Rev 22:11-15 Without are the Evil, Part 1

[Study Aired August 10, 2025]

Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Introduction

Is it true that we must “read… hear and keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book?” Is it true that “the time is at hand” to do so? If we should “keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book” and if “the time is at hand” to do so, then that has been the case for the past 2000 years. If for the past two thousand years God’s elect have been ‘keeping the sayings of the prophecy of this book’, then it follows that there is also a present application for the words of these five verses which are the subject of our study today. In other words, being in that “holy city the New Jerusalem”, being ‘seated with Christ on His Father’s throne’ in the heavens with dogs, sorcerers, whoremongers, murders, idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie on the outside of this city, all this has been taking place in the lives of God’s elect for the past 2000 years, and ‘the gates of hell (Greek: Hades, the unseen, the grave) have never prevailed against it.’

Eph 2:6 In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him to rule with him in the heavenly world. (GNB)

Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter [G4074: ‘petros’, a small stone, a pebble, Peter], and upon this rock [G4073: ‘Petra’, a massive rock, Christ, Eph 2:20] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

It is Christ who is building His church, and He has been doing so all along. God has been gathering and harvesting His elect out of every generation since Christ, and in each of those generations God’s holy city, “the bride, the Lamb’s wife”, has been growing, and those who have entered into that city have done so through its gates, and they have all been abiding by the admonitions we find in our study today.

Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

What are we being told in this verse? Here is why God’s elect let the unjust be unjust, the filthy be filthy and the righteous be righteous and the holy be holy, and this is why God’s elect have no interest in attempting to “save this world for Christ.”

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [Greek: drag] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

When is “the last day” when Christ raises up those whom His Father drags to Himself? The ‘last day’ is of necessity ‘the end of the world’ [G165: ‘aion’, age]. That ‘last day’ for those who are dying daily in Christ in this present time is the first resurrection at the beginning of the thousand-year reign of “our Lord and His Christ.”

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world [G2889: ‘kosmos’] are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever [aions of the aions].

So what Christ is speaking of here in John 6:44 is the very question the apostles were asking which provoked the prophecy of our Lord which we find in Matthew 24.

Mat 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world [G165: ‘aion’, age]?

How is it possible that the elect of God have been living by these words and at the same time living by the commission to preach the gospel in all the world?

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Did not Paul and Barnabas, and then Paul and Silas, go throughout the Roman Empire preaching the gospel? Yes, Paul and his companions preached the gospel throughout the Roman Empire. The circumstances of the time made it expedient that they do so in person. There was no internet at that time. There were no televisions or radios. There were not even any printing presses, and yet the gospel of Jesus Christ was preached throughout the Roman world before the death of the apostles.

Act 24:5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

The book of Acts tells us how this was accomplished, and from chapter one to chapter 28 there is not one example of any of the apostles attempting to make the unjust just or to make the filthy clean. Whether it was Simon the sorcerer, who attempted to purchase the gift of the holy spirit, or Elymas the sorcerer, the unjust and filthy were left as such.

Act 8:12 But when they [the Samaritan converts] believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Act 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Act 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Act 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
Act 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Act 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Act 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
Act 8:25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

It is instructive that we are not told that Peter asked God to remove Simon’s gall of bitterness or his bond of iniquity. Peter simply let the unjust and filthy be unjust and filthy.

Here is another example of living out these words.

Act 13:5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
Act 13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
Act 13:7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
Act 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
Act 13:9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
Act 13:10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
Act 13:11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
Act 13:12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Saul’s name was changed to Paul right after this incident. When this all occurred he was still named ‘Saul’, and Saul made no attempt to convert Elymas the sorcerer.

What those within and those outside the New Jerusalem are being told is that ‘No man can come to God except the Father drag him’. So once again, we are not told that Elymas repented or was converted. Paul let the unjust and filthy be unjust and filthy.

Cornelius, on the other hand, exemplifies those who are righteous and are left to be righteous. It was because the holy spirit had been working in the life of Cornelius that Cornelius sent to Joppa for Peter.

Act 10:1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
Act 10:2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.
Act 10:3 He saw in a vision openly, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius.
Act 10:4 And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God.
Act 10:5 And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter:
Act 10:6 he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side.
Act 10:7 And when the angel that spake unto him was departed, he called two of his household- servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
Act 10:8 and having rehearsed all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

So, too, it was the holy spirit who prepared the heart of the Ethiopian eunuch to be instructed by Philip.

Act 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
Act 8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Act 8:28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
Act 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Act 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
Act 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
Act 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
Act 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
Act 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Act 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Act 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Philip “heard him read the prophet Isaiah.” The holy spirit had already prepared this man to receive the gospel of Jesus.

So all the apostles let the righteous, be righteous still: and he that was holy, was acknowledged as holy.

Except for the necessity of answering their persecutors for standing up for the word, the apostles never preached the gospel to one person who had not come to hear the word of God. Paul always went into synagogues where the holy spirit had already prepared the hearts of the Gentile proselytes to receive the gospel of the kingdom of God. With very few exceptions, the Jews in those synagogues did not accept the testimony of Jesus Christ. The only exception to this is the account of Paul’s witness to the people of Athens on Mars Hill, but even here he was simply taking advantage of any opportunity to witness for Christ and His Father, “the unknown God”, without forcing that witness on anyone. The unjust remained unjust, the filthy remained filthy, the righteous remained righteous, and the holy remained holy. Their example, our Lord, forced Himself and His doctrine upon no one. His life of good works drew people to Him.

Mat 12:14 Then [after healing a man’s withered hand on the sabbath] the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
Mat 12:15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
Mat 12:16 And charged them that they should not make him known:
Mat 12:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
Mat 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
Mat 12:19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
Mat 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
Mat 12:21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

‘Israel’ in scripture is both within us as “the kingdom of God” and it is also those collectively to whom we preach the gospel and with whom the holy spirit is working as His body. That is why we are admonished by our Lord Himself:

Mat 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

“The cities of Israel” which will not have gone over before the appearing of Christ is “the Israel of God” of these verses:

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

Eph 2:11  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Neither Christ nor His disciples were ever found preaching on a street corner, neither did they ever attempt to preach the gospel to any who had not been prepared by the holy spirit to receive the gospel. That is the message to us when we read… ‘let the filthy remain filthy and let the righteous be righteous.’ “The righteous” in “the cities of Israel” will receive our witness, and the filthy will reject us. This is true within each of us when, at our first encounter with this radical Truth we all at first refuse the witness of God’s Word through His elect. It is also true within “His body, which is the church” throughout the generations which have followed Christ and His original apostles. We truly are “the Israel of God”, and we will not have gone over all the ‘cities’, meaning those being called and chosen, within ourselves as individuals and within the body as a whole of “the Israel of God”, until the Son of Man be come:

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mat 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of [the] Israel [of God], till the Son of man be come.

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

For that reason these words are applicable in every generation:

Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

This is just one more verse which makes the imminency of Christ’s return something we are all experiencing “in our own order” (1Co 15:23). This ‘coming’ has been taking place within the lives of God’s elect in every generation since Christ.

Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look [present tense] for him shall he appear [future tense] the second time without sin [without his “corruptible flesh, (1Co 15:50)] unto salvation.

This “appearing the second time” is future only for those who do not yet know Christ and who are not yet “the heaven itself”, which is being “purified” and cleansed by the “sharp twoedged sword… out of [Christ’s] mouth” and by the presence of the Christ whose “eyes are as a flame of fire” and whose “countenance is as the Sun shines in His strength.” Here is how Christ “appears the second time without sin” to those who are presently “looking for Him.”

Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Here now are the heavens in which Christ presently dwells:

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 [you and I] 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 [into us], now to appear in the presence of God for us:
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.

If one must first die and then “after this the judgment” is true, then it is necessary that we truly are now, presently, being “crucified with Christ” and are being “risen with Him in newness of life” and being ‘judged now’, in “this present time” (Rom 8:18).

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

If we “reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin”, then we are of necessity “alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” living His life within us, and the reason we are told “he will come the second time without sin” is because:

Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Is Christ really “the first?” What is “the first?” What do the scriptures say?

1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Is it blasphemous to agree with Christ that He is “the first and the last?” Who is “the first man Adam?” That is you and me. We are all, by our natural birth, in “the first man Adam.”

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

What is this “first man Adam?” Is he an essential part of our salvation? What does our Lord answer?

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

What does “born of water” mean?

Mar 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost [Greek: pneuma, spirit].

What was John’s baptism? John’s baptism was “unto repentance”, and yet it was still repentance under the law.

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
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.
Mat 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

The law was an unbearable yoke which “neither we nor our fathers could keep.” Those under that law cannot enter into Christ and His rest. Christ “had broken the sabbath” and considered it nothing more than a “carnal commandment” in need of being changed.

Joh 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Heb 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Christ is “the righteousness of God without the law” of Moses because Christ brought a new covenant based upon better promises than those which were given under the law of Moses which was designed “for the lawless.”

1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

“Sound doctrine” is “the law of Christ”, and “the law of Christ” is far harder to keep than was the law of Moses. In truth the law of Jesus cannot be kept at all by the natural man. Our Savior was guilty of none of these sins, and yet we are plainly told He was “made of a woman, made under the law.”

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Both “made of a woman” and “made under the law” tell us that Christ was not perfected while in the flesh, which was “the same” flesh as “the children.”

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good?  there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

We will pause our study at this point, and in our next study of these five verses we will continue to learn more about the revelation of Jesus Christ within all those who are ordained from this present age to become “the bride, the Lamb’s wife… the New Jerusalem.”

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – part 73

“The judgments” part D

February 4th, 2015

The judgments we have been reading in the last few studies are given to us to help us understand what the Lord is doing in our lives.

All of our days are numbered, and while we have the time upon us to reflect on what the Lord would have us do with our time, we should be applying God’s judgments to our minds so that our lives reflect what is more expedient versus what is permissible for us to do in this life.

I know that seems basic and simple and that we are all just trying to get through the day, but what if our mundane lives could be used to become school housing for the learning we need to take with us past our resurrection?

As I go through the laws and judgments given to the Israelites I hope that you will see that the Lord isn’t giving us laws to apply for only the grand scheme of things, but for how we are to get through the everyday types of struggles we all deal with.

“Life basics”

Exo 22:14  And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.

Exo 22:15  But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.

When a thing is borrowed, allow it to be borrowed in good faith the person borrowing it will bring it back in the same condition it was borrowed in. If you are the borrowing and you break something make it right by replacing the borrowed object.

Most of us today don’t rent out animals to be used to do things for others on their farm or homestead. However, the principle behind what we just read is a basic guideline on how to act when a situation changes from what it was originally.

If I let someone borrow my hammer and he brings it back broken, I would hope that the hammer would also come back with a new one beside it. More than that, these admonitions are for us ot know how to treat others. If for example, we are working together on a roof and both using the hammer and it breaks, I wouldn’t want to get paid in full by the person I am working with for the broken hammer.

See how this principle can be applied to everyday life? Whenever we read scripture, we are reading it to gain a better understanding of how to LIVE NOW. We are not only reading to find out what comes after we die.

Exo 22:16  And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.

Exo 22:17  If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

Why would there need to be a judgment about seducing a woman if such a judgment were not needed? Today, we do not pay the “dowry of virgins” to a father in order to take a wife, however we can learn from the situation we just read by learning how to behave ourselves in the world we are not of but live in.

If you get into a sexual relationship with a man or woman, you should already have the mindset that this is serious enough for marriage. Why? Is that being too much of a prude to say in our culture today? The reason why is because this is what is most expedient for us as we live our lives out.

If we do not take sexual relationships this serious then it can bring a whole host of issues for us, not to mention what could potentially lead to a failed relationship and a loss of time in building a lasting relationship with someone else.

Obviously not all situations fall into a “cookie cutter” like this, but the Lord is instructing us on how to live the time we have on this earth in the most expedient way possible. That is what we should be focused on when learning lessons from the scriptures we are given.

Exo 22:18  Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

When we read something like “thou shall not suffer a witch to live,” what are we being told and what is the threat of a witch among us?

Most people think of witches with the long pointed triangle hats and broomsticks flying around on halloween, but witches are much more than that and they still very much exist.

So, how do we identify who and what a witch is and how do we deal with them? Well, we put them to death, but that is not exactly what it may sound like.

In the old testament I have no doubt that the Lord wanted these folks to be put to death because that is what we read. However, what does scripture show us about witches?

H3784

kâshaph

Total KJV Occurrences: 6

sorcerers, 3

Exo_7:11, Dan_2:2, Mal_3:5

witch, 2

Exo_22:18, Deu_18:10

witchcraft, 1

2Ch_33:6

Here are the above verses written out.

Exo 7:10  And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

Exo 7:11  Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers(H3784): now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their ENCHANTMENTS.

Exo 7:12  For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

Exo 7:13  And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

Now, this is a pivotal event that happened for Israel, God’s chosen people. Upon a little bit of digging I suppose we will find a “pearl of great price” in the field we have been given.

Listen to what I am going to read to you with the urgency of life or death being measured in the balances.

A witch is not to be allowed to live. Sorcerers are the same thing as a witch and are interchanged in English. Sorcerers and witches used ENCHANTMENTS for their work, and this is of utmost importance to understand for us ESPECIALLY TODAY and not just in the time frame these words were written down.

Before I get into enchantments, I am going to read the rest of the examples that are used to set the stage for what it is witches do to us and why they pose a life or death threat to us all.

Dan 2:1  And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.

Dan 2:2  Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers(H3784), and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

Dan 2:3  And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

Nebuchadnezzar of course was the king who was transformed into a beast, but he first went to his sorcerers and magicians to see if they could tell him what the dream from the Lord meant.

Continung in Malachi we read:

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.

Mal 3:4  Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

Mal 3:5  And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers(H3784), and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

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

Notice that the Lord will send a messenger who will prepare the way before the Lord comes on the scene. One might conclude that this is Jesus Christ preparing the way for God the Father is you only are given to believe what we have learned in Babylon, but messengers are angels and ANY messenger of God is preparing the way for JESUS CHRIST to come unto the scene VIA the PILLARS of the TEMPLE of God.

Once that way is prepared, the Lord brings the HEAT, the Lord brings the REFINER’S FIRE.

Continuing to build upon this spiritual premise we see this in Deuteronomy:

Deu 18:9  When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not LEARN TO DO AFTER the abominations of those nations.

Deu 18:10  There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch(H3784),

Deu 18:11  Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

Deu 18:12  For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Deu 18:13  Thou shalt be perfect(without spot or blemish, undfiled) with the LORD thy God.

What are we being told about not learning to DO WHAT THE nations did that came before us in their abominatons? Here it is again:

There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an OBSERVER OF TIMES, or an enchanter, or a witch(H3784),

Here is the last example of witches and their witchcraft being mentioned in the Old Testament:

2Ch 33:1  Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:

2Ch 33:2  But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

2Ch 33:3  For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

2Ch 33:4  Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.

2Ch 33:5  And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

2Ch 33:6  And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft(H3784), and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

2Ch 33:7  And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

Here is the summation of what we have just read about witches, sorcerers, magicians, enchanters, those that deal with familiar spirits, and diviners.

They all partake in “causing children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom.”

What fire is it that these children are caused to pass through?

This story starts in chapter 9 of Leviticus and continues to chapter 10, but remember that is only broken apart into chapters and such by current bibles and was not originally written that way so this story is continuous.

Lev 9:22  And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.

Lev 9:23  And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.

Lev 9:24  And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

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

Lev 10:2  And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Lev 10:3  Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

Num 3:4  And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father.

So, strange fire produces instant death. There is no negotiating, no opportunity for repentance, no “short leash” to allow strange fire in our midst. Notice that “strange fire” is always countered and destroyed from “Fire from the Lord”.

Also notice where it is that this fire is at that the children are made to walk through.

H2011

hinnôm

BDB Definition:

Hinnom = “lamentation”

1) a valley (deep and narrow ravine) with steep, rocky sides located southwest of Jerusalem, separating Mount Zion to the north from the hill of evil counsel’ and the sloping rocky plateau of the ‘plain of Rephaim’ to the south

Part of Speech: noun proper locative

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: probably of foreign origin

This valley of lamentation SEPERATES God’s judgment from those that NEED it the MOST, those tha are furthest away from His judgment, those that are in the south. I say this because judgment is represented as coming from the NORTH all throughout scripture.

If you look at a 2 dimensional map, north is ABOVE and south is BELOW telling us that his ways are above our ways and His thoughts above our thoughts.

Isa 55:6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Isa 55:7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isa 55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Isa 55:9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

The last point I want to make to bring this all home for us is that witches use enchantments. So, what are enchantments?

If you think I am absurd or making scripture say something it is not saying, taking things out of context, giving my own interpretation or any other such gobbity gook let us see what witches USE and why it is important we deal with them swiftly and immediately.

Exo 7:11  Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers(witches): now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments(H3858).

H3858

lahaṭ

Total KJV Occurrences: 2

enchantments, 1

Exo_7:11

flaming, 1

Gen_3:24

Genesis 3:24 says this:

Gen 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Gen 3:23  Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

Gen 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming (H3858) sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

See, what is so insidious about witches and sorcerers, magicians, diviners and ENCHANTERS is that they use what APPEARS to be the fire of God but in reality is just an imitation. Only this form of imitation is not flattering to God.

Enchanters observe and learn from time and then press upon others the importance of this act.

H5172

nâchash

Total KJV Occurrences: 14

enchantments, 4

Num_24:1, 2Ki_17:17, 2Ch_33:6 (2)

enchantment, 2

Lev_19:26, Num_23:23

diligently, 1

1Ki_20:33

divine, 1

Gen_44:15

divineth, 1

Gen_44:5

enchanter, 1

Deu_18:10

experience, 1

Gen_30:27

learned, 1

Gen_30:27 (2)

observe, 1

1Ki_20:33

use, 1

Lev_19:26

Gen 30:27  And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.

What they use strange fire for is to appear as though they are speaking for God. Notice that Nadab and Abihu created their strange fire after they witnessed the action of the people falling on their faces because of the true fire from God.

Lev 9:24  And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

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

What strange fire does is leads us to worshipping the beast instead of worshipping God. It causes us to worship creation versus worshipping the creator. It forces us to worship that which is fleeting instead of worshipping that which is eternal.

We all just had a dear brother Tom Piecyk die and be taken to be awaiting his resurrection. Though it makes us all terribly sad and grievous and places us in the house of mourning, I want to share in the context of this study what it is we are to be doing with our lives each and every day as the Lords causes it to happen for us.

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

Ecc 7:2  It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

Those of us who are living lay it to heart what it means that the day of death is better than the day of one’s birth.

The day of one’s birth can be celebrated as long as the person is alive. We can observe the time of such an event and annually/yearly remind ourselves of it.

However, the Lord tells us the day of death is BETTER, it is MORE EXPEDIENT to concentrate on. When we concentrate on the day of our birth it is not expedient because it keeps our eyes on the FLESH and not on the Spirit.

When we focus on the aspect of death, we go to the house of mourning which causes us to truly worship God in Truth and Spirit by focusing on DEATH as the deliverer to Life.

We are able to lay it to our hearts that THROUGH death we pass on to TRUE LIFE, and Tom has taken his final fleshly step to that happening for him.

In our next study, we will wrap up the judgments given to us in Exodus 22 on how it is we are to live a more expedient life day by day for the remaining days we have.