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“The Spiritual Significance of Directions”

North, South, East and West

[Study Originally Aired January 7, 2025
Revised and re-recorded January 28, 2025]

 

Introduction: Understanding Direction in Scripture

In our pursuit of spiritual understanding, we must begin with Jesus’s foundational teaching that “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20). This truth transforms our study of directional references in Scripture from mere geographical indicators to profound spiritual realities. When God established physical directions in creation, He provided patterns that would reveal spiritual truth, for “the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made” (Romans 1:20).

God deliberately established directional patterns from the beginning of creation. This pattern became physically visible when “God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night” (Genesis 1:16). By setting the sun to rise in the east and set in the west each day, God created an enduring natural cycle that would teach spiritual truth. The prophet Malachi captured this teaching purpose: ”For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles” (Malachi 1:11). Through this daily journey of light, we learn how divine revelation progresses to completion in our lives.

To understand these spiritual patterns, we must rely not on natural reasoning but on divine wisdom. Paul emphasizes this necessity: “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). As Jesus taught, “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Therefore, we must approach directional references in Scripture seeking their spiritual significance.

The Divine Pattern: Israel’s Tribal Arrangement

God’s arrangement of Israel’s tribes around the tabernacle provides our first complete picture of how directions reveal spiritual truth. This wasn’t random positioning but deliberate placement teaching eternal principles. Each tribe’s location carried specific spiritual meaning that would illuminate God’s working in our lives.

On the east side, God positioned Judah: “On the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies” (Numbers 2:3). Through Judah would come Christ, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5). This eastern placement established that direction’s connection with divine revelation, just as natural light first appears in the east.

The south side belonged to Reuben: “On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben” (Numbers 2:10). As Jacob’s firstborn who lost his birthright through sin, Reuben’s position revealed how the south represents progressive testing and judgment in our lives. His story shows how God uses circumstances to reveal and deal with what lies within us.

Continuing with the tribal arrangement, God placed Ephraim on the west side: “On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim” (Numbers 2:18). Ephraim had received a blessing of multiplication from Jacob: “his seed shall become a multitude of nations” (Genesis 48:19). This western position reveals how God brings His work to completion and fullness, just as the sun completes its daily journey in the west.

Finally, the tribe of Dan occupied the north: “The camp of Dan shall be on the north side” (Numbers 2:25). The name Dan means “judge,” establishing the north’s connection with God’s judgment and authority. This positioning teaches us how God’s authority works in our lives through judgment to accomplish His purpose.

The Language of Direction: Hebrew and Greek Insights

The original Hebrew and Greek words for directions provide deeper insight into their spiritual significance. Each directional term carries meaning that illuminates how God uses these patterns to accomplish His purpose in our lives.

The Hebrew word for north, tsaphon (צָפוֹן), derives from a root meaning ”to hide or treasure up. ” God reveals this connection through Solomon’s instruction to ”lay up (tsaphan) my commandments with thee” (Proverbs 7:1). Just as precious things are carefully stored until the right moment, so God’s judgments from the north are released according to His perfect timing. The Greek equivalent, borrhas (βορρᾶς), relates to strength and hardness, reinforcing the north’s connection to God’s unmovable authority and judgment.

The south’s Hebrew designation, negeb (נֶגֶב), literally means ”to be parched” or ”dry, ” referring to desert regions. This parching process pictures how God uses testing to reveal what lies within us, as seen powerfully when Christ was ”led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil” (Matthew 4:1). After forty days in this desert testing, angels came and ministered to Him, showing how God’s testing ultimately brings refreshing. The Greek term notos (νότος) reinforces this pattern – connecting to moisture and rain, it reveals how testing leads to spiritual renewal, fulfilling the prophet’s words: ”For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud” (Isaiah 55:10)

In Hebrew, east is mizrach (מִזְרָח), from zarach meaning “to rise or shine forth.” The Greek anatole (ἀνατολή) carries the same meaning of rising or dawning. Both terms connect directly to sunrise, reinforcing how God’s revelation dawns progressively in our lives, as “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18).

The Hebrew ma’arab (מַעֲרָב) for west comes from a root meaning “to grow dark,” referring to sunset. Similarly, the Greek dusme (δυσμή) means “a setting.” Rather than suggesting negative darkness, these terms speak of completion – just as each day finds completion at sunset, God brings each aspect of His work to its appointed conclusion.

These linguistic foundations reveal how God embedded spiritual meaning even in the basic terms for direction. As we study how Scripture uses these terms, their root meanings enrich our understanding of God’s working in our lives. This aligns with Solomon’s observation that “a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Proverbs 25:11).

The North in Scripture: A Place of God’s Judgment and Authority

Scripture develops the north’s spiritual significance far beyond Dan’s initial placement. Job provides foundational insight when he declares, “He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing” (Job 26:7), connecting the north with God’s absolute authority over creation. The Psalmist reinforces this, declaring “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King” (Psalm 48:2), linking the north specifically with God’s kingship and throne of judgment.

The prophet Ezekiel deepens this understanding through his dramatic vision: “a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it” (Ezekiel 1:4). This appearance from the north preceded God revealing His throne and glory, showing how experiencing God’s judgment prepares us for deeper revelation of His nature.

Through Jeremiah, God reveals how He uses northern powers as instruments of His judgment: “Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem” (Jeremiah 1:14-15). Yet this judgment serves His redemptive purpose, for He promises restoration through this same direction: “In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers” (Jeremiah 3:18).

Isaiah illuminates the north’s significance when recording the king of Babylon’s proud boast: “I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14). This reveals the north as the place of highest authority – a position belonging to God alone. As Isaiah further declares, “I am the LORD, and there is none else… I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things” (Isaiah 45:6-7). Through this authority, God works all things according to His will, establishing His kingdom within us.

The South: A Direction of God’s Progressive Judgment

Building on the north’s establishment of judgment, the south reveals how God’s judgment progresses to accomplish His purpose. This progression begins with Reuben’s placement on the south side of the tabernacle. Just as Reuben’s position changed through testing, the south represents how God’s judgments work progressively to transform us.

Just as He told Satan regarding Job, ”Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand’‘ (Job 1:12), every testing from the south operates within His set boundaries. The progression of these tests follows His perfect timing, for ”to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Job provides a key witness to how God uses the south for progressive testing: “Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north” (Job 37:9). This verse reveals how both directions serve God’s purpose – the north establishing judgment and the south advancing that work. The progression through the south appears powerfully in Ezekiel’s prophecy when God commands him with threefold emphasis: “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” (Ezekiel 20:46). This repetition emphasizes the progressive nature of God’s work through this direction.

The Psalmist captures the transformative nature of God’s southern working when he prays, “Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south“ (Psalm 126:4). These streams in the south speak to how God’s judgments flow progressively, bringing transformation as they advance. The context reveals the joyful outcome of this work: “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing” (Psalm 126:1-2).

North and South: The Progression of Judgement

The distinction between the north’s judgment and south’s testing is crucial. North’s judgment establishes God’s authority, like when God told Job from the whirlwind, ”Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2). This judgment firmly establishes God’s sovereign rule.

South’s testing, by contrast, works progressively to reveal and purge what opposes God’s life within us. This appears when God tested Abraham: ”And it came to pass after these things, that God did test Abraham” (Genesis 22:1). Testing reveals what lies within, as Moses explained to Israel: ”to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no” (Deuteronomy 8:2).

Both judgment and testing serve God’s purpose, but in different ways. Judgment establishes His authority and right to rule, while testing progressively reveals and removes what opposes His life. As Isaiah declared, ”when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9).

North and South: The Boundaries of Judgment 

Unlike east and west which continue without end, both north and south reach definite boundaries. This natural pattern reveals important truth about God’s judgments and testing. As David observed, ”As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). Significantly, David did not say ”as far as north from south, ” because those distances are measurable and finite.

The finite nature of the north and south appears clearly in creation. Traveling north, one eventually reaches the pole and can go no further – any continued movement becomes southward. The same limitation occurs when traveling south. This natural boundary reminds us that God’s judgments and testing serve specific purposes and have appointed ends. As the prophet Isaiah declared, ”In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind” (Isaiah 27:8).

This truth brings comfort during times of judgment and testing. Job learned this when God appeared to him from the whirlwind, revealing that even his intense trials had prescribed limits. The Lord reminded him, ”Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed” (Job 38:11). Just as God sets bounds for the sea, He sets boundaries for every judgment and testing.

The finite nature of judgment appears again when God promises restoration: ”For the Lord shall not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies” (Lamentations 3:31-32). All judgment serves His purpose of transformation, leading to the prophet’s confidence: ”The Lord doesn’t enjoy sending grief or pain.” (Lamentations 3:33 CEV)

The East: The Direction of God’s Glory and Light

The east holds special significance as the direction from which God’s glory and revelation proceed. As mentioned earlier this pattern begins in creation itself when God said “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.” (Genesis 1:16). He established the sun’s daily rise in the east as an enduring pattern teaching how spiritual light and understanding come to His people. After creating man, “the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden” (Genesis 2:8), and when man sinned, God placed cherubim “at the east of the garden of Eden” (Genesis 3:24), establishing the east as both the direction of divine glory and the way back to God’s presence.

Ezekiel witnessed this connection dramatically when “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” (Ezekiel 43:2). This appearance carried such power that “the earth shined with his glory,” showing how divine revelation illuminates everything it touches. When Israel’s disobedience caused God’s glory to depart from the temple, it moved eastward in stages, “Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.” (Ezekiel 10:18-19), yet God promised restoration would come from the same direction, as the prophet later saw the glory return “from the way of the east“ (Ezekiel 43:4).

This pattern of revelation from the east finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, for “in him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). The wise men declared, “We have seen his star in the east“ (Matthew 2:2), following this light to find Him who would later declare “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). This connects the east’s natural light with Christ as the source of all spiritual illumination.

The east’s association with God’s glory reminds us that even divine revelation serves His sovereign purpose. When the Psalmist declares, “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge” (Psalm 75:6-7), he emphasizes that all true advancement comes from God alone, not from any direction or means.

The West: Completing God’s Work and Gathering His People

The west in Scripture reveals how God brings His work to completion and gathers His people. Just as the sun completes its daily journey in the west, this direction teaches us about the fulfillment of God’s purposes. This completion pattern begins with Ephraim’s placement on the west side of the tabernacle. Through Ephraim’s blessing of multiplication and fruitfulness, the west reveals how God’s work reaches its full increase.

The west’s completion pattern demonstrates God’s sovereign control over every work’s fulfillment. Nothing reaches completion except according to His purpose and timing, for ”In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11).

The west’s connection to completion appears powerfully in God’s promise to Joshua about the Promised Land: “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast” (Joshua 1:3-4). This western boundary, marked by the setting sun, represented the full extent of their inheritance.

The Psalms connect the west to the completion of God’s praise and glory: “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3). This shows how God’s work extends throughout the whole earth, from beginning (east) to completion (west). Similarly, Isaiah declares “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun” (Isaiah 59:19), revealing how God’s glory fills the entire earth as His work reaches completion.

Christ particularly connects the west to the gathering and completion of His work: “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” (Matthew 24:27). This gathering work culminates in His promise that “many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11). The progression from east to west in these verses shows how God’s revelation leads to completed gathering.

The Unified Working of All Directions

Understanding how these directions work together reveals the completeness of God’s purpose. We see this comprehensive pattern first in God’s promise to Abraham: “And the LORD said unto Abram… Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever” (Genesis 13:14-15). This all-encompassing view represented not just physical territory but the fullness of God’s spiritual promise.

Isaiah reveals how these directions serve God’s gathering purpose: “Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 43:5-6). Each direction receives specific commands that reveal its role in God’s complete work – the north must “give up,” showing release of judgment; the south must “keep not back,” allowing progression of judgment; while east brings forth “thy seed” and west completes the “gathering”.

The prophet Ezekiel witnessed this comprehensive working through the four living creatures: “As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle” (Ezekiel 1:10). These four faces, looking toward the four directions, show how God’s authority extends everywhere. Their movement according to God’s spirit – “And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went” (Ezekiel 1:12) – reveals how all directions serve His sovereign purpose.

Practical Application of Directional Truth

Understanding these directional patterns transforms how we view and respond to every circumstance in our spiritual journey. Each direction reveals specific aspects of God’s work in us, helping us cooperate with rather than resist His purpose.

When facing judgment from the north, we recognize God establishing His authority in our lives. Rather than resisting these experiences, we can submit like Job who declared “He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). This understanding helps us yield to God’s establishing work, knowing His judgment serves His perfect purpose.

The south’s progressive testing reveals God’s transformative work advancing in our lives. Like the Psalmist, we learn to pray “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). God’s testing process accelerates our spiritual growth as each trial reveals and purges what opposes His life within us.

When divine revelation comes from the east, it brings increasing light and understanding to transform our walk with God. The prophet captured this progressive illumination: “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward” (Isaiah 58:8). As Hosea declares, “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning” (Hosea 6:3). Each new day presents fresh opportunities for increased spiritual understanding.

The west reminds us that God will complete what He has begun, bringing every aspect of His work to its appointed conclusion. Paul expressed this certainty: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). When circumstances seem to hinder or delay God’s purpose, the west’s completion pattern encourages our faith to trust His perfect timing.

These directional workings ultimately point to internal spiritual realities, fulfilling Christ’s declaration that “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20). The north’s judgment works within to establish God’s authority in our hearts. The south’s progression moves us through internal testing that reveals and purges what opposes God’s life. The east’s light illuminates our understanding of spiritual truth. The west’s gathering brings all these workings to completion in our experience.

This internal working aligns perfectly with God’s promise through Ezekiel: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Each direction serves this transformative purpose as God works to conform us to Christ’s image.

Conclusion: The Perfect Pattern

These directional patterns ultimately reveal the perfection of God’s working in every aspect of our lives. From the north’s establishment of divine authority through the south’s progressive testing, from the east’s revelation to the west’s completion, each direction serves God’s purpose of conforming us to Christ’s image.

The prophetic visions of both Daniel and Ezekiel reveal how God orchestrates all powers and movements according to His directional purposes. Daniel’s vision of the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward demonstrated how God uses even earthly kingdoms to accomplish His purpose of judgment (north), testing (south), and moving toward completion (west). Notably, the ram’s inability to push eastward aligns with our understanding that God alone brings revelation and glory from the east.

Together, these prophetic visions reveal how God maintains absolute control over all directional movements in creation. Whether through spiritual beings or earthly powers, every directional movement serves His sovereign purpose, for ”all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand” (Daniel 4:35).

This comprehensive understanding brings peace amidst life’s various circumstances. Whether facing judgment, testing, revelation, or completion, we recognize each experience as part of God’s perfect pattern. As Paul declared, ”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).

May this understanding of Scripture’s directional patterns deepen our walk with God and strengthen our faith in His sovereign working. For truly, ”of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36)

]]> Ezekiel 42:1-20 The Inner Temple https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/ezekiel-421-20-the-inner-temple/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ezekiel-421-20-the-inner-temple Mon, 06 Jan 2025 05:30:19 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=31769 Audio Download

Ezekiel 42:1-20 The Inner Temple

[Study Aired January 6, 2025]

INTRODUCTION

Today, we are dealing Ezekiel chapter 42 which continues and concludes the measurement of the passageway to the outer and inner courts of the temple, together with the private chambers arranged in three floors. As indicated, these chapters which focus on the measurement of the temple is to makes us aware of how the Lord comes into our lives with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness to cleanse our hearts and minds for Him to dwell within us. The spirit of His mouth refers to His judgement, and His brightness signifies the illumination of His words for us to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Before the coming of the Lord, our old man or flesh has taken the throne of our hearts and minds claiming to be God that deserve our worship, since we think we make our own decisions. In this world, it is only the Lord who makes decisions and so thinking that we make our own decisions means we are playing the role of God. The decisions we make are caused by the Lord.

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

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
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:

The question that we may be asking is that why would the Lord devotes three long chapters of the Bible to describe the temple to Ezekiel? The answer to this question is that the temple serves as the gathering place for His elect. The gathering of the Lord’s children is very important especially as we see the day approaching. The day approaching is the Lord coming with His judgement to His chosen ones and our gathering supplies what is needed to survive the onslaught of the evil one.

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We must also understand that the move of the Lord in this dispensation is the gathering of His people together, which is a prerequisite for the possession of the land, which is our bodies. Possessing our bodies means overcoming the flesh and it is what will qualify us to reign with Christ.

Eze 11:17  Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
Eze 11:18  And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.
Eze 11:19  And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
Eze 11:20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.  

Eze 36:24  For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
Eze 36:25  Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

It is important to note that the Lord loves our gathering together more than our individualistic pursuit of the kingdom. That is what it means when the word of the Lord says that the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than the dwellings of Jacob.

Psa 87:2  The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Psa 87:3  Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
Psa 87:4  I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
Psa 87:5  And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
Psa 87:6 The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.

In the final analysis, as we mature through what every joint supplies, we shall surely become part of the New Jerusalem whose measurement depicts Christ. The number twelve is the number of Christ and the twelve gates, the foundations and the twelve angels are all to tell us that we shall all measure up to the standard of Christ as the Lord has promised.

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.

Rev 21:10  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11  Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12  And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:13  On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Today’s study focuses on the description of the chambers near the courts in terms of their situation and structure. It also touches on the uses of these chambers. Finally, the study shows us measurements of the area containing the house and the courts belonging to it.

The Passageway to the Chambers

Eze 42:1  Then he brought me forth into the utter court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was before the building toward the north. 

As indicated in the previous studies, the outer court is where everybody comes to worship. Our time in the physical churches of this world or Babylon is represented by worshipping in the outer court. This brings to mind the multitude praying in the outer court while Zacharias, the priest, who represents the elect, was worshipping in the inner temple. It was in the inner temple that he had an encounter with the Lord.

Luk 1:8  And it came to pass, that while he (Zacharias) executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
Luk 1:9  According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
Luk 1:10  And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
Luk 1:11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

The north signifies judgement as shown in the following verses:

Jer 1:13  And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.
Jer 1:14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Jer 4:6  Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

This implies that Ezekiel being brought into the outer court towards the way to the north is to tell us that we begin our walk with Christ in the outer court where we give the Lord the occasion for Him to come and judge us. As shown in the introductory section, the key focus of Today’s study is the rooms or chambers which were against the open area and the building on the north. As indicated in verse 13, these rooms represent our hearts and minds where the Lord resides and it is where we receive or eat the holy things which refer to the truth of the word of the Lord.

Eze 42:13  Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy.

When the Lord Jesus was referring to the fact that in His Father’s house there are many mansions, the mansions signifies the heart and mind of each of His elect. 

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

The separate place or the open area represents our liberty in Christ and the building towards the north symbolizes the inner temple which is accessed through judgement. Being brought into the room which was against the open area and the building on the north means that the Lord must have His throne in our hearts and minds to give us the liberty in Christ which comes through the Lord’s judgment. This liberty in Christ means we are no longer in bondage to the flesh.

Eze 42:2  Before the length of an hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits. 
Eze 42:3 Over against the twenty cubits which were for the inner court, and over against the pavement which was for the utter court, was gallery against gallery in three stories. 

The building whose door is towards the north has a length of an hundred cubits and a width of fifty cubits. The fact that the door was towards the north means that we can only access the inner temple or building through the Lord’s judgement of our flesh. The number ‘an hundred’ (100 = 10×10) show us the fulness of the flesh, and ‘fifty’ signifies our liberty in Christ. What these measurements mean is that to have access to the inner temple, which is accessed only by the priests, we must realize that we are the worse sinners as our sins have reached the heavens. That is what gives the Lord the occasion to come and judge us so that we can be liberated from the shackles of our flesh.

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

In verse 3, opposite the inner courtyard was an area of twenty cubits wide which was opposite the pavement of the inner courtyard which faces gallery upon gallery in three stories. These galleries are long, covered areas that are open on one or both sides and are used as corridors or walks. What this implies is that it is those who are ready to war against the flesh who are granted access to the chambers in three stories, since the galleries lead to the chambers or rooms on each floor designated for only the priests.

Eze 42:4  And before the chambers was a passage inward, ten cubits wide and a hundred cubits long, and their doors were on the north. 
Eze 42:5  Now the upper chambers were narrower, for the galleries took more away from them than from the lower and middle chambers of the building. 
Eze 42:6  For they were in three stories, and they had no pillars like the pillars of the courts. Thus the upper chambers were set back from the ground more than the lower and the middle ones. 

Verse 4 is telling us that there is a passageway of ten cubits wide and a hundred cubits in length, leading to the doors facing north. This is telling us that those who are privileged to have access to the chambers or rooms are those whose sins have reached the heavens or become full and therefore are being judged.

Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
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.

As we are aware, it is only the Lord’s elect or priests who are being judged in this age and therefore the rooms are specifically for the priests only. As indicated, these rooms or chambers represent our hearts and minds being a habitation for the Lord.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

In the previous study, we came to know that there were 30 rooms in each floor. The fact that the rooms are arranged in three stories or levels is to show us that we grow in spiritual maturity through the Lord’s judgement. The number ‘thirty’ signifies those who have started to rule over their flesh. They are the ones whose hearts and minds are being prepared as a habitation for the Lord. Later, in another age, we shall rule the kingdoms of this world.

Gen 41:46  And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

2Sa 5:4  David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

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

The three floors with thirty rooms on each level is therefore to make us aware that it is only the Lord’s elect who constitute the temple of the Lord and that as we are being judged, we grow in spiritual maturity from one level to another, and that we are perfected on the third day or floor.

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

It is instructive to note that in verse 5, we are told that the rooms on the third floor are narrower than those on the first and second floor of the building because of the corridors that took more space away from them. The corridors on the third floor having more space is to let us know of the liberty we have in Christ as we grow in maturity. The fact that the rooms on the third floor were narrower compared with the first two floors is let us know that although we have the liberty in Christ, we are not to use our liberty to indulge the flesh.

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.

Verse 6 deals with the structure of the three story buildings. It is not clear from the various versions of the Bible what was being said. All versions say that the rooms in the three stories do not have pillar support like the buildings in the courtyard. The CEV version gives an indication of what supports the three stories.

Eze 42:6  The rooms on the bottom level supported those on the two upper levels, and so these rooms did not have columns like other buildings in the courtyard. (CEV)

As indicated, the rooms represent the Lord’s elect. We can therefore look at the first floor as the work of the apostles which lay the foundation or pillars for us to build on.

Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Eze 42:7  And the wall that was without over against the chambers, toward the utter court on the forepart of the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits. 
Eze 42:8  For the length of the chambers that were in the utter court was fifty cubits: and, lo, before the temple were an hundred cubits. 

There was a wall parallel to the rooms and towards the outer court and it had a length of fifty cubits. The wall is that which separates those in the outer courts from the rooms or chambers of the priests. Being fifty cubits in length means that what separates us from our brothers and sisters in Babylon is our liberty in Christ. It is also worth noting that the length of the chambers that were in the outer courts was fifty cubits. This affirms the fact that what separates us from our brethren in Babylon is our liberty in Christ.

Gal 2:2  And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Gal 2:3  But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
Gal 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

In verse 8, we are also told that the chambers that faced the temple had a length of an hundred cubits. This is to make us aware that the stumbling block to our hearts and minds being made the temple of the Lord is our flesh in his fulness.

Isa 59:1  Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
Isa 59:2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Eze 42:9  And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the utter court. 
Eze 42:10  The chambers were in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, over against the separate place, and over against the building. 
Eze 42:11 And the way before them was like the appearance of the chambers which were toward the north, as long as they, and as broad as they: and all their goings out were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors.  

The east signifies the beginning of the rise of the sun in our lives. This sun is our Lord Jesus Christ. When we start our walk with Christ, we enter the outer court. From the outer court, on the east end, there is a gate leading to the rooms meant for priests. It is when Christ comes to us while we are worshipping in the outer courts, that we are able to enter the chambers through the east gate. Entering the chamber means that our hearts and minds becoming a habitation for the Lord as the Lord rises in our hearts and minds.

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:

Verse 10 shows us that there were rooms parallel to the wall of the courtyard on the south side. They faced the open area and the building. This suggests that the courtyard, which is where we start our walk, is such that unless the Lord intervenes, there is no way we can come into the chambers, that is, the Lord making a habitation in our hearts and minds. This is because the wall of the outer courtyard runs parallel to the chambers.

In verse 11, there was a walkway in front of the open area and the building which was like the one that was in front of the rooms on the north side. These rooms were as long and as wide as the northern rooms. They had the same exits, dimensions, and doors. The walkway being the same as the one in front of the rooms on the northern side means that from whatever direction or background that we are coming from, we must all face the judgement of our old man or flesh as the Lord makes His habitation in us.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Eze 42:12  And according to the doors of the chambers that were toward the south was a door in the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one entereth into them. 

A simpler version of this verse reads:

Eze 42:12  The doors to the south rooms were the same as the doors to the north rooms. There was a doorway at the other end of the walkway that was parallel to the corresponding wall that ran eastward. People entered through that doorway.

The door to the south rooms being the same as the door to the north rooms implies that irrespective of our background, we all share the same experience with our walk with the Lord. The passageway to the chambers being parallel to the wall towards the east is to let us know that this pathway which the Lord takes us through to become His mansions or habitation is separate from our experience with Christ when we first believed. It is this pathway that the Lord constrains us to walk through to become His elect.

The Uses of the Chambers

Eze 42:13  Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy. 
Eze 42:14 When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the utter court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy; and shall put on other garments, and shall approach to those things which are for the people. 

The verses here show us that the north chambers and the south chambers are holy chambers and they belong to those called and chosen as priests. As we have seen, the north represents judgement and the south means being in the land of trouble and anguish, where we are under the domain of the devil and his cohorts as they feed on our flesh.  This gives the Lord the occasion to come and judge us.

Jer 1:13  And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.
Jer 1:14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Jer 4:6  Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

Isa 30:6  The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

The north and south chambers therefore represent those who are being judged in this age. It is this people that the Lord is making their hearts and minds His temple to live in. It is in our hearts and minds that we imbibe the truth of the word of the Lord, which is represented in verse 13 as the holy things.

In verse 14, we are told that as priests of the Lord, we cannot go back into the outer court which signifies Babylon or the physical churches of this world. The garments that were worn by the priests represent our righteousness.

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.

It is only when we leave behind our garments, that is, lose our righteousness, that we can become part of the outer court. Becoming part of Babylon is the same as wearing other garments not recommended for the wedding feast with Christ.

Mat 22:11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat 22:12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

The Measurement of the Gates

Eze 42:15  Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about. 
Eze 42:16  He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 
Eze 42:17  He measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about. 
Eze 42:18  He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed. 
Eze 42:19  He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. 
Eze 42:20  He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place. 

The East side represents our walk with Christ when He begins to rise within us. The measurement of five hundred reeds on the east side is to let us know that when our sins have reached their fulness because of the dominance of the flesh in our lives, that is when the Lord comes to us with His grace through faith.

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

This grace is the Lord’s chastening which, through the faith the Lord has given us, we are able to endure to the end. The rise of the daystar within us is therefore through the judgement of the Lord.

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 north side also had the same measurement as the east side. This is to assure us that this grace through faith that we have received involves the judgement of the Lord since the north signifies judgement.

The south side also had the same measurement. Being on the south side means that we are in the land of trouble and anguish where we are under the domain of the devil and his cohorts as they feed on our flesh.

Isa 30:6  The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

It is this situation that we find ourselves in that the Lord comes to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness to cleanse our temple for Him to dwell in.

The west is where the sun sets. The west side therefore refers to our maturity in Christ as we come to fear the name of the Lord.

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

The west having the same measurement of five hundred reeds as the other sides of the cardinal points means that it is grace through faith that we mature to have the fear of the Lord. As explained, this grace connotes the chastening of the Lord.

The fact that all the sides of the temple area have the same measurement means that the temple area was a square. This implies that from whatever background we come from, our spiritual experience are all the same.

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.

In verse 20, the chapter concludes with the fact that there is a wall surrounding the temple area with the measurement of five hundred reeds in length and five hundred reeds in breadth. This is to remind us that it is when our flesh has reached its fulness that the Lord comes with His grace through faith to deliver us, and to makes our hearts and minds His sanctuary or temple. In verse 20, we are also given the function of the wall. It separates the sanctuary or the holy place from the profane place. What separates us, His elect, from the people of this world, including our brothers and sisters, is the five hundred reeds square wall. What we are being told is that the difference between us, His elect, and all others is this grace through faith that the Lord gives us when He comes to us in our spiritual poverty, when the deeds of our our flesh had peaked. As indicated, this grace is the Lord’s chastening. In other words, it is the Lord’s judgement of our flesh that separates us from all others.

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.
Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

May the name of the Lord be praised forever more. Amen!!

]]> The Book of Daniel – Dan 11:5-16 Be ye not troubled – Part 2 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/the-book-of-daniel-dan-115-16-be-ye-not-troubled-part-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-book-of-daniel-dan-115-16-be-ye-not-troubled-part-2 Thu, 16 May 2024 17:09:21 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=29976 Audio Download

Dan 11:5-16 Be ye not troubled – Part 2

[Study Aired May 16, 2024]

Dan 11:1  Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.
Dan 11:2  And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.
Dan 11:3  And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 
Dan 11:4  And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.

This section of chapter 11 reminds us that historically both the Persian Empire and the Greek empire tried to destroy the Jewish people, who typify the Israel of God (Gal 6:16, Rom 2:28-29). These attempts at trying to destroy the physical nation of Israel typify for God’s elect the reality of the powers and principalities against which we wrestle in our heavens as God’s children, and how the devil constantly wants to sift us like wheat, but by God’s power we are kept spiritually alive through Christ.

It is by the words of eternal life that contain exceedingly great and precious promises that we are sanctified and washed and given increase from our Father as we grow (1Co 3:7) and become persuaded (Rom 8:38) that we are in fact more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Eph 6:12, Luk 22:31, Rom 8:37).

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

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

The mighty king that rises up in Daniel 11:3-4 is Alexander the great and he is another type of the self-willed man of perdition that has war in his heart, and opposes Christ (Mat 25:40). The spiritual lesson God is showing us via these evil rulers is that we will have many spiritual battles, much tribulation (Act 14:22) in our own heavens, and it will only be through Christ that we will conquer any and all empires that dominate our heavens at first (2Co 4:15).

Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Alexander’s kingdom would not endure and would be divided after his death. There were no descendants who succeeded him, and after his death there were four generals that controlled the Greek Empire, but none of them “according to his will.” This reminds us of the vanity of flesh that cannot inherit the kingdom, as we look at all the conquests of Alexander the great come to nought as others would come in and rule his empire and not in a manner that would have been desirable to him. This is a very parallel situation to king Solomon (Dan 11:3, Ecc 2:17-18). 

Dan 11:3  And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

Ecc 2:17  Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 
Ecc 2:18  Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

The next prophecies focus on two of the four inheritors of Alexander’s realm and the dynasties they established. Historically there were four inheritors of Alexander’s realm, however only two are focused on because they were continually fighting over the Promised Land because of its location between the northern and southern kings. 

Those struggles and wars over the promised land typify for us what we read in Romans 7:19-25. These verses in Romans chapter 7 become central to our thinking whenever we read of wars or power struggles in history, where we learn that not every battle is won “but the evil which I would not, that I do” (Pro 24:16), however in the end the war will be won against all the powers and principalities with which we war, through Christ, if that is God’s will for us (Rom 8:37, 1Sa 17:47).

Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 
Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

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.

1Sa 17:47  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

Dan 11:5  And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion. 

Below are some historical facts surrounding this fifth verse which demonstrate how God controls who He puts in places of rulership in order to direct the course of history according to the counsel of His own will (Dan 4:17, Eph 1:11). It’s in our former conversation of Ephesians 2:1-3 that the basest of men take residence in our hearts and war ensues as a result, symbolized by the king of the South and the king of the North.

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

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

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

Dan 11:6  And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.

According to the historical account, “the end of years they shall join themselves together” took 130 years of warring between these two dynasties. What transpired to make this happen is “the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement.“

Below are some historical facts that can help us understand what physically unfolded, and then we can look more closely at what this represents for us spiritually, the natural preceding the spiritual (1Co 15:46). What is very evident is that every part of the statue of Nebuchadnezzar that represents the corrupt history of humanity had vast schisms and weaknesses, each being a little different than the former but all corrupt and divided in the final analysis (Mar 3:24-25). 

Mar 3:24  And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
Mar 3:25  And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

When reading the history of this verse of Daniel it brings to mind this verse, which pertains especially to the end of the ages prior to Christ’s return, but it also has an application for these days we’re reading of as well (2Ti 3:1-4).

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 
2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 
2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 
2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Dan 11:7  But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail: 
Dan 11:8  And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north. 
Dan 11:9  So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.

The king of the South represents our fleshly life without the judgment of God that comes from the north, and in fact in this story the South dominates the North and takes vengeance for past offenses, which ends up just continuing the cycle of violence. The lesson for God’s people is to love our enemies, resist not evil, and forgive those who have trespassed against us or the unsettled dynasties will continue to rule in our heavens (Mat 5:44, Mat 5:39, Mat 6:14-15). Below is the historical confirmation of more wars and rumors of wars that are perpetuated in Satan’s kingdom as a result of Christ not being present in the hearts of mankind. 

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Mat 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Mat 6:14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses [cycle of violence will continue in our heavens].

Dan 11:10  But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.

The irony in this section of scripture is that the Holy Land is being taken back through war, and as we read the historical account of the battle, it was deemed to be furious. These actions typify for us how in our appointed time we violently took the kingdom by force, even as Babylon still does to this day even while saying, “Lord, Lord” but not doing the things He commands (Mat 11:12-15, Luk 6:46).

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. 
Mat 11:14  And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
Mat 11:15  He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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

Dan 11:11  And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand. 
Dan 11:12  And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.

As these wars progress in the book of Daniel, it would be beneficial to answer the question of where all these wars are coming from (Jas 4:1-7), and how are they being instigated from God’s perspective (1Sa 16:14, Eph 1:11), and what the spiritual lesson is for God’s elect today, and eventually all the world. 

Jas 4:1  From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Jas 4:2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 
Jas 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 
Jas 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 
Jas 4:5  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Jas 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 
Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

1Sa 16:14  But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

This battle of the South against the North goes in favor of the Southern empire who was “moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.“

This overcoming of a great multitude and then after that “when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands” represents the power God gives us even while in Babylon to overcome very physical addictions and bad behaviors. However, as this verse concludes “but he shall not be strengthened by it” telling us that these physical victories of the empire from the South are more akin to what the disciples were so excited over when they realized that they had been given dominion over evil spirits outwardly that were now subject to them (Luk 10:17). Not having the holy spirit within them yet, Christ turned their attention to what would truly strengthen them; that being to have the spirit of God within them to gain dominion over the powers and principalities within themselves against which they would wrestle in this life (Luk 10:18-20). Christ was speaking of things as though they were not (Rom 4:17) when He told His disciples to rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven, which is synonymous with being sealed with the holy spirit of promise (Eph 1:13-14).

Luk 10:17  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 
Luk 10:18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luk 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Rom 4:17  (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Dan 11:13  For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches. 
Dan 11:14  And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall. 
Dan 11:15  So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand. 
Dan 11:16  But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed. 

I can’t guarantee that every part of the historical commentary throughout this study is one hundred percent accurate, but what I can say confidently is that the spiritual lessons we can take from all these battles and power struggles which have unfolded for our spiritual learning today are profitable to us in instructing us in His righteousness (2Ti 3:15-17).

2Ti 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

This last section we will look at for this study represents for us how evil men will wax worse and worse, “the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches” (2Ti 3:13). Whether the time period for these events is happening as the historians suggest does not mean there is not an aorist, is, was and will be manner in which we can understand what we are reading, always applying what we read primarily inwardly, in the present ‘is’ manner, as this is the only place where the scriptures we are reading can become relevant for our dying daily sojourn in the Lord (Rev 1:3).

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

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

These verses (Mat 24:12-14, Mat 10:21-23, 2Ti 3:1) correspond with the historical events that were taking place at this time in history. “And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall“, and we are reminded of Christ’s words to “be you not troubled” (Mat 24:5-8), as all these things must happen inwardly in our own heavens, but the end is not yet.

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 10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 
Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
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. [from battle to battle, glory to glory (2Co 3:18)]

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 

Mat 24:5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
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 [from battle to battle, glory to glory (2Co 3:18)].

Next week, Lord willing, we will continue to break down more verses and possibly conclude with chapter eleven to bring us to a very hope-filled last chapter in the book of Daniel.

]]> Book of Obadiah – Oba 1:9 Mount of Esau is Cut Off https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/book-of-obadiah-oba-19-mount-of-esau-is-cut-off/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=book-of-obadiah-oba-19-mount-of-esau-is-cut-off Wed, 31 Jan 2024 17:47:23 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=29231 Audio Download

Obadiah 1:9 Mount of Esau is Cut Off

[Study Aired January 31, 2024]

Obadiah 1:9  And broken down have been thy mighty ones, O Teman, So that every one of the mount of Esau is cut off. (YLT)

Oba 1:9  And thy mightyH1368 men, O Teman,H8487 shall be dismayed,H2865 (H8804 Qal) to the end thatH4616 every oneH376 of the mountH4480 H2022 of EsauH6215 may be cut offH3772 (H8735 Niphal) 

H1368 – Ghibbor, strong, mighty, strong man, brave man, mighty man, from a primitive root H1396, Gabar, to prevail, have strength, be strong, be powerful, be mighty, be great, make strong, strengthen, confirm, give strength, confirm, show oneself mighty, act proudly (toward God)

H8487 – Teyman, Teman = south, from H8486, Teyman, south, southward, whatever is on the right (so the southern quarter), south wind, toward the south, denominative from H3225, Yamiyn, right, right hand, right side, south (the direction of the right hand when facing East), from a primitive root H3231, Yaman, to choose the right, go to the right, use the right hand, be right handed

H2865 – Khathath, (Qal) to be shattered, be dismayed, be broken, a primitive root

H4616 – Mahan, purpose, intent, for the sake of, in view of, on account of, for the purpose of, to the intent that, in order to, to the end that, from a primitive root 

H6030 Anah, to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout, respond to, respond as a witness, make answer, be answered, receive, sing, utter tunefully, dwell

H376 – Eesh, man, male, husband, human being, person, servant, mankind, champion, great man, whosoever, each, contracted for H582, Enoshe, man, mortal man, person, mankind, of an individual, men, from a primitive root H605, Anash, to be weak, sick, frail, be incurable, desperate, incurable, desperately wicked, woeful, very sick

H4480 – Min, from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than, some of, after (of time), from…even to, both…and, either…or, too much for, through, because, from H4482, Mane, musical chord, a stringed instrument from an unused root to apportion

H2022 – Har, hill, mountain, hill country, mount, a shortened form of H2042, Harar, mountain, hill, hill country, mount, from an unused root meaning to loom up

H6215 – Esav, hairy, apparently a form of a primitive root H6213, Asah, to do, fashion, accomplish, make, work, produce, to deal with, act, act with effect, effect, prepare, attend to, put in order, observe, celebrate, acquire, appoint, ordain, institute, bring about, use, spend, pass, be done, be made, be produced, be offered, be observed, be used, be made, to press, squeeze

H3772 – Karath, (Niphal) to be cut off/down, be chewed, fail, a primitive root

Here is Obadiah 1:9 with the root words included:

The mighty ones (those who act proudly toward God) of Teman (South facing/the right hand) (is being) shattered (and shall) for the purpose of being a witness to mankind (the desperately wicked). So that the mountain (looming up) of Esau shall be cut down. 

Teman is the name of a district and town in the land of Edom, named after Teman, the grandson of Esau, the son of his firstborn, Eliphaz. A duke Teman is named among the chiefs or clans of Edom. Teman H8487 tay-mawn’ means the south (as being on the right hand of a person facing the east). The south denotes man’s right hand (man’s power). Figuratively, the right hand denotes “power” and “authority”:

Act 2:32  ‘This Jesus did God raise up, of which we are all witnesses;
Act 2:33  at the right hand then of God having been exalted—also the promise of the Holy Spirit having received from the Father—he was shedding forth this, which now ye see and hear;
Act 2:34  for David did not go up to the heavens, and he saith himself: The Lord saith to my lord, Sit thou at my right hand,
Act 2:35  till I make thy foes thy footstool

The proud heart in all of us is being brought down as we are humbled by Christ. Christ’s bright eyes shine in us and filtrate/purify us because we are a living sacrifice upon which He has chosen to transform into pillars in His temple. Unlike James and John arguing about who will sit at Christ’s left or right hand, we as the elect know it is simply an honour to be called, chosen, and remain faithful to be considered worthy to be grafted into the body of Christ as ministers and servants. The body does not tell the head where it will sit, on the right or the left, instead, the body is submissive to its head in all things. The body follows the head just as the body of Christ follows the mind of Christ in all things. Where Christ goes, we go:

Eze 1:20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
Eze 1:21  When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels

Contrary to this spirit of submission was the spirit of James and John:

Mrk 10:35  And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
Mrk 10:36  And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
Mrk 10:37  They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
Mrk 10:38  But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
Mrk 10:39  And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
Mrk 10:40  But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
Mrk 10:41  And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
Mrk 10:42  But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
Mrk 10:43  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Mrk 10:44  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
Mrk 10:45  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

James and John were eager to make their requests known to Christ, but in doing so were making the sacrifice of fools

Ecc 5:1  Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
Ecc 5:2  Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
Ecc 5:3  For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

James and John were used as an example to remind us how important it is to “keep our foot” when entering the house of God. The mighty ones of Teman and Edom placed their identity and worth in their pride. Their heart was hasty:

Oba 1:3  The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?

Job’s words were not few, nor did he keep his foot when offering his sacrifice of fools.

Job 10:1  My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
Job 10:2  I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.
Job 10:3  Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
Job 10:4  Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?
Job 10:5  Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man’s days,
Job 10:6  That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?
Job 10:7  Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand

Job 23:3  Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
Job 23:4  I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
Job 23:5  I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

Here is God’s response to Job’s sacrifice of a fool, labelling it as Job speaking by words without knowledge:

Job 38:1  Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Job 38:2  Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge.

Job 40:1  Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
Job 40:2  Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Job Promises Silence

Job 40:3  Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 40:4  Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth

Ultimately, God the Father and Christ are sovereign in this cleansing process of purification we are all going through. How are we purified? By the words of the Son. The sovereignty of God has ordained that in “these last days” He speaks to us in His Son, Jesus Christ:

Heb 1:1  In many parts, and many ways, God of old having spoken to the fathers in the prophets,
Heb 1:2  in these last days did speak to us in a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He did make the ages;
Heb 1:3  who being the brightness (G541) of the glory, and the impress of His subsistence, bearing up also the all things by the saying of his might—through himself having made a cleansing of our sins, sat down at the right hand of the greatness in the highest.

Brightness is from G541 ap-ow’-gas-mah meaning an off flash or effulgence. Effulgence means the ability to shine brightly. The brightness of Christ occurs in that he perfectly reflects the majesty of God. It is this brightness of His coming that will be how the wicked in us is revealed (illuminated):

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

How is the old man consumed with the spirit of His mouth? The spirit of His mouth is the flames of fire of His Word:

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God

We are the apple of His eye, and even though we will suffer loss in this battle as we are burned, he that remains (overcomes) shall be saved.

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

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

Psa 17:8  Keep me as the apple, the daughter of the eye; In shadow of Thy wings thou dost hide me.
Psa 17:9  From the face of the wicked who spoiled me. Mine enemies in soul go round against me.
Psa 17:10  Their fat they have closed up, Their mouths have spoken with pride:
Psa 17:11  ‘Our steps now have compassed him;’ Their eyes they set to turn aside in the land.
Psa 17:12  His likeness as a lion desirous to tear, As a young lion dwelling in secret places.
Psa 17:13  Arise, O Jehovah, go before his face, Cause him to bend. Deliver my soul from the wicked, Thy sword.

Being delivered in this battle is Christ saving us. We can only be truly humble if we are given eyes to see that it is Christ in us that is the New Man and He has dragged us to Himself so that we cannot take any credit for our salvation. This is true humility. Without it, without Christ, our humility is false, and we remain the high and lofty mountain of Esau.

Jas 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

In verse 9 of Obadiah this message is reinforced: “every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off.” The word used for ‘cut off’ is H3772 kaw-rath’ meaning to cut, destroy, consume and to be chewed. It is first used after the flood of Noah

Gen 9:11  And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off (consumed) any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
Gen 9:12  And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
Gen 9:13  I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

Physical water is no longer, and never again will be, used to consume all flesh. Instead, spiritually speaking, it is spiritual fire that is used to chew/consume all flesh (the proud heart and wise men of Edom in us). It is with Christ’s fire that he consumes all flesh.

Deu 4:24  For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Deu 9:3  Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.

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

This passage in 2 Thessalonians describes what Christ is consuming:

2Th 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
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:
2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

It is this process that saves us. Christ has overcome the world, Christ has brought down Teman and Edom, making Him our one and only true saviour:

Joh 16:33  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Conclusion and Spiritual Principle: Those with eyes to see and ears to hear will understand that the Word of God is a book that we are to keep and experience because the Word of God is alive and is how God the father “speak(s) to us in a Son.”

Heb 1:2  in these last days did speak to us in a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He did make the ages;

The day of Christ is “at hand.”

2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand

Christ is at hand and as He increases in us, and our old man decreases, we begin to speak by words with wisdom, not as Job who spoke by words without knowledge offering sacrifices of a fool.

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