“God divided the light from the darkness”

(Pro 28:12-16)

[Study Aired April 30, 2026]

Many of the proverbs in God’s word have contrasting light and dark statements that act like contrasting colours in the natural world. The natural things do reveal spiritual truths as we read in (Rom 1:20). One can find webpages with examples of contrasting colours at work. For example, the effect of orange appearing more orange, and blue more vibrantly blue when they are set beside each other.

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:

Complementary colors – Wikipedia

The same principle is true with many of the proverbs that relay the positive and negative example of some particular subject in scripture to make both sides of the coin brighter in our heavens. God works continually through contrast that are both the same to him as we go from glory to glory (2Co 3:18) at the hand of the Master Potter who is dragging us to Christ (Joh 6:44), working out this process within us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure (Isa 45:7 , Psa 139:12 , Php 2:12-13). God does not do the evil, but he does facilitate such an evil experience at the hands of those who are being humbled in this life, which in time will be everyone (Eph 1:11 , Ecc 1:13).

Ecc 1:11 There is no remembrance of former generations, And also for those who shall come after us, A remembrance of them shall not continue With those who shall come afterward.”
Ecc 1:12 I myself, the Assembler, came to be king over Israel in Jerusalem.”
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. (CLV)

The old man and the new man within us are needful for the workmanship of His hands to be brought to see more clearly through this contrast that we are guilty of all, and chief of sinners, or as David was inspired to say, just as Saul of Tarsus did in their own words “you [Tony] are the man” (2Sa 12:7 , 1Ti 1:15). The only thing that is acceptable to God in us is Christ (Eph 1:6) who is the new creation (2Co 5:17).

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

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

Christ is being formed within His body the church today (Col 1:24), and that’s why Paul was rejoicing because he was blessed to endure all that suffering he was going through in his day with the people of God, via the much tribulation (2Co 11:23-30), that must be a part of our lives if we are going to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection (Act 14:22 , Php 1:29 , 2Ti 2:12).

Pro 28:12  When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

Pro 28:12 When the righteous are glad there is great felicity everywhere, Yet when the wicked rise humanity must lie low.”[CLV]

Pro 28:12  When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. [ASV]

Christ is our righteousness and if we are granted to endure to the end of this life to be those saviours that come up on Mount Zion (Oba 1:21) there will be great rejoicing from the saints at that time. In (Job 38:4-7) we read a typical statement of the great rejoicing of the morning stars that sang together. What they were rejoicing over is found in the context of the words which are typical of the body of Christ who are also measured and supported upon “the corner stone thereof” which represents Christ (Eph 2:20 , 1Pe 2:6). Again Paul was rejoicing as we rejoice knowing that Christ is being formed within the church (Col 1:24).

Job 38:4  Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Job 38:5  Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Job 38:6  Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
Job 38:7  When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you,(Heb 11:26) and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

The wicked have risen in the lives of God’s elect and are being destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming within (2Th 2:2-8). Now we are hidden in the Lord, being judged first (1Pe 4:17), as God’s workmanship that is hidden from the world (1Co 2:7 , 1Pe 3:4).

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

1Pe 3:4  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Outwardly evil men and seducers are waxing worse and worse at the end of this age (2Ti 3:13) and that is also a typical statement that Christ made reminding us that the outward wars and rumours of wars and breakdown of society (Mar 13:7 , 2Ti 3:1-9) are types and shadows of what has come to be realized is within us and needs to be destroyed by Christ. This is the first and perhaps most obvious contrasting proverb we’re looking at, where we learn that it is within us that light will come out of darkness as the Lord mercifully judges us and leads us unto repentance in this age (Tit 2:12-13 , Heb 12:6). This concept stems back to our title where the first use of the word light and darkness are used in the bible in (Gen 1:4), revealing the means by which God would work with His workmanship until the very end when He is all in all, and there is no more darkness (1Co 12:6 , 1Co 15:28 , Eph 1:23)

1Co 12:6  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

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

Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

What must be destroyed by the brightness of His coming into our heavens:

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2Ti 3:8  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
2Ti 3:9  But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

Pro 28:13  He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Covering our sins is the same as despising God’s goodness that leads us unto repentance “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper” (Rom 2:4). We will not prosper spiritually with such a hardened heart, and therefore this section of the proverb is contrasted with the miracle that must occur in our lives as God give the increase by softening our hearts and making them contrite and broken (Isa 66:2 , Psa 51:17). It it with that heart alone that we can confess our faults from our heart and be shown mercy from our heavenly Father “but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy“. Again we see contrast here that is simply showing God’s elect that no one comes out of Egypt which typifies the bondage of sin except by the strong hand of our Lord, the fit man who takes us through our wilderness experience of evil (Joh 8:32-36 , Lev 16:21).

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?

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.

Psa 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33  They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

“but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy“

Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Pro 28:14  Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

If we are as He is in this life (1Jn 4:17) then we are going to be blessed to have this Godly fear working within us so that we may be heard, in that we fear God as Christ did in the days of his flesh (Heb 5:7 , Eph 5:30).

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.

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

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

If we don’t continue to hear him (Joh 8:31 , Mat 24:13) are hearts will be hardened, and this is the litmus test as to who it is that has God’s spirit within them or not (1Jn 4:3-6).

1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jn 4:5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Without Christ’s spirit working within us it is impossible to not have our hearts hardened as the love of many will wax cold because of iniquity abounding at the end of this age (Mat 24:12-13), due to the fact that God is not saving everyone in this age but a few who have been blessed to have their eyes and ears opened, and kept open, in order to hear Christ’s parables that reveal the kingdom of God within us (Mat 22:14 , Luk 17:21). The obvious contrast here is that you will either be given a heart that fears God until the end of this age, or  you won’t, saying my Lord delays his coming (Mat 24:48-50)!

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

Pro 28:15  As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

There is no direct contrast with this proverb that is simply showing us in type and shadow how wicked Satan is, who is likened unto “a roaring lion” or a “ranging bear“. The “wicked ruler” is the god of this world (2Co 4:3-4) who has kept the world in spiritual poverty from the garden of Eden “a wicked ruler over the poor people“.

2Co 4:3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
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.

He is like a “roaring lion” that wanders around, roaming, and searching and seeking who can destroy, all according to the counsel of God’s own will (Eph 1:11). He is likened unto a “roaring lion” seeking whom he may destroy (1Pe 5:6-8), which is why we must always be on our guard, ever vigilant (2Co 2:10-11). The positive use of a lion is the Lion of the tribe of Judah who is destroying all the false doctrines within us, giving us victory over the lies of the devil. The positive use of a bear in scripture is also in connection with the destruction of false doctrines that are in this story being likened unto children that were destroyed by a bear (2Ki 2:24)

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

2Co 2:10  To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; [“Humble yourselves“]
2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

2Ki 2:24  And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

Pro 28:16  The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

When we are wanting and lacking in understanding we can feel oppressed and be oppressive due to the lack of good judgment, wisdom, and insight, that are all qualities that God is forming within the body of Christ. “The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor“.(1Co 10:11 , 1Ki 12:1-14).

1Ki 12:8  But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
1Ki 12:9  And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
1Ki 12:10  And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
1Ki 12:11  And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
1Ki 12:12  So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
1Ki 12:13  And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him;
1Ki 12:14  And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2Pe 3:18). Solomon in the positive view of his life typifies Christ, and his son and those who He put in charge are a good example of someone lacking understanding, reflecting this covetous me first attitude that has been dominating so many rulers throughout the ages “but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days “.

Next week will continue to look at how God is dividing the light from darkness within us, and how this process is being revealed in His word, and in particular via the proverbs we are studying.

“The glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter” Part 2

(Know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God) (Pro 25:5-16)

[Study Aired January 29, 2026]

Pro 25:5  Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Pro 25:6  Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Pro 25:7  For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
Pro 25:8  Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
Pro 25:9  Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
Pro 25:10  Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
Pro 25:11  A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Pro 25:12  As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Pro 25:13  As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
Pro 25:14  Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Pro 25:15  By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Pro 25:16  Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

God has called the elect to “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” (1Ti 3:15). It is the longsuffering spirit of God working within the body of Christ (Rom 8:9) that is required in order for us to become overcomers, or “a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out”(Rev 3:12). It is the glory of God to conceal this process of overcoming from the world, and it is the honour of kings to search out this matter, this unsearchable matter by the spirit of God, the Comforter that is able to lead us into all truth that will set us free if we are granted to continue in it (Joh 16:13, Joh 8:31-32).

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Solomon’s prayer for the physical temple found in (1Ki 8:22-36) is a type and shadow event that describes what God is answering for the temple of God that we are today (1Co 3:16, Luk 22:31-32).

1Ki 8:27  But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
1Ki 8:28  Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day:
1Ki 8:29  That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.

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

In order to become part of “the pillar and ground of the truth” or “a pillar in the temple of my God”, we must go through this longsuffering process ordained of the Master Potter, and not despise it (Rom 2:4), seeing it is the way by which the bride will be made ready (Rev 19:7). This section of proverbs gives some very instructive and clear reminders to the body of Christ as to “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.”

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.

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?

Before we read the verses for our study today, let’s look at the prayer in Solomon’s dream (1Ki 3:5-10), and the prayer that Solomon was inspired to make for the temple itself (1Ki 8:22-36). What we’ll see is that, in type and shadow, Solomon is praying for the church, the temple which we are and asking God to know how we ought to walk in the midst of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The first thing to notice is that we will not ask anything amiss (Jas 4:3, Mar 11:24) if we are granted to be dead to sin and alive in Christ, which is typified by Solomon’s being asleep when God inspired his selfless prayer for the nation of Israel who represents the Israel of God [Luk 8:52-53, Rom 6:11, Gal 6:16].

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

“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”

1Ki 3:5  In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
1Ki 3:6  And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
1Ki 3:7  And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. [these words of (1Co 1:26) symbolized by “and I am but a little child”]
1Ki 3:8  And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. [Our calling is ultimately for the multitudes who will be saved (Rev 7:9 , Oba 1:21)]
1Ki 3:9  Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?(1Co 2:16)
1Ki 3:10  And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

David is a type of Christ and Solomon a type of the body of Christ who will do greater works than Christ (Joh 14:12), by way of building the temple, which is symbolic of converting the life of those that God draws to the body of Christ, represented by Solomon. Solomon is asking, in old covenant letter of the law terms, to teach me that I may “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”

“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”

1Ki 8:22  And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: [It is before the altar which is the cross where we must stand if we are going to be pillars of our God in his temple]
1Ki 8:23  And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:
1Ki 8:24  Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.
1Ki 8:25  Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; (Mat 22:14) so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me. (1Co 11:1)
1Ki 8:26  And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.
1Ki 8:27  But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
1Ki 8:28  Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day:
1Ki 8:29  That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.
1Ki 8:30  And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive. (Joh 17:20)
1Ki 8:31  If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house:
1Ki 8:32  Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
1Ki 8:33  When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house:
1Ki 8:34  Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers. (Rom 2:4)
1Ki 8:35  When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:
1Ki 8:36  Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, [“know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God”] and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance. (Rom 2:4)

Pro 25:5  Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Pro 25:6  Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
Pro 25:7  For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

These first three verses give the critical message of identifying the wicked within ourselves (Pro 16:4, 1Co 11:31-32) and the need to take it away from before Christ “the king”, and then shall His throne within us be established. We must not put “forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great” (1Co 10:12), which is accomplished by resisting the devil and cleaving unto God, humbling ourselves under His mighty hand (Jas 4:7, Mat 23:12). If God will permit us this spirit then we will hear His voice telling us “Come up hither” (Rev 11:12). If we are to be raised in heavenly places today (Eph 2:6) we must be lying dead in the streets of that great city (Rev 11:11). If we are boasting in our flesh we will be “put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen” in the lake of fire, great white throne judgement. Judging ourselves today will result in our being chastened of the Lord abasing us in this age so that we can be exalted in the next (Rev 20:6).

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

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Mat 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Pro 25:8  Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

If we are going in the way that seems right to us in our flesh we will end up being put to shame by those who see that we tried to build something by our own strength that never came to fruition in the first resurrection (Psa 127:1, Php 3:9). Only God can give us the power to stop trusting in our flesh (Eph 1:11-12) and to continue to rely on Him for everything, which is what will happen when we stop going “forth hastily to strive”. It takes the ongoing trial of our faith in order to make that a reality in the lives of God’s elect (Act 14:22, Pro 3:5, 2Co 1:9, 2Ti 2:24-26, Php 4:4-7).

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

2Co 1:9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

2Ti 2:24  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2Ti 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Php 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Php 4:5  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Pro 25:9  Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
Pro 25:10  Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

In other words, don’t be a talebearer, go to  your brother and him alone (Mat 18:3-4, Mat 18:10, Mat 18:15).

Mat 18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 18:10  Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 18:15  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

If we gossip and don’t cover each other’s sins by going to our brother, the Lord will expose that immature spirit within us and it will humble us in one manner or another, “Lest he who hears should embarrass you When your gossip cannot be retracted” (CLV).

Pro 25:11  A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

How we go to our brother who is ensnared of the devil with a spiritual sin is with a humble and contrite heart (Isa 66:2, Jas 5:20, 1Pe 4:8), and then our words will be “fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver”. The gold represents the tried word of God that is framed with silver that represents someone who has a humble and contrite heart and knows they are the chief of sinners and capable of any sin, but for the grace of God go we (Mal 3:2-6).

Mal 3:2  But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
Mal 3:3  And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver (Pro 25:11, Jer 5:14), that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. (Isa 33:14-15)
Mal 3:4  Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
Mal 3:5  And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

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.

Jas 5:20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

1Pe 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Pro 25:12  As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Pro 25:13  As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

Our goal in going to our brother is to be “a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters”, which is another way of saying we are winning our wayward brother by “pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” of (Jud 1:23).

Jud 1:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Jud 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jud 1:25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

If God permits, “an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold” will be found in both parties, the one being led and listening to the voice of the shepherd who leads us  to be our brother’s keeper (Gen 4:9, 1Ti 4:16), and God permitting the brother will be granted ears that hear Christ’s message to repent, represented by one who has an “obedient ear”, an ear that has been anointed and able to receive correction (Rev 3:18-22).

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The love and care we show to each other by going to our brother is interestingly connected with the snow and winter, when there is nothing happening in our lives spiritually, yet God says because we are sent as faithful messengers as Christ was sent into our lives, our actions will be “As the cold of snow in the time of harvest”, the harvest being the time of judgement when the wheat is separated from the tares (Mat 13:30) and where “the cold of snow” is the refreshing water in the heat of the Day (2Pe 3:9-12, Act 3:19)

Pro 25:13  (ERV) A messenger that can be trusted is worth much to the people who send him. He is like cool water during the hot days of harvest.

Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

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.
2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Act 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Pro 25:14  Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Pro 25:15  By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Pro 25:16  Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

There is a warning in these verses that speaks about swallowing down this honey, these riches he gifts us with (Job 20:15), to become “waxen fat and turn unto other gods” (Deu 31:20), leaning unto our own understanding with this knowledge that we can get puffed up with (1Co 8:1-2).

Job 20:15  He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

Deu 31:20  For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

1Co 8:1  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
1Co 8:2  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

This whole section of proverbs that we’ve looked at today has been very centered around humility and repentance, and how that is an integral part of how we walk in the house of God. It is with that humble and contrite spirit, a gift from God that we learn to bear long with the infirmity of our brother, and in God’s perfect timing, “By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone”, which breaking of bones symbolizes a turning of our stony hearts to repentance (Eze 11:19, Eze 36:26, 2Co 3:3, Rom 2:5). Once we see it in ourselves, we are able to help our brother.

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;

If we do not operate in the measure of faith that God gives us, we will be operating in our flesh, which is as one “Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain”, the rain representing the spirit of God, the gift of faith that comes with that spirit.

This last verse, “Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it”, is also speaking about the measure of faith that we need, and being grateful for what God supplies, knowing that He knows our needs and is teaching us to be content whether we have a little or a lot (2Co 8:15, Exo 16:18, Rom 12:3, Php 4:12).

2Co 8:15  As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

Exo 16:18  And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

God will always provide what each joint needs to supply (Eph 4:16) so that we learn how a many-membered body works together for the church to grow (1Co 12:18), in order that we may “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” (Joh 13:35).

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.

1Co 12:18  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

The Overview of The Plan of God, Part 12A

The Year of The Jubilee

The undeniable formula for what God is doing with mankind is given to us by the holy spirit. That formula is revealed to us in these words:

1Co 15:21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

“As in Adam… even so in Christ.” As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall the same “all” who are “in Adam… be made alive.” That is also the message of the year of the jubilee. “You shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.” We have a series of studies on the priesthood, the Levites, and the camp of Israel, which demonstrates that the camp of Israel typifies the whole world. The Levites typified the many called, and the priesthood typified the chosen or elect of God. The holy spirit revealed this to the apostle Paul:

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
Col 1:25  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Col 1:26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 
Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

So when we are told that “You shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family”, this is what we are being told:

Eze 16:53  When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:
Eze 16:54  That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.
Eze 16:55  When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.

It doesn’t require a spiritual giant to deduce that if Sodom and Samaria are going to be saved, considering the apostasy of both of those cities, then God intends to save “every man”, and He is intent upon saving all men of all time. This is exactly what we are told so many times and in so many ways in both the Old and the New Testaments:

Job 23:13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth [1Ti 2:4], even that he doeth.
Job 23:14  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

2Sa 14:14  For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

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

1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

1Co 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 [Job 23:13], 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.

Everything God did with mankind from Adam until Christ, and everything He is now doing, is preparing His “firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” (Rev 14:4) to ‘warn every man and teach every man… (Col 1:28) the mysteries of the kingdom of God’ .

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

It is all leading up to the great jubilee of scripture, and that great goal will also be accomplished through “we who have the firstfruits of the spirit… the sons of God”, who are being judged now, first, so we can show to all men of all time the same “yet so as by fire” mercy which is now being poured out on us.

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

How do we know that we “have now obtained mercy”? How do we know whether we a part of that “blessed and holy… first resurrection… firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”? Here is how we know whether we are part of that group of “the church of the firstborn… the pillar and ground of the Truth”:

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue [G3306: ‘meno’, abide] in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Joh 10:14  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 
Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

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.

If our salvation is a matter of being “as in Adam”, then we should expect the scriptures to reveal to us that we have no choice in the matter of our salvation. That is not to say that we will not choose, but it is to say that our choice will be “even… as” it was in Adam, and lo and behold, that is exactly what the scriptures teach from Genesis to Revelation for this one reason:

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

“The whole creation… was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who has subjected the same in hope [of] the redemption of our body. Then “the whole creation…through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.” That is the doctrine of the year of the jubilee, and it is so stated throughout the scriptures.

The goal of God has never been to have a “dying, [and] corruptible…body, [with a] rebellious, carnal mind [which] is enmity against God.” It has all along been through “entering into His rest” to create a new man who would be “conformed to the image of [Christ]”:

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.

The “predestined… firstborn” are just that. They are “firstborn”. They are not the ‘only’ born. Predestination is a Biblical doctrine which demonstrates that all that God is doing will in the end bring all who are in Adam to be “conformed to the image of his Son”. It is “the year of the Jubilee” which is outside of the physical realm and it therefore outside the scope of the annual festivals which God gave to ancient Israel.

Today we will look at this final part of the revelation of the overview of the plan of God for all of mankind as it is revealed to us in “the year of the jubilee”.

In our earlier study we quoted this statement:

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.

It is a rare person who is even given to understand that the church is the fullness of Christ who fills all in all because Christ’s “inheritance [is] in the saints.”

Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 
Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
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.

Few people know that Christ’s “inheritance [is] in the saints”, but it is even fewer who realize that Christ’s Christ, the saints of “this present time” (Rom 8:18) fill Him just as He fills His Father who fills “all in all.” This “all in all” goal of God is typified for us outside of the seven festivals of the three annual seasons of the year. The year of the jubilee is pictured outside the annual holy days because the goal of the plan of God is outside the scope of this earthly vessel of clay. Therefore it is represented, not in a day following six days, neither is it represented by a day which follows seven weeks. Instead the goal of the overview of the plan of God, is outside of and beyond the scope of those who are redeemed while in these clay vessels. The year of jubilee deals with the redemption of all mankind as well as all spiritual powers and principalities in heaven and in earth:

Col 1:19  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Col 1:20  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

“All things… whether… things in earth or things in heaven” would include “the devil and His angels” for whom the judging and redeeming fire of the lake of fire is prepared:

Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting [G166: ‘eonios’, age lasting] fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world [a thousand years, Rev 20:1-6]? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels [In the “white throne… judgment”, Rev 20:7-15]? how much more things that pertain to this life?

“This life” in “this present time” (Rom 8:18) is contrasted with the great white throne judgment/lake of fire/second death. That ‘judgment is outside of “this present time”, which is signified by the three seasons of seven holy days:

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature [Including the spirit realm] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.[ By whose mercy they will receive mercy]

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
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!
Rom 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Because ‘the year of Jubilee’ deals with the spiritual realm, it is represented for us not in a day or a week but in a year which follows seven sevens of years which we are given in the Old Testament law of the year of the jubilee:

Lev 25:9  Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.
Lev 25:10  And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. 

You will notice that the trumpet of the jubilee is sounded on the day of atonement. This fact connects the significance of the jubilee year to the predestined firstborn elect who are ordained of God to judge both this present world and the devil and his angels.

The day of atonement is the day when the scapegoat was offered for the iniquities of Israel. So before we read any more about the year of the jubilee, let’s take the time to see why the year of jubilee is declared on the day of atonement:

Lev 16:21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
Lev 16:22  And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

We have recently finished a series of studies on the identity of this scapegoat, and we found in that study that this scapegoat is just one more type and shadow of God’s elect, through whom He is bringing all men to Himself, and through whom He will accomplish His goal of being all in all:

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

So the glory we read about in Romans 8 is not physical glory in this present time. Our glory as “the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” is not a matter of having a shining face like Moses had when he came down off Mount Sinai with the two tablets containing the law. “The glory which shall be revealed in us [is] that which excels” the glory that was fading away. “The glory which shall be revealed in us” is the same glory that is being revealed in Christ as the Savior of this world simply because we, too, are to be saviors with Him.

Look very closely at what we are told of who we are:

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

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

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

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1Jn 4:17  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.

“With the Lord’s goat”, Christ, we are being offered as “a living sacrifice, dying daily with [Him, being] crucified with Him, [yet living], to bear upon [ourselves] all their iniquities, having them placed upon [our] head by [our] Priest”, who is Christ.

Lev 16:22  And the [scape] goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

It is not possible for the natural man to begin to appreciate the work God is doing with His creation. But it has been given to a “few… elect… firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”, not only to see, but also to become those “saviors… on mount Zion” by enduring and being faithful to the end:

Mat 10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 

The salvation of all men will come only through Christ’s firstfruit, firstborn, who have been given the double portion of the inheritance. That double portion of the inheritance which is given only to “the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” is a major part of “the deep things of God”. That double portion of the inheritance grants us to judge both this present physical realm and “when the thousand years are expired (Rev 20:7) then we will also “judge angels” in the next spiritual realm. In terms of the quantity of those being redeemed the judging we are predestined to do in the great white throne judgment/lake of fire/second death, will be the greatest work of grace God will ever bestow on His creatures. That final work is not in the physical realm. That final work will be done in the spiritual realm of the lake of fire where Sodom and Samaria, and all men of all time, will finally fulfill the year of the jubilee, and all in Adam will be given “abundant… life”, finally fulfilling the commission Christ was given and the reason for which He emptied Himself of His divinity and came into this physical dying realm.

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. 

Joh 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

We will stop here for today, and in our next study we will see what is to take place in the year of the jubilee, and we will find, as we have already pointed out, that even this goal of the plan of God for all men is accomplished in and through “the church which is His body… the glory of His inheritance in the saints” because:

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.

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you [to save the world].

Pro 16:11-20 “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ”

(Aired on July 24, 2025)

Pro 16:11  A just weight and balance are the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag are his work.
Pro 16:12  It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
Pro 16:13  Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
Pro 16:14  The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
Pro 16:15  In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
>Pro 16:16  How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
Pro 16:17  The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
Pro 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pro 16:19  Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Pro 16:20  He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

“All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits” (Pro 16:2). It is the ways that are clean in our own eyes that will naturally lead to spiritual death unless the Lord judges us in this age (1Pe 4:17, Isa 26:9).

It is His judgments in our lives that will redirect our steps and our thinking processes with the mind of Christ (1Co 2:16) so that by the grace of God and faith of Christ (Eph 2:8) we can now understand that Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life: [and that] no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”, even though we are in bodies of death, with the faith of Christ we will not see death, and be able to go unto the Father through Christ “wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Pro 14:12, Joh 14:6, Rom 8:14-16, Joh 11:25-26, Eph 1:6).

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

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

It takes the “just weight and balance” of the LORD in our lives to create this spiritual understanding that eludes the first man Adam in us until His judgements are in our marred earth that must be made anew, becoming a new creation that can now see and hear spiritually (2Co 5:17-18).

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2Co 5:18  And all things are of God (Eph 2:10), who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

God’s elect clearly see the kingdom of God being within us now, and the parables that Christ spoke that reveal the hope of glory within and blind the truth from the masses who are not at this time given to see and hear these mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Rom 8:9, Col 1:27, Mat 13:11)

Rom 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,(Rom 2:28-29) if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

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.

In these next series of proverbs we will look at how the Lord is working within the body of Christ to prepare the bride for that glorious day when “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever”. This will only happen after the seventh angel has sounded which is when the entire body of Christ will have experienced the complete [7] process of judgement we have to go through, being made ready or prepared to hear “great voices in heaven” telling them that now it is time to rule the kingdoms of this world (Rev 11:15).

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.

Pro 16:11  A just weight and balance are the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag are his work.

This verse explains why we can’t take any credit for anything that we accomplish in our life, good or evil (Isa 45:7), seeing it is the Lord who has worked it, both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Php 2:12-13, Isa 63:13), which produces “A just weight and balance [which] are the LORD’S”. We have “obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh “all the weights of the bag are his work”, all things after the counsel of his own will” (Eph 1:11, Isa 63:17). We have obtained an inheritance, now in earnest, although God declares this finished work from the beginning (Mal 3:17).

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:

Pro 16:33  The lot is cast into the lap; [“all the weights of the bag”] but the whole disposing thereof  is of the LORD [“A just weight and balance are the LORD’S”].

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.

Mal 3:17  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Pro 16:12  It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
Pro 16:13  Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

What tears down a right relationship with Christ, who is our King, is committing wickedness, the iniquity that separates us from God and Christ (Isa 59:2). When we do sin and fall and come to our senses it is an abomination unto the one who God is working this in, and that is the whole point that God works with the contrast of light and dark to bring us to our wits’ end, where we are given to contrast our former conversation (Rom 6:21, Eph 2:3) with that of the righteous lips that have been purged with fire (Isa 6:7) and are now a delight unto Jesus our King. He loves to hear right things being spoken from those lips, things that come from the abundance of our heart where Christ is residing, in those who He dwells (Luk 6:45, Joh 7:38). Speaking of Christ’s voice through the body of Christ, his Kings, “They love him that speaketh right things”, and those right words are born out of being received by our loving Father via His chastening grace (Heb 12:6).

Luk 6:45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Pro 16:14  The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

God’s wrath against our first man Adam is “as messengers of death”, because they are coming to destroy that part of us that defiles the temple of God (1Co 3:17). If we would judge ourselves now we can pacify that messenger of death by being given to yield to God’s goodness that is leading us unto repentance, confessing our faults (Rom 2:4-5).

1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1Co 3:18  Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. [see yourself as the chief of sinners]

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;

In repenting, being blessed to heed God’s admonition in our lives, we can “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him”(Psa 2:12). Trusting is how “a wise man will pacify it”, and it is the Father who drags us to Christ for that express purpose (Heb 12:6), and then it is through the beloved that we are accepted, by our advocate, “a wise man will pacify it”.

Pro 16:15  In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

God’s favour upon the body of Christ is very much like the mercy that He will show to the rest of the world in the lake of fire. It is the same fire, “the light of the king’s countenance” [the sun of righteousness Mal 4:2], the consuming fire that God is (Heb 12:29), the favour or grace which is expressed through His judgments, that bring life (Isa 26:9).

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.

“his favour is as a cloud (Heb 12:1) of the latter rain”, is speaking of the one event that is common to all men, and that is His judgment upon us, each man in his own order. Inwardly there is an early and latter rain in the lives of God’s elect that reminds us that by God’s grace we will continue to grow and mature all our lives, if God permits (Mat 4:4, 1Co 3:6). The growth that the elect are blessed with from an early and a latter rain culminates in the first resurrection revealing Christ’s bride who will have been made ready to administer the words of life that have matured within them (Jas 5:7-8, Joe 2:23, how the fruit is brought about today in the lives of God’s elect Jas 5:16-20).

Jas 5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Jas 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.(1Jn 4:17)

Joe 2:23  Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Jas 5:17  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
Jas 5:18  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

[Elias who is a type of the elect typifies how God will use his children as His threshing tool to put an end to the man of perdition who sits on the heart of every man’s soul. What the elect demonstrate is the severity and goodness of God by withholding and not withholding the rain (1Jn 4:17). The judgements of God will be in the earth during the thousand year reign but there will be no conversion, and so in that sense the rain is withheld for three and a half years, even though the word will go forth (Isa 55:11). The earth will only bring forth her fruit when God permits it, and Elias represents the elect who, at the appointed time, will ask God to bring his rain, his judgement upon the world in the lake of fire [preceded by Gog and Magog]. It is that “latter rain” typified by Elias praying to God for rain that will result in spiritual fruit “And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit” (Jas 5:18)]

Jas 5:19  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
Jas 5:20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

[the multitude of sins within us first, but also as a result of our being judged first, we will be used to cover the sins of the innumerable multitude in the great white throne judgement (2Sa 14:14)]

Pro 16:16  How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

To get wisdom is to have Christ abiding within us who is our wisdom (1Co 1:30-31), the pearl of great price, more precious than anything (Pro 16:16). In this proverb, gold represents the wisdom of this world that is being contrasted with Christ who is our wisdom, and we know what the holy spirit inspired as a comparative to the passing and fleeting wisdom of this world (Php 3:8).

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.

Pro 16:16  How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Pro 16:17  The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

We keep our way, through Christ who is our example and “The highway of the upright” who enables us to depart from evil (Joh 8:36), and in doing so the life of Christ is preserved within us (Pro 3:7-14).

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

Pro 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes:(1Co 3:18) fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Pro 3:8  It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Pro 3:9  Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Pro 3:10  So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Pro 3:11  My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

(It takes God’s chastening grace to bring us to stop trusting in the wisdom of men, and become wise by trusting in the power of God, His ways which are higher, his thoughts that are higher, (Isa 55:8-9) and make up “the highway of the upright”  (1Co 2:5))

Pro 3:12  For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Pro 3:13  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Pro 3:14  For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

Pro 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, (1Jn 2:16) lay a ground work within our hearts for pride. Not being content with what God has given us produces a proud spirit, “pride” that “goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall”(Jas 1:13-15).

Jas 1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed [the ground work].
Jas 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin (Rom 6:23), when it is finished, bringeth forth death (“Pride goeth before destruction”).

Pro 16:19  Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

We pray that God will give us this humble and contrite spirit where the lowly abide (Isa 66:1-2, Psa 51:17) and where there is peace that passes all understanding, and reason to rejoice always in the Lord and again I say rejoice as opposed to not being content in this life and wanting more and more and striving with the proud of this world who are like a hungry pride of lions dividing the spoil.

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?

[everything belongs to God and yet we live in a world that Satan is the god of and his subjects are full of pride thinking they have something of value to add to God, like a house, or a place of rest, when in reality we bring nothing to the table]

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 [“Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly”].

Pro 16:20  He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

Handling a spiritual matter wisely is possible with the wisdom that comes from the power of God (1Co 2:5-7) and we know if any man lacks wisdom He can ask God who will give us that wisdom abundantly (Jas 1:5-18).

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

The end result of receiving that wisdom is that we will find good (Jer 29:11), being blessed to be the first to trust God, in this age (Eph 1:12), so we can experience the joy of His salvation, which will happen if we are blessed to endure to the end after the seventh angel has sounded, hearing the great voices in heaven (Rev 1:3) 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”.

Jer 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

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

The Book of Joel – Chapter 3:1-2

And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live?
And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. – Eze 37:3.

[Study Aired Sept 14^th]

The Book of Joel to this last Chapter 3, just as has every other testimony from Genisus to Revelations, warns man of the pattern of disobedience to his Lord’s word and guarantees consequences for disobedience and inevitable chastisement and “deliverance”.

Our Lord’s word is the pure Alpha and Omega of every opposing matter ever conceived by our first father, Satan, and our resonance with him results in assured failure. Nonetheless, our flesh, without the perplexing (holy) new spirit the Lord speaks of [only perceived as a new thing since it hadn’t yet been given more visually], will always default to escalating the sensual because the short-term thrill is far more exhilarating than the esoteric that can’t be physically experienced.

We fall seven times, and if we are given righteousness in this age before the First Resurrection, our earthy existence will likewise be given to rising from the furnace of our disobedience seven times ~ even seventy times seven (Matt 18:21-22. Pro 24:16).

Psa 12:6  The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 
Psa 12:7  Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Psa 12:8  The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

The vilest men are exalted largely because you can see, hear, feel and experience their sensualities that the spirit only offers non-sensually, to be experienced by faith.

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.

There is confusion largely because we default to the sensual, which is lusciously experienced with devilish ardour. This is a powerful and devilish argument against the spirit that can’t be physically touched and seen.

Jud 1:17  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Jud 1:18  How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Jud 1:19  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the spirit.

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ [The foundation of the devilish physical sensualities that inevitably fail will always mirror the everlasting spiritual correlations].
1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Mat 18:21  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

And so, around and around the deadly loop of disobedience, chastisement, and repentance leading to spiritual obedience continues for a symbolic seventy times seven. Then, even though that process doesn’t totally stop, Christ’s righteousness is attributed to us even though our sins are as scarlet (Isa 1:18).

Significations

Without the holy spirit and inseparable faith, no wonder old Israel grew weary of hearing her Lord’s “light bread” (Num 21:5) words since the pattern of suggested ‘deliverance’ continues in the opening verses of Joel 3:1,

The Lord Judges the Nations

Joe 3:1  For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

What Israel couldn’t understand is that without the enigmatic holy spirit, their ability to keep her Lord’s commandments was classicly impossible with assured tears of frustration.

Psa 6:6  I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
Psa 6:7  Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of [the impossibility of routing] all mine enemies [within without the holy spirit!].

Joe 3:2  I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat [H3092], and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. 

Jehoshaphat H3092 – Transliteration: Y@howshaphat- Phonetic: yeh-ho-shaw-fawt’ Definition: Jehoshaphat = Jehovah has judged n pr m

1. son of king Asa and himself king of Judah for 25 years; one of the best, most pious, and prosperous kings of Judah.

6. symbolical name of a valley near Jerusalem, which is the [equally symbolic] place of ultimate judgment; maybe the deep ravine that separates Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives through which the Kidron flowed. FROM H3068 and H8199

– Y@hovah – Phonetic: yeh-ho-vaw’- Definition: Jehovah = the existing one 1. the proper name of the one true God a. unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of 0136. 1. to judge, govern, vindicate, punish a. (Qal) 1. to act as law-giver or judge or governor (of God, man) 1a.

Armageddon G717

– Original: Ἀρμαγεδδών

– Transliteration: Armageddon

– Phonetic: ar-mag-ed-dohn’

– Definition: Armageddon = the hill or city of Megiddo.

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

– Origin: of Hebrew origin H2022 and G4023

– TDNT entry: 08:48,8

– Part(s) of speech: Noun Location

– Strong’s: Of Hebrew origin [H2022] and [H4023]; Armageddon (or Har-Megiddon) a symbolical name: – Armageddon.

Rev 16:12  And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
Rev 16:13  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Rev 16:14  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Rev 16:16  And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

The Valley of Jehoshaphat is another name for the Valley of Jezreel. At the western end of the valley is a small hill, or Mount Armageddon. Geographically and collectively called Meggido, this small valley, just 20 miles long by 7 miles wide, is just outside of Jerusalem and will symbolically contain the implausible vastness of “all [the physical] nations” of the earth represented as Gog and Magog, yet, and conclusively spiritually within, to battle and bloody destruction in our dying daily:

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
1Co 15:32  If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus [literally and within], what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die
[The unconverted are effectively saying, ‘scriptures are too hard to understand; we may as well have wine, women and song and take what happens because God says that he is love and we are (deludedly) saved, anyhow’ by him dying in our stead].

Rev 14:19  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev 14:20  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Very few valleys don’t exit via a stream. The valley of Meggido, just 20 x 7 miles in size, exited the huge volume of blood from the winepress of God’s wrath downstream for 322 km, or 1,600 furlongs (200 miles).

Hos 1:10  Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God [Solomon’s “two armies” Son 6:13 – The elder, Old Israel depicted as “you are not my people “and the second and younger Bride of Christ, “ye are the sons of the living God].
Hos 1:11  Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head [Each person, sitting on God’s throne saying that he is god 2Thes 2:4], and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the [slaughter in the] day of Jezreel. 

Jezreel H3157 –Definition: Jezreel = God sows n pr m 1. a descendant of the father or founder of Etam f Judah 2. first son of Hosea the prophet n pr loc 3. a city in the Nekeb of Judah 4. a city in Issachar on the northwest spur of Mount Gilboa – Gilboa H1533 = swollen heap 1. a mountain-ridge at the southeastern end of the plain of Jezreel, site of the death of Saul and Jonathan.

Every time Mt Gilboa is mentioned in the scriptures, its symbolism is accompanied by an immense swelling of our pride, fattening its host for slaughter. It all began with Israel’s whoredoms, graphically portrayed by Hosea marrying the known harlot, Gomer, and prophesying Israel’s day of slaughter. Of course, the Lord’s Bride knows that the most outstanding slaughter it all refers to is hers, for her whoredoms.

Hos 1:2  The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.
Hos 1:3  So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.
Hos 1:4  And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.
Hos 1:5  And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. 
Hos 1:6  And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. 
Hos 1:7  But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah [Symbolically the Bride of Christ!], and will save them [The “remnant” spoken about in Joel Chapter 2] by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen [meaning, by their Old Covenant physical strength opposed to the coming of the mysterious (holy) spirit].

Zec 12:9  And it shall come to pass in that day [for the Bride of Christ, ‘the day of the lord’], that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem [meaning, the customised nations of opposition to Christ’s word within the Bride]. 
Zec 12:10  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace [… doesn’t it make you shiver?] and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced [every man understanding in his order of salvation], and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Zec 12:11  In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon [H7426 Pomegranates synonymous with exaltedly and the Bride’s chastisements and subsequent returning to truth and the love of God] in the valley of Megiddon.

Afresh: “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land”.

Notice in Joel 3:2 that the Lord brings his people to the symbolic abyss of Meggido (Jehoshaphat) and “pleads” with her face to face in that wretched valley. She stares at the stark reality of its symbolism and what is going to happen to her if she continues to spurn his love overtures not to follow through for her inheritance. She knows that this valley is traditionally represented as a ‘valley of death’ ordained for immense slaughter. Even though she is brought to remembrance of her physical “heritage”, her “Promised Land”, it is her younger sister, the Bride today, who ecstatically knows it is Christ who is her spiritual heritage. It is the Bride alone who knows that she is to keep her garments pure. Otherwise, she, along with her elder sister, Israel, Gog and Magog will, as one, face being cast into the vastly more fearful spiritual death in the Lake of Fire, the Great White Throne Judgement.

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 [with the Him, her promised heritage]. 
Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil [the holy spirit]; my cup runneth over.
Psa 23:6  Surely [the hope of the First Resurrection] goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

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

We see that the names for that highly prominent and mysterious location of death, the Valley of Jehoshaphat, Jezeel, Meggido, and Armageddon, identify the same address.

Hence, and paradoxically to Babylonians, the Lord exalts his Bride for her judging herself within to die a much “lighter” ‘spiritual death’ from her lawlessness as opposed to physical Israel’s bloody death and literal exile to Babylon, symbolised by the Valley of Jehoshaphat.

Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden [believing in free will and delusionally encumbered with saving yourself], and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me [that Christ is our workmanship creating us by his power and might spiritually]; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls [because Christ is building his temple within us].
Mat 11:30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light [… indeed!]. 

In Babylon, Israel continues worshipping every false god more vigorously and unconsciously, imagining in her flesh that God, their enemy, wouldn’t utterly destroy her when belonging to a far more powerful nation than they had been in the Promised Land. What they couldn’t see in Joel 3:2 is that their coming ‘scattering among the nations’ would result from their lockstep with their real enemy, Babylon, and collectively building a great tower to beat any imagined future Noah-like flood, that more profoundly represented the entire Earth’s stubborn and petulant face against her Lord’s commandments.

Gen 11:1-9  And the whole earth [Represented by Babylon, the strongest nation representative of the entire Earth to this day!] was of one language, and of one speech [meaning, 200,000,000 lies (Rev 9:16) of their own ideologies all opposing God’s word].
Gen 11:2  And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar [H8152 country of two rivers. 1. the ancient name for the territory later known as Babylonia or Chaldea]; and they dwelt there.

In type, Israel’s physical exile and journey from her former estate in the Promised Land to Babylon, as were the sons of Noah from the “mountains of Arat” to Babylon, were from the West, and Israel even southwest of Babylon! For Israel to travel to Babylon from the East, as Gen 11:2 says, they would absurdly have come from the Indian Ocean and the mouth of the Euphrates River. Israel’s journey from the East is clearly a metaphor for her, in particular, and later, the entire world’s journey in Christ, their Sun who rises in the East with the healing of increasingly ‘burning’ righteousness in his wings into the spiritual heat of midday. Geographically and astronomically spiritually, it means that wherever we are on Earth in regards to its rotation from the West to the East, it gives the impression that the sun, meaning Christ and his Bride, rises from the East to herald the infinitely greater riches of the Heavenly Jerusalem (… don’t give up understanding that physical reality of the Earth’s rotation that gives the impression that it is the sun that revolves around the Earth). As such, and in regards to Israel still in Babylon, the figurative centre of the financial and Satan’s spiritual world, she, to the deluded world, has today risen again her tower of godship from the East to sit on the throne of God, effectively stating that she IS god! She is all prepared to enter the valley of death in Megeddo, Armageddon to be destroyed as God said would happen to anyone rebuilding old Babylon, particularly within.

(Mal 4:1  For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven [In the valley of Meggido/Armageddon]; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.)

Continuing…

Gen 11:3  And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
Gen 11:4  And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 
Gen 11:5  And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
Gen 11:6  And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language [of total opposition to His word]; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. (Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient)
Gen 11:7  Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
Gen 11:8  So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city [… at the beginning of the soon coming of the One Thousand Year rule with the rod of iron]. 
Gen 11:9  Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. 

That action is the audacity of a harlot standing piously on her self-righteousness, stating that she will eat her own bread and wear her own apparel (Isa 4:1. Rev 18:7. Rev 19:18) while claiming salvation even as she feels safely ‘scattered’ in Babylonian Christianity throughout the world, serving multiple representations of “another Jesus” (2 Cor 11:4). Babylon’s rule is soon to close with the outward coming of Christ and resurrection of his faithful Bride.

These two verses studied are devoted to the Lord pleading today with the joints in his Bride! She, in the spirit today, the Lord’s day, symbolically and paradoxically literally standing in the Valley of Jehoshaphat among the dry bones of her predecessors, where her Lord is graphically presenting a historical visualisation of where she, too, will die a bloody death if she doesn’t repent from her ways.

Eze 37:1  The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
Eze 37:2  And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.

The Bride is already clothed in her Lord’s white robes. Yet, within her remains a sub-remnant of unidentified tares containing schisms and rottenness to her bones (1 Cor 11:19). Our Lord has almost finished dragging those divisions out of her that collectively are called Sodom, Egypt, Tyre and Babylon, which all represent Old Jerusalem, the Great Whore, even as she, in pain, patiently laments, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.  – Rev 6:10-11.

Continuing next week in verse three of Joel Chapter three, we will, Lord willing, quietly listen intently to him as he continues to reflect upon the final dying days of our decreasing wretchedness in the glorious expectation of him winning our battle.

Ezekiel 20:1-25  For His Name’s Sake, we are not Consumed

[Study Aired June 10, 2024]

Introduction

Today’s study is focused on the answer the Lord gave to Ezekiel to tell the elders of Israel who came to enquire of Him. The Lord’s answer shows His displeasure against Israel as a result of their unfaithfulness toward Him. The Lord showed His providential care for the people of Israel as He took them out of Egypt, even though they were ungrateful in their dealings with Him. In the wilderness, the people of Israel continued to rebel against Him. As a result, the Lord promised to judge them by scattering them among the nations and giving them laws which they could not live by. In all of this, the Lord did not use His power to destroy them so that His name would not be blasphemed among the nations of the world. The main takeaway of today’s study is that for His name’s sake, the Lord will carry out all that He has said about us to bring us to an expected end.     

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

The Elders Came to Enquire of the Lord

Eze 20:1  And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.
Eze 20:2  Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,
Eze 20:3  Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

The elders of Israel coming to enquire of the Lord from Ezekiel in the seventh year, the fifth month and the tenth day of the month have significance. The number seven means completion, that of fifth (five) means grace through faith, and the number ten signifies the fullness of the flesh. In verse 1, therefore, we are shown the spiritual depravity of the elders of Israel. It is when the sins of the leaders have reached their fullness, that is in their complete apostasy, that we are given to go through the process of grace through faith. This grace is the judgment of our old man. Spiritually, the elders of Israel here signify the Lord’s elect during our sojourn in Babylon. This is what the Lord says about us as the leaders of Israel:

Eze 34:1  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Eze 34:2  Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 
Eze 34:3  Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. 
Eze 34:4  The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
Eze 34:5  And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 
Eze 34:6  My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

The elders coming to enquire of the Lord means that we had not realized our spiritual depravity when we were in Babylon. The Lord’s initial refusal to answer the elders through His elect who are signified here by Ezekiel was to indicate to us that our works were not pleasing to Him. 

Isa 59:1  Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 
Isa 59:2  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Isa 59:3  For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

Our hands being defiled with blood in Isaiah 59:3 means that we were guilty of the death of the Lord and His servants as we refused to hear them and thought they were evil. Our fingers with iniquity means that our works were dominated by our flesh. Our lips speaking lies and our tongue muttering perverseness refer to the false doctrines in our hearts and minds which are the lies of the evil one.

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

Our lives at this stage of our walk with the Lord are likened to the elder brother of the prodigal son. Because he had not been shown his sins, he thought that he was better than his prodigal brother and therefore had the right to the estate of his father. On the other hand, his prodigal brother had come to know his sins and was therefore looking up to his father for his mercy.

Luk 15:21  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Luk 15:22  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
Luk 15:23  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 
Luk 15:24  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 
Luk 15:25  Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 
Luk 15:26  And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 
Luk 15:27  And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
Luk 15:28  And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 
Luk 15:29  And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 
Luk 15:30  But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 
Luk 15:31  And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
Luk 15:32  It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

It is a privilege to be shown our sins by the Lord. The Lord’s coming to us in Babylon was to show us our sins and to provide a way for us to overcome the flesh through the fire of His words. The next verses therefore show us the Lord showing the elders of Israel their sins.

We Must Know that We Have Sinned Against the Lord

Eze 20:4  Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers: 

In verse 4, the Lord is asking Ezekiel to cause the elders of Israel to know their abominations. It is after we come to realize our sins that judgment follows. Knowing our sins is therefore a prerequisite before we are judged by the Lord. In this life therefore, the Lord is seeking for an occasion to cause us to know our abominations so that He can judge us. Judgment therefore is a privilege the Lord is bestowing on us, His elect. 

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

The next four verses show the sins of the people of Israel. 

Eze 20:5  And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;
Eze 20:6  In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had spied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:
Eze 20:7  Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
Eze 20:8  But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 

It is with the Lord’s mighty hand that He sets us apart from the world (Egypt) to come and worship Him. The lifting up of the Lord’s hands to the seed of the house of Jacob means that the outstretched arms of the Lord are ready to receive us in Him no matter our sinful state, just like the prodigal son. This mighty hand also means that the Lord will judge us as He pours out His fury on us to cause us to obey Him, resulting in Him ruling over us. 

Eze 20:33  As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:
Eze 20:34  And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.

In verse 7, we are shown our abominations of defiling ourselves with the idols of Egypt. These idols of Egypt are the false doctrines of man’s wisdom and traditions in our heavens which cause us to worship the created things instead of our creator, the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result, we rebel against the Lord as we become entrenched in the worship of another Jesus.

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.

In verse 8, we are told that as a result of our rebellion against the Lord, we are going to be judged as He pours out His fury upon us to accomplish His anger against us. As we are aware, it is through the Lord’s judgment that we learn righteousness.

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.

For His Names’s Sake We Shall Not be Consumed

Eze 20:9  But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
Eze 20:10  Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

Here in verse 9 we are told that the Lord acted by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt so that His name would not be dishonored among the nations. Our decision to come out of the world and serve the Lord is not our decision. If we are called and chosen, then the Lord will act on our behalf to bring us to an expected end so that His name is not dishonored among the nations of the world. What this means is that from the beginning to the end of our walk in Christ, it is all His work. What He has begun in us, He will see to its completion!!

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: 

Verse 10 shows us that after the Lord has caused us to leave the world to come and worship Him, we are sent straight into the wilderness where there is lack of water, that is, famine of the word of the Lord. This wilderness is Babylon where we end up worshiping another Jesus as part of the wonderful plan of the Lord. Babylon therefore serves a purpose for our walk in Christ. It is in Babylon that we come to see how sinful we are as we are confronted by the law of Moses which is preached in Babylon. This is what Paul has to say about this:

Rom 7:7  What should we say, then? Are Moses’ laws sinful? That’s unthinkable! In fact, I wouldn’t have recognized sin if those laws hadn’t shown it to me. For example, I wouldn’t have known that some desires are sinful if Moses’ Teachings hadn’t said, “Never have wrong desires.” 
Rom 7:8  But sin took the opportunity provided by this commandment and made me have all kinds of wrong desires. Clearly, without laws sin is dead. 
Rom 7:9  At one time I was alive without any laws. But when this commandment came, sin became alive 
Rom 7:10  and I died. I found that the commandment which was intended to bring me life actually brought me death. 
Rom 7:11  Sin, taking the opportunity provided by this commandment, deceived me and then killed me. 
Rom 7:12  So Moses’ Teachings are holy, and the commandment is holy, right, and good. 
Rom 7:13  Now, did something good cause my death? That’s unthinkable! Rather, my death was caused by sin so that sin would be recognized for what it is. Through a commandment sin became more sinful than ever.
Rom 7:14  I know that God’s standards are spiritual, but I have a corrupt nature, sold as a slave to sin. (GW)

Eze 20:11  And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.

It is in Babylon that we are shown the laws and rules of the Lord through the teaching of the Law of Moses, which if we are able to obey, we shall be saved. However, when we are dominated by our flesh, or the old man, there is no way we can obey the laws and rules given to us by the Lord. The Law of Moses was therefore to make us aware of what sin is, but lacks the capacity to cause us to obey. The Law of Moses was therefore to lead us to Christ and after we have known Christ, or are known by Christ, we are therefore no longer subject to the Law of Moses. 

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 
Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Eze 20:12  Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

Through the Law of Moses, we are given to know the sabbath which represents the day of rest. However, in our spiritual poverty, we look at the sabbath physically as a day of rest from our works. It is after Christ has come to us with His words that we are given to know that the sabbath is not a day of rest but a lifetime of resting from our works and depending on the Lord to carry out His work in us. Of ourselves, we can do nothing. As the word of the Lord says, when the sabbath was first preached to us, we did not experience the rest of the Lord because of our unbelief. 

Heb 4:6  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 
Heb 4:7  Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 
Heb 4:8  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 
Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 

Our Rebellion Against the Lord and His Judgment

Eze 20:13  But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. 
Eze 20:14  But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. 
Eze 20:15  Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

The house of Israel in the wilderness represents the harlot woman or Babylon or the physical churches of this world which have rebelled against the Lord. We were part of this church in the wilderness until the Lord came with His brightness and the spirit of His mouth to judge us as He initiates the process of destroying our old man or flesh so that we can learn righteousness. Thus, the Lord saying that He would pour out His fury upon us to consume us in verse 13 is His judgment, and that is the best thing that could have happened to us in this life. His judgment is therefore what the Lord is working out for His name’s sake such that we do not drag His name in the mud among the heathen of this world.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

In verses 14 and 15 we are made aware that the Lord lifted up His hands upon the people of Israel to prevent them from entering the land flowing with milk and honey. In other words, we cannot possess our bodies, which are represented by the land flowing with milk and honey, until the Lord has poured out His fury on our old man.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

Eze 20:16  Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols. 
Eze 20:17  Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

In verses 16 and 17, the Lord is telling us that in spite of our spiritual depravity, He did not destroy us but continued to keep us in the wilderness.  This shows us that even though Babylon, or the established churches of this world, has derailed from serving the Lord, they are being kept by the Lord for His own purpose. As we can see, we were not serving the Lord acceptably during our time in Babylon, but the Lord did not destroy us but kept us until the set time symbolized by seventy years when He came with His brightness and the spirit of His mouth to deliver us from Babylonian captivity outwardly and within our hearts and minds.

Jer 25:9  Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.
Jer 25:10  Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.
Jer 25:11  And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 
Jer 25:12  And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

Physically, Babylon, or the physical churches of this world, is being kept for a set time, and then will be destroyed by the Lord. This is what the Lord says about its destruction:

Rev 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 
Rev 17:17  For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 
Rev 17:18  And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. 

Rev 18:8  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 
Rev 18:9  And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 
Rev 18:10  Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 
Rev 18:11  And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 

Eze 20:18  But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols: 
Eze 20:19  I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
Eze 20:20  And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God. 
Eze 20:21  Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. 

Throughout our stay in Babylon, the Lord was urging us through His messengers to walk in His statutes and judgments, but we did not pay heed to them as we were enchanted by another Jesus (defiling ourselves with idols). In our state, we were not able to find rest (sabbath) in Him as we thought that we were responsible for our own actions because of our famed freewill.  As a result, we rebelled against the Lord, setting ourselves up for the Lord’s judgment of our old man as He pours out His fury upon us. 

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

Eze 20:22  Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth. 
Eze 20:23  I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries; 
Eze 20:24  Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols. 
Eze 20:25  Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live; 

In verse 22, the Lord did not use His power to destroy the people of Israel so that His name would not be dishonored among the nations who had watched Him bring the Israelites out of Egypt. This implies that because of the Lord’s name which we bear as His children, He will see to the completion of what He has started with us. 

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

1Th 5:23  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th 5:24  Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

In keeping with His name not being profaned among the nations, the Lord takes steps to bring us in line with His purpose. Our rebellion as described in verse 24, relates to not following the Lord’s laws, not resting in Him and lastly, serving another Jesus.

The Lord’s judgment as shown in verse 23 is to scatter us among the heathens or countries with the objective of putting an end to our filthiness. That is to say that we learn righteousness through the Lord’s judgment.

Eze 22:15  I will scatter you among the nations and force you into other countries. I will put an end to your uncleanness. (GW)

As the verses below show, scattering us among the heathen or nations means drawing the sword after us. 

Eze 12:14  And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them.
Eze 12:15  And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries. 

Eze 5:2  Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.

The third part that is scattered in the wind means that the drawing of the sword after us is a process and not a one-time event.  The negative aspect of sword refers to words that are spoken which destroy us. The sword refers to the lying words and false doctrines of the adversary. 

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

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

These negative words spoken are one of the tools that the Lord uses to cause people to speak bitter words to us, His elect, as part of the Lord’s judgment. 

In verse 25, the Lord is saying that as part of His judgment, He allowed us to follow laws that were not good and rules by which we could not live. As Peter stated, the Law of Moses was like a yoke that we were not able to bear during our time in Babylon.

Act 15:10  Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 

As indicated earlier, the Law of Moses is what is practiced in Babylon. These laws were not different from the laws that are applicable in the heathen countries that the Lord had scattered us into. 

Rom 2:14  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 
Rom 2:15  Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

The essence of the Lord giving us laws (the Law of Moses and its related rules) which are not good and which we could not obey is to show us that we are sinful. It is only when we come to appreciate our spiritual depravity of not being able to obey the Law of Moses that Christ comes in to help us by delivering us from our flesh which is the repository of sin. Oh, how wonderful is the Lord’s plan of salvation for us!!

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! 
Rom 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 
Rom 11:35  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen. 

May His name be praised forevermore!!

The Book of Daniel – Dan 2:31-49  Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory

[Study Aired February 22, 2024]

Dan 2:31  Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. 
Dan 2:32  This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
Dan 2:33  His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
Dan 2:34  Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 
Dan 2:35  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 
Dan 2:36  This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. 
Dan 2:37  Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 
Dan 2:38  And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. 
Dan 2:39  And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. 
Dan 2:40  And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
Dan 2:41  And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 
Dan 2:42  And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 
Dan 2:43  And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. 
Dan 2:44  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 
Dan 2:45  Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. 
Dan 2:46  Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. 
Dan 2:47  The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. 
Dan 2:48  Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 
Dan 2:49  Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king. 

In the first chapter of Daniel we learned of the captivity of Judah within the first seven verses, and how that captivity represents our going into Babylon to be held captive by Nebuchadnezzar who represents the god of this world Satan who has humanity in spiritual captivity (2Co 4:4). King Nebuchadnezzar is the negative example of a king of kings as he is called in (Dan 2:37 , Rev 19:16).

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 2:37  Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

Rev 19:16  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Satan is the head or god of this world, and the blinded minds of men are his subjects. He is typified by Nebuchadnezzar who was a ruler with vast power and influence over the kings and nations of the world of his time. Nebuchadnezzar’s rulership over Babylon, represented by the head of the great statue in his dream, tells us that he is a type of the god of this world who has ruled over the hearts and thoughts of mankind, from the garden of Eden and throughout the various empires that are typified by a great image. “This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay” (Dan 2:31-33). The image was interpreted by Daniel, a type of the elect, who won’t eat the false doctrines of this world, represented by the king’s meat, which has been the food source for all these various empires on the great statue that have been orchestrated by the head throughout the ages, Satan, who is typified by Nebuchadnezzar.

Dan 2:31  Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. 
Dan 2:32  This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 
Dan 2:33  His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

The second section of the first chapter of Daniel instructs us regarding how we are in the world and not of the world, if we don’t love the things of this world [the king’s meat] (1Jn 2:15), eating the body and blood of Christ and not the meat of Nebuchadnezzar, which meat represents all the millions of lies in Babylon [the briers, the thorns, the scorpions, the locusts] that have held the world in captivity right from the foundation of the world with our first parents Adam and Eve (Isa 9:15, Rev 12:4, Rev 9:2-3).

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Isa 9:15  The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. 

Rev 12:4  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

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

Rev 9:2  And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 
Rev 9:3  And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

The statue of which Nebuchadnezzar dreamed is most commonly interpreted in religious circles as representing the empires of this world, and then each empire is very often connected to the four beasts that are spoken of in Daniel chapter 7. This natural outward interpretation is what precedes a spiritual inward interpretation that God’s elect are blessed to see, understanding that it applies to their own lives now with judgment in this age (1Co 15:46, 1Pe 4:17). God is destroying the man of perdition on the throne of our hearts (2Th 2:5-8), which man is typified by the terrible statue and the beasts mentioned in Daniel chapter 7, each representing some part of that body of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

The king’s meat [Nebuchadnezzar’s meat] will only keep us focused on an outward interpretation of this statue and the beasts in chapter seven along with the amalgamated beast that is discussed in the book of Revelation (Rev 12:3,  Rev 13:1-2). This beast is also the beast with which we must identify, along with the beasts mentioned in Daniel 7, or we will be left knowing only a physical history of what Nebuchadnezzar’s dream meant.

Rev 12:3  And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 
Rev 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

God’s elect have to go into Babylon and then ‘come out of her my people’, and like Daniel, we are able to interpret the dream of king Nebuchadnezzar, which typifies for us our being able to discern the truth in this age with eyes that see and ears that hear what God has given to very few to see and hear (Mat 13:16). Daniel however prophesied these dreams not to himself but for our sakes, and was never left knowing the true spiritual interpretation of these dreams, but rather a type and shadow interpretation that would serve him in his time and stay the hand of Nebuchadnezzar “to destroy the wise men of Babylon” (Dan 2:24, Mat 13:16-17, 1Pe 1:12, 1Co 10:11). When the truth becomes clear on any matter, we come to see that we are the beast in every instance where God is talking about them. The beastly flesh contributes nothing to our salvation is what this all points to, and it is the spirit that quickens us (Joh 6:63) as the treasure within these earthen vessels (2Co 4:7) accomplishes God’s will in this life (Mat 6:10). Until we are given to see that inward application of God’s words, all these dreams and their interpretations will serve as only a history lesson and give opportunity for the beast still on the throne of our own hearts to point out and accuse someone else, some other nation, some other person, anyone, just not me, of being that beast, or that terrible statue (Ecc 3:18).

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them [Mat 13:16], and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 

As we go through this last section of chapter 2, we want to ask our Father to help keep us focused on the spiritual inward application of what we are reading. In doing that, we can then see how we live upon those words that help us identify the beast and overcome his mark, by Christ (Rev 20:4-5) who has given us eyes to see and ears to hear the inward spiritual lesson for the very purpose of overcoming (1Jn 4:4).

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, [the great image] neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they 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.

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Dan 2:31  Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. 
Dan 2:32  This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
Dan 2:33  His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
Dan 2:34  Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

These opening verses are an overview of the empires of this world represented by the “head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay“, which empires contain all the sins of the world that are within us, which sins are likened unto four metals, ‘four’ meaning the whole, or all, of the sin (1Jn 2:16). The head being gold, which is a precious metal, represents our deceived-by-Satan state as the first Adam who cannot initially acknowledge our marred-in-the-Potter’s-hand state that is a wretched, miserable poor and blind earthen vessel in need of a Saviour who will deliver each man in his appointed time (Jer 18:4, Rev 3:17). 

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

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: [The golden head of the statue]

Salvation comes through the destruction of the marred vessel that is made anew in the Potter’s hand. The marred vessel is broken to pieces like the great statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was destroyed. It takes Christ coming into our lives, the One who accomplishes that destruction of our old man, the stone who destroys the man of perdition on the throne of our hearts (2Th 2:5-8), “a stone was cut out without hands” (1Ki 6:7). It takes a supernatural all-powerful God to create this new creation (Eph 2:10) that has nothing to do with the hands of men, but “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Rom 7:24-25, Eph 2:8).

1Ki 6:7  And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. 

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.

Dan 2:35  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 

What this verse demonstrates is the effect God has on our lives when we are dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44), and what we learn is that all the sin of the world must be dealt with by His goodness leading us to repentance that is connected to the “threshingfloors” (Rom 2:4). This breaking down of all these four metals, “broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors“, represents our overcoming the nations of the world within us, all the sin of the world, through Christ so that we can be made ready to rule all the nations of the world outwardly, “and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth“, and judge them in the great white throne judgment which is preceded by the thousand-year rule and reign [symbolic period of time] under Christ and His Christ (Rev 20:11, Rev 20:6). The stone has to smite the image (Heb 12:6), and it is the spirit of God represented by the wind (“and the wind carried them away“) that will give us victory over all fleshly thinking, “every wind of doctrine”, causing us to cease from sinning (1Pe 4:1, Eph 4:14). The Lord chastens and scourges every son He is receiving in this age, thereby setting us free as we are given to bring every thought into subjection to Christ as we die daily and endure until the end through Him (Rev 13:4, Joh 8:36). If we are granted to judge those empires within us today, then we will be prepared through that judgment (1Pe 4:17) to judge the kingdoms of the world without, when God’s government is established on this earth (Rev 11:15).

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.

Dan 2:36  This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. 
Dan 2:37  Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 
Dan 2:38  And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. “And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold”.

Daniel reminds us that he has others who have been praying and asking the God of heaven and earth what these dreams mean, so he starts off by saying this to Nebuchadnezzar: “This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.” This scenario with Daniel and his colleagues working together to interpret this dream for the king is what God’s elect will be doing with all of humanity during their rule and reign on earth (Rev 20:6) and at the time of the lake of fire (1Co 6:3-5). What Daniel tells the king is symbolic of what we will tell all men, and that is that God sets up the basest of men (Dan 4:17) to rule over the kingdoms of this world. “Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory“, and God gives them dominion over the “beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.” This giving dominion over the beasts of the field and the fowl of the air is what God granted Adam and Eve from the very beginning and typifies how they will ultimately be given to rule over the beasts and fowls of the air within them through Christ one day (Gen 1:26, Jas 3:7-10). This rulership that Nebuchadnezzar has over the “beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold“, is the negative example of ruling over men, making them two-fold more the child of hell, which is what carnal men do in positions of power (Mat 23:15, Mat 20:25-26).

Mat 23:15  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Mat 20:25  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

Dan 2:39  And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. 
Dan 2:40  And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 

It’s important to remember that Nebuchadnezzar is the head of this statue in the dream that represents the Babylonian empire, and as such his influence, or mind, is controlling all the other empires that make up the body. He also typifies Satan who is the god of this world, the head of this present evil age. The first empire, Babylon, is associated with the lion spoken of in Daniel 7:4. Why a lion?, because Nebuchadnezzar typifies Satan, and Satan walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1Pe 5:8). Satan’s kingdom and the servants of his kingdom will only wax worse and worse as the time goes on, and so the metals in the body decrease in their value, ultimately becoming the base metal of iron that represents the hardened unconverted heart of mankind that has only waxed worse and worse throughout the ages of these empires.

Dan 7:4  The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The next kingdom to appear is represented by the breasts and the arms of silver on the statue, which typifies the repentance of the world [silver] that is not accompanied with fruits meet for repentance (Mat 3:8). The ten-seconds sinner’s prayer is the gateway to a licentious life of sinning so that grace can abound (Rom 6:2) is what this silver part of the statue teaches us, and it is inferior to the first empire of gold. It is inferior because it is now a lesser-valued metal than gold, bringing forth the fruit of the blinded head of gold “supposing that gain is godliness” (1Ti 6:5). Saying ‘Lord, Lord’, and not doing the things He commands us is the self-righteous state of this empire represented by breasts and arms of silver. We are putting on our own self-righteous breastplate at this stage and glorying in the things that God does in our lives as if it is by our silver arms, our own efforts, that these things are being accomplished, when in fact there is truly no spiritual gain being had (Luk 6:46, 1Co 4:7, Eph 2:8-9).

1Ti 6:5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 
1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain. 

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?

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The second part of the statue, which is made up of the breasts and arms of silver, is correlated with the bear spoken of in Daniel 7:5. It is a powerful self-righteous beast that is “raised up on one side, and has three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.”

Dan 7:5  And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. 

The first beast is a lion that “was lifted up^H5191 from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it”, and represents how Nebuchadnezzar’s power as a beast was given by the devil who is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (Rev 13:2-4). 

Rev 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 
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?

What is declared of the second beast is “it raised up^H6966  itself on one side” showing that this beast is controlled as well by the man of perdition, the devil’s influence, who deceives us into thinking we have free moral agency and are able to raise ourselves up on one side. With that spirit ruling in our heavens, we devour much flesh like the serpent who is the accuser of the brethren (Gen 3:14, Rev 12:10). The three “ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it” typify that negative outward process of judgment of others that all beasts are prone to do in their flesh. We devour much flesh through this life through our outward judgment of others until we are brought to repentance and stop trying to change others (Rev 11:2). That is when we start seeing those three ribs pointing inwardly at our old man who has to be destroyed through His judgment in our heavens (Heb 9:23).

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?

Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

The next kingdom that comes on the scene is the “third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth“, and this kingdom is likened unto “a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it” (Dan 7:6). 

Once again the dream is one, and we’re still talking about beasts that are controlled by the head, which is Nebuchadnezzar, who typifies the god of this world. This beast is a leopard that we know cannot change his spots (Jer 13:23), and just as the metals are decreasing in their value on the construct of this statue, so are the beasts becoming more evidently controlled by the powers and principalities of this world. Those powers are demonstrated as being wholly on the leopard who has “four wings of a fowl; the beast also had four heads; and dominion was given to it.” The wings of a fowl represent all the evil spirits of this world that manifest on the whole of mankind, the four heads, and dominion was given to this beast just as the kingdoms of this world are the kingdoms of Satan who has deceived the whole world and have dominion and sway over the hearts and minds of humanity (Rev 12:9, Mat 4:8-9). Brass, which is actually copper, represents the best that flesh has to offer, and as I’ve learned playing hockey, your torso never lies. Whatever direction it moves that’s the direction the body is going to go, and so this empire and section of the statue also demonstrates the inflexible heart of man that goes in the way that seems right to a man but leads unto death as it’s compelled by the spirits of this world to do what God wants (Pro 14:12, 1Ki 22:22).

Jer 13:23  Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

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. 

Mat 4:8  Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
Mat 4:9  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 

1Ki 22:22  And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

The last kingdom is the basest of all the kingdoms and also the strongest or overtly open in its opposition of truth. “The fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.” This fourth kingdom is “dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth” as shown in Daniel 7:7. It’s from the mouth of the adversary that the accusations come day and night from the accuser of the brethren who has these iron teeth, meaning he is inflexible and a liar and unrepentant, as are his children, represented by this fourth beast, who like Satan wants to sift the elect as he goes about breaking in pieces and bruising whoever God will grant him the power to do (Mat 10:22). Of course the devil will not prevail in his attempt to destroy the church, and in fact it will turn to our deliverance and his being cast out along with his angels (Rev 12:7-9). This fourth beast that is “dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly” is part of the composite beast spoken of in Revelation 13:1-18. The dream-is-one principle is in full effect here, as we see in chapter 13, all four beasts being brought together to represent one beast, and who that beast is all along is revealed in the last verse of this 13th chapter (Rev 13:17-18).

Dan 7:7  After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 
Dan 7:8  I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. 
Dan 7:9  I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

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

Dan 2:41  And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 
Dan 2:42  And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 
Dan 2:43  And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

These next verses discuss the condition of the earth prior to our Lord’s return, both in our lives when that happened and outwardly when Christ manifests Himself to the world as our great King and Saviour (Rev 11:15). The fourth beast, as we read in Daniel and the book of Revelation (Dan 7:8-10, Rev 12:10-17), goes on to try to destroy the church that God says ‘the gates of hell won’t prevail against’ (Mat 16:18). As mentioned, all four beasts that we’ve looked at are the composite beast discussed in Revelation 13:1-18 where we learn that this beast, in his time, overcame us, but by the grace of God the elect are given the patience and the faith of Christ to overcome the beasts we are (Rev 13:10, Rev 13:18).

Rev 13:10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

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

It is in the verses below from Daniel chapter 7 that we learn how even “Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ” to those who have God’s spirit within them (Luk 17:20). As such, if we are granted to overcome in this age, we will appear with our Lord as that stone that crashes into “the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay” (Dan 2:41), which is just another way of saying, “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Rev 14:8).

She falls as a result of the stone hitting her, meaning all mankind, on the foot, on the corrupt foundation of man’s moral existence that is founded on “iron mixed with miry clay“, which was never going to withstand His glorious return announced with a symbolic trumpet blast (Deu 20:16, Mat 7:27). What we’re reading in Daniel 7:8-9 is another example of the power God gives these beasts, symbolized by the three ribs in the bear’s mouth and now in the fourth beast, “I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” These horns, like the ribs of the other beast which was a bear, represent what comes out of the mouth of the false prophet (Rev 19:20) who is given power by God to deceive the world (Mat 24:5).  It is power that comes from Satan, but we know he has no power except that which our Father gives him (Joh 19:11). All of this must happen before the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ (Rev 11:15, Dan 7:9-10).

Dan 7:8  I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Dan 7:9  I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 
Dan 7:10  A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 

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

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 
Rev 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 
Rev 12:12  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 

Dan 2:44  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 

What comforting and reassuring words from our Lord! It is in the days of these kings, which represent humanity who all believe they are ruling their own world in their own way via their own mindset of being free moral agents, that God’s kingdom will be established and “which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” The breaking in pieces (“it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms“) represents the saints ruling with a rod of iron at this time (Rev 2:27,  Rev 12:5, Rev 19:15), bringing His judgments into the earth (Isa 26:9) so that in time men will not just learn of His righteousness but partake of it after His words that went forth throughout the thousand-year reign (Rev 20:6) are purified in the lake of fire (1Pe 1:7).

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

At that time of setting up the kingdom of God to rule over the kingdoms of this world (Rev 11:15), the unconverted mindset of mankind will remain thinking that they are kings unto themselves [the lie of free moral agency]. Satan is bound, but mankind has not changed and cannot exhibit true righteousness, which can only come from God through Christ Who is our righteousness (Pro 14:12, Gen 3:4-5). Even with Satan bound at this point, there can be no conversion in the earth without the spirit of God indwelling in humanity (Rom 8:9). When Satan is loosed for a season, the truth is revealed that mankind has never been converted during that reign of the saints. So what does God say about these kings that the elect will rule over (Rev 17:8-14)?

Rev 17:8  The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 
Rev 17:9  And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 
Rev 17:10  And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 
Rev 17:11  And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 
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.
Rev 17:13  These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 
Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful  [Rev 20:7-11].

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.

Dan 2:45  Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. 

The dream is certain, flesh and blood, represented by the iron, brass, clay, silver, and gold, cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and this is truly understood only by those who have this stone within them, Jesus Christ as our hope of glory (Col 1:27), who “was cut out of the mountain without hands.” It is that stone that judges us in this age (1Pe 4:17), to have all these metals burned out of us, to become a new creation of God. God cannot lie, and we’re told “the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure” (Heb 6:18).

Heb 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Dan 2:46  Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. 

Nebuchadnezzar falling down to worship Daniel symbolizes this moment in the life of God’s elect (Rev 3:9). His command “that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him” also implies that during the reign of the saints, the leaders of this world will come up to worship and bring sacrifices to offer before God, which are likened unto oblations and sweet odours (Zec 14:16).

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

Zec 14:16  And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

Dan 2:47  The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

The king acknowledges with this statement, in type and shadow, what we read of in Revelation 11:15, and it is an acknowledgement that his own kingship was only in the earth and not in the heavens where God rules in the hearts and minds of His people (Col 3:15).

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. 

Col 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Dan 2:48  Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.

This again represents what will happen during the thousand-year reign of the saints, and like Israel of old, the Israel of God (Gal 6:16) will ‘spoil the Egyptians’ (Exo 12:36), who are typified by “the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon“, i.e. all the kingdoms of this world (Rev_11:15).

Dan 2:49  Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

Once again Daniel’s humble spirit is on display, thinking of others, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego“, who with Daniel total four men that typifies the whole of the elect who will work in conjunction to rule over the nations of this world. Daniel also represents Christ here, who resides “in the gate of the king” having that pre-eminence and honor, representing how Christ is our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Musical Instruments in the bible, Part 7

Percussion Instruments, Part 1 – [Menana – Cornets (Sistrum)]

[Study Aired November 2, 2023]

This week we will be looking at the first of five different percussion instruments in the bible, the menana:

• Menana – Cornets (Sistrum)

1. 1. Meziltayim – Cymbals
   2. Paamon – Bells
   3. Toph – Timbrel / Tabret

• Tselatsal (possibly Zelzelim) – Cymbals

Starting with this excerpt from https://www.biblestudy.org/bible-study-by-topic/musical-instruments.html:

Percussion

Hebrew: Menana
KJV Name: Cornets (Sistrum)
Strong’s: #H4517 
References: 2Sa_6:5

The Hebrew menana is erroneously translated as “cornets” in the King James Version of (2Sa 6:5). The word means “to rattle” and likely designates an instrument known as a sistrum.

Sistrums had rings or disks loosely attached to one or more bars fixed across a frame. The frame was constructed out of carved bronze or copper. The Sistrum was played by holding it upright and shaking it, allowing its rings to move back and forth on its bars. The menana was played when King David attempted to escort the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.

—————–End of Excerpt—————–

The first and only mention of the Menana is found in (2 Samuel 6:5). 

2Sa 6:5  And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets^H4517, and on cymbals. 
2Sa 6:6  And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
2Sa 6:7  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. 

The context in which this instrument appears in the bible is where we learn of Uzzah who “put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it” (2Sa 6:5-6). Uzzah represents that carnal part of us that naturally wants to walk to the beat of our own drummer, the way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death (Pro 14:12). Uzzah tried to steady the ark that had been shaken by the oxen carrying it, which kindled God’s wrath against him (2Sa 6:7). These are the sounds that would have been ringing in his ear at that time “on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets^H4517 and on cymbals” (2Sa 6:5). This event unfolded at Nachon’s threshingfloor, as it is tied to repentance, which is what we experience when our old man is sifted like wheat as opposed to our spiritual life in Christ. Satan desires to destroy and sift us like wheat but cannot if we are in the Lord’s hands in this life (Joh 6:39). In the positive sense, Uzzah’s death represents a new beginning for those who are judged first in this life and carries with it a sobering reminder of the severity and goodness of God (1Pe 4:17, Rom 11:22). Our ability to sin is as natural as the knee-jerk reaction of Uzzah to steady the ark, who meant well but by those actions brought God’s wrath upon him. We pray as the body of Christ, “And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil” so that our thoughts and actions are pleasing to God and not going in the way of Cain (Psa 19:14, Jud 1:11).

Pro 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Rom 11:22  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Luk 11:4  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Psa 19:14  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Jud 1:11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

In the negative sense, the death of Uzzah represents the death of our potential growing life in Christ (Heb 6:3-6), because of our yet carnal mind that wants to help steady God’s plan and purpose with our own carnal actions and self-righteous reasonings (Php 3:9) as opposed to operating by the faith of Christ Who is our hope of glory within (Gal 2:20, Col 1:27) whose spirit gives us the power and ability to handle the holy things (Rev 11:3, Heb 13:10) by overcoming our carnal nature that is naturally against or contrary to the things of the spirit (Rom 11:20-26 , Gal 5:17, Rom 16:17, Col 1:27). 

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

Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 
Rom 11:22  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 
Rom 11:23  And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
Rom 11:24  For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

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.

This story of Uzzah was written for our sakes (1Co 10:11-12) teaching us that we are all able, in an instance like these oxen did, to shake and disrupt the ark of the covenant that typifies Christ in us as our hope of glory within, our rest into which we are labouring to enter (Heb 12:14-15, Heb 4:9-12). 

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. [even the things the beasts were caused of God to do (Eph 1:11)]
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. [not trying to steady the ark with our own hands]
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest [being found with his righteousness and not our own (Php 3:9)], lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief [unbelief being connected to when we have not “ceased from his own works” (Joh 6:28-29, Php 2:12-13)]. 
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.

The principle lesson in this story of Uzzah, among many other lessons, is that our help comes from the Lord alone who gives us dominion over the beasts that we are, even when we stumble and fall as we are promised we will do (Pro 24:16). Satan wants to sift us like wheat, and deceive the very elect if it were possible as he tried to do with Christ (Luk 22:31, Mat 24:24, Mat 4:6), but God’s elect are promised that none can take them out of His hand (Joh 18:9) and that we will be more than conquerors through the love of God found in Christ being shed abroad in our hearts (Luk 22:31-32, Rom 8:37-39, Rom 5:5). The Lord is working in the body of Christ to that end to stabilize our relationship with one another in the Father and the Son (Joh 14:20, 1Pe 5:8-10, Joh 17:3).

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

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus [Joh 17:3], after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

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

Hebrew: Menana
KJV Name: Cornets (Sistrum)
Strong’s: #H4517 
References: 2Sa_6:5

H4517 mena‛na‛men-ah-ah’

From H5128; a sistrum (so called from its rattling sound): – cornet.

Total KJV occurrences: 1

The root of the word menana^H4517 is taken from H5128. It’s informative to look at the definition here that closely resembles the actions of the oxen in this story of Uzzah who were caused by God to “shake” and bring about the events that led to Uzzah’s death. His death in the negative represents a drawing back and not living by faith moment when he took the actions he did in trying to steady the ark (Heb 10:38-39).

H5128 nûa‛noo’-ah

A primitive root; to waver, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (as subjoined): – continually, fugitive, X make to [go] up and down, be gone away, (be) move (-able, -d), be promoted, reel, remove, scatter, set, shake, sift, stagger, to and fro, be vagabond, wag, (make) wander (up and down).  Total KJV occurrences: 40

Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Another thing to gather from this story is the fear that it produced in a displeased David (2Sa 6:8-10), similar to how “great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things” when Ananias and Sapphira died for their disobedience (Act 5:11). It all just seemed so severe for the flesh, and it was (Rom 11:22)!

2Sa 6:8  And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day. 
2Sa 6:9  And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? 
2Sa 6:10  So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. 

The world will see the actions of God sparing the few before sparing the vast majority of mankind (Mat 22:14) as being severe and will be displeased (Mat 20:11-13), not knowing that their actions, like Uzzah’s, of claiming their own righteousness is all they can do unless the Lord builds the house, working in us both to will and do of God’s good pleasure in this age, which is to give the elect the kingdom (Mat 7:22-23, Psa 127:1, Php 2:12-13, Luk 12:32).

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

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

If we are apprehended by Christ in this age as that sacrifice that is bound to the altar being spoken of in Psalm 118 (Rom 12:1, Psa 118:27), then all boasting is going to be excluded by the law of faith (Php 3:13, Rom 3:27), being those blessed servants who have been given the power to be found faithfully providing spiritual meat in due season, and able through Christ to forget what is behind us as we reach forth to those things which are before (Mat 24:43-51, Php 3:14-15).

Psa 118:27  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

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,

Rom 3:27  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 

Mat 24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up [Mar 13:37].
Mat 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. [be ready always (Luk 21:26-28) and give God all the glory for that readiness of the bride who will be made ready (Rev 19:7)]
Mat 24:45  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Mat 24:46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Mat 24:47  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
Mat 24:48  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Mat 24:49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Mat 24:50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Rom 11:22).

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. 
Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Conclusion

This study regarding the menana percussion instrument is very closely tied to the story of Uzzah found in 2 Samuel 6:5-8. God’s elect are called out of the world and told not to touch the unclean thing (2Co 6:17), and what we can learn from Uzzah is that the unclean thing is not the physical ark that represents Christ, but the sinful actions that come from within the man [Uzzah – and all of us] God causes to take actions that are against Him [the unclean man touching the clean ark] (Rev 18:4, Mat 15:11, Mary represents the church, the body of Christ [Col 1:24] wanting to touch Christ in the flesh but in need of going through a process of judgment to be able to maturely handle the things of God [Joh 20:17, 2Co 5:16]). We must be raised in heavenly places in order to touch the things of God that are hidden from the world, as we die daily in Christ (Eph 2:6, Rom 6:3-4).

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her [Isa 4:1, Isa 3:1], my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Mat 15:11  Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 

Joh 20:17  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more [The process is to go from the natural to the spiritual (1Co 15:46)].

The ‘unclean thing’ is not any of these five percussion instruments, but rather the unclean thing is in us, while being ‘touched’ or ‘heard’ yet not hearing “another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Christ tells us the world can hear His words, and at the same time not believe (Joh 12:47). The world hears God’s word but doesn’t confess that Christ has come in their flesh, because He has not done so at this time (1Jn 4:3-6, Rom 8:9). 

Joh 12:47  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: [I measure him not (Rev 11:2)] for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world [each man in his own order (1Co 15:23-24)].

1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jn 4:5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

Of those who are in the world God says, “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” Hearing means there is a relationship in the world; a partnership that is saving its own flesh. God’s elect hear the voice of the true Shepherd who has called us to lose our life in order to find it, and by grace through faith (Eph 2:8) are led of the spirit of God and given the power to seek God’s will in all things as Christ did (Mat 16:25-26, Mat 24:13, Joh 5:30). 

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

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

The word measure is connected to percussion instruments and music in general, (which “serve typically to delineate or emphasize rhythm“ – excerpt from Percussion instrument | Definition, Types, History, Examples, & Facts | Britannica),  and the spiritual significance for us is twofold. Firstly, we are not to measure the court (Rev 11:2), that is to try to change a world Christ tells us to come out of and says this of “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (1Jn 4:17). Secondly, the elect’s life is being measured and judged in Christ who we are maturing into (Mat 7:2) because we are blessed to hear and believe God’s words (Rev 1:3) and continue in them (Rev 11:1-2, Eph 4:13, Eph 4:16). 

Mat 7:1  Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Mat 7:3  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye [Rev 11:1]; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye [judging matters in the body, examining ourselves, our own flesh and bones (Eph 5:30, 1Co 11:31-32), looking well to the flock (1Pe 4:17, Act 20:28,  and one day, Lord willing, we will judge all the nations of this world (1Co 6:2, Rev 1:6, Rev 5:10)]. 
Mat 7:6  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Rev 11:1  And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
Rev 11:2  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Eph 4:16  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.

We believe in God and Christ (Joh 14:1-4) who make it possible for us to witness to the world that we are being led by the spirit of God, a spirit that bears witness that we are His sons and daughters (Rom 8:14-16). The measure that the body of Christ is becoming is described in these verses, and is connected to the 144,000 who represent the bride of Christ:  (Rev 7:4, Rev 14:1, Rev 14:3, Rev 21:17)

Rev 7:4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Rev 14:1  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

Rev 14:3  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

Rev 21:17  And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

Next week, Lord willing, we will continue to look at the last few percussion instruments on this list.

• Meziltayim – Cymbals
• Paamon – Bells
• Toph – Timbrel / Tabret
• Tselatsal (possibly Zelzelim) – Cymbals

The Book of Romans, Part 5 – Hypocrisy Among Us

[Study Aired July 11, 2023]

Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 
Romans 2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 
Romans 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? 
Romans 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? 
Romans 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; 
Romans 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 
Romans 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 
Romans 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 
Romans 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 
Romans 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 
Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

Romans chapter one has shown us that we are to always look within first to understand our status as believers. Paul discussed how the scriptures are to be understood so that we are without excuse. He told us that the wrath of God will be against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.

Romans 1:18-20 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 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: 

Paul used the example of homosexuality to show us a spiritual truth of sin within us, the body of Christ. We must recognize the sin within and its purpose. Its purpose is to bring the wrath of God upon us to change us into the new man and destroy the old man through judgment.

1 Corinthians 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 

In this passage from Romans chapter two, Paul addresses the issue of judgment and hypocrisy among believers. He emphasizes that no one has the right to pass judgment on others because we ourselves are guilty of the same sins. Paul reminds us that it is ultimately God who will judge everyone according to their actions and that His judgment is based on truth.

Paul questions those who think they can escape God’s judgment while condemning others for the very same things they themselves do. He challenges their arrogance and ignorance of God’s goodness, which is meant to lead people to repentance. He highlights that those who harden their hearts and refuse to repent are storing up wrath for themselves, which will be revealed on the day of judgment.

Paul asserts that God will render to every person according to their deeds. Those who patiently and persistently pursue righteousness will receive eternal life. On the other hand, those who are contentious, disobedient to the truth, and follow unrighteousness will experience indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish. Paul emphasizes that this applies to both Jews and Gentiles, as there is no partiality with God.

Overall, the passage serves as a reminder to us to exercise humility and refrain from passing judgment on others before we examine ourselves first. It underscores the importance of repentance and aligning our actions with the truth. The passage also emphasizes the impartiality of God’s judgment, showing that both Jews and Gentiles will give and account for their deeds.

Romans 14:11-12 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

There is hypocrisy among us. We must be careful to not only be hearers of the word but to be doers of the word. We all have taken the verses condemning homosexuality and applied it to others as an abomination not realizing our hypocrisy of committing these sins within by believing the lies of Babylon.

Proverbs 26:24-26 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

Matthew 23:23-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 

James 1:19-24 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Notice the wrath of man cannot work the righteousness of God. Only God’s wrath can work righteousness. Paul is warning us to judge properly. If we were to only use these verses to build the doctrine of judgment, we would believe we cannot judge at all. 

Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 
Romans 2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 
Romans 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?

We must keep in mind the sum of God’s to build any doctrine.

Psalm 119:160 (ESV) The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Paul goes on to explain the purpose of the wrath upon us.

Romans 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?

Wrath upon us is the goodness of God which produces repentance. This is one of Christ’s first warnings.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Paul continues his warning.

Romans 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; 
Romans 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

These verses speak about the consequences of a hardened and unrepentant heart and the accumulation of wrath for the day of judgment.

They highlight that when we possess a hardened and unrepentant heart, we are storing up wrath for ourselves. This means that our persistent rejection of God’s truth and refusal to repent leads to judgment and punishment. The “day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” refers to the day when God will execute His righteous judgment upon all men.

This serves as a warning, emphasizing the importance of having a soft and repentant heart before God. It underscores the idea that our choices and actions have consequences, and God’s righteous judgment will ultimately be revealed.

Proverbs 28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Jeremiah 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Luke 12:47-48 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. 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.

Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

These verses emphasize the account we give before God and the consequences of a hardened heart and unrepentant lifestyle. They highlight the seriousness of our actions and the need for genuine repentance and obedience before God’s righteous judgment.

The following verses contrast the outcomes for those that seek to do good and seek glory, honor, and immortality, versus those who are contentious and disobedient, pursuing unrighteousness.

Romans 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 
Romans 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 
Romans 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 
Romans 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 
Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

Romans 2:7 highlights the path to eternal life for those who patiently continue in doing good. This verse emphasizes the importance of perseverance and consistent adherence to following the law of Christ. It states that those who seek glory, honor, and immortality by persisting in well-doing, that is by continuing in his word, will ultimately attain eternal life.

Joh 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

On the other hand, Romans 2:8 describes the consequences for those who are contentious and disobedient, who reject the truth and instead follow unrighteousness. They will face indignation and wrath, implying that they will experience judgment and punishment for their disobedience.

Romans 2:9 further emphasizes the consequences of evil deeds, stating that tribulation and anguish will come upon every soul that does evil, regardless of whether they are Jews or Gentiles. This verse underscores the universal nature of God’s judgment and highlights that actions and choices have ramifications for all individuals, irrespective of their background.

In Romans 2:10, the passage emphasizes that glory, honor, and peace will be given to every person who works good, again stressing the importance of righteous actions and conduct.

Romans 2:11 concludes the passage by emphasizing that God does not show partiality. This verse underscores the idea that God’s judgment is just and equitable, regardless of a person’s background. It reinforces the idea that all individuals will give an account for their actions.

Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

1 Peter 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.

In summary: in Romans 2:1-11, Paul addresses the issue of hypocrisy and judgment among us. He warns us against passing judgment on others while committing the same sins. Paul emphasizes that God’s judgment is based on truth and will be rendered to every person according to their deeds. He highlights the consequences of a hardened and impenitent heart, which stores up wrath for the day of judgment. However, those who patiently continue in well-doing and seek glory, honor, and immortality will receive eternal life. Paul emphasizes that God shows no partiality and that both Jews and Gentiles will face the consequences of their actions.

These verses underscore the importance of self-examination and humility, reminding us to focus on our own actions and attitudes before passing judgment on others. They highlight the universal nature of God’s judgment, the consequences of unrighteousness and disobedience, and the blessings that come from seeking and doing good. The supporting verses further emphasize the principle of reaping what we sow, and God’s impartial judgment based on our individual actions.

Overall, this passage serves as a reminder for us to walk in righteousness, exhibit patience, and avoid hypocrisy and judgmental attitudes. It emphasizes the need for repentance, obedience to the truth, and the pursuit of good works, while highlighting the consequences of unrighteousness and the impartiality of God’s judgment.

Here are the verses for our next study.

Romans 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 
Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 
Romans 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 
Romans 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 
Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. 
Romans 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, 
Romans 2:18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 
Romans 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 
Romans 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 
Romans 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 
Romans 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Romans 2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 
Romans 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 
Romans 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
Romans 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 
Romans 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 
Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. 

Acts 13:1-27  Because They Knew Him not They Have Fulfilled the Scriptures in Condemning Christ

[Study Aired April 23, 2023]

Act 13:1  Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Act 13:2  As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Act 13:3  And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Act 13:4  So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
Act 13:5  And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
Act 13:6  And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
Act 13:7  Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
Act 13:8  But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
Act 13:9  Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
Act 13:10  And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
Act 13:11  And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
Act 13:12  Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Act 13:13  Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
Act 13:14  But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
Act 13:15  And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
Act 13:16  Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
Act 13:17  The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.
Act 13:18  And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.
Act 13:19  And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.
Act 13:20  And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
Act 13:21  And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.
Act 13:22  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
Act 13:23  Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:
Act 13:24  When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Act 13:25  And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
Act 13:26  Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
Act 13:27  For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

Our study today will cover some of the events which occurred on the first missionary trip of Barnabas and Saul, which began shortly after the Passover season, which Barnabas and Saul had spent in Jerusalem, having been sent there to deliver a gift of relief from the church at Antioch. This 13th chapter begins by placing the name of Barnabas in the preeminent position and the name of Saul in the last position:

Act 13:1  Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Notice that ‘Saul’ is mentioned last at this point. It was Barnabas who had brought Saul to Antioch, and at this point Barnabas is still more prominent than Saul. Barnabas’ name will precede Saul until Saul’s name is changed to ‘Paul’ later in this 13^th chapter of the Acts of the apostles.

Barnabas had been sent by the apostles in Jerusalem to minister in Syrian Antioch. When Barnabas arrived in Antioch, he saw how the holy spirit was working so well in the lives of those who were ministering to the people there so all he did was to encourage them to continue in the Lord.

Act 11:22  Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
Act 11:23  Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
Act 11:24  For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

Let’s review the events which have led us up to this first missionary trip by Barnabas and Saul of Tarsus, beginning with Saul’s conversion just outside Damascus, a Gentile Syrian city:

Act 9:1  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Act 9:2  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Act 9:3  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Act 9:6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

This is the story of Saul of Tarsus coming “out of Babylon” and out of the established church of his day. The Lord has already determined what each of us “must do”.

Here is how Paul relates this incident to the Jews who “went about to kill him” when he went up to Jerusalem for the last time (Acts 21:31):

Act 22:10  And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

Our days are “written in [the Lord’s] book… before there are any of them”. Everything we do is “all things which are appointed for [us] to do”, because it is the Lord alone who is “working all things after the counsel of His own will”:

Psa 139:16  Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.

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:

Everything I did today, and everything you did today, was “ordained for [you and for me]… of all the things which are appointed for [us] to do”. So, it is for every day of our lives “when as yet there was none of them.”

This is the first account of any New Testament apostle being called into the Lord’s service outside of the physical nation of Israel. It was expedient that Christ must come of David’s physical seed before He could become the spiritual seed of David. He is now a spiritual body, and Saul’s calling took place outside physical Israel near the Gentile city of Damascus, Syria. The time for the calling of the Gentiles is come, and Saul is given no choice if he ever wants to see anything again… “Arise, and go into the city, [of Damascus] and it shall be told thee what thou must do”.

The Lord commands him to go into Damascus and wait at the home of a Jewish man named Judas on a street named Straight. About this same time the holy spirit is telling another Jew in Damascus, one who had been converted to the doctrines of Christ, to go to the home of Judas and pray for Saul to receive his sight and tell Saul what the Lord will do through him:

Act 9:7  And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Act 9:8  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
Act 9:9  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

The mighty ‘Saul of Tarsus’ is now in the process of “dying daily”, and it has literally taken his appetite, just as we all experience at this time in our walk with our Lord. Facing “the loss of all things” our old man wanted in this life just naturally and literally takes our physical appetite away from us for a season (Php 3:8).

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: [Notice the order of things. The Gentiles are mentioned before ‘the children of Israel’]
Act 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
Act 9:17  And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Act 9:18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

This is the very first person, other than Christ Himself who has the preeminence in everything, to be told he will be used by the holy spirit to take the gospel to the Gentiles. The next chapter, chapter ten, gives us the story of Peter while in Joppa, being told to preach the gospel in the house of a Gentile Roman Italian centurion named Cornelius. While in Cornelius’ house the Lord gave all those Gentiles the gift of the holy spirit while Peter was still speaking. Between these two irrefutable miraculous events, 1) the fact that the holy spirit had also at about the same time sent Peter to the home of the Gentile Roman centurion, Cornelius and 2) the miraculous conversion of Saul of Tarsus, and Saul being told by the Lord that He was sending him to the Gentiles, the apostles at Jerusalem had no choice but to acknowledge that the Lord had indeed granted the Gentiles repentance unto salvation:

Act 11:17  Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
Act 11:18  When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

These events in the home of the Gentile Roman centurion were taking place while Saul of Tarsus was preaching Christ in Damascus for three years. Saul of Tarsus during those three years had never met a single apostle of our Lord. Yet he had met the Lord Himself just outside the city of Damascus, and during his three years at Damascus, Saul had gone into the wilderness of Sinai to hear words from Christ which were not yet lawful to be uttered and to learn the doctrines of Christ directly from Christ Himself.

Here are Paul’s own words:

Gal 1:17  Neither went I up to Jerusalem to [be taught by] them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Saul of Tarsus “went into Arabia” to learn from the Lord Himself exactly how the Lord wanted his gospel to be when he was given the gospel which he “preached… among the Gentiles”.

Here are the verses where Paul speaks of this time which was “above fourteen years ago”:

2Co 12:2  I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
2Co 12:3  And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
2Co 12:4  How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

As we saw last week, the Greek word translated ‘unspeakable’ literally means ‘not said’, meaning that the doctrine of God speaking to and through Gentiles had never been said, because it would have been “unlawful for a man to utter” such words while living under the law of Moses, just as Peter informed those in Cornelius’s house:

Act 10:28  And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean [words which until now were “not lawful for a man to utter” (2Co 12:14)].

Here is the Greek word translated ‘unspeakable’ in 2 Corinthians 12:14:

G731
ἄῤῥητος
arrhētos
ar’-hray-tos
From G1 (as a negative particle) and the same as G4490; unsaid, that is, (by implication) inexpressible: – unspeakable.

Here is the definition of G4490:

G4490
ῥητῶς
rhētōs
hray-toce’
Adverb from a derivative of G4483; outspokenly, that is, distinctly: – expressly.
Total KJV occurrences: 1

Both ‘arrhetos’ and ‘rhetos’ appear only once, and here is the one entry for this Greek word ‘rhetos’:

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly  [G449: rhetos], that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Paul had not heard “unspeakable words”. What he had heard were words which had never before been articulated, and were not yet lawful to be articulated, just as Peter told Cornelius and those assembled in Cornelius’s house:

Act 10:28  And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me [‘words never before lawful to be uttered’] that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Getting back to our review of the events leading up to this first missionary journey, Barnabas was apparently in Damascus when the great Saul of Tarsus came looking for people like Barnabas, who professed to believe in the resurrected Christ because he alone was able to tell the apostles at Jerusalem that Saul had been preaching Christ powerfully for three years in Damascus before the Jewish leaders of Damascus conspired to kill Saul:

Act 9:23  And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
Act 9:24  But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
Act 9:25  Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

When Saul is forced to flee for his life from Damascus, he then returns to Jerusalem for the first time since being given papers from the chief priest of Jerusalem which authorized him to bind the Christians in Damascus and bring them to Jerusalem, where Saul himself had three years earlier been “breathing out slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Act 9:1). Instead, he returns to Jerusalem three years later as a Christian convert hoping to be received by the apostles only to discover that they still fear him as an enemy of Christ:

Act 9:26  And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
Act 9:27  But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Act 9:28  And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

The only way Barnabas could do this was if he had been with Saul there in Damascus having already heard Saul telling the Jews of Damascus about “how he had seen the Lord in the way” and about the circumstances of his own conversion. It was Barnabas who “brought him to the apostles and declared unto them how [Saul]… had spoken to [the Lord] and that [Saul] had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.”

The phrases “brought him to the apostles” and “he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem” would lead us to believe that Barnabas had brought Saul to all the apostles and declared to them all how Saul had seen the Lord in the way and how Saul had preached boldly at Damascus. However, the phrase “the apostles” is not the same as ‘all of the apostles’. The fact is that Paul was in Jerusalem a mere three weeks, and he met only “Peter and James the Lord’s brother” before he was once again forced to flee for his life from Jerusalem.

It is Paul himself who sets the record straight concerning who he met while in Jerusalem during those three weeks and who had been his Teacher:

Gal 1:11  For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man.
Gal 1:12  For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it [by any man], but it came to me [directly] through revelation of Jesus Christ.
Gal 1:13  For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it:
Gal 1:14  and I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Gal 1:15  But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace,
Gal 1:16  to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Gal 1:17  neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me [Saul’s commission to go to the Gentiles did not come from the other apostles who were still struggling with such a revolutionary doctrine]: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus.
Gal 1:18  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days.
Gal 1:19  But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.
Gal 1:20  Now touching the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
Gal 1:21  Then I came unto the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
Gal 1:22  And I was still unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
Gal 1:23  but they only heard say, He that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once made havoc;
Gal 1:24  and they glorified God in me.

So Saul had been thirteen years in “the regions of Syria and Cilicia” when Barnabas came to Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, seeking Saul to take him back to the huge city of Syrian Antioch to help Barnabas and the other  preachers and teachers there in Antioch “for a whole year” minister to the growing number of Christians there in that city before being sent with Barnabas and Titus up to Jerusalem to deliver some relief from the church in Antioch to the starving saints in Jerusalem.

Act 11:25  And he [Barnabas] went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul;
Act 11:26  and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people, and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

This “whole year” of ministering to the church in Antioch, began 13 years after Saul had fled Jerusalem because Paul tells us that when he and Barnabas took the relief from the church at Antioch up to Jerusalem, that trip to Jerusalem was “fourteen years… after” he had been forced to leave Jerusalem after spending three weeks with Peter and meeting after meeting only one other of the apostles, which was “James the Lord’s brother”.

Gal 2:1  Then after the space of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.

What this tells us is that Paul had come to know Titus before he and Barnabas took their first missionary journey with John Mark, because at the time they took the relief from Antioch up to the saints in Jerusalem, they had not yet begun their first missionary journey, which is the topic of our study today:

This all brings us to time of the beginning of the first missionary journey of Barnabas and Saul:

Act 13:2  As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, [having just returned to Antioch from Jerusalem] the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Act 13:3  And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

We are told “they… departed unto Seleucia” a seacoast city slightly south and west of Syrian Antioch. They may well have ministered in the synagogues of Seleucia, but we are not told of anything they may have done there. It is almost as if they simply passed through that city on their way to Cyprus, the homeland of Barnabas:

Act 13:4  So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
Act 13:5  And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

This ‘John’ is “John whose surname was Mark”, to whose house Peter had gone when the angel delivered him out of the prison:

Act 12:12  And when he had considered the thing [the miracle of his deliverance from the prison], he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

This is the same ‘John’ whom Barnabas and Saul took back to Antioch with them right after Peter had been delivered from prison while Barnabas and Saul were right there in Jerusalem during “the days of unleavened bread” when Barnabas and Saul had been sent to Jerusalem with a gift for the poor saints suffering from a great drought in Jerusalem:

Act 12:25  And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry [of delivering the gift from the church at Antioch], and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

It was at this time that Paul shared with the other apostles the message the Lord had given him to preach to the Gentiles:

Gal 2:2  And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

“Lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain” in no way indicates that Paul doubted the authority of the Lord’s words to Him. What Paul is saying, as the following verses demonstrate, is that he wants to let the other apostles know that there are many false prophets who are saying slanderous things about Paul, and it is needful that they be aware of what the adversary is doing to divide the body of Christ. The fact that Titus was not required to be circumcised demonstrates to these Galatians, and to all of us, that Paul and the other apostles were on the same page:

Gal 2:3  But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
Gal 2:4  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
Gal 2:5  To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

These words here in Galatians 2 were delivered to the apostles Barnabas and Saul met fourteen years after Paul had fled Jerusalem, while Barnabas and Saul were in Jerusalem witnessing the death of the apostle James, the brother of John, at the hands of King Herod, and the apprehension and miraculous delivery of Peter from prison, and then a few days later, the death by worms of King Herod.

It is only after telling the apostles of “the false brethren brought in” and witnessing all these things that Barnabas and Saul then return to Antioch and prepare for their first missionary journey:

Act 12:23  And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him [King Herod], because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Act 12:24  But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Act 12:25  And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

We will now continue with the events of the first missionary journey after the return of Barnabas and Saul from Jerusalem:

Act 13:6  And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

“When they had gone through the isle” tells us they did so on foot and not by sea. It is in Paphos that the “the deputy of the country… called for Barnabas and Saul…”

Act 13:7  Which [“false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus”] was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
Act 13:8  But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
Act 13:9  Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
Act 13:10  And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

The Lord Himself, for His own purposes, gave to Saul (which name means ‘desired’) and whose name here is changed to ‘Paul’, meaning ‘small’, with no explanation, to call out and punish Elymas for attempting “to turn away the deputy from The Truth.” We may or may not be given the opportunity to deal with an individual in this manner, but we all deal with the false doctrines in this very same way every time we shine the light of the Lord’s words upon the darkness of all the false doctrines of Babylon. We should never shun the opportunity to do just that, and we should be very careful never to allow the fear of men to supersede our fear of the Lord and our love of Him and His Truth. There will always be the tendency in our nature to want to fit in with society and in so doing deny our Lord while we justify our spineless ways, telling ourselves we are just being loving and inclusive. We should never go out looking for a fight, but when confronted with an adversary such as Elymas and his false doctrines, like Paul we, too, must be bold in calling a spade a spade and letting our yea be yea and our nay, nay:

Mat 5:37  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Jas 5:12  But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Christ, Paul, and James all spoke “as one having authority and not as the scribes”, and so should all of us:

Mat 7:28  And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Mat 7:29  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Act 13:11  And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
Act 13:12  Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

It is the things we do, more than the things we say, which will astonish and convert others. When we say and do not, we are actually guilty of blaspheming the name of God:

Rom 2:22  Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Rom 2:23  Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
Rom 2:24  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
Rom 2:25  For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
Rom 2:26  Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Act 13:13  Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

This story of John forsaking the ministry is written for our admonition. The ministry of Christ is not something you take up and put down lightly. John Mark was a young man who had apparently grown weary in well doing and wanted to go back home to Jerusalem instead of walking for many miles just to hear Barnabas and Saul speak of Christ in the synagogues of all the cities they visited. He had been brought along to minister to these two ministers, and it simply overwhelmed him in his youth just as our own calling overwhelms each of us at our own appointed time. This incident will cause Paul and Barnabas to go their own ways after the Jerusalem conference while planning their second journey after returning to Antioch. Paul is not willing to take the chance for John leaving them again and ends up taking Silas with him, while Barnabas is content to trust that John Mark will not leave him this time around.

Act 15:36  And some days after [returning to Antioch from Jerusalem] Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.
Act 15:37  And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
Act 15:38  But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
Act 15:39  And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
Act 15:40  And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
Act 15:41  And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

In time, even Paul sees the progress John Mark has made and says that he is useful to him for the ministry:

2Ti 4:9  Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
2Ti 4:10  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
2Ti 4:11  Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

When Mark left them, Paul and Barnabas continued their journey. From the time Saul of Tarsus confronted the false prophet Elymas, and we are told that Saul “is called Paul”, from that point on Paul’s name precedes the name of Barnabas:

Act 13:14  But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
Act 13:15  And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
Act 13:16  Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
Act 13:17  The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.
Act 13:18  And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.
Act 13:19  And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.
Act 13:20  And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
Act 13:21  And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.
Act 13:22  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
Act 13:23  Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

When Paul says, “of this man’s seed hath God according to His promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus”, Paul is speaking in physical terms. The point is that not every word of God is meant to be taken in a spiritual sense because our natural understanding must precede our spiritual understanding:

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a [physical, natural] 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.

The word “afterward” demonstrates the importance of knowing the order in which the Lord is performing His promises to mankind. Just as the first man Adam had to precede the last Adam, so also there must be an outward kingdom of God ruling all the nations of this world, before God will be all in all.

Paul understands the necessity of knowing the order of the Lord’s works so he gives us a summary of the history of the nation of Israel to let us see that God is doing exactly what He said He would do for His people:

Act 13:24  When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Act 13:25  And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
Act 13:26  Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
Act 13:27  For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

We will stop here for today, but it must be pointed out that Paul always begins his witness to every synagogue with the assumption that those to whom he is speaking already know the entire story of the birth and ministry of John the Baptist, and the fact that John said the Messiah was Christ. His appeal to the people is that only those who “know the voices of the prophets” will know the voice of Christ.

I hope also that I have made it clear that this trip to Jerusalem by Barnabas and Saul with the relief from the church at Antioch is the trip to Jerusalem Paul refers to in Galatians. Paul shared the details of his ministry with the apostles at this time, which was “fourteen years after” he had fled Jerusalem and gone back home to Tarsus. I hope we all see that the events of this thirteenth chapter, chronicling the history of their first missionary journey, take place well before the trip to the Jerusalem conference concerning the question of whether Gentiles must be circumcised. It is after that Jerusalem conference that Paul and Barnabas separate over whether to take John Mark with them on a second missionary journey.

It helps us to know the Lord’s mind much better when we know the order in which He is working with His people.