you “progressed” beyond that doctrine? Has it now become unloving to apply these strict warnings against allowing heretics and heresy into your spiritual house? Has it now become a loving thing to just allow a spiritual fornicator to remain in your spiritual house and “leaven the whole lump?”

Here is a verse for the consideration of all those who believe that the written word holds us back from ‘progressing in the things of the spirit:’

1Co 4:6  Now these things, brothers, I applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us ye might learn not to think above that which is written, so that ye may not be puffed up, one over the one against the other. (ACV)

All who are teaching that you are receiving revelation completely independently of God’s written words, look closely at verse 6. Now leave out the words which have been added to the text. They are bracketed to let us know that these words were added by the translators. Here is how verse six reads without the added words:

1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Not one of God’s apostles ever thought “above that which was written.” None of them were “puffed up one against the other.” Those who “think above that which is written” are the very ones who are “puffed up for one against another.” All who go beyond “what is written” have gone ‘beyond’ any possible hope of “trying the spirits to see whether they be of God.” They have not “learned… not to think above that which is written.” They are adrift in a sea of heresy without the rudder of “that which is written” against which to try those “idols of the heart” which have them in their grip. Paul poses this question to all such “prophets who think themselves spiritual:”

1Co 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ [from another]? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive [it], why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received [it]?

After receiving so much from “that which is written,” these “prophets who think themselves spiritual” refuse to “acknowledge that the things [which Paul writes] are the commandments of the Lord.”

1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

What are we again told to do with such heretics? Here is the very next verse. It accords with all the other verses which deal with heresy and heretics:

1Co 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

When we go back to a mindset of fear that others will perceive us as dictators who are just looking for an excuse to cast others out of our synagogues, then the sad truth is that we were never really in the synagogue of Christ. Those who “abide in the doctrine of Christ” are uncompromising when it comes to “abiding in Him.”

1Jn 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

Eze 13:22 Because with lies ye [false prophets] have made the heart of the righteous [who try the spirits] sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked [with all their heresies], that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life [‘let’s all just love each other’]:

Again, what is Truth?

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

When we ‘progress’ beyond God’s Word, we are not sanctified but rather defiled in the very same way the false prophets of old were defiled:

1Ki 22:10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
1Ki 22:11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
1Ki 22:12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king’s hand.

When God decides to deceive us, we are deceived by our own prophecies. Prophesying in a manner faithful to the word of God will cause all the prophets who are not faithful to God’s Word to hate you and want you dead:

Jer 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

Jer 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love [to have it] so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

Jer 11:21 Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand:

Jer 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. [Independent of God’s Word]

Jer 26:11 Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city [“Spiritual Sodom, where our lord was crucified”], as ye have heard with your ears.

Eze 13:2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;
Eze 13:3 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
Eze 13:4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
Eze 13:5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
Eze 13:6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.

So true prophecy must be in accord with God’s “that which is written” word and not “our own spirit.” “The LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.”

Jer 19:14 Then came Jeremiah from Tophet, whither the LORD had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of the LORD’S house; and said to all the people,
Jer 19:15 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.

4) Prophecy includes relating dreams.

Jer 23:25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
Jer 23:26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;

Even our dreams must be tried “to see whether they be of God.” Any prophet who has progressed outside of God’s Word is a false prophet indeed. There are many thousands of such prophets.

5) Prophesy Includes “Edification, Exhortation, and Comfort”

1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

While there is no argument at all that many women are very capable public speakers and teachers, the Word of God is still our standard:

1Co 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak [as a teacher] in the church.

1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach [in the church], nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

Women can and should be teaching their children and younger women. There are so very many ways to help in the church which are crying out to be filled by women who, like Miriam, wanted to be a Moses instead of a Miriam.

Both Joel and Peter tell us, “Your sons and daughters shall prophesy.”

Joe 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Joe 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

We have seen how Miriam prophesied.

Exo 15:20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
Exo 15:21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

Deborah was both a prophetess and a judge. Here is how she is introduced to us:

Jdg 4:4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
Jdg 4:5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

Now look at the very next verse in this story of Deborah:

Jdg 4:6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
Jdg 4:7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

What is the response from this great male leader of the armies of Israel, the people of God?

Jdg 4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

How does God react to such a spineless man who must have a woman with him before he will go to war, who cannot follow the spirit of God’s Word but must be able to see the flesh of a woman taking the lead, the soul leading the spirit?

Jdg 4:9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

So, the whole story of Deborah’s judging of Israel is not one which is meant to inspire young girls to political leadership. It is rather a story which emphasizes the shameful condition which has always been the case in Israel:

Isa 3:12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee [women rulers, “that woman Jezebel”] cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths [false doctrines “destroy” any Truth they encounter].

This is not a positive statement, and the story of Deborah is not one of the highlights of Israel’s sad and rebellious history. God had already decided to have a woman take Barak’s honor because God is relating this whole story of Deborah’s time of judging Israel to show us just how far from Him the spineless men of Israel were:

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.

Barak is a perfect spiritual example of the men in the churches who call themselves by God’s name today. They would never in a thousand years quote Paul’s words to the Corinthians, to Timothy or to Titus concerning the function of women in their churches. Like Barak, they are afraid of what might happen if a woman is not leading them in their service to God. As Maud Amy Humbard told one of the TV news magazines many years ago, “Rex (her husband Rex Humbard, whose TV program was the largest religious program on TV at that time) “Rex might be the head of the house, but I am the neck, and the neck turns the head.” It was well known by all that Maud Amy was the head of the Humbard household, and that she ruled Rex Humbard. Rex Humbard, Joyce Myers, Kenneth Copeland, and all of the other ministers of our day, demonstrate by their actions that they despise the words of God respecting the function of men and the function of women in the body of Christ.

1Ti3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Those are the Biblical qualifications of a ‘bishop.’ What are the qualifications of a deacon?

1Ti 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
1Ti 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1Ti 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
1Ti 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
1Ti 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
1Ti 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Now if God’s Word said that a bishop must be the ‘wife of one husband,’ then that is what I would also say. But instead, we are told that both a bishop and a deacon “must be the husband of one wife ruling their children and their own houses well” or else they are not qualified to be bishops or deacons.

Can a woman somehow fulfill those qualifications? No, a woman cannot be “the husband of one wife.” If Joyce Myers rules her house and has her children in subjection, is she thereby qualified to rule the house of God? No, if Joyce Myers rules her husband, she is not even qualified to be a proper mother because she is not setting a proper Biblical example for her children, much less being a proper ruler over the house of God.

What are women to do in God’s church? Are we given any specific instructions for women?

Mar 15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
Mar 15:41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

“Many… women… came up with Christ unto Jerusalem… followed Him and ministered unto Him.” How did these women “minister to Christ? They “ministered to Him” then just as they should be ministering to Him to this day. They helped in every way they could. Martha prepared meals, Peter’s mother-in-law “ministered” to Christ immediately after he healed her of her fever. Mary ministered to Christ by sitting quietly at His feet as He taught and by washing His feet with her tears and wiping them with her long hair. Mary was content with whatever she was given to do for Christ.

Mat 26:13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Look at what a humiliating ‘memorial’ is told of Mary:

Luk 7:44  And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
Luk 7:45  Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
Luk 7:46  My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
Luk 7:47  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
Luk 7:48  And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

Mary’s humility and obedience is the example which Christ holds forth to us showing what ‘the woman’ is to do in His service. Such an attitude will be richly rewarded while all of today’s women preachers and teachers “in the churches” will be having this “idol of the heart” burned out of them.

Other women “ministered” to Christ financially:

Luk 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
Luk 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Luk 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

What are the specific instructions given in the New Testament as regards women?

1Ti 2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
1Ti 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
1Ti 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
1Ti 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

Why should “not a woman… teach nor usurp authority over the man?”

1Ti 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
1Ti 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

There it is! That is what women should be doing “in the churches.” What a witness are such women! These women do not “despise governments and dominions” ordained by God for the good of his own ‘body.’ “Be teachers of good things… teach the young women to be sober, love their husbands instead of naturally being against them, love and teach their children, be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” There is what God would have women to do in His “church which is His body.”

Is all this still true today? If it ever was true, then it is still true for today because Truth is not something which changes with time. Jesus Christ is the Truth. Truth Is, Was and Will Be Truth. Truth never changes.

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

Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

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

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

All who are willing to twist and distort God’s Word to make “of note among the apostles” into ‘are notable apostles’ are accomplishing nothing less than demonstrating their unwillingness to relinquish this idol of their heart.

Rom 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Andronicus and Junia were “kinsmen, fellowprisoners, of note among the apostles and in Christ before Paul.” Is there one word in that verse that intimates that these two women were “the husband of one wife” and somehow qualified to be apostles and were somehow exempt from the “commandments of the Lord” concerning the function of women “in the church?”

Conclusion

It should now be obvious that:

1) Christ is “the beginning of the creation of God,” and when all is said and done and the eons have run their course, that the power of the throne will still reside in the Father and Christ will still “be subject unto Him.” This is the lesson we are to learn from the fact that “He made them male and female.”

2) When Paul spoke of a woman “prophesying with her head covered” he was not contradicting his own multiple admonitions against allowing women to be bishops and teachers. It should be obvious that the prophesying he was referring to was either 1) singing 2) playing a musical instrument, or 3) praying. It would never have entered Paul’s mind to allow a woman to be a bishop or a teacher. So, it is doubtful that she would be either leading a prayer or relating her dreams to give direction to those “in the church.” That being said, there is nothing wrong with the ladies in our fellowship from offering scriptures, asking questions or making comments during our solicited nightly discussions.

3) As long as we are male and female we are not yet received “the promised possession.” It should also be clear that just because there is neither marrying nor giving in marriage in the resurrection, this does not exclude a godly order in the spirit realm.

4) Adam’s condition before Eve’s creation from Adam’s rib was a condition of not being complete, and it was through Eve and not separated from Eve, that Adam would become complete. Just as “the church [is] the fulness of Him [Christ] that fills All in all:”

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

5) That “come out of her my people” is a call to come out of the bondwoman with her bond servant son into the freewoman and her “son of the freewoman.” It should be clear that both are “In Me… In Christ,” and both are the “seed of Abraham” even though one is carnal and rejected. It should now be clear that going from the first Adam to the last Adam is an inevitable progression that all mankind will experience “each in his own order.”

6) That anyone who thinks himself a prophet or spiritual needs to acknowledge that the things written are the commandments of the Lord, and that anyone who supposedly has “progressed” beyond those “commandments of the Lord” has ‘progressed’ right along with Judas, from apostleship into apostasy.

7) That we are “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” and will be fighting a spiritual war with the “powers and principalities and rulers of darkness of this world” as long as we are in this “sinful flesh.”

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Acts 21:1-9 Philip Had Four Daughters Which Did Prophesy

Paul goes up to Jerusalem for the last time

[Study Aired August 6, 2023]

Act 21:1  And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
Act 21:2  And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
Act 21:3  Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
Act 21:4  And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
Act 21:5  And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
Act 21:6  And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.
Act 21:7  And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
Act 21:8  And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
Act 21:9  And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

In our last study, Paul and his traveling companions had just left the elders of Ephesus who had met Paul in Miletus, a city south of Ephesus. He had warned them he knew that ‘after his departing grievous wolves would arise in the church of their own elders and would devour and scatter the Lord’s flock.’ He had also told them that it had been revealed to him that ‘they would see his face no more’, and they were all heartbroken at his words, and they all expressed their sadness at such a thought:

Act 20:36  And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
Act 20:37  And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,
Act 20:38  Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

We have come to Acts 21 where Paul agrees to demonstrate before all that ‘he is not teaching the Jews among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, and that he himself is walking orderly and keeping the law of Moses’ while teaching the Gentiles that they “observe no such thing”:

Act 21:23  Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
Act 21:24  Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
Act 21:25  As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

This was the “decree of the apostles and elders” given them by the holy ghost, which Paul and Silas shared with all the churches after the conference in Jerusalem about whether Gentiles needed to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses:

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Act 16:1  Then came he [and Silas (Acts 15:40)] to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
Act 16:2  Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
Act 16:3  Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
Act 16:4  And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
Act 16:5  And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

These verses in Acts 16 above deal with the beginning of Paul’s second journey, during which he established new churches in Phillipi, Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth where he spent a year and a half:

Act 18:9  Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
Act 18:10  For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
Act 18:11  And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Paul had just established the church in Corinth and Berea, Thessalonica, and Philippi on this second journey. It was only on this third journey that he was led by the Lord, apparently through a suggestion from some of ‘them of Macedonia and Achaia’ to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem” (Rom 15:26).

Paul knew that a gift from the Gentile Christians to the Jewish Christians in their time of need would serve to unify the entire church, which is what happens when we all love and support each other:

Eph 4:16  From whom [Christ] the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying [G3619: ‘oikodome’] of itself in love.

Here is the BT+ definition of the Greek word ‘oikodome’, G3619:

– Original: οἰκοδομή
– Transliteration: Oikodome
– Phonetic: oy-kod-om-ay’
– Definition:
(the act of) building, building up
metaph. edifying, edification
the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness
a building (i.e. the thing built, edifice)

– Origin: feminine (abstract) of a compound of G3624 and the base of G1430
– TDNT entry: 07:24,7
– Part(s) of speech: Noun Feminine
– Strong’s: Feminine (abstraction) of a compound of G3624 and the base of G1430; architecture that is (concretely) a structure; figuratively confirmation: – building edify (-ication -ing).

Of course, the spiritual meaning of building each other up spiritually is the primary and most important meaning of the Greek word ‘oikodome’, but when we minister to each other’s physical needs we demonstrate our concern for our spiritual needs also. That was why he went up to Jerusalem at the end of his third journey with all his Gentile traveling companions with this financial gift from all the Gentile churches.

Paul Goes up to Jerusalem for the last time

Act 21:1  And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, [from the elders of Ephesus who had gathered together with the apostle Paul in Miletus] and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
Act 21:2  And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
Act 21:3  Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.

Here is a map of that leg of this third journey:

https://www.conformingtojesus.com/images/webpages/pauls_third_missionary_journey1.jpeg

Act 21:4  And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

These brothers were made to know that bonds and afflictions awaited Paul in Jerusalem. This is what he had told the Ephesian elders before leaving them back in Miletus:

Act 20:22  And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
Act 20:23  Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

Paul had been preparing and ‘boasting’ of this gift for years, and he was led by the spirit to take it up to Jerusalem with the men whom the churches had picked to go with him:

1Co 16:1  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
1Co 16:2  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
1Co 16:3  And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
1Co 16:4  And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

2Co 9:2  For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

Act 21:5  And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
Act 21:6  And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.

This church in Tyre was in the province of Phenice. It was not one Paul had established. It would have been established by those who fled Jerusalem “upon the persecution that arose about [the stoning of] Stephen”:

Act 11:19  Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

At that time those who had fled Jerusalem preaching “the word to none but unto the Jews only.” This was without a doubt a mainly Jewish church, and yet they showed such great affection to Paul and his company that Paul spent seven days with that church in Tyre, and then the whole church accompanied him and his companions out of the city all the way to the port where they all prayed together on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea before boarding the ship to sail to another city with another Jewish congregation in Ptolemais.

Act 21:7  And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
Act 21:8  And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

If “we that were of Paul’s company” included all those who “accompanied him into Asia” then Philip had quite a large group to care for:

Act 20:4  And there accompanied him into Asia [1] Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, [2] Aristarchus and [3] Secundus; and [4] Gaius of Derbe, and [5] Timotheus; and of Asia, [6] Tychicus and [7] Trophimus.

Silas is not mentioned at this point. Paul may have sent him to minister to one of the churches. Not including Silas, but including Paul and Luke, Philip would have at least nine people in his home.

Act 21:9  And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

When we read that “[Philip] had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy” Luke is not at all telling us they were bishops and elders in the church in Caesarea. Here are a couple of links dealing with the subject of women being teachers and preachers in the church.

https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/can-women-preach/

https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/the-head-of-christ-is-god/

The last third of the second link, The Head of Christ is God, is the part which deals with the subject of women prophesying. What we are told is that “every woman [including Philip’s four daughters] who prays or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head.”

1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
1Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
1Co 11:6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
1Co 11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.

What is the meaning of “her head uncovered?” It means she has removed her covering, which is her glory. In other words, she has usurped the position of her head. Physically, that is a woman’s husband and spiritually, it is Christ to whom we are all, male and female, espoused as our “husband”:

2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

“The head of every man is Christ, but the head of the woman is the man.” This statement is not speaking only of marriage. It has to do with the order which God has instituted in “the things that are made” which reveal the invisible things of God:

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

The reason given for why women are supposed to be “covered” when they pray or prophesy is “Because the man is not of the woman; but the woman is of the man,” meaning that what we are demonstrating in our acknowledgment of these facts is that we understand and see that the Father is not of Christ but Christ is of the Father. It is by demonstrating the physical order that we learn of invisible spiritual order.

That is why is God spends so much of chapter 11 of 1 Corinthians explaining to us the relationship Christ has with His father. These verses of scripture teach us that the relationship between the man and the woman demonstrates Christ’s relationship to His father. The reason given is so we will know how to conduct ourselves “when you come together into one place.” That point is made three times in this same chapter:

1Co 11:18 For first of all, [1] when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
1Co 11:20 [2] When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
1Co 11:33 Wherefore, my brethren, [3] when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
1Co 11:34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

Part of this chapter is about how we are to conduct ourselves “when we come together in one place.” In giving these behavioral instructions, we are told that a woman is not to pray or prophesy with her head uncovered. A ‘covered head’ is explained as God being the head of Christ, Christ being the head of the man and the man being the head of the woman.

1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head [Christ].
1Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head [her husband and thereby Christ]: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

We are not talking about a physical veil as is the custom for women to wear in Middle eastern countries even to this day. The covering is Christ being the head of the man and the man being the head of the woman; not because they are a married couple, but for this reason:

1Co 11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.

This is all to remind us that “the head of Christ is God.” The false, unscriptural doctrine of the trinity, a doctrine of three “co-equal members of one Godhead” promotes a lack of order. It promotes a homosexual attitude which says there is no need for a single head of a household. It promotes confusion in the family, and it promotes confusion in the church. On the other hand, God wants us to be an example of His order; not just in spirit but also in “walk” in our physical bodies:

1Co 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
1Co 14:34  Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
1Co 14:35  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
1Co 14:36  What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
1Co 14:37  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
1Co 14:38  But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
1Co 14:39  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
1Co 14:40  Let all things be done decently and in order.

Do any of these verses tell us that we cannot solicit women to speak in our fellowship? Obviously not, because Paul spoke to “women not a few” in every city:

Act 16:13  And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

Act 17:4  And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

Act 17:12  Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

Christ never spoke a word unless He was told to do so by His Head, His covering, His Father. If I speak a word which has not been spoken in scripture, if any man cannot demonstrate that he is speaking in accord with God’s Word, that man or that woman is prophesying with his or her head “uncovered.”

What then, are the differences between the functions of men and women “in the church”? The very apostle, who under inspiration of God’s holy spirit, wrote…

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

…also wrote:

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus..

Now if “there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus,” why then does Paul say, “The head of the man is Christ and the head of the woman is the man?” If there is “neither bond nor free… in Christ” why then did Paul send Onesimus back to his owner Philemon?

The writings of Paul and Peter and the words of Christ Himself answer this dilemma. We are all “one in Christ” only “in spirit” as a “many membered body” (1Co 12). That phrase “in Christ” means we are “one in Christ” only in down payment form which will not be realized in the fullness of the inheritance until we are resurrected:

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

Christ clarified this very point for the unbelieving Sadducees who asked Him this question:

Mat 22:23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
Mat 22:24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
Mat 22:25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
Mat 22:26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
Mat 22:27 And last of all the woman died also.
Mat 22:28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
Mat 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Mat 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Christ puts the resurrection yet future. John also points out that the resurrection and “our inheritance… the redemption of the purchased possession,” is yet future:

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.

“In Christ there is neither male nor female” is a spiritual fact which will not be fully realized until the resurrection. I will be the first to tell you that every word of God must be experienced inwardly before we will be in a position to rule and reign over others outwardly. Nevertheless, we must never forget there is a ‘Will Be’ component to those words, and “it does not yet appear what we shall be.” In the meantime, we are to “glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Paul warns us against those who do not see the need to wait for the resurrection when there will be “neither marrying nor giving in marriage:”

2Ti 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Yet those who point to Galatians 3:28 to justify their desire to nullify “the commandments of the Lord” concerning a woman’s place within the body of Christ, are effectively saying that the resurrection is past. They are taking the “down payment of the Spirit” as having already received the “fulness of Christ… the inheritance of the purchased possession”, and they casually dismiss all the verses which prohibit women from being ordained ministers and teachers in the church. The next logical conclusion is that since we are neither male nor female, but we are all one in Christ, therefore there is no need for husbands to be the heads of their families or the head of their wives. Since women no longer need to be quiet in church, they no longer need to “submit unto your husband as unto Christ.”

Eph 5:22  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

What does God’s Word say is the part women are to play in a church? Does ‘in Christ there is neither male nor female’ mean that women should now aspire to become a Deborah and become the judges of God’s people? Are they now to become ministers and teachers in the churches because men, who profess to be Christians, like Barak have abrogated their God- given place in His service?

It is instructive for us to notice that the admonitions given as to what is the order to be maintained in God’s church are not addressed to women. They are addressed to men:

1Co 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

1Ti 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
1Ti 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
1Ti 2:13 For [because] Adam was first formed, then Eve.
1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
1Ti 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

These words are all addressed to those men who ought to be the elders and leaders in the churches. “Adam was not deceived” does not mean that Adam did not also transgress. He certainly did. He just did so willingly and knowingly, rather than to be separated from his wife:

Rom 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

It is in this way, knowing the consequences of what he was doing, that Adam is a figure of Christ. While Adam was the willing channel of death to all, Christ, through partaking of that death, is also the willing channel of life to all. There is plenty of ‘transgression’ to go around for both men and women, but what we need now to understand, as it concerns ‘Philip’s four daughters who did prophesy’, is what the difference is between prophecy and teaching. Only then can we understand how Paul can say that a woman can prophesy with her head covered but she cannot teach. So, we will use this study to make clear what is the difference between prophesying and teaching.

To begin our search for the Biblical answer to this question, we are going to list all the verses in the New Testament besides this verse concerning Philp’s four daughters who prophesied, which deal with prophetesses and women prophesying. We want only to know what these women were doing.

The word ‘prophetess’ appears only twice in the New Testament. The first is in a positive sense and the second is in a negative light. Here is the first positive appearance of this word:

Luk 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
Luk 2:37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
Luk 2:38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Anna was a prophetess. What did she do in this capacity? She “served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” She also “came in that instant and gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Israel.”

To understand what “that instant” means we must read about what happened just before “that instant:”

Luk 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Luk 2:22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present [him] to the Lord;
Luk 2:23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
Luk 2:24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
Luk 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
Luk 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Luk 2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
Luk 2:28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Luk 2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
Luk 2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Luk 2:31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
Luk 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Luk 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
Luk 2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
Luk 2:35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

The very next verse begins relating what the prophetess Anna said concerning Christ. So, Anna heard Simeon state that this child was the Christ, and “She also “came in that instant and gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Israel.” Anna bore witness “to all them that looked for redemption in Israel” to what she had heard Simeon say.

Here is the second mention of a prophetess in the New Testament:

Rev 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

A few other New Testament verses come immediately to mind when reading Revelation 2:20:

1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

The church at Thyatira allowed a prophetess to teach and to seduce God’s servants to commit fornication, and to eat things [false doctrines] sacrificed unto idols. The ‘food’ Jezebel was serving up was all her false doctrines. Jezebel certainly did not bother to “cover her head.” That is one thing we know characterizes the spirit of Jezebel. Jezebel had a man murdered for her husband’s sake and didn’t even bother to tell her husband what she was doing (1Kg 21:5-15).

Then why does Paul tell us a woman can prophesy if her head is ‘covered’?

1Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

Again, in our present study we are told:

Act 21:9 And the same man [Philip] had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

We have two scriptural witnesses in the New Testament which tell us that women can ‘prophecy.’ The first is here in Acts 21:9 and the second is 1 Corinthians 11:5. In the same epistle in which Paul tells us a woman can prophesy with her head covered, just three chapters later he also informs us that women are to “keep silent in the church” and “that the things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”

1Co 14:31 For ye [ye men] may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
1Co 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
1Co 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
1Co 14:36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

“Came the word of God… unto you only?” Do you “think yourself to be spiritual?” Well, if you do, maybe you need to reread verse 37 a few times and allow those inspired words to sink into your ‘spiritual’ mind. Paul’s epistles were written under the inspiration of the holy spirit, and these admonitions are spiritual admonitions carrying with them spiritual truths. When we become so bold as to say these words which Paul, under inspiration of God’s Spirit, admonishes us to consider as “spiritual… commandments of the Lord,” are in reality nothing more than Paul’s personal opinion concerning physical order in a physical congregation, then we are defying the apostle and the holy spirit, and we are making ourselves the arbiters of what is and what is not the inspired Words of God. All who do this, most of the Protestant churches and many Catholics also, are at the same time both “adding to” and “taking from” the plain, straightforward words of God… “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”

Here is what James says about the scriptures:

Jas 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

To submit to God, is to submit to His Word. When one part of the body of Christ lusts and envies the function of another part of the body, there is pride and “every evil work.”

Jas 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Jas 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
Jas 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Jas 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Pilate asked the question,’What is Truth?’ Christ Himself gives us the answer:

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

The fact that the Pharisees could quote the Old Testament and still not understand it, testifies only to their blinded condition. It does not testify to the inefficacy of the scriptures themselves. I will also pose this question to those who feel that they have “progressed” beyond the plain words of scripture; “do you think the scripture says in vain” (Jas 4:5)…

1Co 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
1Co 14:36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

We will all be best served to believe that Paul’s words “are the commandments of the Lord” and must be obeyed. Nevertheless, we still must confront the verses which say a woman can ‘prophesy.’ We still have to answer the question which always comes up ‘What is the difference between ‘prophecy’ and ‘teaching?’ How can Paul say “let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law,” and in the same breath say that a woman can prophesy if her head is covered?

1Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

The only way we will come to understand this is to when we come to see that Paul, who was an Old Testament scholar, understood clearly that the word ‘prophecy’ had a very broad definition which included much more than men “speaking to the edification, exhortation and comfort” of the entire congregation:

1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

If “edification, exhortation and comfort” are the full and complete definition of the word ‘prophesy’, then Paul is contradicting himself when he tells us women can prophesy but they cannot teach. After all, what is teaching if it does not edify and exhort and comfort the person being taught? On the other hand, if the definition of this word ‘prophesy’ is much broader than simply teaching to edify, exhort and comfort, then Paul would not be contradicting himself at all when he says a woman can prophesy with her head covered, yet not teach. Philip’s daughters also could be prophetesses and still not be teachers in the church. The next step we must take in our quest for Truth should be to ask our heavenly Father to show us what His Spirit had in mind whenever it inspired the “holy men of old” to use this word ‘prophesy.’ Paul certainly knew every way this word was used in the Old Testament and was a “scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven.”

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.

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

Does that sound like we are ever intended to come to the point where we can leave the scriptures behind under the guise of ‘progressing in the spirit?’ It absolutely does not, and all who are attaching themselves to this ‘fullness now’ doctrine for the sake of justifying women in the ministry, are attaching themselves to a deadly doctrine which is nothing less than the old “the resurrection is past” doctrine against which Paul warned us all.

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

We will stop here for now and discover in our next study just how broad a meaning this word ‘prophecy’ had in the Old Testament with which Paul was intimately familiar.

Jer 32:1-22  Houses and Fields and Vineyards Shall be Possessed Again in this Land.

[Study Aired February 27, 2022]

Jer 32:1  The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.
Jer 32:2  For then the king of Babylon’s army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah’s house.
Jer 32:3  For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;
Jer 32:4  And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;
Jer 32:5  And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.
Jer 32:6  And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jer 32:7  Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.
Jer 32:8  So Hanameel mine uncle’s son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.
Jer 32:9  And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle’s son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.
Jer 32:10  And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.
Jer 32:11  So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:
Jer 32:12  And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle’s son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.
Jer 32:13  And I charged Baruch before them, saying,
Jer 32:14  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.
Jer 32:15  For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.
Jer 32:16  Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying,
Jer 32:17  Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
Jer 32:18  Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,
Jer 32:19  Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
Jer 32:20  Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, and in Israel, and among other men; and hast made thee a name, as at this day;
Jer 32:21  And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;
Jer 32:22  And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;

The Lord knows our frame because He is our framer and Maker. He knows that we are mere frail clay which requires encouragement to endure the trials He has written in our books. That is why all through this prophecy of Jeremiah He is constantly reminding us that even though His plan for us includes the process of being dragged to Him as a spiritual infant then falling away because of the trials of life, it also includes repenting of our apostate days in Babylonian captivity and being dragged back to Him and enduring to the end the many fiery trials of that process.

There is not one person anywhere in scripture who has not betrayed their Lord.

Psa 53:3  Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

From “the first man”, Adam, to the first resurrection, every single human being, including all the apostles and followers of Christ then and now, will all be made ashamed of the frailty of their own strength, and made to acknowledge that it is Christ who works in them, both to will and to do of His good pleasure, and that part of “His… pleasure” is for every man to first be made wicked before being purified with fire and being made righteous in Christ, Who is that ‘fire”.

1Co 15:43  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1Co 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Our hearts are just naturally hardened against the Lord and His ways because we are, by His design, “first… of the earth, earthy. We default to making idols of our own imaginations, and it is by the Lord’s design. Graven images and idols symbolize the false doctrines with their “strong delusion” which gives them their undeserved, lying credibility, which causes us to “believe a lie”:

2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

This is the extent of the pleasure we have in unrighteousness when we are in that phase of the process the Lord is working in us:

Isa 44:9  They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
Isa 44:10  Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
Isa 44:11  Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.
Isa 44:12  The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.
Isa 44:13  The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.

When we are under the Lord’s “strong delusion” we are our ‘own witness’. We reject the counsel of our leaders who have proven their dedication to the Lord and His Word, and we establish all of our lies by telling even more lies and establishing even more false doctrines. We work very hard “in the coals”, and we sacrifice our time and our energies to establish the delusions to which the Lord has given us.

Doing “many wonderful works in [the Lord’s name] and sacrificing our time and energies to be seen of men does not please the Lord at all. What does please Him is when we “tremble at His Word” and do the things He says for us to do:

Isa 66:1  Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Isa 66:3  He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
Isa 66:4  I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

When we “choose our own ways” and delight in our own false doctrines, all our sacrifices to the Lord become nothing short of blaspheming His name.

Rom 2:24  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

Christ is indeed “working all things after the counsel of His own will”, but it is His will to destroy our old man and his kingdom and all of his ways. Therefore, the Lord poses this question to us at that stage of our judgment:

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

The Lord always answers His own questions for us:

Psa 90:3  Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

That is the message the Lord gives us in this chapter of Jeremiah. It is a continuation of the very same message which permeates the prophecy of Isaiah:

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.

To make this point, the Lord had Jeremiah purchase a field from his first cousin, Hanameel. It all happened just so He could demonstrate for us that after He puts us through the process of “making us to err from His ways, and hardening our hearts from His fear” then He will also proceed to drag us out of Babylon and back to Himself:

Jer 32:1  The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.

Jerusalem withstood the siege of Babylon for a year and a half.  So “the tenth year of Zedekiah” is one year into and during the middle of the siege of Jerusalem:

Jer 39:1  In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it.
Jer 39:2  And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up.

So the town of Anathoth was in the hand of the Babylonians at that time.

Jer 32:2  For then the king of Babylon’s army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah’s house.
Jer 32:3  For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;

Recall that it was six years earlier, “in the fourth year… of the reign of Zedekiah”, that Hananiah the false prophet had gotten the ear of King Zedekiah with his false prophecy of a short time of captivity for the Lord’s people:

Jer 28:1  And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
Jer 28:2  Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Jer 28:3  Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD’S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon:

The spirit of Hananiah appeals to our flesh and tells us that Christ did everything for us, and we need not die daily or be crucified with Him. That is what King Zedekiah wanted to hear, and that is what he believed, preferring the smooth words of a lie over the Truth, as Jeremiah pointed out:

Jer 28:15  Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.

Jeremiah has been prophesying of Judah’s judgment since the days of King Josiah. He had accurately prophesied the fate of Josiah’s sons, Shallum, and Jehoiakim, and Jehoiakim’s son Jehoiachin. The prophecy of the yoke of Babylon had been given to Jeremiah six years earlier than the events of this 32^nd chapter “in the fourth year of Zedekiah”:

Jer 28:1  And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
Jer 28:2  Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.

At that time, six years before the events of this 32^nd chapter, the Lord had even told Jeremiah that Hananiah the false prophet would die for leading Judah to believe a lie:

Jer 28:12  Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
Jer 28:13  Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.
Jer 28:14  For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.
Jer 28:15  Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
Jer 28:16  Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD.
Jer 28:17  So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

In this 32^nd chapter, six years after Hananiah’s failed prophecy and resulting death, Jeremiah is speaking the same truthful words. The lying prophecy of Hananiah were proven to be lies, but that lie was still ringing in the ears of King Zedekiah who still refused to listen to the words of the Lord from Jeremiah, the Lord’s proven prophet. Hananiah had prophesied that the Lord would break the yoke of Babylon and that Jehoiachin and all the vessels of the temple would be returned to Jerusalem within two years. Jeremiah had been told to tell Hananiah that he would die that same year, and that was exactly what happened. Jeremiah continued to remain faithful to the word of the Lord. The Lord had not only proven that Hananiah was a false prophet, but Hananiah’s death that same year proved that Jeremiah was a true prophet of God, and Zedekiah knew that Jeremiah’s prophecies were the words of God Himself. However, like King Saul many years earlier, Zedekiah feared the people more than he feared God or God’s prophet.

Nevertheless, Jeremiah, like all true prophets of God, remained faithful to and repeated the words of the Lord, and they definitely were not “smooth words”:

Jer 32:4  And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;
Jer 32:5  And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.

In this story Judah and Jerusalem, with their King Zedekiah, symbolize the great whore who has turned her back on her husband, Christ, and this unfaithful wife is fighting against wicked men who are the Lord’s own sword:

Psa 17:13  Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
Psa 17:14  From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure:  they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

Here is the Lord Himself telling us from His perspective who the great whore is:

Isa 1:1  The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Isa 1:2  Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
Isa 1:3  The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
Isa 1:4  Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
Isa 1:5  Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
Isa 1:6  From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
Isa 1:7  Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

It is the Lord’s own apostate people who are the great whore of scripture, and those are the Lord’s own words He uses to describe His apostate, unfaithful wife:

Isa 1:21  How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
Isa 1:22  Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:

Rev 18:24  And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

In actual practice, it is Judah and Jerusalem and their King Zedekiah who are “Babylon the great… harlot”, and Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, is the secular king who is called ‘the beast’ who will “burn her with fire”, which is exactly what Nebuchadnezzar actually did:

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

There is a sense in which the beast within each of us will “burn her with fire”. As we come to see the Truth, that Truth becomes ‘fire’ in the mouths of the Lord’s true prophets:

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

Being burned up with fire is very painful indeed, but it is the best thing that will ever happen to us because it is what the Lord requires to turn the curse of our naturally self-righteous, rebellious, “earthen” flesh into a temporary tabernacle of compliant clay as a home for the throne of our Lord:

2Co 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Our study today assures and encourages us of the certainty of that promised outcome simply because it is “of God and not of us”:

Jer 32:6  And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jer 32:7  Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.
Jer 32:8  So Hanameel mine uncle’s son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.
Jer 32:9  And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle’s son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.
Jer 32:10  And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.
Jer 32:11  So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:
Jer 32:12  And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle’s son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.
Jer 32:13  And I charged Baruch before them, saying,
Jer 32:14  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.
Jer 32:15  For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.

Here is the spiritual significance of this entire transaction “in demonstration of the spirit and of power” (1Co 2:4):

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance [“evidence of the purchase” (Jer 32:14)] until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Anathoth was in the hands of the Babylonians at the time of this transaction, but Jeremiah had faith it would not always be so.

Jer 32:16  Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying,
Jer 32:17  Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
Jer 32:18  Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,
Jer 32:19  Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
Jer 32:20  Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, and in Israel, and among other men; and hast made thee a name, as at this day;
Jer 32:21  And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;
Jer 32:22  And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey; [“The purchased possession… the praise of His glory” (Eph 1:14)]

The name ‘Hanameel’ means “God is gracious”, and the Lord certainly is gracious to His elect, typified here by Jeremiah who, like Jacob, is buying his cousin’s birthright, who in type is being sacrificed for Jeremiah and for our sakes. His “uncle’s son” is his own flesh and his own family who we all must be willing to forsake for Christ’s sake:

Mat 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

The name ‘Ishmael’ means “God will hear”, and the Lord does indeed hear the prayers of His elect when they cry out to Him for His deliverance from their iniquities and sins. Like the name ‘Hanameel’, it has a positive meaning even though both are attached to the symbols of our own dying flesh.

In conclusion:

There are three messages being revealed in this story of Jeremiah redeeming the field of his “uncle’s son”, his ‘first cousin’ as we would express this relationship in modern terms. The first message in this story is that Jeremiah tried the spirits to see if they were of God:

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

Jeremiah applied this principle just as we must:

Jer 32:6  And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jer 32:7  Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.
Jer 32:8  So Hanameel mine uncle’s son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.

How did the Lord normally speak to His prophets? Let’s let Him answer that question:

Num 12:6  And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

Hanameel appearing and asking Jeremiah to buy his field was a ‘second witness’. It was the Lord confirming to Jeremiah that what he had heard “was [indeed] the word of the Lord”.

The second and most encouraging message for us is that the purchase of Hanameel’s field assures us, in type, that after the Lord “makes us to err from His ways, and hardens our hearts from his fear”, He will then “return… the tribes of His inheritance”, meaning He will raise up His elect first and give to them “the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory” (Eph 1:14):

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

Jer 32:21  And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;
Jer 32:22  And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance [“evidence of the purchase” (Jer 32:14)] until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The third and more sobering message in this story is that the Lord is sacrificing “[our] own household” for our sakes. That is the meaning of Jeremiah’s “uncle’s son”, his first cousin, selling his field, his own birthright, his inheritance, to Jeremiah for very little, just as Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of pottage:

“…even seventeen shekels of silver; which, reckoning a shekel at half a crown, were no more than two pounds, two shillings, and sixpence; a small sum of money to make a purchase of a field with;” (End Quote, John Gill Commentary)

We are not told why he felt that he needed to sell his inheritance. We are simply informed that he was brought to the point he felt that he had to do so. This “tenth year” is at the mid-point of the siege of Jerusalem so it isn’t something Jeremiah particularly needed. What it is though is a symbol of the certainty of our deliverance out of Babylonian captivity.

Jer 32:6  And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jer 32:7  Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.
Jer 32:8  So Hanameel mine uncle’s son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.

It may seem strange to us today, but this was the law in ancient Israel:

Num 36:9  Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but every one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance.

The command to raise up seed to a dead brother by marrying your brother’s widow had been a law since the days of the patriarchs, and long before Moses, as the story of Judah and Tamar demonstrates:

Gen 38:6  And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
Gen 38:7  And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.
Gen 38:8  And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
Gen 38:9  And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.

In the book of Ruth, the kinsmen redeemer of Elimelech’s widow, Naomi, did not want to marry Ruth and raise up seed to Ruth’s dead husband, Mahlon, the son of Elimelech. The reason he gave was “Lest I mar my own inheritance”. Boaz, as a type of Christ, was more than willing to do so:

Rth 4:1  Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
Rth 4:2  And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
Rth 4:3  And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s:
Rth 4:4  And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.
Rth 4:5  Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
Rth 4:6  And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
Rth 4:7  Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
Rth 4:8  Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

By contrast, Boaz had no problem at all with raising up seed to his brother, Elimelech:

Rth 4:9  And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.
Rth 4:10  Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

The mindset and spirit of Boaz in this matter typifies the selfless mind of Christ who is our ‘kinsman… redeemer’. He has purchased for us a possession in His kingdom where we will sit with Him on His throne and rule the kingdoms of this world, and He has given us the evidence of “the redemption of the purchased possession”:

Jer 32:14  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.
Jer 32:15  For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.

In buying his cousin’s field amid being besieged by Babylon, Jeremiah is typically purchasing salvation for the Lord’s elect who are also besieged by spiritual Babylon. The fact that this evidence is both sealed and open signifies how our own inheritance is sealed until the Lord opens our eyes to see and our ears to hear the mysteries of the kingdom of our inheritance:

Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

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.

“Shut up the words” is in the Qal stem, and “seal the book” is also in the Qal stem. Both are always in the process of being fulfilled. “Are written” and “are come” are both in the Greek aorist tense and are a process that is always taking place. See what is also now taking place within those who are “in Christ”:

Rev 22:10  And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

“Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book” is in the Greek aorist tense, and the phrase “for the time is at hand” is in the Greek present tense. What this tells us is that the mysteries of the kingdom of God were simply not being revealed before the days of Christ on this earth, and since that time those mysteries are being unsealed and revealed to all to whom the Lord is revealing Himself:

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

Here in Ephesians 1 is the spiritual significance of this entire story:

Eph 1:11  In whom also [Christ, our ‘kinsmen redeemer’] we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed [ín an earthen vessel” (Jer 32:14)] with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The name ‘Hanameel’ means “God is gracious”, and the Lord certainly is gracious to His elect, typified here by Jeremiah who, like Jacob with Esau, is buying his cousin’s birthright, who in type is being sacrificed for Jeremiah and for our sakes because spiritual Israel is a special people to whom it is given to be the first to trust in Him to the praise of His glory:

Deu 7:6  For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

Gal 6:15  Certainly, it doesn’t matter whether a person is circumcised or not. Rather, what matters is being a new creation.
Gal 6:16  Peace and mercy will come to rest on all those who conform to this principle. They are the Israel of God. (GW)

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

That concludes our study, and these are the verses for our next study:

Jer 32:23  They entered and took possession of it. However, they refused to obey you or to follow your teachings. They didn’t do anything you commanded them to do, so you brought all this disaster on them.
Jer 32:24  “‘See how the dirt ramps have been built up around the city to capture it! Because of wars, famines, and plagues, the city will be handed over to the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you have threatened to do has happened, as you can see.
Jer 32:25  Yet you, Almighty LORD, told me to buy a field with money and get witnesses to confirm it, although the city was handed over to the Babylonians.'”
Jer 32:26  The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said,
Jer 32:27  “I am the LORD God of all humanity. Nothing is too hard for me.
Jer 32:28  This is what the LORD says: I’m going to hand this city over to the Babylonians and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. They will capture it.
Jer 32:29  “The Babylonians who are attacking this city will break in, set this city on fire, and burn it down. They will burn down the houses of people who made me furious by going up to the roofs to burn incense to Baal and to pour out wine offerings to other gods.
Jer 32:30  Ever since they were young, the people of Israel and Judah have done what I consider evil. The people of Israel have made me furious by what they’ve done,” declares the LORD.
Jer 32:31  “The people in this city have made me so angry and furious from the day they built it to this day. So now I must remove this city from my presence.
Jer 32:32  “The people of Israel and Judah have made me furious because they are evil. The people, their kings and officials, their priests and prophets, and the Judeans and those who live in Jerusalem
Jer 32:33  have turned their backs, not their faces to me. I taught them again and again, but they refused to listen and learn.
Jer 32:34  They set up their detestable idols in the temple that is called by my name, and they dishonored it.
Jer 32:36  “You have said this about the city, ‘Because of wars, famines, and plagues it will be handed over to the king of Babylon.’ Now this is what the LORD God of Israel says:
Jer 32:37  I am going to gather the people from all the lands where I scattered them in my anger, fury, and terrifying wrath. I will bring them back to this place and make them live here securely.
Jer 32:38  They will be my people, and I will be their God.
Jer 32:39  I will give them the same attitude and the same purpose so that they will fear me as long as they live. This will be for their own good and for the good of their children.
Jer 32:40  I will make an eternal promise to them that I will never stop blessing them. I will make them fear me so that they will never turn away from me.
Jer 32:41  I will enjoy blessing them. With all my heart and soul I will faithfully plant them in this land.
Jer 32:42  “This is what the LORD says: As I brought all these disasters on these people, so I will bring on them all these blessings that I have promised them.
Jer 32:43  You have said that this land is a wasteland, without people or animals living in it. You have also said that it has been handed over to the Babylonians. But people will once again buy fields in this land.
Jer 32:44  They will buy fields for money, sign deeds, seal them, and have people witness the signing of the deeds. This will happen in the territory of Benjamin, in the region of Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities on the mountains, in the hill country, and in the Negev because I will bring them back from their captivity,” declares the LORD.

Dan 11:1-24  And Now, I Will Show you the Truth

[Study Aired February 14, 2022]

Dan 11:1  “And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him. 
Dan 11:2  “And now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece. 
Dan 11:3  Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills. 
Dan 11:4  And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these. 
Dan 11:5  “Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority. 
Dan 11:6  After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the strength of her arm, and he and his arm shall not endure, but she shall be given up, and her attendants, he who fathered her, and he who supported her in those times. 
Dan 11:7  “And from a branch from her roots one shall arise in his place. He shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the north, and he shall deal with them and shall prevail. 
Dan 11:8  He shall also carry off to Egypt their gods with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold, and for some years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north. 
Dan 11:9  Then the latter shall come into the realm of the king of the south but shall return to his own land. 
Dan 11:10  “His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall keep coming and overflow and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as his fortress. 
Dan 11:11  Then the king of the south, moved with rage, shall come out and fight against the king of the north. And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand. 
Dan 11:12  And when the multitude is taken away, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. 
Dan 11:13  For the king of the north shall again raise a multitude, greater than the first. And after some years he shall come on with a great army and abundant supplies. 
Dan 11:14  “In those times many shall rise against the king of the south, and the violent among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they shall fail. 
Dan 11:15  Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks and take a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, or even his best troops, for there shall be no strength to stand. 
Dan 11:16  But he who comes against him shall do as he wills, and none shall stand before him. And he shall stand in the glorious land, with destruction in his hand. 
Dan 11:17  He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he shall bring terms of an agreement and perform them. He shall give him the daughter of women to destroy the kingdom, but it shall not stand or be to his advantage. 
Dan 11:18  Afterward he shall turn his face to the coastlands and shall capture many of them, but a commander shall put an end to his insolence. Indeed, he shall turn his insolence back upon him. 
Dan 11:19  Then he shall turn his face back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found. 
Dan 11:20  “Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom. But within a few days he shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle. 
Dan 11:21  In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 
Dan 11:22  Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant. 
Dan 11:23  And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people. 
Dan 11:24  Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his fathers’ fathers have done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time. 

The introduction to the prophecy of Daniel 11 is given in the preceding chapter 10. In chapter 10, we are made to understand that what we are going to be shown in chapter 11 pertains to what will happen to the elect in the latter days. We, the elect, are the ones on whom the ends of our world are come.

Dan 10:14  Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

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.

In order to understand chapter 11, we need to bear in mind Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2) together with Daniel’s vision of the four beasts in Daniel chapter 7. In chapter 2 and 7, we are made aware that there would be four world-ruling empires followed by the kingdom of God. Spiritually, this is to inform us that before Christ comes to us to destroy the old man and establishes His kingdom within us, there would be four beasts dominating us within. These four beasts signify the whole of all that which opposes God within.

Dan 2:31  “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening.
Dan 2:32  The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze,
Dan 2:33  its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
Dan 2:34  As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.

Chapter 11 of Daniel focuses on comparing the period of the second empire to that of the fourth empire. In other words, the period just before the Lord comes to His elect with the brightness of His coming. Further details of the outward manifestation of the last three empires are given here in chapter 11. What is shown in chapter 11 is the “was” part of the word of Christ. We, however, focus on the “is” part of the word while paying attention to the “was” and “will be” aspects of the word of Christ. We must also bear in mind that it is the spirit that gives life. The physical interpretation of the word of Christ profits nothing. Thus, as we go through this chapter, we will give the physical manifestation of the word of Christ but focus on the spiritual reality and also what will be.

Rev 1:8  “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Joh 6:63  It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

We must also understand that Daniel, as a symbol of the Old Testament prophets, was not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. That is why the vision explained to him pertains only to its outward manifestation. We, the elect, are those who are made to understand the mysteries of the word of Christ. In trying to understand chapter 11 therefore, we shall look at the physical and the spiritual implication of the vision given to Daniel.

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.

Dan 11:1  And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.

The name Darius means Lord. Thus, Darius here represents Christ. We, the elect, are represented by Daniel. The number 1 signifies union. This means that in union with Christ, we, the elect, both confirm and strengthen the Lord. Our confessions confirm that Jesus is Lord!! The question is how do we strengthen Christ? Remember that Jesus said that whatever we do for any one of the members of Christ, we are doing to Him. This is to suggest that as long as we are encouraging and strengthening our brothers and sisters, we are doing it for Christ and therefore, strengthening Him.

Mat 25:37  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
Mat 25:38  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
Mat 25:39  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
Mat 25:40  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Dan 11:2  “And now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece. 

Christ coming to us is to show us the truth. Before this, we found ourselves in the wilderness of Babylon thinking we are getting the truth, when, indeed, we were imbibing lies upon lies and as a result, became worse off.

Jer 23:32  Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the LORD.

Outwardly, there would be three kings in Persia besides Darius in whose reign this prophecy is dated. The fourth Persian king, who became strong through his riches, was Xerxes. Being influenced by his riches, he thought he was invincible and therefore invaded Greece. The four kings represent the whole of the kingdom of Persia, which succeeded the Babylonian empire and was therefore the second world empire after Babylon. It was characterized by silver in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

Dan 2:32  The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze,

The Hebrew word for silver by implication is money. In addition, the Hebrew root for the Hebrew word for silver (H3700) means desire, be greedy, long or sore. These are negative applications of the word silver. So, as we can see, silver is synonymous with greed. Our time in Babylon was characterized by our greed or desire for the riches of this world or mammon.

Isa 56:11  Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

1Ti 3:3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

1Ti 3:8  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Noting that the use of beasts, kings and horns are all related to the beast in Daniel chapter 7 and the Book of Revelation, the statement that the fourth shall be far richer than all of them is to let us know that the whole of our domination by the beast (king) within is to bring us to think that we are spiritually rich, when indeed, we are spiritually impoverished. While in Babylon, we came to think that our riches are a sign of the Lord’s blessing, while we were actually wretched, poor, blind and naked spiritually.

Rev 17:10  they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.
Rev 17:11  As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.
Rev 17:12  And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.
Rev 17:13  These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.

Rev 3:17  For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
Rev 3:18  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

Dan 11:3  Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills. 
Dan 11:4  And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these. 

Outwardly, verse 3 introduces us to the next phase in world empires: the rise of Alexander the Great. After the Persian empire came the Greek empire led by Alexander the great. He was an ancient Macedonian ruler and one of history’s greatest military minds who, as King of Macedonia and Persia, established the largest empire the ancient world had ever seen. His kingdom was divided among his four generals into four smaller and weaker empires. This third kingdom was described as brass.

Dan 2:32  The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze,

In the King James Version of the Bible, bronze or brass is synonymous with copper. Copper refers to our state as carnal babes in Christ. During our carnal state in Babylon, Christ’s words have no place in our hearts because we cannot hear them. We end up even trying to kill Christ in our brothers who tell us the truth about the word of God.

Joh 8:40  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

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

Dan 11:5  Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority. 
Dan 11:6  After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the strength of her arm, and he and his arm shall not endure, but she shall be given up, and her attendants, he who fathered her, and he who supported her in those times.
Dan 11:7  And from a branch from her roots one shall arise in his place. He shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the north, and he shall deal with them and shall prevail. 
Dan 11:8  He shall also carry off to Egypt their gods with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold, and for some years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north.
Dan 11:9  Then the latter shall come into the realm of the king of the south but shall return to his own land. 
Dan 11:10  His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall keep coming and overflow and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as his fortress. 

The “then” in verse 5 let’s us know that it is after the events listed in verses 2 to 4 that verse 5 takes place. Outwardly, it was after the death of Alexander the Great that the kingdom was divided among his four generals. The king of the south refers to the rulers of the Ptolemaic dynasty headquartered in Egypt while the king of the north was that of Seleucia with Syria as its base. These two dynasties were hostile toward each other, and Israel was literally caught in the middle. The king of the South proposed a marriage alliance to unite the two kingdoms (verse 6). Princess Berenice from the South married the Seleucid king, and a child was born. However, the king died suddenly, and the wife and child were murdered in 246 BC. Instead of sealing an alliance, this started a war. Princess Berenice’s brother, the king in Egypt, carried out a successful campaign against the North in 245—241 BC. Later, the Syrian kingdom tried to retaliate—and even attempted to invade Egypt.

As the Lord’s elect, we are given to know what the spirit is saying to us of these verses. This is because it is the spirit that gives life. The letter of the word profits nothing.  We need to understand that verses 5 to 10 are all part of the third world empire before the Roman empire came. The Roman empire was the last worldly empire before the coming of the kingdom of Christ. As we are aware, all these nations and their struggles reflect the wars within us just as the Lord declared to Rebecca that two nations are within her.

Gen 25:23  And the LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”

This war between the south and the north with Israel in between speaks of what must take place within us before the Lord comes to destroy the old man within. This is what the Lord said about what should happen to us before He comes to us as a stone cut out without human hands:

Mat 24:6  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
Mat 24:8  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. (ESV)

Dan 2:34  As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
Dan 2:35  Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. (ESV)

In Matthew 24:8, it is said that all the wars, famine and earthquake are just the beginning of the birth pains. What this means is that what we are reading is a necessary evil that must happen to us before we are given birth and at the same time get caught up with Christ.  This situation is described in Revelation chapter 12 as follows:

Rev 12:1  And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Rev 12:2  And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

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

Dan 11:11  Then the king of the south, moved with rage, shall come out and fight against the king of the north. And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand. 
Dan 11:12  And when the multitude is taken away, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. 
Dan 11:13  For the king of the north shall again raise a multitude, greater than the first. And after some years he shall come on with a great army and abundant supplies.

Outwardly, Syria was defeated by Egypt in 217 BC; the Greek-Egyptian king of the South slaughtered about 20 percent of the Syrian force, but the victory was short-lived as Syria invaded again with a bigger force and was successful.

Inwardly, our struggle against sin is like this war of the king of the north and the south. We are victors today, and we are overcome by sin tomorrow.  This struggle continues until Christ comes to establish us in victory.

Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Dan 11:14  “In those times many shall rise against the king of the south, and the violent among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they shall fail. 
Dan 11:15  Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks and take a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, or even his best troops, for there shall be no strength to stand. 
Dan 11:16  But he who comes against him shall do as he wills, and none shall stand before him. And he shall stand in the glorious land, with destruction in his hand.

Outwardly, Israel was initially under the more tolerant rule of the Ptolemaic kings of the South. But with the Syrian victory, Israel passed under the control of the Seleucid king of the North in 200 BC. Some in Israel, thinking that they were being oppressed by the Ptolemies, supported the Seleucids against the Ptolemies. There were divisions and factions within Israel as people took different sides. Jerusalem, the “fortified city,” had Egyptian (southern) troops stationed there, and they were defeated by the king of the North.

Inwardly, during our walk in Babylon, we put our confidence in our own strength and that of men as a result of the enticing words of man’s wisdom. However, our trust in man must fail us before we can put our trust in the Lord fully. This was what happened to Jerusalem, the fortified city in verses 15 and 16 of Daniel chapter 11. The Israelites put their confidence in the southern troops stationed in Jerusalem, but Jerusalem was captured by the king of the north.

Psa 146:3  Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
Psa 146:4  His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
Psa 146:5  Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Psa 146:6  Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:

Dan 11:17  He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he shall bring terms of an agreement and perform them. He shall give him the daughter of women to destroy the kingdom, but it shall not stand or be to his advantage. 
Dan 11:18  Afterward he shall turn his face to the coastlands and shall capture many of them, but a commander shall put an end to his insolence. Indeed, he shall turn his insolence back upon him. 
Dan 11:19  Then he shall turn his face back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found. 
Dan 11:20  “Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom. But within a few days he shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle.

Outwardly, this is what had happened. There was another try at a marriage alliance. The daughter of the Seleucid king (of the North) married the Ptolemaic king (of the South) in 193 BC. The plan was not truly to build an alliance but to undermine the king of the South, for the daughter was to be an agent of her father. However, after marriage, she sided with her husband instead. Since the subterfuge did not work, the Seleucid king of the North attacked a number of Greek islands and part of Asia Minor. He had been warned by the Romans to stay out of Greece, but he ignored the warning, and the Romans attacked and defeated him at Thermopylae in 191 BC. He was humiliated and had to start paying tribute to Rome.

The Seleucid successor was preoccupied with getting money to keep Rome at bay. He was unsuccessful in an attempt to loot the temple in Jerusalem to get tribute money. This king had a short and inconsequential reign.

Spiritually, these evil kings from the North and the South represent the ruling false doctrines in our heavens which block our understanding of the glorious light of the gospel from Christ. Just as Israel was hemmed in by these two kings, we are constrained by the dictates of these false doctrines in our lives.

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Dan 11:21  In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 
Dan 11:22  Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant. 
Dan 11:23  And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people. 
Dan 11:24  Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his fathers’ fathers have done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time. 

This contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given was Antiochus Epiphanes. He was not a legitimate heir to the throne but was able to acquire an army and take the throne by force in 187 BC. He seemed to have a special vendetta against Jerusalem. He was a thug and a madman.

As we are aware, the Lord uses evil men as His sword to bring us to our wits’ end as a necessary evil in dragging us to our safe haven.

Psa 17:13  Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

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.
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 works to the children of men!

Inwardly, the beast within is contemptible and stops at nothing in defiling the temple of God, which is our bodies. However, as stated in verse 24, that king shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time. The stronghold is Christ, and the reign of the old man or beast in our lives is limited.

Dan 8:15-27  Gabriel, Make This Man to Understand the Vision

[Study Aired January 24, 2022]

Dan 8:15  And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. 
Dan 8:16  And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. 
Dan 8:17  So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. 
Dan 8:18  Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. 
Dan 8:19  And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. 
Dan 8:20  The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. 
Dan 8:21  And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 
Dan 8:22  Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. 
Dan 8:23  And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 
Dan 8:24  And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 
Dan 8:25  And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. 
Dan 8:26  And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. 
Dan 8:27  And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

The first part of Daniel Chapter 8 deals with the vision Daniel had about a ram and a he-goat. The ram represents the Lord’s elect, and the he-goat is the devil who exercises his influence through the beast within us. This beast within was given to overcome us (ram) at a certain stage in our walk with Christ.

Dan 8:10  And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. 
Dan 8:11  Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 

Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Daniel, representing the elect, was told that this desecration of our body, which is the temple of God, will last for a period of 2,300 days before our temple is cleansed. This period of 2,300 days for the desecration of the temple is mentioned only here in Daniel. We must therefore understand that it is the sum of our Lord’s words that gives us direction, therefore we cannot put so much premium on the number of days indicated here so as to develop a doctrine on it. As we indicated in the previous review, in the sight of the Lord or in the spirit, a day or a thousand years are the same.

2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

So, whether it is 2300 days or 1150 days as indicated by the fact that the sacrifice is carried out twice in a day, is irrelevant. It is the numbers themselves that are significant. The 2300 days shows us that this period of the domination of the beast within, only stops when Christ comes in to judge us or cleanse our temple as we become witnesses to the fullness of our flesh (our spiritual depravity).

Dan 8:14  And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

Today’s study focuses on the interpretation of the vision of the ram and the he-goat as given to Daniel.

Dan 8:15  And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
Dan 8:16  And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. 

Gabriel means ‘man of God’. This man who appeared before Daniel in the vision is also Christ, and since Christ is sending us, we are now playing the role of Gabriel. So, Gabriel also stands for the elect who are messengers of the Lord.

Heb 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

The man’s voice between the banks of the river Ulai is the voice of the Lord or the words of the Lord. Between the banks of Ulai is the river Ulai.  Ulai stands for leaders or mighty. The mighty or the leaders are the elect. The Ulai river therefore symbolizes the word of God given to the elect. As we indicated in the previous review, this river is what every joint supplies, which is the word of God. This word of God is what makes us understand what is taking place within the elect. This river is the same as the one proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The Lamb is Christ, and as Christ has sent us with His words, this river of life is also proceeding from the elect.

Rev 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

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

In verse 2, Christ is telling the elect, represented by Gabriel, that our role is to make the body of Christ understand the word of God by every joint supplied. This role is emphasized in the Book of Acts of the Apostles when, in the midst of spreading the gospel in Samaria, the Lord took Philip from there and sent him to the desert to meet the Ethiopian eunuch. Let’s listen to what transpired when Philip met the Ethiopian eunuch:

Act 8:5  And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.
Act 8:6  And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did. 

Act 8:26  But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert. 
Act 8:27  And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship; 
Act 8:28  and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 
Act 8:29  And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 
Act 8:30  And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 
Act 8:31  And he said, How can I, except someone shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him. 
Act 8:32  Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:
Act 8:33  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth. 
Act 8:34  And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other? 
Act 8:35  And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus. 

Without Philip, who signifies the elect, it was impossible for the Ethiopian eunuch to understand the mysteries concerning the kingdom of heaven. The Ethiopian eunuch himself admitted that he could not understand the word of the Lord unless somebody explains to him. We must humble ourselves to receive from our brothers and sisters the word of truth which is able to give us an inheritance. Paul’s blindness when the Lord appeared to him is to remind us of our spiritual poverty where we could not understand the words of Christ. The Lord specifically called Ananias, just as the Lord commanded Gabriel, to open Paul’s eyes to see the mysteries of the kingdom. Today, our Lord is calling us from the river of the mighty (the word of the Lord) to perform the same role as Gabriel, Philip and Ananias!!

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. 
Act 9:10  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 
Act 9:11  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 
Act 9:12  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 
Act 9:13  Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 
Act 9:14  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 
Act 9:15  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 
Act 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Dan 8:17  So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. 

The fact that Daniel fell on his face is to assure us that this man Gabriel is Christ. The same reaction happened to John in Patmos during the revelation of Christ to Him.

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

As indicated earlier, as Christ has sent us, we represent Gabriel. However, we, the Lord’s messengers, are admonished never to accept any worship from those to whom we minister. Only Christ who deserves our worship.

Rev 22:8  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. 

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 

The angel saying that the vision is meant for the end of time is to let us know that Daniel, just like the prophets of the Old Testament, was not meant to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven in his time.

Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

We, the elect, are at the time of the end, and therefore, we are made to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

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.

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 

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

Dan 8:18  Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. 

While the angel was talking to Daniel, he was in a deep sleep until the angel touched him and set him upright. The deep sleep here refers to the fact that we were spiritually dead when Christ came to us with His word which woke us up to the reality of our spiritual poverty.  We were just like Lazarus, who was dead for four days. The four days signify the whole period of his life before Christ came to him. When Christ came to him with the brightness of His coming, Lazarus was set free from the shackles of grave clothes and the napkin that bound his face.

Joh 11:38  Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
Joh 11:39  Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 
Joh 11:40  Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 
Joh 11:41  Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 
Joh 11:42  And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 
Joh 11:43  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 
Joh 11:44  And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. 

The grave clothes represent our self-righteousness which binds us from being able to walk in righteousness before Christ. The napkin which covered Lazarus’ face signifies our false doctrines which prevent us from seeing Christ through the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

Dan 8:19  And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. 

A simplified rendition of this verse is given as follows:

Dan 8:19  and said: Listen, and I will tell you what will happen at the end of time, when God has chosen to show his anger. (CEV)

The Lord’s coming to us with the brightness of His coming is to bring us to recognize our sinful state – that is, to realize the beast within us. As we accept our spiritual depravity, we come to understand, through the word of the Lord, that we must experience His indignation or wrath upon our old man (beast) within to destroy it.

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

The period when we experience the wrath of the Lord upon our old man within is the time of the end of our world.

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.

Eze 21:31  And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.

Isa 30:30  And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

Isa 34:2  For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.

Dan 8:20  The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. 
Dan 8:21  And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 
Dan 8:22  Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. 

As stated in the previous reviews of Daniel, the prophets of the Old Testament, including Daniel, were not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. This is only given to the Lord’s elect. This means that the interpretation of Daniel’s vision given to him by the angel pertains to the “was” part of the “is, was and will be” of the scriptures. That is, Daniel was given to know the outward interpretation of the vision as it relates to his time. We, however, focus on the “is” part of the word of the Lord while also paying attention to the “was and will be” aspect of the word of the Lord.

Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

God gave Daniel a foresight of the destruction of other kingdoms, which in their day was as powerful as that of Babylon. The ram with two horns was the second empire of Media and Persia which succeeded Babylon. In the vision, Daniel saw this ram overcome by a he-goat. This he-goat was Alexander the Great from Greece who conquered the empire of Media and Persia. Later, after Alexander’s death, his four generals, who are signified by the four which stood up for it after the horn was broken, divided up his conquests.

The Lord revealed all these to Daniel so that Daniel would understand that the Lord reigns in the affairs of men and that it is he who sets up kingdoms of this world and gives to whosoever He wills.

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

However, we, His elect, are blessed to understand the spiritual reality of the words of our Lord. As we discussed in the first part of Daniel chapter 8, the vision of Daniel applies specifically to us as follows:

The Lord’s elect represents the ram by the riverside carrying the two horns. Ram’s horns were used as trumpets in the olden days, and the trumpet stands for the voice of the Lord.

Jos 6:4  And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
Jos 6:5  And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. 

Rev 1:10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 

What this means is that we start our walk with Christ based on the law, and when the law has finished its work by bringing us to know that we are the worst sinners, we are then given to understand the spirit of the word.  At the start of this chapter, we are told that this vision of Daniel is a witness to the first one which means that the dream is one!! This he-goat is therefore the same as the beast in chapter 7 although it has a different description.

The great horn being broken in verse 22 and being replaced by four notable horns is the same as the beast receiving a mortal wound and later getting healed. This mortal wound in Revelation 13:3 is the same as the destruction of the great horn.  This wound being healed is the same as the appearance of four notable ones in place of the broken great horn. The four horns mean the whole of the strength of the beast.

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

In verse 8, we are given additional information that the four notable horns that appeared are toward the four winds of heaven.  This means that the Lord uses the whole of the strength (horns) of the beast or the evil one as part of His spiritual resources to effectuate His purpose of making His elect holy and blameless before Him in this life. He also uses His spiritual resources to rule in the affairs of this world. For example, the Lord used the four winds to scatter His enemies and also to give life to the whole of mankind.

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Jer 49:36  And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.

Eze 37:9  Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
Eze 37:10  So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

Dan 8:23  And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 
Dan 8:24  And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 

This king of fierce countenance is this little horn in verse 9 of Daniel chapter 8 which waxed great and cast down some of the host and the stars to the ground and stamped on them.

Dan 8:9  And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
Dan 8:10  And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. 

Rev 17:12  And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.  

This little horn is the same as the beast within since both play the same role of overcoming the saints, which is stated in verse 24 as destroying the mighty and the holy people.

Dan 7:21  I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

Rev 11:7  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them (the Lord’s two witnesses), and shall overcome them, and kill them. 

In verse 24, it is stated that the beast’s power shall be mighty but not of his own. The beast within us poses a formidable opposition to the things of Christ and receives its power from the devil.

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? 

Again in verse 24, the beast is described as being able to destroy wonderfully and shall prosper and practice. This means that the beast shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does. Earlier in verse 11 of Daniel chapter 8, we are given insight into the destructive nature of this beast within.

Dan 8:11  Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 

He takes away our daily sacrifice and casts down the place of our Lord’s sanctuary within us. As we indicated in the previous review, the altar is where our sacrifices are offered to the Lord. Within us, this altar is our heart and mind with our body as the sacrifice. This is because with our hearts we offer a sacrifice of praise to the Lord, and with our bodies we present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord. The place of our Lord’s sanctuary is our body. The casting down of the place of sanctuary relates to us not being able to offer our bodies as a dwelling place for God.

Psa 9:1  To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David. I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

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.

Succeeding in all that the beast does is to make us aware that everything the beast does is all part of the plan of the Lord. Nothing that the Lord has not planned will prosper.

Isa 14:24  The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:  

Dan 8:25  And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. 

A simpler version of this verse is as follows:

Dan 8:25  By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand.

The cunning nature of the evil one is his ability to transform as an angel of light. Through this cunning means, the devil represented by the beast, has been able to deceive the whole world including the Lord’s elect at some point in our walk with the Lord.

2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 
2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 

By peace shall the evil one destroy many means that it is by our false sense of security that we are destroyed by the devil.  This false sense of security includes thinking that we are spiritually rich when we are miserable, poor, blind and naked.

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.

The false sense of security also includes the works of our hands and the riches of this world. These very things which we treasure as our security is what is used by the devil to destroy us. Our only security is being in Christ!!

Ecc 2:11  Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

The statement in verse 25 that the beast shall be broken without hands is to let us know that the defeat of the beast is the work of the Lord, not man. We do not contribute in any way to the destruction of the beast within. What destroys the beast is the spirit which is the word of the Lord as revealed to Zerubbabel as follows:

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 
Zec 4:7  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. 

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

Dan 8:26  And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
Dan 8:27  And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

The fact that Daniel was instructed to shut up the vision as the reality of the vision is a long way off is to make us aware that Daniel, together with all the Old Testament prophets, was not meant to understand all that he and they saw through visions and spoke about.

In verse 27, it was stated that Daniel fainted and ‘was sick certain days’. According to Strong’s dictionary, ‘fainted’ in verse 27 means to continue or to exist. The word ‘sick’ can also mean to grieve. This suggests that Daniel continued to grieve over the fact that he did not understand the vision during his lifetime. However, Daniel, like the other prophets, was assured that the visions and the words of the Lord were not meant for himself but to us they did minister. We have a more sure word of prophecy which is like a light shining in a dark place until the day dawns and our Lord Jesus Christ establishes His kingdom within us.

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. 

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 

May the Lord grant us the grace to receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to ensure our salvation.

Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Amen!!

[Study Aired March 16, 2020]

What must be fulfilled in the generation that God is judging is described within the verses of Matthew 24, written for the sake of God’s elect who are the generation that Christ is referring to (Mat 24:34)

Like all scripture it “is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. What must be “fulfilled” in this generation is described for us in (Col 1:24) and accomplished by our hope of glory within who can give us the ability to drink the cup of his suffering (Col 1:27). Matthew chapter 24 just expands for us what that affliction is and tells us what we can expect to see unfold in the lives of those who God is working with both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:13).

A tree is known by its fruit (Luk 6:43-45) and if we are connected to the vine (Joh 15:5-7) and blessed to continue in His word to become disciples indeed who bring forth much fruit (Joh 8:31, Mar 4:20) then we must be “This generation [that] shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled”.

“This generation” is speaking of those who are predestined to be judged first in this life (1Pe 4:17, Eph 1:12, Joh 15:16, Rom 8:28-30), and that judgment is expressed through parables which hide God’s purpose and meaning from those who are not meant to understand these things which are hidden from the world at this time by God’s design (Mat 13:10-11).

The chapter culminates in pointing to the readiness required of God’s servants, the sacrifice of our life and time required in order to be that blessed servant who is providing spiritual meat in due season when our Lord returns (Mat 24:45-47).

With that in mind, I want to end with an FAQ Mike wrote at least 10 years ago, answering a former Jehovah’s Witness who was grappling with Truth of which we have been discussing on various Monday studies since May 2019.

“Conclusion to our Matthew 24 series: an FAQ from Mike.
When Will Matthew 24 Be Fulfilled?

[Excerpt from the question section]

…I also am struggling with letting go of some of the dispensationalism teachings of the JWs. Surely Matthew 24 describes some future event (I thought). But some of your explanations make a lot of sense to me, but yet confuse this carnal, milk-minded brain of mine. Maybe you can answer: when will the resurrection (first and second) occur? Is the resurrection a unique experience to each person (shortly after death)? Or is it a one-time, all-encompassing event that resurrects all of the elect (in the first resurrection) and then the rest of the dead at the second resurrection? And if it is a one-time event, what about all of those still living (on earth) at the time of “the end” just before the first resurrection? I think my dispensationally-trained mind is having a hard time with these sequence of events.

My carnal mind almost gets angry that Jesus (in Matthew 24) would almost seem to be mocking people by saying, “Oh yeah, there will be wars, earthquakes, famines, diseases… and then the end will come”. If your understanding of these words is true, isn’t Jesus just telling people, “You are going to live in a corrupt, imperfect, and violent world; then you will die, and then I will come?” If so, why all of the details? Aren’t the details important to identify the “last days”?

As I have read much of your material on the IWWB site, I have observed your quotation of Ecc 9:2-3 several times. Do these verses not refer to this “one event” or “same event” to both the righteous and the wicked alike… do these scriptures not simply refer to death? Of course, I can see that Heb 9:27 adds to the “sum of the words”…. hmmm, maybe I just answered my own question… When will Matthew 24 be fulfilled?

Hi T____,

Thanks for sharing with me your story.

It is only natural, and it happens to also be spiritually healthy, to share with others what has been our journey in coming to know Him who is the Truth. This is done at all of our Bible conferences, and having heard the stories of many from all around the world over the years, it has become clear that while the details may vary, the essential elements of all of our stories are exactly the same.

In your latest e-mail, you ask:

As I have read much of your material on the IWWB site, I have observed your quotation of Ecc 9:2-3 several times.  Do these verses not refer to this “one event” or “same event” to both the righteous and the wicked alike… do these scriptures not simply refer to death?  Of course, I can see that Heb 9:27 adds to the “sum of the words”…. hmmm, maybe I just answered my own question.

If Ecc 9:2-3 refers only to death, then Christ was lying when He said this:

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.

… and this:

Mat 24:32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

If Ecc 9:2 refers only to physical death then Christ was also lying when he said this:

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Rev 22:8  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See [thou do it] not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

All who are in Christ and are truly our fellowservants, “Keep the sayings of this book, and the things written therein.” In the end “all things come alike to all.”

Ecc 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; [and] he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
Ecc 9:3  This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

It makes good sense to say that the “one event” includes a life of “all things… written therein.” However, it makes no sense at all to say that the one event of death, includes “all things… written therein” which all men are commanded to “keep.”

“Keeping the sayings of the prophecy of this book” is “one event” which will, in the end, be common to all men, but there is no logical way to describe death as “all things… common to all men.”

Not one person yet has ever been brought to hunger for a deeper knowledge of our Lord, and a closer relationship with Him, without first passing through the “furnace of iron” that is our fiery experience in Egypt and in Babylon.

1Ki 8:51  For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt,  from the midst of the furnace of iron:

“The furnace of iron” and “the valley of the shadow of death” are both part of the “all things… one event” which we all must endure, if we are ever to “know Him and the fellowship of His sufferings.”

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

If you see “dying with Christ” as a daily process, then yes, that “one event” is death, but only in this Biblical sense:

Rom 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
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 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7  For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

That is the “one event” in which “all things come alike to all”. All men will, in their own appointed time, “reckon themselves to be dead indeed to sin but alive unto God.” To think of this “one event to all” simply as physical death is to completely miss out on the summation of the “many things I have yet to tell you ” of Matthew 24, which “many things” are later given us in the revelation of Jesus Christ, which we are all plainly told to “read, hear and keep.”

No one in whom the spirit of Christ dwells wants to either add to or take away from his part from the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Rev 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Rev 22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly [into the life of every man of every generation who “reads, hears and keeps the things written therein”] . Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Every word of God’s Word confirms that this, too, your story as a Jehovah’s Witness convert, is “common to all men,” whether a Jehovah’s witness or a Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal or Catholic. We all are brought to see our need for a Savior while still serving our the Egyptian taskmasters, which are the lusts of our flesh.

Exo 1:13  And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:
Exo 1:14  And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

Exo 2:23  And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
Exo 2:24  And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Exo 2:25  And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

When did He do this? Here is when He comes to us:

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

So we all cry out to God to deliver us from our own flesh, and we come with an innocent heart, seeking to know God and His peace. Here is how this stage of our walk is described in the book of the revelation of Jesus Christ, which revelation we are to “read, hear and keep.”

Rev 2:2  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Rev 2:3  And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Rev 2:4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

We all come to God as babes in Christ, desiring to serve Him but with no “root in ourselves” as yet, and we come to Him while we are yet in the churches of Babylon, looking to those we love and respect to guide us in our new walk. Here is how Christ describes this part of our walk which is common to all men.

Luk 11:52  Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

When all of this is taking place we are no more aware that we are in the grip and influence of the great whore than a child is aware that he cannot yet eat strong meat. Anyone who has reared children knows that all children think they are qualified to do the things they see their parents doing long before they really are able to do so. This is as true in spirit as it is in this temporal life. We are living our lives at this time, with all the false doctrines with which we have been reared from our youth still firmly implanted in our minds, and in that part of our walk God answers our prayers “according to the idols of our hearts.”

Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

When I was in the Pentecostal church, God answered my prayers according to my Pentecostal idols of the heart. Later, as a World Wide Church of God member, my prayers were answered according to those doctrinal idols.

When I lived several years of my life believing the doctrines of the Concordant Publishing Concern, my prayers were answered according to those doctrinal idols. You were raised up as a Jehovah’s Witness, and God answered you according to those heart’s idols, for several years. If now you have lain aside all doctrinal and denominational biases, and have come to His word with a heart that wants only to inquire of the Word of God, then God will answer you accordingly.

It is good that you realize that you have indeed been being sustained by “the milk of the word.” While there is ‘milk’ in the churches of Babylon, it is all poisoned milk and will never lead you to know the true God of scripture. The orthodox churches all would have us believe that our heavenly Father will burn all sinners in eternal hell fire, if they do not repent and serve Christ now in this life. Many of the supposed cults like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Seventh Day Adventists, and at one time, the Worldwide Church of God, all believed in a heavenly Father who would merely annihilate all sinners. None of this is in accord with the scriptures which teach that is it is through figurative fire that all in Adam will be saved in Christ.

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.

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

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

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us- ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

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.

What I pray you will come to see is that universal salvation may seem like the strong meat of God’s Word, but it is really nothing more than milk. This is made clear when we consider that even though the apostles never once taught either eternal hell fire or eternal annihilation, they did teach the doctrine of “eternal judgment,” and that doctrine of “eternal judgment,” is the teaching that  it is through judgment that aionios (eonian) judgment leads to life for all men. This is but a milk doctrine, and so it is listed.

Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3  And this will we do, if God permit.

(Skipping down to the next section on the resurrection…)

You are right in saying all of the elect [are] (in the first resurrection) and then the rest of the dead at the second resurrection. The time-line is laid out in Revelation 20, and all the rest of scripture verifies that time-line.

Rev 20:1  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; andthey lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Look at verse 9.

Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

Verse 8 makes clear that all nations are deceived, and all nations are destroyed by the “fire from heaven.” I wondered for virtually all my life, how death could possibly be destroyed to comply with this verse of scripture.

1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

As long as human babies are being born in vessels of clay, also known as flesh, death will continue. Revelation 20:7-10 reveals that after the period of rule by God’s elect, God will bring the human race in flesh to an end.

Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

While it is true that “fire from heaven” is symbolic of the means used to destroy death, the destruction of all flesh is essential to that goal, because death will never be destroyed as long as human babies continue to be born in bodies of sinful, corruptible flesh and blood.

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

What do we see in the very next verse? We see the second resurrection at the great white throne judgment, which is the lake of fire which will purify all men. That fire is the Word of God, and the ‘lake’ is those in whom that Word resides.

Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

Joh 14:9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?

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.

These promises are only for those who understand that Christ’s Words never pass away, are lived in the lives of his elect in every generation since Christ, and are “the things written therein… the saying of the prophecy of this book” of the revelation of Jesus Christ within us.

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.

Time and again, Jesus tells us that we are Him and that how this world treats us is how it treats Him.

Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink?
Mat 25:38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]?
Mat 25:39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

This is the truth of the gospel for all who are in Christ:

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

Be sure to read the study What Is “The Christ”?

My carnal mind almost gets angry that Jesus (in Matthew 24) would almost seem to be mocking people by saying, “Oh yeah, there will be wars, earthquakes, famines, diseases… and then the end will come”. If your understanding of these words are true, isn’t Jesus just telling people, “you are going to live in a corrupt, imperfect, and violent world; then you will die, and then I will come? If so, why all of the details? Aren’t the details important to identify the “last days”?

Absolutely! The details are important to identify the last days. That is Christ’s whole point! That is what this verse is all about:

Mat 24:32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh:
Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

As long as we refuse to believe that “this generation shall not pass till all these things shall be fulfilled,” then our understanding of what is ‘the last days’ is not in line with what is called ‘the end’ in scripture. These events found in Matthew 24 are the same imminent events found throughout the book of Revelation. Look at how the revelation of Jesus Christ is both introduced and how it concludes:

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Does “for the time is at hand” sound like this is prophecy is not to be fulfilled for another 2,000 years? Does “for the time is at hand” mean this book is only for the last generation before Christ’s return? That is what it means if you are a dispensationalist and you view all the sayings of this prophecy from that angle. However, in doing so you are denying that Christ’s words never pass away, and in doing so you are denying that Christ and His words are the first and the last and the is, was and will be He claims to be on twelve different occasions in this book alone. In doing so you are saying that the prophecy of this book has no personal application for any of God’s elect of any past generation and that these words are applicable only for those who happen to be standing on this earth at the time of Christ’s return. Nothing could be further from the Truth. It is He who tells us “I am the Truth” who concludes this prophecy with the same admonition with which He begins it.

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

This prophecy begins and ends with the warning to all who read it that they are to “keep the things written therein,” and they are to “keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” Both warnings say “the time is at hand… behold I come quickly.”

Like Christ in the 24th chapter of Matthew, these words are addressed to “whosoever reads” and not just to the last generation at the end of this age.

Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand.

“The holy place” is the inner chamber of the temple of God, and the New Testament is abundantly clear that “ye are the temple of God and the spirit of God dwells in you.”

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

The abomination of desolation is not at the end of this age for those who are given eyes to see that “the end” spoken of by Christ here in Matthew 24 is the end of the age that comes upon every generation of God’s elect.

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.

So don’t be upset with Jesus Christ. He was abundantly clear that His words would never pass away and that they would be fulfilled “in this generation.” Who we all ought to reject are our Babylonian teachers who have blinded our eyes to all these obvious truths which are consistent with words which are, were and will be true in every generation.

I have no problem with the length of your letter when the heart is sincere in searching for the Truth and is not filled with “idols of the heart.”

God bless your sincere search to know the mind of God and Jesus, whom He has sent to us to reveal to us the Father.

Mat 11:27  All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].

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

Your brother in Christ,

Mike

Isa 41:1-15 Fear Not You Worm, Jacob...I Will Help You - Discussion

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Isa 41:1-15 - Fear Not You Worm, Jacob… I Will Help You…

Isa 41:1  Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment. 
Isa 41:2  Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. 
Isa 41:3  He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet. 
Isa 41:4  Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. 
Isa 41:5  The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came. 
Isa 41:6  They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. 
Isa 41:7  So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. 
Isa 41:8  But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. 
Isa 41:9  Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. 
Isa 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 
Isa 41:11  Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 
Isa 41:12  Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 
Isa 41:13  For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 
Isa 41:14  Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 
Isa 41:15  Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

Verses 8-15 tell us that “the Israel of God” (Gal 6:15) will be His “threshing instrument having teeth”. Verses 2-7 tell us what His Israel, His threshing machine will do for Him. But to be used of the Lord in that capacity His Israel, His threshing machine must first itself be judged and proven.

In chapter 39 the Lord told Hezekiah, who is a type of us, that his children would be carried off into Babylonian captivity:

Isa 39:4  Then said he [Isaiah], What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. 
Isa 39:5  Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: 
Isa 39:6  Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. 
Isa 39:7  And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Those words are a prophecy of each of us. We are all born in that captive state of ‘Babylon’. Hezekiah accepts the Lord’s decree, and is comforted knowing it is all of the Lord:

Isa 39:8  Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

Ephesian 1:11 tells us the Lord is working all things 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:

Then Romans 8 informs us that “all things word together for good to them who are the called of God…”

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 
Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 
Rom 8:30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Hezekiah, as a type of us, has just been delivered from a “sickness unto death”, having been given a miraculous sign of that healing. It was for Hezekiah’s sake that the whole world experienced the return of the sun by ten degrees on the sundial. This was accomplished just to assure Hezekiah of the Lord’s love for him over all men on earth. Knowing this Paul had every reason to assure us:

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

As we have seen, Hezekiah, as a type of us, could not of himself give thanks which redounded to the glory of God. He and we just naturally glorify ourselves, and yet we know that being humbled is the very purpose for our lives which are filled with trials:

Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it.

In this story of Hezekiah, three times he takes the Lord’s glory to Himself, because this is the story of our own carnal determination to seek our own glory and to rob God of His just and right credit for all things.

1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

2Co 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

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:

This is the lesson of the story of Hezekiah “for our sakes” (2Co 4:15); this is what qualifies us to be the Lord’s elect:

1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 
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.

The glorious, wonderful, and most encouraging, message for us in these words is that nothing we do is of ourselves and nothing we do, if we are the Lord’s elect, will remove the Lord’s love and His mercy for those whom He has predestined to be His “firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”. Here is how that works:

2Sa 7:14  I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 
2Sa 7:15  But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.  

Rom 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Our calling and our election are both “of Him” and do not depend upon whether we are strong or wise or virtuous. He will be all those things in us.

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

Rom 9:28  For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

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:

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

Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

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.

Jas 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 

Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

With that reminder we begin our verses for today:

Isa 41:1  Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment. 

There are two things we need to notice about this verse. The first is that we “renew [our] strength [to] come near together [with Christ] to judgment”, and that is a very good thing because:

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 
1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

The second thing we need to realize is that in this verse we are given a type of Christ in a prophecy of the coming of Cyrus the great who, by the hand of the Lord Himself, is caused to commission the building of the temple in Jerusalem. As we will see in chapter 44, Cyrus is referred to as “My shepherd”, and here in chapter 41 he is called “the righteous man from the east”, a type of the Lord Himself:

Isa 41:2  Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. 

Like Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar before him, Cyrus was a ruthless dictator. Yet all three men are types of Christ and are used as servants of the Lord in dealing with His people:

Gen 41:39  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 
Gen 41:40  Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 
Gen 41:41  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

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

Jer 27:6  And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.

Jer 43:10  And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.

Zec 6:12  And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: 
Zec 6:13  Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

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

The nations and their kings are all merely instruments in the Lord’s hand to deliver the kingdoms of this world into the hands of His elect.

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

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

Everything Cyrus does is for the sake of the Lord’s people, even as Cyrus is given to destroy all the nations at the Lord’s behest:

Isa 41:3  He [Cyrus, a type of Christ and His Christ] pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet. 
Isa 41:4  Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. 
Isa 41:5  The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came. 

The Biblical phrase “the isles” is just a reference to the nations. Israel itself is called an ‘isle’:

Isa 20:6  And the inhabitant of this isle [Israel] shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?

The nations within us help and encourage themselves to resist the Lord’s word and His will. They do so depending upon the “idols of their hearts”:

Isa 41:6  They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. 
Isa 41:7  So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. 

The gold of the goldsmith is the Word of God, which we twist and wrap and encase our hearts' idols.

Eze 7:19  They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity. 

Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; 

Eze 14:7  For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:

The Lord’s silver and the Lord’s gold are His Words and His doctrines: 

Pro 8:10  Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

This is what we do with the gold and silver which He gives us:

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 [false doctrines] of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

That is “the stumbling block of [our] iniquity”! Wrapping our idols of our hearts in the Lord’s silver and in His gold is a matter of rejecting His words and making an idol of our own doctrines:

1Sa 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Hezekiah, a type of the Lord’s elect, “rejected the Word of the Lord” Who promised to protect him and his people, and he submitted himself to the king of Assyria. Only because he was a type of the Lord’s elect, Hezekiah was made to repent and was given the faith to depend upon the Lord, who did deliver Hezekiah by destroying 185 thousand of the armies of Assyria (Isa 37:36).

Isa 41:8  But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. 
Isa 41:9  Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. 

Even if we ‘deny Him three times’ and usurp His glory three times, if we are His elect, ‘[His] mercy will not depart away from [us] away as [He] did [king] Saul’:

2Sa 7:14  I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 
2Sa 7:15  But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 
2Sa 7:16  And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

2Ti 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 

It is made abundantly clear that our salvation is not of ourselves. Rather our salvation is despite ourselves and in spite of the fact we are weak and foolish and base and despised. 

1Co 1:25  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 
1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 
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:

Our Lord really is, at this very moment, waging war on our behalf, and while doing so He is encouraging us:

Isa 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 

If we are indeed His elect, whom He has determined will remain faithful to the end, then we are “the apple of His eye”, and He will wage war for us on our behalf:

Isa 41:11  Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 
Isa 41:12  Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 
Isa 41:13  For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 

The Lord wants us always to remember from whence we came. It is for that reason we are typified by “fiery serpents (Isa 6:2), four beasts (Rev 4:6 and 8; and Rev 5:6 and 8), and here in Isaiah and in the books Job and of Psalms we are likened unto “a worm”:

Isa 41:14   Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 

Job 25:6   How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm? 

Psa 22:6   But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

“Despised of the people” lets us know this is a spiritually personal assessment of ourselves. The beast within does not just naturally see himself as a worm, despised of the people. Instead he sees himself as God, and he demands to be treated as such:

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.

1Co 3:16   Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Paul was inspired by the spirit of Christ to say these things, and Christ knew all of this when He made this statement in Matthew 24:

Mat 24:15   When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand)

The Lord then tells us that He made us in this lowly state so “that no flesh should glory in His presence", as we read earlier.

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 
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.

The characteristics chosen by the Lord to typify His elect are that they must be the foolish, weak, base and despised of this world. Who wants those qualifications? No one wants to be thought of in those terms, and indeed it is few who are given to humble themselves to acknowledge that all flesh meets those qualifications. The fact is, those words are the very definition of flesh, and it is absolute foolishness, weakness and baseness within us which denies that even our righteousnesses are as filthy rags to the Lord, and that in our very best moments we are yet spiritually worthless:

Psa 39:5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

Isa 64:5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. 
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 
Isa 64:7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. 
Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and are the work of thy hand.

Look at what we just read, “…Our iniquities… are the work of thy hand.”

Isaiah 64 is telling us the same things we are reading here in Isaiah 41… In those that remember You in Your ways there “is continuance, and we will be saved”. 

It is instructive to know that the word translated “meetest’ in Isa 64:5 is the Hebrew word ‘paga’ (H6293) is also translated as “entreat” or “entreat for” in these verses:

entreat, 3
Gen 23:8, Rth 1:16, Jer 15:11

I will quote the first entry only to show how this word can be used:

Gen 23:8  And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me [‘paga’ H6293] to Ephron the son of Zohar,

It is translated as “intercession” in these verses:

intercession, 4
Isa 53:12, Jer 7:16, Jer 27:18, Jer 36:25

I will quote only the first verse to demonstrate that this Hebrew word ‘paga’ can be translated as ‘entreat for’ and ‘intercede for’:

Isa 53:12  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for [‘paga’ H6293] the transgressors.

It is also very instructive to know that the word translated as ‘continuance’ followed by “and we shall be saved”, is the Hebrew word ‘olam’ (H5769). ‘Olam’ is the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek word ‘aion’ (G165). Both mean “properly an age”, and that ‘age’ is as long as the context demands. In this verse it refers to “slam” salvation, which was promised to us “from times eonian”:

Isa 64:5  Thou meetest [Hebrew: intercede for] him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those [in His ways] is continuance [Hebrew: olam, eonian], and we shall be saved [salvation]. 

The two phrases 1) “in those is continuance”, and 2) and we shall be saved”, are derived from two Hebrew words. The first, as we have already discussed, is the Hebrew word, ‘olam’ (H5769), and the second is the Hebrew word ‘yasha’ (H3467). Yasha is properly translated in some form of ‘save’, saved’ or ‘delivered’ in 197 of the 207 times it is listed in e-sword.

It appears that a better translation of this verse would be:

Isa 64:5  Thou meetest [Hebrew: intercede for] him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those [in His ways] is continuance [olam], and we shall be saved [salvation]. 

Such a translation would be in line with:

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

The knowledge of the age of salvation was “sealed” away from all who lived before Christ and was not yet available to ancient Israel. Only the promise of that gift was made known in the Old Testament:

Dan 12:8  And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? 
Dan 12:9  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

Contrast those words to the Old Testament prophet, Daniel, with the words spoken to the apostle John in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ:

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

This statement is repeated at the end of this prophecy where John is expressly instructed… “seal not the words of this prophecy”. Then the holy spirit again repeats the words which inform us of the urgency of our situation:

Rev 22:10  And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

It is in looking forward to that time within and without that we will end our study today:

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

It is only because we have in this life, “this present time”, been judged and have been humiliated and thoroughly threshed and had the mountains and hills within us made small and made as chaff by a “threshing instrument having teeth”, that we are now in the process of being qualified to do the same for the Lord as His “firstborn among many brothers”. 

It is through the sacrifice of so many other men and other nations that the Lord has elected us:

Isa 43:3  For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 
Isa 43:4  Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

It is because “I have loved thee [that] I will give men for you and people for your life”. It is NOT the other way around. Contrary to the demonic false doctrine of man having a fabled ‘free will’, Christ made that point crystal clear:

Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

The holy spirit inspired the apostle Paul to give a second witness to this fact:

Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 
Rom 9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 
Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Having been humbled and crushed to powder in this age, we are being prepared to serve the Lord in doing the same to the masses of mankind whose hearts were hardened in this age:

Jer 51:20  Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; 
Jer 51:21  And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; 
Jer 51:22  With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid; 
Jer 51:23  I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.

That is the meaning of our last verse for today:

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

These words are addressed to us who are right now the first to experience the ‘fire’ of ‘the lake of fire’. The fire and the threshing are the judgment of the great white throne judgment/lake of fire/second death.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 
1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

If indeed “judgment… first begins” with us, then it follows that the “great white throne… judgment” is a second judgment. The fire and the threshing at that time are the second judgment called by Christ "the resurrection of judgment" (Joh 5:29). ‘The resurrection of judgment’ is a second “fiery trial”. This time the fiery trials are called “the lake of fire [which] is the second death” (Rev 20:14).

Our next study will continue to reveal to us how we as ‘gods’ will judge this world:

Isa 41:16  Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD , and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel. 
Isa 41:17  When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. 
Isa 41:18  I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. 
Isa 41:19  I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: 
Isa 41:20  That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it. 
Isa 41:21  Produce your cause, saith the LORD ; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. 
Isa 41:22  Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. 
Isa 41:23  Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. 
Isa 41:24  Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you. 
Isa 41:25  I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay. 
Isa 41:26  Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words. 
Isa 41:27  The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings. 
Isa 41:28  For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counseller, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word. 
Isa 41:29  Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion. 

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – Part 146

“And the sign or wonder come to pass”

January 4, 2019

It is a common concept throughout Deuteronomy, and much of the scripture, that we are to keep the commandments of the Lord.

We ended the last chapter with this concept as it pertains to serving other gods, and this same theme will be what continues throughout chapter 13.

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.

In our study today, we are going to learn more about serving the Lord in the capacity which He demands and not serving in a capacity that permits us to do whatever we do and then call it worship.

We are going to cover the whole chapter, but it only contains 18 verses, so it should go quickly.

The first scenario we find ourselves reviewing is what we do when we are confronted with a prophet whom we know has dreamed a dream or tells us of a sign that comes to pass, but tells us to serve others gods.

Deu 13:1  If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
Deu 13:2  And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Deu 13:3  Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

I know these verses are familiar enough that you will have heard them discussed before. However, I want to mention a few points that I also used in my previous study.

“(ESV)  take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.”

If the Lord looked on these nations and their god worship, and then destroyed them for it, why would He treat us any differently? In fact, because we are His people and have been told His commandments, we will be held to a higher bar.

Luk 12:46  The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Luk 12:47  And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luk 12:48  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

The thing that should be screaming out to us all is how it is we can worship idols. Idols aren’t ONLY going to be something that we shape with our hands and place on a mantel to worship.

Far more insidious are those idols of the heart which we worship in ourselves and in OTHERS.

Notice, we are told several times in this chapter about idol worship and also about “eating meat”.

Where else are we told about “eating an idol”? This is the ESV translation.

1Co 10:26  For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”
1Co 10:27  If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
1Co 10:28  But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—
1Co 10:29  I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience?
1Co 10:30  If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
1Co 10:31  So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

This being offered to idols is not something that I have ever heard someone say. I would be a bit surprised to ever hear this come from anyone alive today.

However, when we know idols are of the heart, then we can know what we are being told spiritually.

Eze 14:2  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

(BBE) “Son of man, these men have taken their false gods into their hearts and put before their faces the sin which is the cause of their fall: am I to give ear when they come to me for directions?”

These were notes taken from my previous study to show that we are not only concerned with “gods out there” somewhere. We are concerned with worshipping ourselves and others.

Instead, we need to hearken unto the message of Deut 13:4.

Deu 13:4  Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

What is very trying to us as humans is that the Lord has placed us into lives which cause us to seek out companions in this thing we call life. When seeking out companions, whether they be family, friends or loved ones, we tend to develop relationships with deep roots. This isn’t always the case with everyone of course, but we generally want to be around other humans with whom we are compatible.

Because this is something that comes naturally to us, we need to be careful of attaching ourselves so closely to someone that we do not obey the Lord in our lives because of the influence of those around us.

From our study today, a prophet would be someone we know and respect as being someone with some sort of history of dealing with the Lord. We know that spiritually speaking, prophecy itself is the testimony of Jesus Christ in one capacity or another.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Knowing what the spirit of prophecy is, we can now look at Deuteronomy in the spirit in which it was written for those for whom it was prepared.

We are told to cleave unto the Lord for a reason in Deut 13:4, and then we are told how to handle those that prophesy BUT also tell us to serve “other gods”. Again, stop thinking in only absolute terms of “gods out there somewhere” or a pagan god such as Zeus or Ra.

Listen closely to the decree of the One True God.

Deu 13:5  And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

When we know someone has the spirit of prophecy, but then we hear “their voice” and not the voice of the True Shepherd, a voice which tells us to turn away from the LORD our God, then we need to put that prophet to death.

For us today, we know that the sum of the Word is truth. Therefore, we are not talking about physically killing people.

However, we are talking about another type of death. This verdict and execution of death is to happen a certain way.

Deu 13:6  If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;
Deu 13:7  Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;
Deu 13:8  Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:
Deu 13:9  But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
Deu 13:10  And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

“Thou shalt surely kill him …..thine hand shall be first upon him…..thou shall stone him with stones.”

This doesn’t sound like the Lord wants us to play games with this person, or try to win them over to the Lord, or try to do anything other than put them to death. Again, we are not talking about physical death even though this was certainly the severity of what the Lord meant in the old testament.

Look at the category of people of whom we are talking about not to be playing around – “Prophets, dreamers of dreams, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, wives and friends” are all to be put to death when they entice us to SERVE OTHER GODS.

It sounds like the Lord takes this seriously, and it also appears that the Lord knows these temptations will potentially come from many different avenues in our lives. We must be on guard against serving other gods. Because the situation is so serious, and the consequences are so severe, the Lord does want us to diligently inquire of the exact situation and details of everything that is happening.

After all, physical death is very final in its judgment.

Deu 13:11  And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.
Deu 13:12  If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,
Deu 13:13  Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
Deu 13:14  Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;
Deu 13:15  Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.

Now we see that stones and the sword are the two instruments of death used to kill those that would bring the wickedness of serving of other gods into our midst. Yet, while these two tools are used to slay the tempters, the spoil of the war and of the cities we have overthrown are to be purged with fire.

Deu 13:16  And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.
Deu 13:17  And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;

It should be plain to see that the Lord is very serious about His people serving other gods.

However, along with this serious stance, the Lord has also given us weapons (and clues) on how to make sure we are ourselves stay in the good graces of the Lord.

I obviously pointed out fire, the sword and stones as instruments used to execute the judgment of the Lord. All of these spiritual words should tell us a little bit about the spiritual message contained in Deuteronomy 13.

I will list a few familiar verses to rekindle your memories.

Deu 5:1  And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.
Deu 5:2  The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.
Deu 5:3  The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.
Deu 5:4  The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,
Deu 5:5  (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,

Fire is feared by those who are not able to dwell in fire.

Isa 5:24  Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

If we obey the Lord, we will have no fear of His fire.

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

Though we do initially fear the fire, once we are put into it and cleansed by it, we can come out the other side able to handle dwelling in it. We are speaking about the fire of the Word of God.

2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The stone with which we stone others is, of course, Jesus Christ also.

Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

1Pe 2:3  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
1Pe 2:4  To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1Pe 2:7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1Pe 2:8  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

We know the sword represents the sword of the word of God.

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

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

Indeed, those same prophets and dreamers of dreams who take up the sword will be die by the same. The truth is that those that dwell comfortably in the fire are those that have been consumed by the Fire.

What is really apparent in this chapter 13 of Deuteronomy is that the Lord does not want us being drawn away to serve other gods, but again this will not come in the form of serving Zeus for the majority of Christians.

It will come in the form of hearkening to the WORDS of OTHERS. Words are powerful i.e. see the Word of God to know how powerful words can be. Jesus Christ is the most powerful “word” every spoken.

However, there are always lessor “gods” or lessor “words” that desire to sit on the throne of God.

These lessor gods/words are those whom would drawn us away with their own ideas, thoughts and passions about what and who the Lord is and would have us do, VERSUS what we have learned to be the One True God and His doctrine.

The chapter, like many others, ends where it started.

Deu 13:3  Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deu 13:4  Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

Deu 13:18  When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.