1 Samuel 14:24–52 Saul’s Oath 

[Study Aired April 13, 2026]

The study for today focuses on Saul’s oath which troubled the people of Israel.  It looks at Jonathan’s error through ignorance and Saul’s determination to put him to death, in spite of him being his son. However, the people of Israel rescued him. The study ends with Saul’s battle with the neighboring tribes and an account of his family.

Saul’s Rash Vow

1Sa 14:24  And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. 

As indicated in the previous study, Saul and the men of Israel with him represent the church system of this world or Babylon. According to Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB), the men of Israel being distressed that day means being under a taskmaster, ruler, oppressor or tyrant. This oppressor or tyrant is the devil who empowers our flesh. 

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

Here in verse 24, we are given the reason why the men of Israel were under distress. It was because they had been commanded not to eat food until the evening when Saul, their king, had avenged his enemies. Not to eat food spiritually means that the men of Israel represent us during our time in the church system of this world or Babylon, where we are not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 
Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 
Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 
Mat 13:15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 

Our brothers and sisters in Babylon’s inability to understand the word of the Lord is because their leadership, represented by Saul, has put a curse on them not to eat any food. That is to say that the leadership of Babylon are not given to know the truth of the Lord’s word, and therefore what they give (the false doctrines) prevents them from knowing the truth. 

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

This curse will continue until the evening, when Saul has avenged his enemies. The evening refers to the lake of fire age of judgment, when our brothers and sisters in Babylon will come to know the truth. That is the time when their flesh or carnal mind (the enemy) is destroyed or avenged.

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.

1Sa 14:25  And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground. 
1Sa 14:26  And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath. 

These verses are to show us that initially, the church system of this world or Babylon was endowed with the fundamental truth of the Lord’s word, represented here as honey. However, because of false doctrines spewed by their leaders, signified by Saul’s command for the people not to eat, even the basic truths of His word were perverted, such that we could not assess the milk and honey of the Lord’s word in Babylon.

Exo 3:17  And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.  

Isa 9:15  The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. 
Isa 9:16  For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. 

Eze 16:13  Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
Eze 16:15  But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was. 
Eze 16:16  And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.
Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them, 

1Sa 14:27  But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. 
1Sa 14:28  Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint. 
1Sa 14:29  Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 
1Sa 14:30  How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines? 

As we have indicated in the previous study, Jonathan represents the Lord’s elect during our time in the church system of this world. The fact that Jonathan did not hear his father’s oath and proceeded to eat of the honey implies that as the Lord’s elect, the Lord in His mercy, caused us to eat of the honey of His word, even while we were in Babylon, which caused our eyes to be enlightened (verse 27). 

In verse 28, one of the people told Jonathan about how his father has cursed anyone who eats any food that day, and therefore caused the people to be faint. This is to let us know that it was in Babylon that we become aware that the leaders in the church system are the cause of our inability to know the truth of His word. 

In verses 29 and 30, Jonathan’s assessment of his father’s error is summed up by his word that his father has troubled the land and that their inability to achieve a greater slaughter of the Philistines was because of the lack of the foundational truth of the Lord’s word. In other words, it is in Babylon that we come to realize that our leaders have failed us and as a result, we cannot worship the Lord acceptably while we continue in Babylon. This is all in preparation for our exit from Babylon at the appointed time. 

2Pe 2:17  These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 
2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 
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.

Psa 137:1  By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 
Psa 137:2  We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 
Psa 137:3  For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 
Psa 137:4  How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land? 

1Sa 14:31  And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint. 
1Sa 14:32  And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood. 
1Sa 14:33  Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day. 

The smiting of the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon by the people of Israel in verse 31 is to let us know that while we were in the churches of this world, we were given some victories over our flesh. For example, we were delivered from some of the attributes of the flesh such as fornication, adultery, hatred, wrath, envying, etc.  

Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 
Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 
Gal 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.   

The people taking sheep, oxen and calves, killing them and eating them with the blood in verse 32, was forbidden by the Lord.  The reason why the Israelites were forbidden under the law of Moses to eat meat with blood is because blood was used as atonement for sin, and therefore, blood was seen as a sacred thing. God wanted to ensure that the blood of the sacrifices was always considered precious.    

Deu 12:15  Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart. 
Deu 12:16  Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water. 

If we willfully continue to sin, then it means that we have treated the blood of Christ as an unholy thing. That is the spiritual meaning of eating meat with blood. Therefore, the people eating meat with blood in it shows us that during our time in Babylon, we continued to sin, even though we were enriched in Him. As a result, we were actually trampling on the blood of Christ.   

Heb 10:26  For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, 
Heb 10:27  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28  He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 
Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 

Verse 33 shows us that the leaders of the church system of this world are aware of the sins of the people of the church system of this world, but their method of addressing sin is wrong, as we shall see Saul’s way of dealing with the sins of the people. 

1Sa 14:34  And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there. 
1Sa 14:35  And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD. 
1Sa 14:36  And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God. 

Saul’s dealings with the people that sinned was not in accordance with what the Lord enjoins us to do. We are to rebuke those who sin publicly that others may be afraid. However, he only asked the people to come and slay their oxen and sheep before him so that they do not sin. Spiritually, what Saul is saying  was that the gathering of the church system of this world, automatically causes people to stop sinning.   

1Ti 5:20  Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
1Ti 5:21  I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.  

In verses 35 and 36, Saul built an altar to the Lord, and based on this, he wanted to go after the Philistines and destroy them, but the priest reminded him to draw near to the Lord first. The leaders of the church system of this world, represented by Saul, are only interested in works (building churches) and think that in doing this, their flesh will just die. That is to say that in Babylon, the people think that the works of their hands will save them from their flesh. However, the priest reminding Saul to draw near to the Lord is to show us that what is important is our relationship with Christ as we draw near to Him. It is not about the works of our hands. Jesus warned us about those who think that the works of their hands can guarantee the kingdom of heaven as follows: 

Mat 7:21  Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

1Sa 14:37  And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day. 
1Sa 14:38  And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day. 
1Sa 14:39  For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. 

Saul not being answered by the Lord in verse 37, shows us our situation when we were in the churches of this world. We did not hear from the Lord. As we shall see in the latter part of the Book of Samuel, Saul enquired of the Lord because of the Philistines, but did not receive an answer from the Lord. 

1Sa 28:5  And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 
1Sa 28:6  And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 

In our desperation, we vent our anger on the Lord’s elect signified by Saul vowing to kill Jonathan in verse 39. We, the Lord’s elect, are spiritually dead to our brothers and sisters in Babylon, just like the two witnesses, whose dead bodies were in the streets of Jerusalem or Sodom and Egypt. 

Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.  

1Sa 14:40  Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee. 
1Sa 14:41  Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped. 
1Sa 14:42  And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken. 
1Sa 14:43  Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.
1Sa 14:44  And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
1Sa 14:45  And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. 

As shown in these verses, lots were cast which determined that Jonathan was guilty of eating while Saul had given a command for them not to eat until he has avenged his enemies. In this case, Saul’s command is the command or the word of the Lord. We know that the outcome of a lot is always of the Lord. 

Pro 16:33  The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. (ESV)

As we have shown earlier, Jonathan is a symbol of the Lord’s elect. During our time as the Lord’s elect in Babylon, we were guilty of not knowing the word of the Lord, and therefore we should have been put to death. As shown in verse 45, the people rescued Jonathan from death at the hands of Saul. In the same way, the Lord rescued or showed mercy to us, His elect, from Babylon at the expense of our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world. 

Rom 11:30  For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 
Rom 11:31  so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. 
Rom 11:32  For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. 

1Sa 14:46  Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place. 

Saul, who represents the church system of this world, stopped pursuing  the Philistines and went to his own place. That is to show us that when we were in Babylon, we were not engaged in a war with our flesh. It also implies that we did not consider ourselves as being able to win the war with our flesh.

Rev 13:4  And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”  

Saul Fights Israel’s Enemies

1Sa 14:47  So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.
1Sa 14:48  And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them. 

These verses show us our struggle with the flesh during our time in the churches of this world. We had some victories over our flesh in certain areas of our lives, as indicated in verse 48 where Saul and his host smote the Amalekites. However, the flesh, symbolized by all the enemies surrounding Israel (Moab, Ammon, Edom, kings of Zobah, the Philistines and the Amalekites) was still a formidable opposition during our walk in Babylon.

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 
Rom 7:15  For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 
Rom 7:16  Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 
Rom 7:17  So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 
Rom 7:18  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 
Rom 7:24  Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 
Rom 7:25  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV)

1Sa 14:49  Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal: 
1Sa 14:50  And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 
1Sa 14:51  And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. 
1Sa 14:52  And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him. 

These verses focuses on Saul’s family and the enmity between Saul and the Philistines. Saul had three sons – Jonathan, which means ‘Jehovah has given’, Ishui – ‘He resembles me’ and Melchishua – ‘My king is salvation.’ What this implies is that to be like Christ, who was given by God as our salvation, we must go through the process of spiritual maturity which is through the Lord’s judgment. The two daughters of Saul – Merab (increase) and Michal (who is like God) show us the two church systems. We have the church system of this world which is given to increase in this age and the other church system which represents the church of the Lord’s elect, which is making us become like Christ.

Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.  

It is in the church of the Lord’s elect, represented by Saul’s wife, Ahinoam, which means ‘my brother is delight’, that we come to enjoy the delightfulness of our brothers and sisters through what every joint supplies. 

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. 

The commander of Israel’s army’s name was Abner which means ‘the father of light’ or ‘enlightening.’ It is through the Lord’s enlightenment that we become enrolled in His army. Kish, who is Saul’s father, means a bow. This implies that our Lord is a warrior. 

Exo 15:3  The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.  

Verse 52 tells us that there was sore war against the Philistines during all the time of Saul as king of Israel. This is to show us that our fight against our flesh is a lifetime struggle. However, unlike Saul, we, as the Lord’s elect, are assured of victory in the final analysis.

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

Amen!

Ezekiel 45:1–25 Our Portion as Priests

[Study Aired January 27, 2025]

INTRODUCTION

This study today continues with the vision that Ezekiel saw which deals with the Lord’s instruction to the people of Israel to set apart, part of the land of their inheritance when they return from captivity, as a present to the Lord. This portion of land would be designated as holy district and the priests that attend to the services of the temple shall be beneficiaries of part of this holy land.

The Lord also commanded the princes to show justice. The rest of the chapter deals with the sacrifices the princes were to offer and the princes’ part of these oblations especially in the beginning of the year, the Passover and the feast of tabernacles.

The Inheritance of the Saints

Eze 45:1  Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto the LORD, an holy portion of the land: the length shall be the length of five and twenty thousand reeds, and the breadth shall be ten thousand. This shall be holy in all the borders thereof round about. 

On one hand, we must understand that the land that the Lord had promised to the people of Israel represents our bodies. On the other hand, the land signifies our inheritance as the Lord’s elect. Our inheritance, as revealed by the Lord, refers to our reign over the kingdoms of this world and our role as judges in the lake of fire that will usher in the salvation of the whole of the human race. Since we are talking about inheritance here in these verses above, the focus is therefore on the joy that is set before us which is our inheritance as we overcome.

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

In verse 1, we are told that our inheritance is by lot. This implies that it is the Lord who has predetermined those who qualify to obtain an inheritance. As we are aware, the Lord has selected His overcomers even before the foundations of this world.

Jos 14:2  By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.

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

In modern times, this is what Proverbs 16:33 means: we may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall. It implies that it is the Lord who has chosen us in Him before the foundations of the world to possess an inheritance.

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

In verse 1, we are also told that when the people of Israel allot the land as an inheritance, they shall set apart for the LORD a portion of the land as a holy district. We know from the word of the Lord that we are His portion. Therefore, what is being said about the Lord’s portion being the holy district is referring to us, His elect.

Deu 32:9  But the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage.

The measurement of the land designated as the Lord portion of 25,000 by 20,000 cubits is let us know that our inheritance entails being given to rule over the nations. The number 25,000 consists of the following: 25x10x10x10. The number 25 means the beginning of our rulership and the fact that there are three tens signifies that our rulership is based on being brought to spiritual maturity through the Lord’s judgement after our sins have reached their fulness. The number 10,000 is 10x10x10x10. The fact that there are four tens is to let us know that it is the whole of the Lord’s elect whose sins have reached their fulness because of their flesh. All of these measurements are to make us aware that if we are to overcome to receive an inheritance, then we must go through the Lord’s judgement because of our sins.

2Ki 14:2  He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

2Ki 18:2  Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.

2Ki 23:36  Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.

As indicated, the Lord’s portion is the Lord’s elect. Therefore, the fact that the Lord’s portion of the land must be holy means that we should be holy, that is, we must be separated for the Lord’s purpose, even as the Lord is holy.

1Pe 1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 

Eze 45:2  Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred in length, with five hundred in breadth, square round about; and fifty cubits round about for the suburbs thereof. 
Eze 45:3  And of this measure shalt thou measure the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand: and in it shall be the sanctuary and the most holy place. 

The measurement of the sanctuary was five hundred cubits in length and five hundred cubits in width. The number five hundred consists of the following: 500=5x10x10. Five signifies grace through faith and the fact that there are two tens suggest that we are witnesses of the fact that our sins, because of our flesh, has reached its fulness or the heavens. The measurement of five hundred cubits in both length and breadth is to tell us that obtaining an inheritance is dependent on grace through faith. It is this grace which chastens us when we bear witness to the fact that the sins of our flesh have reached the heavens.

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 

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.

The sanctuary being a square is to tell us that regardless of our experience or background, we all go through the same experience of receiving grace through faith when our sins have reached the heavens.

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

The measurement of fifty cubits roundabout of the open area is to show us the liberty we have in Christ when we are privileged to go through His judgement.

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

Gal 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

In verse 3, we are reminded that the measurement of twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width is of the Lord’s portion which is the sanctuary and the most holy place. As shown earlier, we are the Lord’s portion here in this life.

Deu 32:9  But the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage. 

The twenty-five thousand and ten thousand cubits means that it is the whole of the Lord’s elect whose sins have reached their fulness because of their flesh and therefore are being judged as a prerequisite to reigning with Christ.

Eze 45:4  The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests the ministers of the sanctuary, which shall come near to minister unto the LORD: and it shall be a place for their houses, and an holy place for the sanctuary. 

We, the Lord’s elect, are the priests that minister in the Lord’s sanctuary and represent the holy portion of the land. That is to say that it is in us that the Lord has His habitation. Our hearts and minds are the most holy place that the Lord sits on His throne. The fact that the sanctuary shall be our home indicates that our inheritance or possession is Christ. That is to say that Christ’s inheritance is our inheritance. This assures us of our reign with Christ over the kingdoms of this world and as saviors of the whole of humanity through the lake of fire.

Psa 16:5  The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 
Psa 16:6  The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

Eze 45:5  And the five and twenty thousand of length, and the ten thousand of breadth, shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house, have for themselves, for a possession for twenty chambers. 
Eze 45:6  And ye shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand broad, and five and twenty thousand long, over against the oblation of the holy portion: it shall be for the whole house of Israel. 

An area of twenty five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand cubits in width will belong to the Levites who serve in the temple. It will be given to them so that they have cities to dwell in for a possession. We can see that the measurement of the area designated for the Levites is the same as that for the Lord’s elect. To understand verse 5 therefore, we need to look at the negative application of the number twenty five thousand. The number twenty five thousand in a negative sense signifies those who have fallen away as a result of deception through false doctrines.

Jdg 20:35  And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.

Jdg 20:46  So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.

The number ten thousand here in verse 5 symbolizes those depicting the fulness of the flesh who shall be judged in the fulness of time. We can see that the reward or inheritance of the Levites is that they shall dwell in cities. A city represents a church and in this verse, we are dealing with the negative context of cities, which means the physical churches of this world or Babylon.

Verse 6 is telling us that the people of Israel will be given an area of the city measuring 5,000 cubits broad and 25,000 cubits long. Here the people of Israel signify the people of the world. The fact that the area demarcated for them is 25,000 cubits means that they too have fallen into the deception of the enemy through false doctrines of worshipping the created instead of the creator. The 5,000 suggests that it is by grace through faith that they shall be saved through judgement when their sins have reached their fulness because of their flesh.

The Portion for the Prince

Eze 45:7  And a portion shall be for the prince on the one side and on the other side of the oblation of the holy portion, and of the possession of the city, before the oblation of the holy portion, and before the possession of the city, from the west side westward, and from the east side eastward: and the length shall be over against one of the portions, from the west border unto the east border. 
Eze 45:8  In the land shall be his possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; and the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes. 

Verse 7 depicts the portion of the inheritance that the Lord has assured the princes of Israel of. It is the land that extends from the western border to that of the eastern border. In the scriptures, the extent of the east from the west has been used to signify the Lord’s elect as overcomers with Christ. The following verses bear witness:

Mat 8:11  And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

Isa 43:5  Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

Zec 8:7  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;

Psa 103:12  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Isa 45:6  That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

Isa 59:19  So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun (east). When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

Thus, here in verse 7, the Lord is showing us, His princes, that in this life, our portion is that we shall be overcomers even as He overcame to receive the joy that was set before Him. Our portion as overcomers means reigning with Him and also becoming saviors of the whole of the human race.

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. 

In verse 8, this theme of becoming overcomers in this life continues, as we shall possess the land in Israel. Possessing the land in Israel means possessing our bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord. It is insightful to note that in verse 8, we are told that we shall give the rest of the land to the house of Israel. This implies that we shall teach the rest of humanity, represented by the house of Israel, to also possess their bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord. This will take place in the lake of fire in an age to come. In bringing the rest of humanity to salvation, we shall not oppress them, as indicated in verse 8.

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 45:9  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD. 
Eze 45:10  Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath. 
Eze 45:11  The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer. 
Eze 45:12  And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs: twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh. 

Here in these verses we are being shown our sins as the Lord’s elect and the need for us to conform to the Lord’s standards. In verse 9, the Lord is telling us that He’s had enough of us, as His elect. We should stop violence and looting of the Lord’s people and do what is fair and right. This is reminding us of our time in Babylon or the physical churches of this world, when we had the form of godliness but denied the power of the Lord to transform us into His image. Like David said, we were in a miry clay before the Lord came to us with the spirit of His mouth and His judgement to deliver us from our captivity to the flesh and to establish us on the rock, which is Christ.

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Psa 40:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Psa 40:2  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 
Psa 40:3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

In verse 10, we are commanded by the Lord to have just balances, a just ephah and a just bath. The balances refers to a pair of scales for weighing, the ephah was a measure for grain, and the bath was a measure for liquids. All of these forms of measurement were used principally for food and precious minerals such as gold and silver which all signify the word of the Lord. The fact that we were using false forms of measurement spiritually indicates that we were not given to test the spirits to see if they are of God. Our skewed or distorted way of measurement means that we were genuinely deceived during our time in Babylon.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 
1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
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.

The fact that we should have one measure for the ephah and the bath in verse 11 is to tell us that if we are to test the spirits properly, we should have the same mind of Christ and the same judgement.

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 

The maneh in verse 12 refers to a fixed weight in reference to the measurement of shekels. The fixed weights were twenty gerah, twenty shekels, twenty five shekels and fifteen shekels. The twenty gerah or shekels signifies our readiness to wage war with the flesh as we are able to test the spirit to see if it is of God. The twenty five shekels symbolize our readiness to reign over the flesh. The number fifteen signifies being assured of the Lord’s deliverance from Babylon. Therefore, measuring correctly fifteen shekels signifies coming to see the Lord’s promise of deliverance from Babylon.

Isa 38:5  Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. 
Isa 38:6  And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.

Hos 3:2  So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:
Hos 3:3  And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. 
Hos 3:4  For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:
Hos 3:5  Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. 

Making an Offering to the Lord

Eze 45:13  This is the oblation that ye shall offer; the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of wheat, and ye shall give the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of barley: 
Eze 45:14  Concerning the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, ye shall offer the tenth part of a bath out of the cor, which is an homer of ten baths; for ten baths are an homer: 
Eze 45:15  And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel; for a meat offering, and for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings, to make reconciliation for them, saith the Lord GOD. 
Eze 45:16  All the people of the land shall give this oblation for the prince in Israel.
Eze 45:17  And it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.  

In these verses, the people of Israel are required to make an offering to the Lord. We must understand that the people of Israel in this case represent Babylon or the physical churches of this world. The offering here is in regard to wheat, barley, oil and a lamb and are not according to the law of Moses. For example, regarding the wheat and barley, they are to offer a one-sixtieth part and for the olive oil, they are to offer one percent using the standard measure. What these mean is that all the work that is done in Babylon in terms of the resources available to help one understand the word of the Lord is for our sake so that we can offer a better sacrifice to the Lord with our offerings.

As shown in these verses, although the work done by our brothers and sisters in Babylon does not make us see the truth, they help us to understand what the Lord is saying to us. This is to show us that unless the Lord opens our eyes to see and our ears to hears, there is no way of coming to know the truth. It is when we are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom that we get more insight from the work of our brothers and sisters in Babylon.

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

It is worth noting in verse 15 that one lamb out of every two hundred sheep is taken from the choicest sheep being fed, out of the fat pastures of Israel. This lamb here signifies the Lord’s elect. We are the ones that are feeding on the fat pastures of Israel that are offered to the Lord to make reconciliation for the people of Israel in the fulness of time. This indicates our role as saviors as we shall reconcile the lost sheep of the house of Israel to the Lord.

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.

In verse 16, we are told specifically that all of these offerings must be made to the prince of Israel, who represents our Lord Jesus Christ. However, if we are to understand these verses, then we are to note that the prince here represents Christ and can also represents us, His elect. What we are therefore being told is that all the work that our brothers and sisters in Babylon do is for our sake. That is, to help us offer the required sacrifice to the Lord at His appointed feasts, as shown in verse 17. Again, in verse 17, we are assured of our reconciliation role to bring the house of Israel through our offerings to the Lord.

Eze 45:18  Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the first month, in the first day of the month, thou shalt take a young bullock without blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary: 

The young bullock offered on the first day of the first month is our Lord Jesus Christ who was without sin and offered Himself for our sins. The bullock being young signifies the Lord offering Himself at a tender age of 33 for our sins.

Heb 10:8  Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Heb 10:9  Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Heb 10:10  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Heb 10:11  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Heb 10:12  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb 10:13  From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Heb 10:14  For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.

Eze 45:19  And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering, and put it upon the posts of the house, and upon the four corners of the settle of the altar, and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court. 
Eze 45:20  And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that is simple: so shall ye reconcile the house. 

It is Christ, who as a priest, offered His own blood to cleanse us. The fact that the cleansing of the temple together with the vessels of the ministry shall be carried out on the seventh day for everyone that errs is to remind that the blood of Jesus cleanses us not only for the sins we commit today, but the complete period of our lives here on earth.

Heb 9:11  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Heb 9:12  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Heb 9:13  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Heb 9:21  Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
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.
Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

The Seven Day Feast

Eze 45:21  In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten. 

The first of the month here represents the beginning of our deliverance by the Lord from our bondage to sin. The number fourteen signifies our spiritual progression. Therefore, having a feast of seven days where we eat unleavened bread starting from the fourteenth day of the month means that our spiritual progression in Christ is dependent on us feasting on the truth of His word (unleavened bread) throughout the complete period of our walk with Him (significance of the number seven).

Eze 45:22  And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering. 
Eze 45:23  And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to the LORD, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days; and a kid of the goats daily for a sin offering.

The prince here is Christ and it is the Lord who prepared Himself to be our sin offering. The prince offering to the Lord over the seven day period of the feast seven bullocks, seven rams without blemish and a kid of the goat daily for a sin offering indicates that the Lord’s offering of Himself as a sin offering is complete in the sense that it cleanses us of the sins we commit on daily basis throughout the complete period of our walk with Him in this life.

Heb 9:25  Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
Heb 9:26  For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Eze 45:24  And he shall prepare a meat offering of an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and an hin of oil for an ephah. 
Eze 45:25  In the seventh month, in the fifteenth day of the month, shall he do the like in the feast of the seven days, according to the sin offering, according to the burnt offering, and according to the meat offering, and according to the oil. 

An ephah is a dry measurement for volume and it is usually used for the measurement of flour, barley and roasted grain. A feast in the Bible is a time of eating and drinking as shown in the following verses:

Gen 19:3  And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

Gen 26:30  And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.

It is insightful to note that the study is based on the return of the Israelites from their captivity. Our walk with Christ in this life after our deliverance from Babylonian captivity is described as a feast of seven days where we feed on the truth of the word of the Lord.

The bullock or the ram represents Christ or His word. In verse 24 therefore, the Lord preparing a meat offering of an ephah for a bullock and that of a ram indicates the Lord feeding us with His words in this feast of the Lord. As we are aware, oil indicates the spirit. The hin of oil for an ephah as part of the meat offering is to let us know that the Lord is granting us the grace to understand the spiritual significance of His words. The fact that all the bullock, the ram and the oil are measured using an ephah means that the revelation of the Lord is a process. That is to say that our understanding of the truth of the word of the Lord is step by step. 

Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 

The seventh month in verse 25 symbolizes the complete period of our walk after leaving Babylon. As shown earlier, the number fifteen signifies being assured of the Lord’s deliverance from Babylon such that we shall not go back during this complete period of our walk with Him in this life. The recurrence of the sin offering, the burnt offering and the meat offering and that of the oil is to let us know that the provision of the Lord during this period of our lives here on earth will not fail, for His provisions are renewed every morning.

Lam 3:21  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 
Lam 3:23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 
Lam 3:24  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

May His name be praised for His wonderful work of salvation towards us, His beloved. Amen!!

Ezekiel 43:1–27 The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple

[Study Aired January 13, 2025]

INTRODUCTION

Today’s study is about the Lord coming with His glory to fill His temple. As we already know, our bodies are the temple of the Lord and therefore today’s review shows us how the Lord comes to take residence in our hearts and minds.

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

1Co 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

If we are to understand today’s study, then we need to know what the glory of the Lord means. The first time the glory of the Lord appeared in the Bible was in Exodus chapter 16, when the people of Israel thought that Moses and Aaron had brought them into the wilderness to kill them because of the lack of food and water. They forgot about the Lord’s mighty deliverance from their captivity in Egypt and therefore grumbled against Moses and Aaron who represent the Lord’s elect. It is against this background that the Lord appeared to the people of Israel in the cloud as follows:

Exo 16:10  And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
Exo 16:11  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

We know from the word of the Lord that the cloud represents the Lord’s elect.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

We can therefore say that the glory of the Lord appears in His elect.

Exo 40:34  Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Exo 24:16  And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

The fact that the cloud covered mount Sinai for six days is to show us that the cloud represent the Lord’s elect since the number six is the number of man. What we also need to understand is that anytime there is the glory of the Lord in the cloud, there is the speaking of the Lord. This glory of the Lord is therefore being able to hear the voice of the true shepherd or our Lord Jesus Christ from the midst of the fire.

Deu 5:24  And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.

From the midst of the fire signifies that seeing the glory of the Lord also means being judged. At the end of the day, this is what the glory of the Lord does to us, His elect:

1Sa 2:8  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.

The glory of the Lord is therefore His works in us His elect, first, and later, in another age, the rest of all humanity.

Psa 104:31  The glory of the LORD shall endure forever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

Isa 4:5  And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.

Hab 2:14  For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

The works of the Lord is preparing His temple, which is our bodies for Him to dwell in. The study for today which deals with the glory of the Lord filling the temple is therefore about the works of the Lord in making His elect’s hearts and minds habitable for Him to dwell in.

In the Book of Isaiah, the Lord filling His temple is preparing the way of the Lord in the wilderness. It is also the same as making straight in the desert a highway for our God. The way in the wilderness and the highway in the desert are His judgement as He comes with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness to us in our spiritual poverty (wilderness or desert). This way in the wilderness or a highway in the desert that the Lord prepares in our hearts and minds for Him to live in, is what the glory of the Lord is about. The glory is therefore His works of preparing us for a place to live in.

Isa 40:3  The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isa 40:4  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
Isa 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2Th 2:14  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today’s study is therefore about how the Lord comes to take residence in our hearts and minds. Specifically, it is about the glory of the Lord as He comes to fill His temple, the measurement of the altar and the offerings.

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:

The Glory of the Lord Fills the Temple

Eze 43:1  Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: 
Eze 43:2  And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. 
Eze 43:3  And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. 
Eze 43:4 And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. 

Verses 1 and 2 show us that the glory of the Lord came from the way of the east. The east is where the sun rises in our lives. This implies the beginning of our walk with the Lord as the sun represents the Lord Jesus Christ. Our walk with the Lord starts with our lives in Babylon or the physical churches of this world before the Lord comes with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness to drag us to Himself. It is instructive to note that the first time the word “east” is used in the Bible, it has to do with the river that flows east towards Assyria (Babylon) with the river becoming the Euphrates. The next use of the word “east” has to do with the judgement we must go through because of our sins in order to assess the tree of life which represents Christ.

Gen 2:14  And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

As indicated in the introduction portion of this study, the glory of the Lord is His work towards making us His habitation. It is while we are in Babylon that the Lord comes to us with His words and His judgement to cause the rising of the sun, or Christ, in our lives. The Lord’s coming with His brightness is His illumination of His words so that we can unmistakenly hear His voice as the noise of many waters. That is when our earthen vessels shines with His glory (verse 2).

In verse 3, we are reminded that the appearance of this vision is similar to the one Ezekiel had when the Lord came to destroy the city, when he had the vision by the river Chebar. This is to let us know that the vision of the glory of the Lord coming from the way of the east is for the Lord to destroy, in this case, our old man or flesh through His judgement. This destruction also includes the false doctrines, symbolized by the river Chebar, which we believed in when we were in Babylon.

Again, we are prompted to know in verse 4 that the glory of the Lord coming into the house is by way of the east. That is to say that the Lord’s work of coming to dwell in us entails the judgement of our flesh.

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Eze 43:5  So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. 
Eze 43:6  And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me. 
Eze 43:7  And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places. 

The glory of the Lord filling the house in verse 5 is to show us the end result of the works of the Lord in our lives, which is, Christ in you, the hope of glory.

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:

When the temple was built by king Solomon and was dedicated, the temple was filled with a cloud as the glory of the Lord occupied the building. As a result, the priests could not minister.

1Ki 8:10  And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
1Ki 8:11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

As we have shown earlier, the glory of the Lord comes in a cloud. The cloud filling the temple is the glory of the Lord filling the temple. The fact that the priests could not minister when the Lord takes residence in our hearts and minds, means that we do no work. That is to say that we rest in Him, or cease from our own strivings, as the Lord does His works in us.

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.

The man standing beside Ezekiel while he hears someone speaking to Him from inside the temple in verse 6 is our Lord Jesus Christ. It is His voice that comes out of the temple to assure Ezekiel in verse 7 that it is within the temple, or our hearts and minds that His throne is, and the resting place for His feet. The Lord also assured Ezekiel that no longer will the people of Israel and their kings dishonor His holy name by acting like prostitutes, nor will they dishonor it with the dead bodies of their kings.  The people of Israel here represent the Lord’s elect. No longer acting like a harlot means that we shall not be under the sway of the harlot woman who signifies Babylon or the physical churches of this world. The Lord cleansing and establishing His throne in our hearts and minds is the same as we dwelling in the sacred place of the most high and abiding under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psa 91:1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psa 91:2  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psa 91:3  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
Psa 91:4  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Psa 91:5  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Psa 91:6  Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
Psa 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

In verse 7, we are also told that when the Lord establishes His throne within the people of Israel, they shall not dishonor it with the dead bodies of their kings in their high places. The high places represent the place of worship of their gods. The kings here are the kings of the earth or the leaders of Babylon who had led us astray during our sojourn in Babylon with their false doctrines. When the Lord opens our eyes to see and ears to hear, we come to see these messengers as spiritually dead. Adhering to any doctrine of these false messengers means defiling our temple with the dead bodies or carcasses of these kings.

Rev 17:2  With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her (the harlot) fornication.

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.

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Eze 43:8  In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger. 
Eze 43:9  Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcasses of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them forever. 
Eze 43:10  Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. 

Putting their doorway by the Lord’s doorway and their doorpost by the Lord’s doorpost such that there is only a wall that separates the Lord from our brothers and sisters in Babylon in verse 8 means that the entry to serving the Lord is similar for Jerusalem which is above and that which is in bondage. The only difference between them is a wall. This wall or difference is that the worship of the Lord leads to bondage for those who serve under Jerusalem which is in bondage, while that of Jerusalem which is above leads to liberty in Christ.

Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

As stated in verse 8, the worship which leads to bondage incurs the wrath of the Lord as He comes with His judgement to consume our flesh. We, His elect, start our walk with the Lord incurring the wrath of the Lord and therefore are judged, before we are given the liberty in Christ which serves as a wall separating us from our adulterous way of worship.

Here in verse 9, we are shown that the work of the Lord is to take away our whoredom far from Him and also put away the carcasses of our kings. As we have shown earlier, the carcasses of the kings represent the false doctrines propagated by the false messengers of Christ parading as angels of light. The putting away of these is the requirement for the indwelling of Christ in us.

In verse 10, the Lord told Ezekiel, a symbol of the elect to show the temple to the people of Israel for them to be ashamed of their iniquities. Showing the temple to the Lord’s elect means measuring the temple pattern. It is therefore imperative that we come to see the pattern that was shown Moses on the mount so that we can know how the Lord builds His temple within us.

Exo 25:9  According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Exo 25:40  And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

Eze 43:11  And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. 
Eze 43:12 This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. 

Verse 11 is saying that we have to be ashamed of what we have done in terms of our whorish behavior to our husband Christ before we are given to know how the Lord builds His temple within us. According to verse 11, coming to know how the Lord builds His temple within us entails understanding the design of the temple, its arrangements, its exits and entrances – its entire design. It also means knowing about all its rules and regulations. We come to know the rules and regulations of the temple through studying the word of the Lord.

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

In verse 12, we are told that the law of the house is that the whole area on the top of the mountain all around must be holy. This whole area on the top of the mountain all around refers to our hearts and minds which must be cleansed to become holy.

1Pe 1:14  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1Pe 1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

The Altar of Sacrifice

Eze 43:13  And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar. 
Eze 43:14  And from the bottom upon the ground even to the lower settle shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser settle even to the greater settle shall be four cubits, and the breadth one cubit. 
Eze 43:15  So the altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar and upward shall be four horns. 
Eze 43:16  And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad, square in the four squares thereof. 
Eze 43:17  And the settle shall be fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad in the four squares thereof; and the border about it shall be half a cubit; and the bottom thereof shall be a cubit about; and his stairs shall look toward the east. 

The altar is where our sacrifices are burnt. Spiritually, the altar represents our hearts and minds which are purified through the Lord’s judgement such that we can offer our bodies as living sacrifice to the Lord.

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.

We are told that the measurements of the altar are in cubits and that the cubit used in the sanctuary is different from the normal cubit used for everyday measurements. The cubits in the sanctuary is the normal cubit plus a handbreadth. The handbreadth is approximately 4 inches. This is to show us that the standard applied by the Lord to His elect, who represent His temple are higher than the standard applied to Babylon and the world. The verses below show us that the Lord’s standards for us are far higher than that of the world including Babylon.

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.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

The base of the altar was a cubit and a cubit wide. All around the edge of the altar was a rim measuring about one span. The number one signifies unity. Thus, the Lord is enjoining all His elect, to have the mind of Christ.

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

The height of the altar is as follows: from the base on the ground to the lower ledge was two cubits high, and from the lower ledge to the upper ledge was four cubits high and a cubit wide.

The two cubits height from the base on the ground to the lower ledge signifies that the Lord is preparing us to serve as His witnesses.

2Co 13:1  This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

The height from the lower ledge to the upper ledge being four cubits and one cubit in width means that it is the whole of the Lord’s elect (the significance of the number four) that the Lord is requiring us to have one mind and therefore serve as His witnesses.

The place where the sacrifices were to be burnt shall be four cubits and there were four horns above it. As indicated the four cubits show us that what is being discussed here pertains to the whole of the Lord’s elect. Horns signify strength as shown in the following verse:

1Sa 2:10  The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

The four horns therefore means that the whole of the strength of the Lord’s elect is in our oneness or unity. That is when we can serve as witnesses of Christ.

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

In verse 16, we are told that the altar hearth or fireplace shall be twelve cubits long by twelve cubits wide. This implies that it is a square. The number twelve is the number of Christ. The fireplace represents our judgement and therefore what we are being told is that the judgement of the Lord is to make us like Christ. The fact that the altar fireplace is a square is to let us know that no matter where we are coming from in terms of our background, we must all go through the Lord’s judgement to makes us like Christ. In verse 17, the upper ledge being a square affirms to us that we all go through the same experience to become like Christ.

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

The upper ledge was fourteen cubits long and fourteen cubits wide. The number fourteen means spiritual progression. The judgement we face is all to help us progress spiritually. It is instructive to note that the steps to the altar faced east. This is to let us know that the rising of the sun or the Lord in our lives is through the Lord’s judgement.

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

The Offerings

Eze 43:18  And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon. 
Eze 43:19  And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord GOD, a young bullock for a sin offering. 
Eze 43:20  And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it. 
Eze 43:21 Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary.
Eze 43:22  And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock. 

These verses deal with the cleansing of the altar. As indicated earlier, the altar is our hearts and minds and so these verses show us what the Lord has done for the cleansing of our hearts and minds. In verse 18, we are informed that the altar is for the offering of burnt offerings and the sprinkling of blood. The burnt offerings signifies the destruction of the flesh through fire, and the sprinkling of blood is the blood of Christ which was shed for our sins. The priests from the seed of Zadok, which symbolize the Lord’s elect, are the only ones permitted to approach the Lord and minister to Him. The young bullock for our sin offering represents our Lord Jesus Christ who was offered for our sins. The bullock being young is in reference to our Lord Jesus Christ who was offered at a very young age for our sins.

Heb 10:4  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Heb 10:5  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Heb 10:6  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Heb 10:7  Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Heb 10:8  Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

2 Corinthians 5:21: For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

In Verse 20, Ezekiel was to take some of the bull’s blood, and put it on the altar’s four horns, on the four corners of the ledge, and on the rim all the way around the altar. This is to cleanse and purge the altar of sin. The spiritual reality of this verse is shown in the following:

Heb 9:21  Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
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.
Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

In other words, the purification of our hearts and minds is the heavenly things themselves in Hebrew 11:23 and it is there that the Lord is cleansing us with His blood.

The body of the bullock for the sin offering must be burnt outside the sanctuary. This shows us how our Lord died outside the gate of Jerusalem to sanctify us with His blood. As Christ is, so are we. We must also go forth outside the camp of Babylon to suffer or be judged for the destruction of our flesh, for the sake of Christ.

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11  For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Verse 22 tells us of the sacrifice of a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering. Again, the kid of the goats without blemish is our Lord Jesus Christ whose blood cleanses our hearts and minds.

Eze 43:23  When thou hast made an end of cleansing it, thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish. 
Eze 43:24  And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the LORD. 
Eze 43:25  Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish. 
Eze 43:26  Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves. 
Eze 43:27  And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD. 

Verses 23 to 26 show us the repetitive nature of the sacrifice as part of the law of Moses. Seven days of these sacrifice means the complete period of our walk in the churches of this world or Babylon, when we were under the law of Moses.

Heb 9:25  Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

The eighth day represents new beginnings where we had left behind the law of Moses and are now operating under the law of the spirit of life which sets us free from the law of sin and death (law of Moses). During this period as priests of the Lord, we are to make burnt offerings upon the altar and peace offerings. As stated earlier, the burnt offering results in the destruction of the flesh. However, the peace offering is the only offering in which all three parties partake of the offering; God gets His share, the priest gets his part, and the offerer gets his part to share with “anyone who is clean”. In verse 27, we are informed that it is through the burnt offerings and the peace offerings that we are accepted by the Lord. It is as our flesh proceeds to die through the judgement of the Lord (burnt offering) and we are partaking of the word of the Lord (peace offering) that we are accepted by the Lord.

We thank the Lord for His mercy towards us, to be accepted by the Lord in this age. Amen!!

Ezekiel 20:26-49  For His Name’s Sake, we are not Consumed, Part 2

[Study Aired June 17, 2024]

Introduction

Today’s study continues with the people of Israel’s abominations and the Lord’s intervention to make His people holy because of His name. 

Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lam 3:23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

The lesson today narrates some of the abominations we have committed against the Lord. To the untrained mind, it is difficult to understand why we should go through so much evil before the Lord shows up. However, as we get to know the Lord, we come to see that His method of operation is for us to have an evil experience before He makes us into another vessel fit for His purpose. 

Ecc 1:13  And I gave my heart to seek and to investigate by wisdom concerning all which is done under the heavens. It is an evil task God has given to the sons of men, to be afflicted by it.

Jer 18:4  And the vessel that he made in clay was ruined in the hand of the potter. So repeating he made it, another vessel, as it seemed good in the potter’s eyes to make it. 

Being made into another vessel after an evil experience is to show us that our salvation depends solely on the Lord’s mercies.

Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 

Our Abominations Before the Lord

Eze 20:26  And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD. 
Eze 20:27  Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

Worshippers of Molech, Baal and Asherah would sacrifice their own children to these false gods which were worshiped by the Canaanites. For example, the statue of Molech was like a man with outstretched arms and with the head of a bull. Worshippers of Molech put their children in the arms of the statue as they kindled a fire underneath the statue to burn their children as offerings. This practice is what is called passing children through the fire. Unfortunately, the Israelites became enchanted by the worship of these idols and therefore they also made their children pass through the fire. 

Verse 26 is therefore about our lives in Babylon where the Lord is saying that He defiles us through the very gifts or offerings of our first born who we make pass through the fire so that He can bring desolation to our doorstep. Spiritually, making our firstborn pass through the fire means making the Lord’s elect spiritually dead through the words spoken to them in Babylon which cause them to sacrifice their lives for another Jesus. This is what our Lord Jesus said about us becoming spiritually dead as we sacrifice our lives for another Jesus:

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.

Most of the Lord’s elect also spoke about sacrificing our children through the fire. The fire in this case negatively represents the false doctrines that we hear in Babylon. This is what Paul and Peter had to say about this: 

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.

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 
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.

It is interesting to note here in verse 26 that the Lord intentionally polluted our offerings (gifts) such that as firstborns, we were made to pass through the fire with the aim of making us desolate. What this means is that the Lord takes us through this evil experience of offering our children through the fire so that He would have the occasion to confront our old man to make him desolate. It is through this evil experience that gives the Lord the occasion He is seeking to come to us with His judgment so that we can know Him.

In verse 27 the Lord is showing us that we have sinned against Him. As we indicated in the previous study, a prerequisite to being judged in this life is being given to know that we have sinned against the Lord. It is when we acknowledge our sins that the Lord comes to us with His judgment to destroy the old man or our flesh so that we become obedient children. Unfortunately, when we were in Babylon, we were just like the fathers of the people of Israel as we were not given to know our sins. As a result, we did not acknowledge our sins, and therefore the truth was not in us.

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 
1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

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

Eze 20:28  For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings. 
Eze 20:29  Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.
Eze 20:30  Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?

The Lord bringing the people of Israel into the land by lifting up His hands to give them in verse 28, signifies the Lord coming to start His work in us to overcome the flesh. The lifting up of the hand of the Lord to give the land to the people of Israel symbolized that becoming overcomers of the flesh is solely the work of the Lord. We play no part in it. This coming of the Lord to us is described as follows in Malachi:

Mal 3:1  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
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, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Verses 28 to 30 also show us the state in which the Lord found us when He came to us. Every high hill and all the thick trees where we were giving our sacrifices and offerings represents Babylon or the physical churches of this world where we served another Jesus. What this means is that when the Lord came to us, we were in Babylon. In verse 29, we are told that these high places where we were going to worship are named as Bamah to this day. According to Brown-Drivers-Briggs definition, Bamah means high place or places of idolatrous worship. The worshiping of another Jesus in Babylon is idolatrous worship. To this day means that the churches of this world, represented by the harlot woman, are still worshiping 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.

As shown in the Book of Revelation, we can see the idolatrous worship of the churches of this world (the harlot woman) only in the spirit, that is, when we are given to worship the Lord in truth and in spirit.

Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 
Rev 17:6  And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 

In verse 30, being polluted after the manner of our fathers and committing whoredom after their abominations means that the elect of every generation are made worse off by the beast within us or our flesh. In other words, being polluted in the manner of our fathers is another way of saying that no one is able to make war with the beast unless Christ comes to us to do it on our behalf.

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?

Being an overcomer therefore means being given power to conquer the dictates or the deeds of the flesh which is the work of the Lord. All we have to do is to believe that what He has started with us, He is able to bring to completion. This is what the Lord told us about our victory over the flesh:

Joh 6:28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 
Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Eze 20:31  For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you. 
Eze 20:32  And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

It is impossible to hear from the Lord when we are serving another Jesus. In verse 32, we are told clearly that what we have in mind will never happen as long as we serve another Jesus. When we are not serving the Lord in truth and in spirit, our desires are just like the heathens, and therefore the Lord will not heed to our request. I remember during my time in Babylon when together with other brethren, we used the following Bible verse to ask the Lord to make us wealthy like other people of this world so that we can finance the gospel. 

Psa 81:10  I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. 

Indeed, we opened our mouths wide to request so many things from the Lord, but at the end of the day, none of those requests came to pass. Looking back, our desires were just like the heathen, and here in verse 32, we know that the Lord did not hear our prayers then. We were serving wood and stone (another Jesus) during our time in Babylon.

The Lord will Restore Us His elect

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 spite of our spiritual poverty as we served another Jesus in Babylon, the Lord is showing us in these verses the three things that He does to rule over us when He comes to us. In the first place, He comes to us with a mighty hand. As indicated earlier, the mighty hand of the Lord means that He does all the works within us to qualify us to become His sons. In the Bible, we are shown several examples of how the mighty hand of the Lord wrought victory for the people of Israel in their battles with their enemies. For example, in the first battle that the people of Israel fought in their wilderness journey with the Amalekites, the victory of the battle depended on Moses raising his hands. It did not matter whether Joshua and the army were armed to the teeth or not. The battle was won by the raised hands of Moses who in this case symbolized our Lord Jesus Christ coming to us with a mighty hand. It is not about what we have or have not or our strength or fragilities that determines our victory over the flesh, it is our Lord’s mighty hands that matter!!

Exo 17:8  Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 
Exo 17:9  And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. 
Exo 17:10  So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 
Exo 17:11  And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 
Exo 17:12  But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 
Exo 17:13  And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Secondly, it is through His outstretched arms that we come to be ruled by the Lord. His outstretched arms means that He is ready to receive us in spite of our weaknesses and faults. Like the prodigal son who was received by His father, we also are assured of the Lord’s outstretched arms to show mercy to us as He receives us.  

Luk 15:20  And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
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:

It is by the mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed. Our Lord is always ready with His outstretched arms to receive us.

Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 
Lam 3:23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 

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.

Thirdly, it is through the Lord’s fury poured out against our old man that the Lord will end up ruling over us. This fury is the judgment of the Lord. 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.

Eze 20:35  And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. 
Eze 20:36  Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD. 

The Lord pleading with us while we were in the wilderness implies the Lord coming to us during our time in Babylon to start the process of His judgment of our old man. 

Isa 66:16  For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. 

Jer 25:31  A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

As shown in Isaiah 66:16 and Jeremiah 25:31, the Lord uses fire and the sword as instruments of His judgment when He came to us in Babylon.  As we know, the sword is His words, and therefore the Lord coming with fire and the sword signifies the tribulations and persecution that we go through when the Lord comes to us with His words.

Mat 13:21  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

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

The result of the Lord’s judgment of our old man is that our sea and our springs dry up as shown in the verse below:

Jer 51:36  Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.

Our sea drying up means our flesh is destroyed through the Lord’s judgment. Our springs drying up refers to the destruction of our false doctrines in our heavens as the Lord enables us to understand the mysteries or the truth of His words.  

In verse 36, we are informed that the Lord pleaded with our fathers in the wilderness, but it did not result in Him ruling over them. This is to let us know that in our time in Babylon, because we disannulled or cast off the Lord’s judgment or suffering, we did not benefit from the suffering we experienced. However, if we are called and chosen, then in the fullness of time, we shall come to see that the Lord’s judgment is the Lord’s intervention in our lives to bring us to an expected end.

Job 40:8  Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? 

The Benefits of the Lord’s Judgement

Eze 20:37  And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: 
Eze 20:38  And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 

These verses enlighten us on the benefits of the Lord’s judgment of our old man. In verse 37, we are told that the Lord will cause us to pass under the rod and as a result we shall be brought into the bond of the covenant. Passing under the rod means being judged by the Lord and the effect is that we end up keeping the terms of the Lord’s promise. That is another way of saying that when we are judged, we learn righteousness.

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. 

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

In verse 38, the rebels and those who transgress against us refers to our old man or our flesh. This implies that purging out from among the rebels and those who transgress against us signifies the Lord’s destruction of our flesh or old man through His judgment. As we learned from the Book of Job, the Lord delivering Job to Satan means Job being judged by the Lord. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, his asking the church to deliver the man who slept with his father’s wife to Satan was for the purpose of judgment by the Lord. Here in Corinthians, we are given added information which shows us that delivering the man to Satan was for the destruction of his flesh. In other words, the judgment of the Lord is for the purpose of putting to death the flesh or the old man.  

1Co 5:1  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 
1Co 5:2  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 
1Co 5:3  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 
1Co 5:4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
1Co 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Verse 38 also says that the Lord will bring us out of the country where we sojourn, and that we shall not go back into the land of Israel. What we are being told is that the judgment of the Lord has an added effect of disengaging us completely from our Babylonian captivity such that we do not go back to it. Although we have left Babylon physically, the fact that we still retain some of their false teachings means that we are still under Babylonian influence. The judgment of the Lord is also to enlighten our understanding concerning the truth of the words of the Lord. Such enlightenment of His truth is like hail that sweeps away the refuge of lies in our heavens so that we do not go back to Babylon. As we are aware, hail is one of the tools of the Lord’s judgment.

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

Hag 2:17  I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.

Eze 20:39  As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye everyone his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols. 

A simpler rendition of verse 39 brings to light the benefit of the Lord’s judgment. 

Eze 20:39  “‘Nation of Israel, this is what the Almighty LORD says: Serve your disgusting idols. But afterwards, you will listen to me. You will no longer dishonor my holy name with your gifts and your disgusting idols. (GW)

This verse is another way of saying that even when we were sinners, Christ loved us and died for us to deliver us from our self-destruction. What turns us around from serving idols or another Jesus is the Lord’s judgment.

Rom 5:8  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 
Rom 5:10  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 
Rom 5:11  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (ESV)

Eze 20:40  For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. 
Eze 20:41  I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. 
Eze 20:42  And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.

As indicated in verse 40, the Lord’s holy mountain, where all the house of Israel shall come to serve the Lord, represents Jerusalem which is above or the church of the first born. It is in the assembly of the Lord’s elect that He will accept us and will require our offering of ourselves as the first fruits. This offering of us is being presented as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to Him. 

Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 

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.

Offering our lives as living sacrifices is like a sweet savor which is acceptable to the Lord as shown in verse 41. It is through the offering of ourselves as living sacrifices that the Lord will reveal Himself as holy to the nations of this world. 

Eze 20:43  And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. 
Eze 20:44  And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

As we fellowship with Christ in the house of the Lord, we come to know Him more and also come to appreciate the fact that it is not because of what we have done or can do but for His name’s sake. In other words, our salvation is not our work but the Lord working through us for His name’s sake.  

Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Psa 106:8  Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

Eze 20:45  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 
Eze 20:46  Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field; 
Eze 20:47  And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. 
Eze 20:48  And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched. 

As we are aware, the south is toward the sea. The sea represents human flesh. Human beings are likened to trees in the Bible as follows:

Son 2:3  As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Therefore, the forest of the south field in verse 46 of which the prophecy is addressed represents those who were under the influence of the flesh of whom we were part at a certain stage of our walk in Christ. Here in verse 47, we are told that we shall surely face the judgment of the Lord. To the Lord’s elect, this judgment is a present reality. To others, the judgment of the Lord will take place at a later age.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

1Ti 5:24  Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

I Timothy 5:24 above affirms the fact that we, as the Lord’s elect, have our sins going before us to judgment. To others, their judgment will follow later.

The Lord Speaks to the Multitude in Parables

Eze 20:49  Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables? 

Ezekiel could not understand why the Lord speaks through him to the people in parables. The people of Israel at Ezekiel’s time represent the multitude while Ezekiel symbolizes the Lord’s elect. Although Ezekiel was not given to know why the Lord speaks in parables to the multitude, we, the Lord’s elect are privileged to understand why. The disciples of Jesus also enquired of the Lord as to know why He spoke to the multitude or Babylon in parables, and this is the Lord’s answer:

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 
Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 
Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 
Mat 13:15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

May the Lord continue to unravel more of the mysteries of His kingdom to us as we see the day approaching. Amen!! 

Dan 11:28-45  Be ye not troubled – Part 5

[Study Aired June 6, 2024]

Dan 11:28  Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. 
Dan 11:29  At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. 
Dan 11:30  For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. 
Dan 11:31  And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. 
Dan 11:32  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 
Dan 11:33  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 
Dan 11:34  Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 
Dan 11:35  And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. 
Dan 11:36  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 
Dan 11:37  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 
Dan 11:38  But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. 
Dan 11:39  Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
Dan 11:40  And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 
Dan 11:41  He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 
Dan 11:42  He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
Dan 11:43  But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 
Dan 11:44  But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. 
Dan 11:45  And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. 

This last section we’re going to look at in chapter 11 reveals more historical events, which are spiritual types that point to the spiritual reality of those events being shown in the lives of those who are being judged in this life (1Pe 4:17). We will remain spiritually blinded and lost if we continue to put these verses off onto someone else and not apply them to our own life that must be miraculously convicted of our own self-righteous man of perdition who continues to want to abide on the throne of our hearts and must be kept under subjection as we die daily (Joh 9:41, 1Co 9:26-27, 1Co 15:31).

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

1Co 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

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

Below are a couple of excerpts from the historian I’ve been using that will make it very clear how the religious masses look at prophesy with an outward approach that does not incriminate us personally, as we naturally point to the vileness in others, the classic Adam and Eve approach to dealing with God’s revelation that should be convicting us that there is nothing good within me (Gen 3:11-13, Mar 10:18, Joh 5:30).

Gen 3:11  And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
Gen 3:12  And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
Gen 3:13  And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Mar 10:18  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

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.

Excerpt pointing to the Antichrist who is thought of as being one specific man:

He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god: (Dan 11:36) The angel explained to Daniel that this king would blaspheme God and exalt himself until the wrath has been accomplished and what has been determined shall be done.
Above every god: (Dan 11:36) Here we shift from what was fulfilled in the Ptolemies and the Selucids to what will be fulfilled in the Antichrist, the final world dictator. Daniel was told that this revelation pertained to the latter days (Daniel 10:14), and Daniel 11:36 begins to look more towards this final world dictator, who is sort of a “last days Antiochus Epiphanes.” [the author is using the NKJV]

Dan 11:36  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 

In this section of scripture, God’s judgment upon the body of Christ is represented by “the wrath has been accomplished and what has been determined shall be done.”  It is the antiChrist in each one of us that needs to be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming (1Jn 2:18, 1Jn 2:22, 1Jn 4:3, 2Jn 1:7), and what that brightness does is rip the self-righteous veil off our own hearts that cannot see that all of mankind’s violent and sinful history is a declaration of what is naturally within us and unable to be overcome unless the Lord tears down that marred vessel and makes it anew by the brightness of His coming into our heavens (Jer 18:4, 2Th 2:8).

2Jn 1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

The world is not antiChrist for not believing that Christ entered into this world in His flesh, because many do believe this, including Muslims. However, it is the height of blasphemy to tell anyone that you are Christ’s body and that He has entered into you as the Son of God (Col 1:27, Rom 8:9, Eph 5:30). Christ is our forerunner as one who was rejected by men for the truth’s sake, and as He is, so are we in this world (Joh 8:58-59, Joh 10:31-36, 1Jn 4:17)

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.

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:

Joh 8:58  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Joh 8:59  Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

By God’s grace we will continue to “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward” (2Jn 1:8), not denying the Son who is within us and being blessed to abide in Christ so that we can know the Father as well (1Jn 2:23-24, Joh 14:20-21).

1Jn 2:23  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also [Mat 10:32-33].
1Jn 2:24  Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

Christ is in His people cleansing the temple of our beastly nature that wants to hold onto our former belief in free will which could never be driven out of us except it be through His chastening grace upon those few who are being received by God in this age (Joh 2:15-17, Heb 12:6).

Dan 11:28  Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. 
Dan 11:29  At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. 
Dan 11:30  For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. 
Dan 11:31  And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. 

We understand that the vile person being talked about here represents Antiochus Epiphanes, who is a type of the man of perdition on the throne of our hearts, and as we saw in the previous verses he was in battle against the king of the south who had a very great army (Dan 11:25-27), and yet he did not prevail, meaning the king of the south. This symbolizes how God purposes for us to overcome and sweep the house clean [Antiochus Epiphanes’ victory], only to then “return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land” which is what he does but in the final analysis we read “he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him” (Dan 11:45). These events in the life of Antiochus Epiphanes parallel very well with these words of Christ (Mat 12:43-45). This section of Antiochus Epiphanes’ life reminds us that we are that wicked generation who lose our first love, and the last state of our life is worse than the first for a period of time when we come out of Babylon, represented by the dry places where we seek spiritual rest but find none.

Mat 12:43  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, [victory over king of the south] he walketh through dry places [Isa 3:1], seeking rest, and findeth none.
Mat 12:44  Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished [“he shall do exploits, and return to his own land“].
Mat 12:45  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation [“yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him“]. 

“At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter” – This verse reminds us that there is an appointed time for all things that God orchestrates for our maturing, and God knows when it is time for us to go into exile and when to come out of it.

“The ships of Chittim shall come against him” – The city of Chittim is mentioned six times in the old covenant in these following verses (Num 24:24, Isa 23:1, Isa 23:12, Jer 2:10, Eze 27:6, Dan 11:30), the number of man, and in particular speak of those who are gentile in spirit, meaning unbelieving. The ships of Tyre and the ships of Chittim represent that period in our life when we were those merchants on the sea plying the waters of Babylon, walking contrary to the Lord (Act 27:4, Lev 26:21), of which must all be destroyed within us.

H3794 kittı̂y    kittı̂yı̂y kit-tee’, kit-tee-ee’   Patrial from an unused name denoting Cyprus (only in the plural); a Kittite or Cypriote; hence an islander in general, that is, the Greeks or Romans on the shores opposite Palestine: – Chittim, Kittim.  Total KJV occurrences: 8

BDB – Definition: Chittim or Kittim = bruisers

Num 24:24   And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. 

Isa 23:1  The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.

Isa 23:12  And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.

Act 27:4  And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 

Lev 26:21  And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.

“And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate” – Now we come to this section about the abomination of desolation being placed in the temple (1Co 3:16), and it is an abomination in God’s eyes at this point because we think that we stand by our own power, and this is what pollutes the sanctuary of God when we take credit for anything, whether it be good or evil unfolding in our lives.

Dan 11:32  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 
Dan 11:33  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 
Dan 11:34  Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 
Dan 11:35  And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. 

As discussed last week, when we are of the mindset to go along to get along and don’t try the spirits whether they are of God, we become one with and subject to that spirit that we coexist with through flatteries (Rom 6:16-18). This is the ecumenical spirit of the churches today that do not obey the voice of Christ but rather let church doctrine trump their thinking in every instance.

Rom 6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 

The only way to overcome that spirit is to see through it by the grace of God and so the very next verses of Romans (Rom 6:17-18) explain to us how it is possible that “they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.“

Rom 6:17  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 
Rom 6:18  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Our old man is going to fall by the sword if we are being dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44, 2Sa 12:10), and the word of God is a flaming sword that turns every way keeping the way of the tree of life (Gen 3:24). That judgment upon us by the sword of God’s word takes our old man into captivity, spoiling us, which is another way of saying we are purged and made white through Christ, “And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.“

Dan 11:36  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

Without God’s spirit within us, we will not see the glorious message of the destruction of the man of sin within us in this verse (Dan 11:36) that tells us the natural status of all the world that has been deceived (2Co 4:4) and how we must prosper in that spirit “till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.” The historian we have been reading concludes, as does the majority of Babylon, that Antiochus must have an end-time fulfillment in some final world dictator who is going to come and wreak havoc. Of course this is great news for Satan as he continues to unknowingly reside in the hearts and minds of humanity who are only looking outside themselves for a supposed man of perdition.

The Antichrist: the end times Antiochus Epiphanes.
(Daniel 11:36) The willful king: a shift to a future fulfillment.

Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.

He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god: The angel explained to Daniel that this king would blaspheme God and exalt himself until the wrath has been accomplished and what has been determined shall be done.
Above every god: Here we shift from what was fulfilled in the Ptolemies and the Selucids to what will be fulfilled in the Antichrist, the final world dictator. Daniel was told that this revelation pertained to the latter days (Daniel 10:14), and Daniel 11:36 begins to look more towards this final world dictator, who is sort of a “last days Antiochus Epiphanes.”
We know that everything about this prophecy was not fulfilled during the career of Antiochus Epiphanes. Jesus specifically said the realabomination of desolation was still in the future (Matthew 24:15). The Apostle Paul paraphrased Daniel 11:36 in reference to the coming Antichrist: Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Antiochus Epiphanes is important, but mostly as a historical preview of the Antichrist. This is why so much space is given to describing the career of one evil man — because he prefigures the ultimate evil man. Antiochus Epiphanes is the “trailer” released well before the Antichrist, who is like the “feature.”
He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god: Antiochus Epiphanes certainly did this in the general sense that all sinners oppose God. Yet he remained loyal to the Greek religious tradition, which revered the entire Olympian pantheon. Antiochus Epiphanes put a statue of Zeus in the temple, not of himself. This statement will be far more precisely fulfilled in the Antichrist, who sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
Shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished: Antichrist will do much damage, but he is on a short chain and will only work into God’s plan. God’s purpose will be accomplished.

Dan 11:37  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 
Dan 11:38  But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. 
Dan 11:39  Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.

We are still talking about the man of perdition within us, and the descriptive words given in these verses define how we lived out our former conversation (Eph 2:3) when we were subject to the god of this world and did not have Him who is within us (1Jn 4:4) overcoming Satan, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: ” (1Jn 4:4, Eph 2:4-6). 

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.

When we were of our father the devil, we had no regard for God and were without desire for women representing churches. Even if we were in some Babylonian church, our inability to eat his bread and wear his apparel and only want His name (Isa 4:1) is what we are looking at in this verse, “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women.” We also have no regard for the scriptures of old, “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers“, that are able to make us wise unto salvation (2Ti 3:15), because there is only one god and that is ourselves at this point as we put ourselves above all others, “for he shall magnify himself above all.“

The beast gets his power from the dragon (Rev 13:4) so unbeknownst to us in that state of mind where we put ourselves above God, it is all happening as a result of Satan’s spirit that is dominating us at this point in our life. Our subjectivity to Babylon is our worship of the beast who gets his power from Satan making us slaves to sin (Joh 8:34-35) who honor the “God of forces” which should be a small “g”, giving of our wealth, of mind and time and energy, represented by the gold, silver and precious stones, “But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.“

Babylon will fall in time, but for now we read of Satan’s empire that provides fleshly strongholds [“many wonderful works“] for the man of perdition who is given increase, like God does to the elect but in the negative sense of keeping people in the bondage of sin via the glory Satan promises, along with power to rule and divide and conquer the land which is our bodies, but all for personal gain. This is the sense of what we’re reading in this verse, “Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.“

(Daniel 11:37-39) The character and authority of the “willful king.”

He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.

He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women: Based on this, some Bible scholars believe that the Antichrist will be of Jewish descent, and perhaps will also be a homosexual. These things may not be popularly known about the man, but they may be true nonetheless.
But many commentators believe that the desire of womenrefers to Jesus, in that all women desired the honor of bearing the Messiah and understanding “desire” as it is used in Haggai 2:7. Seeing the desire of women as Jesus makes most sense in light of the flow of context.
He shall honor a god of fortresses: The Antichrist will take and hold power with military might and the shrewd use of great riches.

Dan 11:40  And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
Dan 11:41  He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

These last verses which talk about Antiochus Epiphanes are once again describing the spiritual struggle we must go through with the man of perdition on the throne of our hearts, and we are reminded that, as we near the end of this age, the god of this world will have great wrath (Rev 12:12) and consequently so will evil men wax worse and worse (2Ti 3:11-13). The spiritual struggles within us are typified by this verse, “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over” (Mat 24:6-15).

2Ti 3:11  Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; [process of judgment upon the body of Christ represented by Antioch,  Iconium, and Lystra] what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 
2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 
2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8  All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
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 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Whoever will escape out the hand of the adversary has already been written, and Satan’s primary target is the elect as the accuser of the brethren so, “He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: (Mat 22:14, Heb 6:4-6,Mat 24:24) but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.” This statement reminds us that there are a few in their flesh who will be saved, and that salvation will be a narrow escape (1Pe 4:18). Who escapes in this life are those who go through a process of judgment in their flesh, typified by these three groups: “Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.“

(Daniel 11:40-45) The final conflict.

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.

At the time of the end: The angel described to Daniel a confederation of kings coming against this great leader, with a battle in and near the Holy Land.
King of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind: Prophetically speaking, a precise identification of peoples mentioned is difficult. The king of the Southmay be Egypt or represent the Arab community. The king of the North may be the Antichrist’s domain (as the “new Antiochus Epiphanes”) or it may be Russia.
The precise points may be cloudy, but the general idea is clear. The end will be marked by great conflict, culminating in the world’s armies gathering in the Promised Land to do final battle.

Yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him: In the end there is no hope for the Antichrist or for any of his followers.

Dan 11:42  He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
Dan 11:43  But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 
Dan 11:44  But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. 
Dan 11:45  And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

These last verses talk about what leads up to the final fall of Babylon, and what becomes very evident at the end of the age is found in Revelation 17:16; “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.”

Antiochus has power and stretches forth his hand “upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.” This describes the power the beast will have over all the corrupt treasures of Babylon and how it will be, over a course of time, that these judgements [3] will be executed upon the harlot, “the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps“, meaning they will be controlled by the beastly man of sin.

These are the typical events that unfold and set the stage for “tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.” Those tidings represent the imminent return of Christ and His Christ that trouble the man of perdition. The east represents where Christ comes from (Mat 24:27), and the north tells us that He is coming with judgment on his mind, which will be executed through the church (Rev 12:5, Rev 2:27).

Mat 24:27  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

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

Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Now we come to the glorious twelfth chapter of Daniel that points to how Christ will make the bride ready (Rev 21:2) through the strength of God’s power (Joh 17:12, Joh 10:28-29), preparing us to be kings and priests who will be raised incorruptible, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” (1Co 15:52).

Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Joh 17:12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Dan 9:1-27 Seventy Years in the Desolations of Jerusalem

[Study Aired April 25, 2024]

Dan 9:1  In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;
Dan 9:2  In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 
Dan 9:3  And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 
Dan 9:4  And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 
Dan 9:5  We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 
Dan 9:6  Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 
Dan 9:7  O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. 
Dan 9:8  O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. 
Dan 9:9  To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
Dan 9:10  Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 
Dan 9:11  Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
Dan 9:12  And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. 
Dan 9:13  As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. 
Dan 9:14  Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
Dan 9:15  And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 
Dan 9:16  O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
Dan 9:17  Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. 
Dan 9:18  O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. 
Dan 9:19  O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. 
Dan 9:20  And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;
Dan 9:21  Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 
Dan 9:22  And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 
Dan 9:23  At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. 
Dan 9:24  Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 
Dan 9:25  Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 
Dan 9:26  And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 
Dan 9:27  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. 

There are only two main sections to this ninth chapter of Daniel and two main points being made that we need to consider. The first section, which is the bulk of the chapter, is found in Daniel 9:1-23 which reveals what the power of prayer (Dan 9:3) can accomplish in our lives (Dan 9:3, Jas 5:16, Luk 2:37, Php 1:19). When we draw close to God, we are reminded that He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, and “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” (Psa 46:1-2).

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. 

Luk 2:37  And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day [Act 5:42].

Php 1:19  For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Daniel’s prayer came from a heartfelt, contrite, and broken spirit (Isa 66:2, Psa 51:17) and it was because of what he understood to be the condition of the nation that such a sighing and crying (Eze 9:4) to the Lord was made. It was “In the first year of his reign [King Darius] I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.”  It is in the day of the Lord, typified by the “first year” in this sentence, we recognize that judgment is upon us, the chastening and scourging by which every son of God is received (Heb 12:6), and it is accomplished in seventy years, a number that is connected to the plagues that must be poured out upon us (7×10=70) if we are going to enter into the temple of God (Rev 15:8).

The understanding and the effect on Daniel regarding what he read typifies for God’s elect how His word will be received in our lives (Rev 1:3) at this time of the end, when judgment is upon us, as we see a dying world around us where evil men are waxing worse and worse, causing us to sigh and cry for the abominations of this world, being vexed in our spirit (2Ti 3:13, 2Pe 2:7). We’ve become convinced that there is none righteous only one (Col 1:27, Rom 8:9, Php 1:11, Gal 2:20-21), and that what we see happening in this world tells us what would become of all of us except for the grace of God and the faith of Christ that makes it possible for us to remain undefiled from this world, ‘keeping our garments’ (Rev 3:4, Rev 16:15).

Rev 3:4  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

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.

The last section of Daniel chapter 9 has to do with how God is going to completely bring an end to our sins and make reconciliation for our iniquities, meaning us as the Israel of God (Gal 6:16) who are first judged in this life (1Pe 4:17). The confession of Daniel’s sins for himself and for the nation precede the judgment that is then revealed to him with prophetic words explaining how God plans to bring a complete and total end to sin in our lives, and in the lives of all mankind in time (2Sa 14:14). That is the principle point being made – the temple must be cleansed of the abomination that makes desolate, and that cleansing begins with the house of God: “that he would accomplish seventy years [complete and total] in the desolations of Jerusalem [Jerusalem typifying God’s people the Israel of God].”

Bringing an end to sin can only be accomplished by being buried into Christ’s death (Rom 6:3). Then through being raised in heavenly places (Joh 11:25-26, Eph 2:6), we can focus on our head, Jesus Christ (Heb 12:1-2, Rom 12:1-2) who is the way, the truth and the life to whom God has granted us to be dragged (Joh 6:44) in this age so we can be assured that we can overcome and endure to the end (Mat 10:22). 

Dan 9:1  In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; 
Dan 9:2  In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 
Dan 9:3  And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 
Dan 9:4  And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

We must set our face toward the Lord God (I set my face unto the Lord God) and seek Him with all our heart, mind and strength. In doing so we are reassured that we will find Him who is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Jer 29:13, Heb 11:6, Mat 6:33).

Our identifying with the reality that we are being judged in this age is being typified by Daniel who is now reading books that Jeremiah the prophet was inspired to write, and it is in the first year of king Darius’ reign that this occurs as a type of the day of the Lord unfolding in Daniel’s life.

As a type of the elect, Daniel is motivated like Noah and is moving with fear setting his ‘face unto the Lord God’, seeking him “by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.”

If we abase ourselves, it will be by God’s power as typified by the two witnesses who also are in “sackcloth” (Rev 11:3) and presenting their whole lives to God as a living sacrifice, which is what an acceptable fast is to God (Isa 58:5-7). With those actions unfolding in our lives, our “prayer and supplications” will be coming from a place of sincerity and from a foundation of good works that are laid up against the time to come (1Ti 6:19) and bear witness to our souls that we are His children being sacrificed for this world (Rom 8:16).

That prayer included a confession (Rom 2:4) and acknowledgement of God being “great and dreadful” and able to keep “the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments.” The keeping of the commandments is what the nation has not been doing. However, after God is done judging all nations, the “great and dreadful” God will accomplish what He has set out to do, and that is to save every soul through judgment (1Co 15:22, Isa 26:9).

Dan 9:5  We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 
Dan 9:6  Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

This section of scripture reminds us we serve a merciful God who forgives us for our sinful condition which commits iniquity and acts wickedly and departs “from thy precepts and from thy judgments.” This is our former conversation (Eph 2:3) that needs to be repented of and ruled over the rest of our lives through Christ. God is just showing us what is true for all who don’t have a new fleshly heart that has been written upon by our Lord (Eze 36:26). We will just naturally without the mind of Christ be those who have not “hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.”  Not listening to those whom God has given His word, like prophets of old or people in positions of authority, is expressed in these new covenant verses, and also typified for us in Moses’ life with Korah’s rebellion and all the congregation’s rebellion (2Pe 2:10-11, Num 16:3).

2Pe 2:10  But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 
2Pe 2:11  Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption [unless God grants repentance (1Ti 1:13)].

Num 16:3  And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

Dan 9:7  O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
Dan 9:8  O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. 
Dan 9:9  To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;

All of mankind is being indicted with this sentence, “to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee“, and it is only the righteousness of Christ that can wash away all our guilt and sinful condition setting us free from this state of “confusion of faces, as at this day.” No one is excluded from this state of mind described as “to us belongeth confusion of face“; not our kings, our princes or our fathers, “because we have sinned against thee” (Rom 3:23, Rom 6:23, Rom 5:12). The good news is “To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him.“

Dan 9:10  Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 
Dan 9:11  Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
Dan 9:12  And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. 

Daniel’s prayer is a universal confession that applies to all of mankind’s marred condition that naturally does not obey the voice of the LORD our God, or walk in His laws, or listen to the servants, the prophets (Jer 18:4).

Moses is introduced at this point in Daniel’s prayer because all of Israel, who represents the world, have transgressed the law and not obeyed the voice of Moses whose law and voice are a type of Christ’s law (Gal 6:2). As a result, “the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.” The carnal “law of Moses” (Heb 7:16) makes evident to us that we are marred in the Potter’s hand and in need of a savior to give us the power we need to keep “the law of the spirit of life” (Rom 7:7, Rom 7:13, Rom 8:2-3).

Rom 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Rom 7:13  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 
Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 

We are corrected for not being able to keep the law, “And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem“, which from a carnal perspective causes us to question God’s motives (Rom 9:19-20.

Rom 9:19  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 
Rom 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? [yes we will until we don’t, little and by little]

Dan 9:13  As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. 
Dan 9:14  Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
Dan 9:15  And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

If we only confess our iniquities, God will forgive us (1Jn 1:9, Lev 26:40). However, as we’re reading here, we don’t naturally even see our own iniquity let alone confess our faults to the Lord. It takes Aaron in us who is a type of Christ to “lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel” (Lev 16:21). God brings evil upon us for not obeying His voice and then declares “for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth.“ God is not unaware of our sinful state in other words and causes our sins knowing that we will need deliverance from “Egypt with a mighty hand” (Lev 16:21). He is glorified by the victory He gives to us over sin, not the other way around. “And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.“

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

Lev 26:40  If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 

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 [It is through our wilderness experience where we completely fall seven times (Pro 24:16) where God shows mercy to us so that we in turn will be able to extend that same mercy to the rest of the world (Rom 11:31, Rom 2:4)]: 

Dan 9:16  O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
Dan 9:17  Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. 
Dan 9:18  O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. 

The same point is reiterated here that “we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies“. What we do is cry out to God (Dan 9:16-17) and are heard in that we fear him (Heb 5:7-8, 1Jn 4:17).

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; 
Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

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.

Dan 9:19  O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. 
Dan 9:20  And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; 
Dan 9:21  Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 
Dan 9:22  And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 
Dan 9:23  At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

This verse is confirmation that our fervent prayers will avail much, and have availed, and are availing even with groanings that can’t be uttered (Rom 8:26-27), and all of this because of the strength of the Lord within us which gives us the ability to cry out and persevere in prayer (Col 4:2-6). 

Col 4:2  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Col 4:3  Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 
Col 4:4  That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 
Col 4:5  Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time [Mat 10:16]. 
Col 4:6  Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

God’s elect are called “by thy name” and Daniel confessing his sins and the sins of his people is typical of our confessing our faults in this age and covering a multitude of sins by being concerned and desirous of judging ourselves and showing love toward one another that will cover a multitude of sins (Jas 5:20). That multitude of sins, in the long run, is not just the sins of the body of Christ, but in time is the sins of the innumerable multitude (Rev 7:9) which will be covered by means God has devised to accomplish this through Christ and His elect (1Pe 4:8, Jas 5:20, 2Sa 14:14, Lev 16:21).

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.

Dan 9:24  Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 
Dan 9:25  Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 
Dan 9:26  And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Clearly the emphasis on this chapter of Daniel 9 is not on this last section but rather on our prayerful relationship with our Father in heaven and the need to confess our faults and remain in a spirit of humility (Mic 6:8) acknowledging His hand as the Sovereign force in every single detail of every life (Eph 1:11, Rom 8:28). If we are granted to have that relationship with our Father and Christ in this age (Joh 17:3), then what will transpire in us is typified by this statement, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy“, but we can’t have one without the other!

Jerusalem within us must be restored as the bride that is being made ready (Rev 19:7, Rev 21:2) coming down from God and the cleansing process for the bride of Christ is expressed with this verse, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.“

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

In order for that work to be accomplished within the elect there must be much tribulation (Act 14:22) which is expressed in the next verse, “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem [typifying Christ our Lord and savior who will also build the house (Psa 127:1) being the head of the church, Jerusalem above, the mother of us all (Gal 4:26)] unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times” (Dan 9:25). 

Regarding the numbers mentioned there are two principle points being made: one “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city” (Dan 9:24) a shadow of the complete [7×10=70] judgment that must come upon God’s elect in order to make the bride ready. 

The second part, “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off” (Dan 9:26), explains how the bride will be made ready, through a process of judgment upon our flesh represented by the numbers threescore (3×20=60) that first comes upon Christ, and then adding the two weeks is a witness that it is Christ in us who is accomplishing this work of grace within the body of Christ today. It all adds up to [62 weeks] which is also a witness to that same point that God judges both the head Christ and his body (1Pe 4:17, 1Jn 4:17) while in these vessels of clay (the number of man (6) and the witness of God’s power (2) that accomplishes this work)

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 

Christ is cut off in the middle of the week to remind us that there are still three and a half years of Christ’s ministry yet to be fulfilled in the lives of God’s elect who are witnesses of these things (Luk 24:48) expressed in these verses, thus completing His complete ministry of seven years, “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: (Col 1:27) and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.” (Mat 24:15)

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

Our forerunner and head Jesus Christ is the first to put off His flesh and it is for our sakes He does this, “but not for himself (Col 1:27).” It is in the 62nd week to remind us that Christ Himself could not have done this work without the holy spirit working within him (6 is the flesh of Christ, and 2 is the witness that of His own self He can do nothing, just as we can’t, except we abide in the Vine [Joh 5:30, Joh 15:5]).

As He is so are we in this world, and just as there were great tribulations in Christ’s life, it will be that way for His body (1Pe 4:12, Act 14:22) and especially at the end of the age, “and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.” The prince that came at the end of Christ’s life was Satan who is a destroyer [Apollyon^G623 ] (Joh 10:10, Rev 9:11, Luk 22:53, Joh 14:30), contrasted with these verses 1Jn 1:5, Mat 5:14), and it will be Satan at the end of this age as well who will make war with the saints in a more pronounced way, but will not prevail, “and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined” (Rev 12:12-17).  

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. 
Rev 12:13  And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
Rev 12:14  And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 
Rev 12:15  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 
Rev 12:16  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 
Rev 12:17  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 

Dan 9:27  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. 

This last verse is sobering to say the least, but in nothing should we be terrified (Php 1:28-29) but rather rejoice that God can tell us these things in advance knowing that He can and will deliver His children through all the tribulation of this life (Rom 5:10) and bring this manchild to term, as He did the head of the body Jesus Christ (Rev 12:5). 

The wickedness of man is only going to get worse, “and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Dan 9:18) is what God has determined will be poured out upon “the desolate” (Eze 12:19, 1Co 15:50, Rom 3:10) who represent Christ and God’s elect (Joh 15:18-21). These verses in Ezekiel (Eze 12:19-28) are an admonition to God’s people to not say our Lord delays His coming (Joh 4:35, Heb 10:37-38, Joh 10:28, Rev 3:11).

Eze 12:19  And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein. 
Eze 12:20  And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 

Dan 9:18  O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. 

Joh 15:20  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Joh 15:21  But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me (Joh 20:21, Joh 3:16-17).

Confirming the covenant with many for one week is what Satan is given the power to do, and this covenant is not a holy covenant but rather a changing of times and rules that will be bent to the elect’s seeming disadvantage and possible imprisonment, and even martyrdom in some cases, nothing more than what any one one of us can bear, God has promised (1Co 10:13). 

In Christ’s life the confirmation of the covenant for one week resulted in Christ’s death, “he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.” That worship of God is taken away and replaced by the abomination of desolation expressed this way, “and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate“.

Just prior to Christ warning His disciples of the impending trials they were going to face (Joh 15:18-21), He gave them this commandment, which is the way in which we are all going to overcome in this life (Joh 15:16-17). If we love one another, if we keep God’s commandments, He will take care of the rest of the details, and we don’t need to worry about a thing, not even what we will say in that hour (Mat 24:6,  Luk 21:18-19, Mar 13:11, Joh 10:28-30, Rom 8:35-39).

Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit (Joh 20:21, Joh 3:16-17), and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Joh 15:17  These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Mar 13:11  But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost (Mat 5:37). 

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 
Joh 10:30  I and my Father are one.

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 
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. 

Daniel 8:1-27  A vision appeared unto me

[Study Aired April 18, 2024]

Dan 8:1  In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. 
Dan 8:2  And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai. 
Dan 8:3  Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 
Dan 8:4  I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. 
Dan 8:5  And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 
Dan 8:6  And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. 
Dan 8:7  And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. 
Dan 8:8  Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. 
Dan 8:9  And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. 
Dan 8:10  And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. 
Dan 8:11  Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Dan 8:12  And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered. 
Dan 8:13  Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 
Dan 8:14  And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. 
Dan 8:15  And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. 
Dan 8:16  And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. 
Dan 8:17  So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
Dan 8:18  Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
Dan 8:19  And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. 
Dan 8:20  The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
Dan 8:21  And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 
Dan 8:22  Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
Dan 8:23  And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 
Dan 8:24  And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
Dan 8:25  And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Dan 8:26  And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. 
Dan 8:27  And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

In chapter 8 of the book of Daniel we will be given another breakdown of what was discussed in chapter 7 and see the-dream-is-one principle in play once again with these very parallel chapters (Gen 41:25). 

Gen 41:25  And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.

In chapter 7 it is in the first year of the reign of Belshazzar that Daniel had visions in his head upon his bed: and he told Nebuchadnezzar the sum of the matters of this dream. The vision Daniel had represents the day of the Lord, the gospel of Jesus Christ that declares all nations will be saved through judgment which will come upon each man in his own order (1Co 15:23). It is in the first year of Belshazzar’s reign, which represents the day of the Lord, that Daniel is given these powerful dreams of “four great beasts [that] came up from the sea, diverse one from another.”

Then in chapter 8, it is in “the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar” that this next vision comes to Daniel, and as the number reveals, it will be a vision that is centered around the process of judgment [3] that must unfold during the day of the Lord to which Daniel is witnessing, without comprehending the spiritual meaning of these very powerful dreams that caused him to faint and be sick for days (Dan 8:27).

Dan 8:27  And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

————————————————————

Dan 8:1  In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. 
Dan 8:2  And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai. 
Dan 8:3  Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 

What appeared to Daniel at first was the first vision of chapter 7, and so this vision of chapter 8 is  adding to the vision from chapter 7 and was written for the elect’s sake upon whom the ends of the ages are come (1Co 10:11). Daniel cannot stand any more than any other man without God’s spirit abiding in him (Rom 8:9), and chapter 8 points to how we can stand spiritually when we are given to trust in the Lord and stop believing that we contribute anything to our salvation (1Co 10:12). With that miracle of having God’s holy spirit within, we can labor to enter into that rest found in Christ, knowing that He will make a way for us to stand as described in 1 Corinthians 10:13.

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The vision that comes to pass finds Daniel “at Shushan^H7800 in the palace, which is in the province of Elam^H5867; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai^H195“, a place that represents Babylon where God is already preparing our hearts to ‘come out of her, my people’ through these visions He sets before us via His word which is a light to our path in this dark world (Psa 119:105, Pro 29:18). 

H7800 shûshan shoo-shan’

The same as H7799 = lily; Shushan, a place in Persia: – Shushan.

Total KJV occurrences: 21

H5867 ‛êylâm    ‛ôlâm ay-lawm’, o-lawm’

Probably from H5956 = to veil, to conceal; hidden, that is, distant; Elam, a son of Shem, and his descendants, with their country; also of six Israelites: – Elam.

Total KJV occurrences: 28

H195 ‘ûlay oo-lah’ee

Of Persian derivation; the Ulai (or Eulaeus), a river of Persia: – Ulai.

[BDB definition = my leaders (mighties)]

Total KJV occurrences: 2

This river Ulai [“my leaders“] does not represent the rivers of living waters God will eventually give to all men, but rather the waters of Babylon that need to be purified with the fiery judgment of God’s word. It is “at Shushan [“lily“] in the palace, which is in the province of Elam [“hidden“ or “veiled“] where we learn in time that there really is no stay of bread or water in Babylon, and so we do immediately lose our first love in this vast wilderness we all must go into at first to later come out of her as God’s people, the Israel of God (Gal 6:16).

It is when God opens our eyes to see the truth, symbolized by this statement, “Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw“, that we then begin to understand the vision of this ram by the river with “the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.” For Daniel, the interpretation will be given in time, but alas never the spiritual inward meaning of what these horns mean, seeing it was not written for his admonition but for the elect’s (1Pe 1:12).

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

There are two horns, two powers, being spoken of in Babylon with this imagery of a goat by the river. Two horns on the goat represent a witness [2] of Babylon, however the horn that comes up last is the prominent horn of mystery Babylon, the mother of harlots, in this age that has “waxed rich” (Rev 18:3, Rev 17:5). The smaller horn is the small beginnings of the churches of Asia which all forsook Paul in time where the mystery of iniquity was already at work back in that era (2Ti 1:15, 2Th 2:7-8). 

Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 

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

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:

That historical, outward, dispensational view is one way of looking at the horns. However, thinking of these horns inwardly, we are reminded of Christ’s words telling us that we must lose our horn, our ‘power’ in this life (Rev 18:4, Mar 10:21) if we are going to learn to trust solely on the Lord for our salvation. Having our hand and foot cut off symbolizes how we overcome the mystery of iniquity (2Th 2:7), which is our own righteousnesses that takes credit for works that are done with our hands and our feet (Mar 9:43-45, Pro 3:5-8, Isa 64:6, Eze 33:13).

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

Mar 10:21  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, [lose that horn, God willing] and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Mar 9:43  And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed [lose that horn, God willing], than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mar 9:44  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mar 9:45  And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: [lose that horn, God willing]  it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Dan 8:4  I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.

Mystery Babylon has become great, “but he did according to his will, and became great“, as another Jesus in name only (Isa 4:1) coming from the east as the true Christ would. However, this counterfeit Christ does the same (Mat 24:27). He pushes toward the west, the north and south and dominates the world scene with the mark of the beast, which is the number of a manG444 (Rev 13:18), so that mankind cannot buy or sell unless they have this number (Rev 16:2). That number represents our being yet in bondage to the powers and principalities of this world, represented by the goat, whose spirit works within mystery Babylon, and to this day tries to take the kingdom by force, pushing westward, northward and southward as we read in Revelation 13:11-2 and Matthew 11:12. Saying, “neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand“, is just another way of saying “who is able to make war with him?” of Revelation 13:4.

Mat 11:12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Dan 8:5  And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

The “he goat” that comes from the west represents the powers and principalities we wrestle against in our heavens that “touched not the ground” (Eph 6:12). It comes from the west in the opposite direction of Christ (Mat 24:27), opposing the truth, and this goat “had a notable horn between his eyes” representing the fourth empire (Dan 7:23), the fourth horn of Daniel 7:20, as well as the feet of miry clay and iron of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue in his dream (Dan 2:43), and the fourth interpretation of Daniel’s dream of the most fierce of all the differing beasts (Dan 7:19) that are revealed to be the same composite beast spoken of in Revelation chapter 13. This he goat, as we saw in chapter 7, has power to overtake the “the whole earth” and will prevail against the elect but not overcome them, because the horn [Christ’s power (Col 1:27, Rom 8:9)] that is in the elect is greater than him who is in the world (1Jn 4:4). This “notable horn” is used by the Lord as a spirit sent to try the patience and faith of the saints in this life, and especially at the end of our age in these marred vessels of clay (2Th 1:4, 1Ti 6:11, Jas 1:3, Rev 13:10, Rev 14:12).

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Dan 8:6  And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. 
Dan 8:7  And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. 

This goat with the notable horn represents the beast that will make war against the harlot church and burn her with fire of Revelation 17:16-18. The goat “ran unto him in the fury of his power” with the intention of taking away the two horns of the ram that represent the ram’s power. The power of the church is taken away at the end of the age, as the beast rules over the harlot being bitterly enraged against her, “and he was moved with choler.” The stamping that this goat with the notable horn does is the same terminology describing the fourth beast or fourth empire in Daniel 7:23 that is also represented by the statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream which was mixed part of iron and part of miry clay (Dan 2:43).

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.

Dan 7:23  Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

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 8:8  Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken;

The he goat represents the fourth empire that waxes great, and in his strength he breaks the great horn of Babylon the great in one hour (Rev 18:2).

Rev 18:1  And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

God’s elect are admonished with these following verses of Revelation 18:3-4 as these outward events of the falling of Babylon unfold.

Rev 18:3  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 
Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. [her plagues (Rev 17:16-17)]

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

These next two verses start to describe the attack that the beast will have on the churches of Babylon, and tells us it will “cast down of the host and of the stars“, which stars represent the false ministers, or messengers which are angels that will be brought down “to the ground, and stamped upon them” (Mar 13:25), meaning their supposed salty words have been proven to have no lasting savour and are now being trodden under foot by men (Mat 5:13-14).

Mar 13:25  And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

Mat 5:13  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Dan 8:11  Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Dan 8:12  And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

These end-time events of Daniel 8:11-12 are expressed in Daniel 7:25 as a changing of times, and represents the abomination of desolation being set up in the temple of God, which is the transgression this goat inflicts upon Mystery Babylon (Mar 13:14). The he goat is a healthy complete beast magnifying itself, “he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.” What he does is exalt himself and tear down “the prince of the host” who represents the religious elite at the end of this age. The sanctuary being cast down means that Babylon will no longer have any power or authority as it once had in the earth, and all of these events herald the end of this age and the return of our Lord and Savior (Mat 24:4-51).

Dan 7:25  And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mat 24:16  Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: [Psa 121:1-2]
Mat 24:17  Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

Dan 8:13  Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 

The “transgression of desolation” typifies the abomination of desolation spoken of in Mark 13:14, and the answer to this question of ‘how long’, is answered for us in Revelation 6:10. It is also found in Daniel 7:25 where we’re told how long the saints must endure in order to be saved at the end of this trying and testing time, where we’re told, “and he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time” (Dan 7:25). The inward application of these events has been true for every Christian since Pentecost, however there is an outward end time event as well that we are looking at.

Mar 13:14  But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: [Psa 121:1-2]

Rev 6:10  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 

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

The numbers in God’s word mean what they mean and not what they say, and “until a time and times and the dividing of time” of Daniel 7:25 is the same as the “two thousand three hundred days” of Daniel 8:14. The three and a half years represents the time of Christ’s ministry within the body of Christ that is accomplished by grace through faith, which is represented by the numbers 2300 days. The 2+3 adding to 5 represents grace. The number two (2) is the witness of Christ’s life within us Who makes it possible for us to go through the process of judgment in this life (1Pe 4:17), represented by the number three (3).

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

This man’s voice represents the angels or messengers of God that the elect are to each other. It is by the church that the manifest knowledge of God is made known represented by “the appearance of a man” and “a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision” (Heb 10:24-25).

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

As was discussed in chapter 7, Daniel is given the physical interpretation of the vision, but not the spiritual inward meaning, which is reserved for those to whom he prophesied, the elect (1Pe 1:12). There is fear associated with not knowing “and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face“, but when God’s spirit enters into the elect, the comforter leads us into all truth (Joh 16:13, Joh 8:31-32). His love is shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5), so that fear is pushed away, and the torment is overcome through Christ (1Jn 4:17-18). The body of Christ prays and helps each other in that regard with our fervent prayers which avail to that end (Jas 5:15-16).

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

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. 
1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Jas 5:15  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 
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.

Dan 8:18  Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. 
Dan 8:19  And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.

Daniel is like one of the ten virgins being woken from his deep sleep and typifies how we must trim our lamps in order to know what shall be “at the time appointed the end” (Mat 25:7, Eph 4:31).

Mat 25:7  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: [trimmed their lamps]
Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you [the fruit of the spirit produced through a trimmed lamp].

Dan 8:20  The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
Dan 8:21  And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 
Dan 8:22  Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. 
Dan 8:23  And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 
Dan 8:24  And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

In this section of Daniel, we are being given another rundown of the statue of Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 2 of the book of Daniel, starting with “The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia” that represents the Medo-Persian empire. Then “the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king“, which represents the Grecian empire whose power and influence upon the world is described this way: “and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.” The last part of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue is represented by the fourth empire which will be the most dominant of all the empires. “Now that being broken (the third empire broken by the forth), whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.” This empire that represents the end of the age for mankind has taken on an evil power that exceeds all the other empires, and so it is expressed “but not in his power“, meaning not as the other empires ruled. This represents the time when God will send forth evil spirits that will be given power to dominate all the kingdoms of this world, making it possible for the sins of the Amorites to reach their fullness (Gen 15:16), “when the transgressors are come to the full” (Rev 16:12-14, Rev 16:15).

Gen 15:16  But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. 

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 [this represents Babylon falling]. 
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. [this represents the spiritual powers that are going to come up against mystery Babylon]
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.

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

The policy^H7922 [man’s wisdom (1Co 2:5)] of this evil time fast approaching us is already being implemented as we speak, being enforced, “through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many.“

Policy H7922 seh’-kel, say’-kel

From ^H7919; intelligence; by implication success: – discretion knowledge policy prudence sense understanding wisdom wise.

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 

There are “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”  because there is a process of ungodly judgment [3] that must unfold in order to set the stage just prior to the appearing of Christ and the elect. He destroys many by saying ‘peace and safety’, “and by peace shall destroy many“, “then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1Th 5:3).

The “through his policy” is another way of saying what we read of in Daniel 7:25. 

Dan 7:25  And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws [“through his policy” man’s wisdom (1Co 2:5)]: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time [1260 days].

The fruit of this age is also revealed in this verse (Dan 8:25), where we’re told that the craft which represents the powers and lying wonders of the devil will abound at the end of the age (2Ti 3:1, 2Ti 3:13), empowering the stout, ‘I am a god sitting in the temple of God’, the spirit of the man of perdition who is on the throne of mankind’s heart, who says his ways will bring peace, when in reality they will only bring destruction. Even this is the spirit of this age that is the spirit of antiChrist that “shall also stand up against the Prince of princes” against Christ and His Christ (Mat 10:22, 1Jn 2:18, 1Jn 2:2, 1Jn 4:3, 2Jn 1:7-8).

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.

1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 

Dan 8:26  And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. 

Daniel is told that this vision is true, and the vision is all about the new creation which is going to be formed through judgment, a vision that is “of the evening and the morning which was told is true“ just as the creation story that typifies the creation of the new creature formed in Christ “which was told is true.” Like Daniel, who typifies the patience and faith of the saints, the elect must wait patiently for it, “for it shall be for many days“; many days that in reality are a mist from God’s perspective as He, Lord willing, matures us in this life so we can possess our souls patiently and endure to the end (Gen 1:5, Gen 1:8, Gen 1:13, Gen 1:19, Gen 1:23, Gen 1:31, Heb 10:37, Luk 21:19).

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

Gen 1:8  And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. 

Gen 1:13  And the evening and the morning were the third day.

Gen 1:19  And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 

Gen 1:23  And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

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

Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 

Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

Dan 8:27  And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

Daniel was astonished at the vision and at the interpretation of the words so much so that he fainted and was sick for a period of time. This typifies for God’s elect how the word is sweet in our mouth but bitter in our bellies causing us to faint and be sick as we can’t rise up and run with horses as Elijah was told he must do (1Ki 18:46). In time he did and in time so did Daniel rise up as a type of the elect who “was astonished at the vision, but none understood it“, typifying how God’s elect are astonished at what God has given us eyes to see and ears to hear what none of the prophets of old understood (Mat 13:17).

1Ki 18:46  And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

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

[Posted January 31, 2024]

The elders deliberated on whether Jephthah offered his daughter for a burnt offering or not. In the final analysis, the elders reached a consensus that Jephthah did not offer his daughter for a burnt offering but that the vow was in relation to her virginity. Now let’s take a look at the verses of scripture about Jephthah’s vow and related events.

Jdg 11:29  Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon. 
Jdg 11:30  And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, 
Jdg 11:31  Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
Jdg 11:32  So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.
Jdg 11:33  And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. 
Jdg 11:34  And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. 
Jdg 11:35  And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back. 
Jdg 11:36  And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon. 
Jdg 11:37  And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.
Jdg 11:38  And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. 
Jdg 11:39  And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel, 
Jdg 11:40  That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

From the account given, the vow Jephthah made was in relation to the virginity of his daughter since all Israel were aware of the abomination of a human sacrifice, and therefore, he could not have said that whosoever comes out of his house shall be offered for a burnt offering. We know that animals do not come out to welcome people and so Jephthah was aware that it was a human being who would come out to welcome him. A human sacrifice was therefore not on his mind since it was an abomination in Israel. Apart from this, a burnt offering must be offered with assistance from a priest, and no priest would consider carrying out this abomination. The King James version of the Bible gave a poor rendition of verse 30 by saying that whatever comes out of Jephthah’s house to meet him shall be offered as a burnt offering.

Jdg 11:31  then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.”

The original manuscript does not have the underlined words. This implies that Jephthah was going to dedicate whatever comes out of his house to the Lord and after that offer a burnt offering to the Lord.

Another proof that Jephthah did not offer his daughter as a burnt offering can be gleaned from the response of the daughters of Israel as they made it a custom to celebrate Jephthah’s daughter four days in a year. If what took place was a human sacrifice, which was an abomination, the daughters of Israel would not even dream of having it as a custom.

Jdg 11:40  That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

Again, King James’ use of the word “lament” in verse 40 is misleading as it suggests that the custom was about weeping for this unfortunate incident – human sacrifice. However, there are fewer versions of the Bible that use the word “celebrate” instead of lament. The celebration was for the daughter’s decision to remain chaste or virgin for the Lord.

Jdg 11:40  that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year. (ASV)

Jdg 11:40  that for four days every year the girls in Israel would go out to sing the praises of the daughter of Jephthah, the man from Gilead. (GW)

All the elders came to the consensus that Jephthah did not offer a human sacrifice of his daughter but that the daughter was dedicated to the Lord, which necessitated that she remain a virgin for the rest of her life. In addition to devoting her daughter wholly to the Lord, additionally he offered a burnt offering. 

… is the impenetrable conviction of living the mind of Christ

[Study Aired December 16, 2023]

The last study, Part 9, “An Answering Conscience”, finished by highlighting the Father, Christ, Christ’s Bride, and saved humanity collectively identified as the heavenly Jerusalem, the City of God symbolically made of precious stones, crystal and gold. Anyone who is defiled, meaning in their time and age having not yet been clothed in Christ, cannot be a precious element in the construction of the New Jerusalem until he can “answer” with a “pure conscience” of faithfully keeping all the commandments of Christ. Of course, and especially to a Babylonian Christian, that requirement is an absurd impossibility without the knowledge that it is our Lord’s righteousness attributed to us as righteousness when we utterly, and with a pure conscience, believe faithfully with an unfeigned heart just where our heart resides ~ with Him, or covertly with the impure conscience of an idol of our heart.

What is a “pure conscience”, and how do we attain it?

The term “pure” is first used in Exodus 2:11 and is God’s command through Moses to make the Ark of the Covenant of shittim wood overlaid with pure gold. The Ark represents Christ, our Lord, who is symbolised as pure gold. However, residing within him and the continuing creation of God is a corruptible man, represented as shittim wood overlaid by Christ, man’s crown of glory. This is the beginning of the creation of God, after which corruptible man will torturously be refined in the fire to become Christ, figuratively birthed by him and represented as He is, pure gold.

Exo 25:10  And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. 
Exo 25:11  And thou shalt overlay it with pure [H2889] gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.

Pure H2889 – 1. pure, clean a. clean (ceremonially – of animals) b. pure (physically) c. pure, clean (morally, ethically)

The term pure is primarily related to being physically clean or unclean, which represents the reality of its spiritual counterpart. The term “unclean” is mentioned in Scripture 194 times and “clean” 133 times, and its inward character for an Elect to be a joint in the Bride of Christ for the First Resurrection is dependent upon him being ‘pure’. Of course, as with almost all root terms, they have several terms with the same meaning, and for the expression, pure, defile is one. Speaking of the New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ,

Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth [G2840 – 1. to make common a. to make (Levitically) unclean, render unhallowed, defile, profane b. to declare or count unclean], neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Being spiritually pure is our Lord’s commanded requirement to attain eternal life in one of the two resurrections, with the First Resurrection being the most holy.

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

As stated in this study’s opening paragraph, Babylonian Christianity sees God’s requirement for everyone to become pure gold as an absurd unattainability, so they adjust the Lord’s commands to make them, in their image, achievable.

Eze 16:15  But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was. 
Eze 16:16  And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.
Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,
Eze 16:18  And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them.

However, the Elect of God has been given a way to escape from the corruption of the heavenly and replace that shittim wood with the pure gold of Christ. They are overjoyed to first be given eyes that see and ears that hear, where the Babylonian sense of hopelessness of attaining the seemingly unattainable credentials of the Lord leaves them in despair and lowering the bar of eternal life for their achievability.

The Elect of God eagerly run forward towards the purifying fire by faith, beginning with Abraham and continuing with all the examples of the Godly men and women of old until this very day. The Bride of Christ doesn’t fear the cold, the night, war, famines, disease, or abandonment of family and friends because they are given to lay hold of that crown of righteousness that guarantees Christ’s workmanship without any sweat of our own. It all is the process of Christ’s faith in us counted as our righteousness.

Psa 8:3  When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 
Psa 8:4  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 
Psa 8:5  For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour [predestined him to be crowned and overlaid with Christ ~ pure gold].
Psa 8:6  Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: [beginning with Christ and His Christs]

Gen 15:3  And Abram said, Behold, You have given no seed to me. And behold, one born in my house is my heir.
Gen 15:4  And behold, the Word of Jehovah came to him saying, This one shall not be your heir. But he that shall come forth out of your own bowels shall be your heir.
Gen 15:5  And He brought him outside and said, Look now toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them. And He said to him, So shall your seed be.
Gen 15:6  And he believed [faith!] in Jehovah. And He counted it to him for righteousness.

Following is an account of Abraham further being justified by faith…

Rom 4:19  And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 
Rom 4:20  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Rom 4:21  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Rom 4:22  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Rom 4:23  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 
Rom 4:24  But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Rom 4:25  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

So, there it is! Even though our sins are scarlet, through our God-given faith, even while accounting for sin (not accountable), we are incredibly blessed by being ‘imputed for righteousness’; that IS the glorious imputation and peace of a “pure conscience!”

It is in this age since the cross that Christ’s Bride is the first to be given “the impenetrable conviction of living the mind of Christ”; a pure conscience and thus save her brothers and sisters of the World, subsequently beginning with their indictment without the holy spirit in the One Thousand Years, and finally the agonising gain and conviction of a pure conscience in the Resurrection to Judgment.

Upon the Lord’s very Elect being dragged to Christ, Mike has frequently said, “If we understand the meaning of marriage, we will understand the Bible”, meaning that we will see all the phenomenal spiritual connections between our physical marriages and our marriage to Christ and immense honor and respect of the Father.

Our Lord is teaching and creating His Bride to have a pure conscience toward God through Him. Although He requires from her pure gold, it is her faithfulness in and by him that is the superstructure of the Temple she is and is more precious than fine gold ~ though faithfulness is paradoxically represented as gold.

As the Body of Christ has painfully learned in past years, if everything is spiritualised, then that would make the Temple worth more than the gold of God’s word that created the Temple which we are; effectively making the created greater than the creator.

Rom 1:24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 
Rom 1:25  Who changed the truth of God [His gold, His Word] into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature [the Temple] more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 

Mat 23:17  Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies [G37 – 1. to render or acknowledge [the gold], or to be venerable or hallow 2. to separate from profane things and dedicate to God a. consecrate things to God. From G 40 – 1. most holy thing, a saint G53 – 1. exciting reverence, venerable, sacred 2. pure a. pure from carnality, chaste, modest b. pure from every fault, immaculate c. clean] the gold? 

Mat 5:21  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 
Mat 5:22  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, [empty, senseless, empty-headed man] shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool [G3474], shall be in danger of hell fire.

Fool G3474 – – Transliteration: Moros
– Phonetic: mo-ros’
– Definition: 

1. foolish 
2. impious, Godless

What comes to mind from the Greek word Moros in contemporary language is to call someone a moron, meaning a fool or idiot. Jesus was undoubtedly referring to the Pharisees’ stark alarm of having their evil-seared conscience exposed for losing control over the laity. Their power is represented by their ‘gold’ remaining entrenched in the increasingly contorted covenant from Mt. Sinai.

It is unlikely, yet highly comforting and humiliating if we were called a “fool” by anyone, particularly an Elder, a person of God-given honor and respect. It is most unlikely that Jesus used the term “fool” purely for a derogatory effect, especially since he inspired scripture to condemn anyone for calling his brother a “fool.”

Jesus is not indicting the Pharisees to be accountable for their deliberate foolishness; He is censuring them for not giving an account of their deliberate craftiness of avoiding the truth; similarly, in the account of their dragging the woman caught in adultery to Him for a satisfying stoning and thus foolishly believing that they can snare Jesus by the Law of Moses. We, indeed, are foolish Pharisees if we believe we can trap our Lord with our ‘gold’ of self-righteousness. Besides, the Lord can do with His own creation as He wishes, and if it means we must learn by being humiliated by Him in being called a “fool”, it is a day of wonderful learning.

The old adage that ‘money is power’ is true, and some serious doubts remain that Mayer Amschel Rothschild coined the following quote, “Permit me to issue and control the money of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws!” rings true. Gold is power, both physically and spiritually, and the Jewish Pharisees within us covertly protect that power. Since it is our Lord who does the evil in the city, which we are, we are calling Him a “fool” if we give a brother that contemptible label.

1Ti 6:9  But those who have a desire for wealth are falling into danger, and are taken as in a net by a number of foolish and damaging desires, through which men are overtaken by death and destruction.
1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is a root of all evil: and some whose hearts were fixed on it have been turned away from the faith, and been wounded with unnumbered sorrows.

There are two types of gold. In the negative, the Pharisees and we, in our time, are terrified that we would lose our iron-fisted power, represented by the spiritual gold of self-righteousness. God owns all the gold, and in the positive aspect, He is creating in His Elect the faithfulness of His word of incorruptible spiritual gold. 

The answer to Mat 23:7 is the Temple that our new spiritual bodies represent is more precious than the former glory of the old gold of the Law of Moses. The irony is that the Temple we are is being made of pure spiritual gold. If we are made allegorically of pure gold, we are imbued with a “pure conscience” in ALL the commandments of Christ!

Isa 13:12  I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

It is the process we endure to become the pure gold of faithfulness paradoxically worth more than fine gold. (No wonder our former Babylonian Christian selves couldn’t grasp the Lord’s parables.) Our Lord shook the Pharisees’ heavens mostly to no avail, but to us it is given to feel the earthquake and see the heavenly things for our understanding and formation of a pure conscience.

To further complicate the paradox of which is greater – the gold or the temple – the Jews today in the re-established counterfeit holy land in Palestine are determined to rebuild a temple on the original temple mount. Nothing is more sacred to the Jews to outwardly substantiate their illusory power than a physical temple proudly standing on the temple mount in Jerusalem. Almost all of Zionist Christianity supports that unwitting delusion since they, as the Apostles and we have been, could mostly only perceive the physical establishment of God’s Kingdom being instigated by our former immutable belief that salvation is of the (physical) Jews; they don’t understand and thus dismiss the next verses.

Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Gal 4:21  Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 
Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 
Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to [old] Jerusalem which now is, and is [remains] in bondage with her children.

BOTH, including their children, are in bondage while believing that salvation is by works, and, for the Jews, that salvation is by the ethnicity of being a Jew inclusive of works.

If we worship in spirit and in truth, we are dyed with a ‘pure conscience’.

Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnessar’s terrifying dream of a mighty statue saw its head made of pure gold. The statue’s spiritual meaning represents God as our head in the creation of God, where He is in the process of recreating man in His image. We are already joined to Him with a breast and arms of silver, a belly and thighs of bronze (copper), legs of iron and feet partly iron and clay. The recreation of God begins with the head and flows downwards until the entire Body of Christ is spirit, as God is spirit, represented as pure gold.

Dan 2:31  You, O king, were seeing. And, behold! A great image! That great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before you. And its form was dreadful.
Dan 2:32  This image’s head was of fine gold; his breast and his arms were of silver; his belly and his thighs were of bronze;
Dan 2:33  his legs were of iron; his feet were part of iron and part of clay. 
Dan 2:34  You watched until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image upon its feet which were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces. 
Dan 2:35  Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken to pieces together. And they became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors. And the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Christ is that stone that strikes Nebuchadnessar’s bold image of the Beast we are, sitting in the Temple of God, unwittingly and proudly stating that we are God, forgetting that we are merely clay.

Hag 2:6  For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 
Hag 2:7  And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. 
Hag 2:8  The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
Hag 2:9  The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, [The spiritual Temple is greater than the gold!] saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

In the following two verses, the Son and the Father are stating their plan of the process of creating man in the Godhead’s image, first of inferior elements of the earth collectively called clay.

Nebuchadnessar’s image is made of refined elements extracted from the earth, represented as “clay”. The prototype of God composed of elements that are inferior and subject to decay are designed to be smashed to shivers and blown away in the summer wind to humble their creation, after which the man will be recreated in the purity of spirit that God exists and is symbolised by gold.

Gen 1:26 And saying is the Elohim, “Make will We humanity in Our image, and according to Our likeness [for the moment made of clay, but with great admiration (wonder) being made a Temple of pure gold], and sway shall they over the fish of the sea, and over the flyer of the heavens, and over the beast, and over all land life, and over every moving animal moving on the land.
Gen 1:27 And creating is the Elohim humanity in His image. In the image of the Elohim He creates it. Male and female He creates them. (CLV)

Rev 3:14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Joh 10:34  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

Rom 8:19 For the premonition of the creation is awaiting the unveiling of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For to vanity was the creation subjected, not voluntarily, but because of Him Who subjects it, in expectation”
Rom 8:21 that the creation itself, also, shall be freed from the slavery of corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”

Mat 19:16  And behold, one came and said to Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17  And He said to him, Why do you call Me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.

We, being depicted as the rich young man in Matthew 19, came to Christ and, at different times in our lives, innocently and deceitfully, ingratiated him with the term “good Master.” Jesus, while clothed in sinful flesh, educated us that the flesh of which he was composed is definitely not ‘good.’ So, and in a similar capacity, we, in the same evil flesh as He, can have a “good conscience”, all the while knowing that we are forgiven beforehand because the spirit of a ‘good conscience’ knows that while aware that we are evil flesh, our authentic mission is not to sin. Pure gold symbolises our God-given lust for the precious substance, whereas a “pure conscience” identifies our unswerving dedication of faithfulness in the pursuit of gold. Conversely, an impure conscience is the equivalence of ‘the Whore’ and her apathy to be spiritually aroused by her Husband.

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has regenerated us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4  to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in Heaven for you
1Pe 1:5  by the power of God, having been kept through faith to a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time; 
1Pe 1:6  in which you greatly rejoice, yet a little while, if need be, grieving in manifold temptations;
1Pe 1:7  so that the trial of your faith (being much more precious than that of gold that perishes, but being proven through fire) might be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
1Pe 1:8  whom having not seen, you love; in whom not yet seeing, but believing in Him you exult with unspeakable joy, and having been glorified, 
1Pe 1:9  obtaining the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Although the Lord will only suffer us being made of pure gold, it is His faith given to us that supersedes the beauty of gold. The gold, precious stones, crystal and twelve gates of the Heavenly Jerusalem, each being made of a single pearl, all symbolise the unspeakable beauty of our Lord’s Wife and her Children subsequently flowing in and out of her.

As with the Temple that we are, being created in Christ’s image, the trial of our faith is what He is seeking ~ settling for unrefined ‘good’ gold suggests slothfulness and is barely enough for us to be in the Kingdom of God. Any remaining dross or impurity in our ‘good gold’ will not be counted against us since the Lord knows the spirit and intent of our “good conscience” which He is creating and is described as a “pure heart.”

1Ti 1:5  Now the end of the commandment [any matter] is charity out of a pure heart, and of a [resulting in a…] good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

The second occurrence of the term “good conscience” that exists in scripture is the qualifications for the selection of Elders. Again, even Elders, being made of the same evil flesh as Jesus, are subject to sin. The Lord saw His creation and said it was “good”, not pure. In the same vein, Elders and indeed the Body of Christ are being made “pure” even while in that wretched evil flesh we lament as good for now. 

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

Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the [paradoxically good] body of this death?
Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord [in the process of creating me pure]. So then with the mind I myself [aim by His strength to] serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

1Ti 3:8  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued [that should instantly sting him with a “convicting/evil/defiled conscience”], not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre [their gold of self-righteousness containing the laity and fearful of losing Pharisaical power]; 
1Ti 3:9  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

How does anyone in the Body of Christ hold the mystery of faith in a pure conscience? By knowing he is subject to sin, yet being instant in prayer (Rom 12:12) for Christ’s strength to rebuke with a trumpet blast the evil approaching his city within. That intentional dynamic impulse results in the peace of a “pure conscience”.

A pure conscience is the resultant peace of spiritual perfection, so how do we attain perfection?

Only two cases where the words “pure conscience” are together; however, there are many inferences of a good conscience (1Ti 3:9).

For the Elect of God, the mystery of faith is a rapidly fading mystery when we are dedicated to pursuing Him with all our heart, and that action results in a pure conscience upon immutably knowing and ‘remembering’ our dedication to keeping all our Lord’s commandments.

2Ti 1:3  I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 

Christ’s spirit bearing witness with His spirit within us is the result of a pure conscience.

There are hundreds of scriptural accounts depicting a pure conscience. One last distinction that I cannot resist is Jephthah’s tragic vow, which, for brevity’s sake, can be read in Judges 11:29-40. Both Jephthah and his only child, his (unnamed) daughter’s dedication to acting with a pure conscience is exemplary. Neither gave a thought to “accusing or excusing” their or the other’s conscience (Rom 2:15). Jephthah vowed to the Lord that if he was given the defeat of the children of Ammon, he would sacrifice the first person to come forth through his door to meet him upon his victorious return. Of course, in his haste and focus on acquiring the Lord’s blessing and inevitable celebration of victory, Jephthah didn’t diligently envision the possible sequence of events that would present his offering. To his earth-shattering horror, it was his precious daughter who first came forth to meet him.

Jephthah’s sacrifice wasn’t a physical blood human sacrifice of his cherished daughter that the heathen were accustomed to, which the Lord sternly prohibited Israel from copying. She represents the Bride of Christ, who likewise is symbolically sacrificed in the morning as literally Christ was before the other beasts came forth from the barn of the World and painstakingly learn to acknowledge their sins in the Lake of Fire. 

The face value written on the account doesn’t directly state that Jephthah sacrificed his daughter as the Law required with his expectation that, in all likelihood, by the Lord’s choosing, a person of great value would come forth as the sacrifice ~ ironically, it did!

Jdg 11:37  And she said unto her Father, Let this thing [the sacrifice] be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity [not impending sacrificial death], I and my fellows.
Jdg 11:38  And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. 

Just as Japhthah’s daughter bewailed her virginity for two months, the Bride of Christ is a witness (number 2) dedicated to the world and is being created with a ‘pure conscience’ of her virginity. Her virginity is the result of her Father’s vow, and she is now a superb example of keeping that vow. Similarly with Hannah’s “shut up womb” in 1 Samuel 1, Jephthah’s daughter’s womb is with her pure conscience, sealed with a vow just as our Father for this age has figuratively sealed and made “desolate” our womb while dedicated to our Lord. The Lord’s Elect are first out of the world’s doors before her children, and she is first under Christ to be sacrificed, ‘bewailing’ (Jdg 11:37) upon the mountains of the World in waiting to bring forth her children’s sacrifice in the form of the Lake of Fire.

Isa 54:1  Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife [Babylonian Christianity], saith the LORD. 
Isa 54:2  Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; 
Isa 54:3  For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 
Isa 54:4  Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

Being given a pure conscience, the Lord’s Elect are being made pure and continue to abandon the desires and lusts of the flesh.

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

As I’ve previously stated, throw a dart at scripture, and you can weave a study using any biblical term as a starting point to which this study attests. As we have seen in this study on a “Pure Conscience”, that doctrine, as with every other scripture and doctrine of Christ, can be interwoven in the Temple of God, the Bride of Christ, her every joint perfectly fitted together.

God-given spiritual understanding is our Lord’s poetry communicated to the World but not understood. The poet T.S. Eliot, like Solomon, came so close to understanding the spirit of all things but irksomely remained “black” to Christ’s spirit of understanding. T.S. Eliot said, and I quote, “Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.”… think about that; to the Elect of God, it is eventually seeing spiritually that which results in an earth-shattering “pure conscience” in all things.

The Book of Romans, Part 20 – God’s Love

[Study Aired November 28, 2023]

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 
Rom 8:36 As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 
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. 

In our last study of Romans 8:19-30, the focal point was the transformation from suffering, which is orchestrated by God, to glorification.  The study emphasized the truth that the hardships experienced as believers are not aimless; rather, they are integral components of God’s plan of salvation. The redemptive narrative unfolds as God, in His great wisdom, transforms the groans of creation and the trials of His children into instruments of glory. 

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

Romans 8:28 serves as a beacon, assuring that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose, showcasing the transformation of suffering into glory. As believers, we find encouragement in knowing that our present struggles, intricately woven into God’s grand plan, are not in vain but rather a pivotal part leading to the manifestation of His glory within us, becoming a source of hope that anchors our faith amid life’s challenges.

 In Romans 8:31-39, we continue the journey through the writings of the Apostle Paul that resonate with a triumphant declaration of God’s unwavering love and the unshakable security found in our relationship with Him. These verses represent a peak of certainty and confidence, urging us to think about how deeply God cares for us and the unwavering connection He forms with His children. As we explore this passage, we’ll discover a divine proclamation that transcends the challenges of life, offering a greater understanding of the inseparable connection between God’s love and our ultimate triumph over any adversary. 

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

Within the verses of Romans 8:31-33, a resounding declaration of God’s unwavering love and the triumphant victory secured through Christ’s sacrifice echoes. The opening statement in verse 31 boldly asserts the unquestionable nature of God’s support for believers. This affirmation transcends words, representing a profound truth anchored in the unchanging character of God. The reassurance is clear: if God is for us, no force can stand against us.

In verses 32-33, the focus shifts to the immeasurable gift of Christ’s sacrifice. He did not withhold His own Son but delivered Him up for the redemption of mankind. The imagery emphasizes the completeness and effectiveness of Christ’s atonement, leading to a triumphant victory over sin and death.

These verses show a love so profound that God willingly sacrificed the most precious, His Son, for our sake. The rhetorical question in verse 33 underscores the divine justification of the elect, highlighting that no accusation or charge can stand against those who are in Christ.

Psalm 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

In the above  verses, we find encouragement in the thoroughness of God’s plan for our redemption. The profound love revealed through Christ’s sacrifice ensures an unwavering victory, providing us with a justification that exceeds any worldly accusation. These truths serve as foundational pillars, instilling in us enduring confidence in God’s unwavering love and the triumphant sacrifice of Christ on our behalf.

When we look closely at Romans 8:34, a deep revelation comes to light. The verse declares:

Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

This declaration corresponds with Old Testament types and shadow. In the Old Testament, the sacrificial system symbolized the temporary covering of sins, foreshadowing the ultimate atonement accomplished by Christ’s death. Leviticus 16:11-14 provides a glimpse of this typology, depicting the high priest’s actions on the Day of Atonement.

Leviticus 16:11-14 And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil: And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not: And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.

Transitioning to the New Testament, the book of Hebrews illuminates the fulfillment of this Old Testament shadow in Christ’s continuing work. Hebrews 9:24-28 draws a parallel between the earthly sanctuary and Christ’s heavenly ministry, highlighting the once-and-for-all sacrifice that negates condemnation for believers.

Hebrews 9:24-28 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world (kosmos): but now once in the end of the world (aion) hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So, Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

These verses together unveil a comprehensive narrative of Christ’s plan of salvation, bridging the Old and New Testaments to illustrate the truth declared in Romans 8:34. The truth declared is the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system through Christ’s atonement. This signifies that as believers we are justified and free from condemnation through the once-and-for-all sacrifice of Jesus, as detailed in Hebrews 9:24-28. Christ has set the example for us to follow.

Rom 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

1Jn 2:1-6 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 
Rom 8:36 As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

In Romans 8:35-37, Paul poses a series of rhetorical questions to emphasize the unbreakable nature of the bond between believers and the love of Christ. He presents a comprehensive list of adversities, ranging from tribulation and distress to persecution by the sword. Through this list, Paul paints a vivid picture of the challenges that believers will encounter. The implied answer to each question is a resounding “no,” suggesting that none of these hardships has the power to separate us from the enduring love of God in Christ.

Paul draws on a broader perspective of mankind’s suffering, acknowledging that believers will face a spectrum of trials. By employing the imagery of being “killed all day long” and “accounted as sheep for the slaughter,” Paul references the shared experience of enduring challenges, quoting Old Testament themes. Yet, amidst these adversities, he proclaims believers as “more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” This triumphant declaration reinforces the idea that, in Christ, believers not only endure hardships but emerge victorious over them, guided and empowered by the unwavering love of God.

Psalm 44:22 Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

The verse from Psalm 44:22 supports the idea of enduring suffering for God’s sake. Romans 8:37 then strongly confirms Paul’s message that, with the strength of Christ’s love, the elect rise above and conquer the many challenges they encounter.

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.

In these verses, Paul expresses his unwavering conviction that nothing—be it death, life, angels, rulers, present circumstances, future uncertainties, height, depth, or any other element of creation—can sever the bond between believers and God’s love in Christ Jesus. This list serves as a powerful reminder that, according to Paul’s persuasion, there exists an inseparable connection between believers and the unfailing love of God.

Psalm 139:8-10 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Ephesians 1:21-22 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.

Colossians 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

In this study of Romans 8:31-39, we examined the Apostle Paul’s powerful message about God’s unwavering love and the unshakeable security it brings to us as believers. We looked back at our previous study of Romans 8:19-30, where we learned how God transforms suffering to glory.

Romans 8:31-39 prepares us to think about the vastness of God’s love and the unbreakable connection between believers and God. In verses 31-33, Paul boldly declared God’s unwavering love and the victory won through Christ’s sacrifice. The Old and New Testaments vividly illustrate God’s boundless love and the completeness of Christ’s sacrifice.

Romans 8:34, uncovered the profound revelation of Christ as the ultimate high priest. By connecting Old Testament types and shadows with New Testament fulfillment, we gained insight into the depth of Christ’s plan of salvation for everyone the Father has given him.

Joh 6:35-40 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

In Romans 8:35-37, Paul utilizes rhetorical questions to depict the challenges that we will encounter. Other supporting verses, notably Isaiah 53:7, underscore the theme of enduring suffering for God’s sake, affirming that believers triumph through the love of Christ.

Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Finally, in Romans 8:38-39, Paul assured us that nothing could separate us from God’s love. The verses from Psalms, Isaiah, Ephesians, and Colossians highlighted the all-encompassing nature of God’s love, prevailing over every aspect of our lives.

In conclusion, our study of Romans 8:31-39 reveals a profound understanding of the mankind’s, firstly the elect’s, secure position in God’s unwavering love. This message echoes with the assurance that present trials or future uncertainties cannot separate us from the enduring love of God in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 91:14-16 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.

Jeremiah 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.

John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.