“Divine Order In Creation And Scripture” – Part 1

Sequence of Numbers in Genesis

Building on the numbers series that Mike was inspired to present to us, this mini series looks at some of the ways the holy spirit inspired numbers to be used in God’s word. Not just the meaning of any single number, which is critical to know, but also how some of the real time applications of those numbers or combination of the numbers, can reveal hidden treasures of God’s word for us (Pro 25:2).

Pro 25:2  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

This opening study has to do with the sequence, or order of the creation in Genesis and some of what those sequences of numbers show us.

Sequence of numbers in creation:

There is a forming and filling event with the days of creation shown in God’s word. The natural event of the creation week (Rom 1:20) reveals many things about how God’s workmanship which we are, is being ordered (Eph 2:10).

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

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

Forming and filling:

Day 1 was filled with Day 4.

Day 2 was filled with Day 5.

Day 3 was filled with Day 6.

Day 1 God creates light and darkness, not the sun, moon, and stars, but light and darkness (Gen 1:5), and then tells us what will fill Day 1 (light and darkness Isa 45:7) on Day 4. There are three days needed before the fourth day brings forth the sun, moon, and stars. We know that ‘three’ represents the process of judgment, telling us that our heavens are formed through a process. The sun, moon and stars appear on Day four, but that does not mean that they are perfected, just that they are in place to accomplish God’s ultimate goal of making a new creation in Christ.

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. [typified by that part of creation on day 1]

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

These first six days of God’s creation signify the physical work that sets the stage for God to enter into His rest on the seventh day. The natural work precedes the spiritual work, or rest, that happens on the seventh day (Heb 4:4-10). The sun, moon and stars are in place, and those signified parts of creation are used to show us what is going to happen in (Rev 17:11), each man in his own order.

Heb 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.(1Co 15:46)
Heb 4:5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
Heb 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:[when we believe we can do the work of God and enter into His rest]

[belief comes on the seventh day when God’s people enter into a rest as God did (Heb 4:9-10, Christ our rest today explained in these verses Php 2:12-13). When we believe, we can do the works of God and enter into His works because we now know at this point and time that it is Christ doing the work within at that day (Joh 14:20)]

Heb 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Heb 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

[in other words the Sabbath was no rest, just a type of the rest found in Christ that was yet to come]

Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.(Rom 8:9, Col 1:27)
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his (Zec 4:6).

We are not complete even on the seventh day but it does represent the beginning of that completeness that will happen when the new man [8] is formed out of that seventh day (Rev 17:11). The 6 days of creation are inside, or part of, the 8th day which represents the new man who is being spiritually circumcised [Lev 12:3], something that can only happen because of the complete work that must occur on the 7th day (Rev 15:8) in order for us to enter into the temple in the fullness, in the blessed and holy first resurrection (1Co 13:12). This transformation into becoming a new creation requires the true witness of Christ’s life within us, represented by the number two that works on the number six to give us the new man [8] that God is forming in each of His children.

Rev 17:11 And the beast [mankind the number 6] that was, and is not, even he is the eighth [the new man], and is of the seven [going on to perfection], and goeth into perdition [which bring about perfection that is accomplished by the destruction of the 6.6.6. beast via a process of judgment that Christ 2 is executing as the author and finisher of our faith].

Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

That’s the first sequence 1 and 4, and now let’s look at the sequence of 2 and 5.

The same principle is applied of something being made to be filled with something. The firmament was made on the 2nd day that represent God’s spirit which every living creature lives and moves and has their being in, where God can work all things according to the counsel of His own will, and nothing is impossible (Act 17:28, Psa 139:1-4, Heb 1:3, 1Co 8:6, Eph 1:11). All things would include the great fish that swallowed up Jonah (Joh 1:17), Balaam‘s donkey that talked (Num 22:21-35), the parting of the Red Sea (Exo 14:21-22), etc… all events that occurred to provide instructive prophecy (1Pe 1:12, 1Co 10:11) for those who would be the first to enter into Christ’s rest.

Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Psa 139:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Psa 139:2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Psa 139:3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Psa 139:4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

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

Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

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:

The first, second, and third days were created as a platform to be filled by the fourth, fifth, and six days, revealing that without Christ who comes in on the seventh day (Col 1:27, Rom 8:9) we are incomplete. All those physical things created typify things within us that need to be in place before the natural can go unto perfection on the seventh day.

Day 1 is eventually filled with the sun, the moon and stars on Day 4, but is not complete. Day 2 is when the firmament was created that is needed for birds and fish to survive Day 5 but it is not complete. Birds represent spirits, and fish represent mankind that harbours those spirits. Day 3 brings forth the land, seas, and plants of which animals will thrive and humans will be given dominion over (Gen 1:26). Again this dominion is only typical of the spiritual dominion that all mankind will one day have through Christ, and a process is being discussed as the number three is what it takes in each instance to go from the formed state to the filled state, just as judgment must be upon the house of God (1Pe 4:17) where a process is unfolding, a dominion over sin, that will conclude in our going unto perfection on the third day (Luk 13:32).

123 4

234 5

345 6

 The last sequence is Day 3 that is filled up with Day 6. The land and the sea of Day 3 represents our bodies, and the plants represent the incomplete nourishment that is needed to sustain both beasts, animals and humans, on Day 6 (Ecc 3:19). The sea is a lower state of awareness which represents all of mankind, akin to the camp outside of the court, and the court is more akin to the land, but still carnal and not the temple which represents the body of Christ (1Co 3:16).

Ecc 3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

Those animals need to be in place in order to be sacrificed on the seventh day where we can go without the camp and present ourselves a living sacrifice by the strength of Christ that makes it possible for us to be as he is in this world, at this time (Heb 13:10-13, 1Jn 4:17).

Heb 13:10 We have an altar,[1Co 3:16, Gal 2:20] whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

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

Now the stage is set to introduce the pinnacle of God’s incomplete physical creation, that was very good for what it was intended to produce in the end (Gen 2:1-25).

“They shall be one flesh” (Gen 2:24), and complete each other, in the same way that all these physical things being discussed in chapter one were filling, completing, or setting the stage for what God is going to teach us through the relationship of Adam and Eve and all their descendants. This natural relationship of Adam and Eve is only the type of the oneness that will come to those who are given the spirit of God within making us one with our husband and head Jesus Christ (1Co 11:3).

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

If Adam and Eve were marred in the hand of the Potter which they were (Jer 18:4), then the creation itself which represents what is abiding within each of us is also incomplete, and not capable of inheriting eternal life (1Co 15:50).

What is spoken of Adam and Eve in (Gen 2:23-25) is true of all of humanity. These verses describe both a negative and positive example of unity, or oneness that can only be found in Christ (2Co 11:3).

Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Gen 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Adam and Eve were not of us (1Jn 2:19, Jer 18:4). They were in the earth and were about to be driven (Gen 3:24) from the garden which is a type of our going into Babylonian captivity which we all must go into and then come out of in God’s ordained time (2Co 6:17). It is through the dragging out process of God (Joh 6:44) that we can come out of Babylon our former mother where we initially go into exile, to then begin to cleave unto the church of the first born, where we can provoke one another unto love and good works (Heb 10:24-25).

1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

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

Gen 3:24 So he drove^{H1644 = “divorced” (H853)} out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
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.

In this series of studies we’ll look at different uses of numbers in the bible, be it in patterns, combinations of numbers, multiples of number, sequences, addition, subtraction, fractions, or divisions that can be “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”(2Ti 3:16). All those combinations and uses of numbers relates back to the same point of God providing lessons for us that can help us understand how the bride is being made ready, so that she is one with her husband spiritually (Rev 19:7).

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

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

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Jer 26:13-24  Of a Truth the LORD Hath Sent Me Unto You to Speak all These Words

[Study Aired December 26, 2021]

Jer 26:13  Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.
Jer 26:14  As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.
Jer 26:15  But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.
Jer 26:16  Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.
Jer 26:17  Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying,
Jer 26:18  Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.
Jer 26:19  Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.
Jer 26:20  And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:
Jer 26:21  And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;
Jer 26:22  And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.
Jer 26:23  And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.
Jer 26:24  Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

In our last study the Lord sent Jeremiah to stand in the court of the Lord’s house and tell Jerusalem, and all the cities of Judah, that God was about to make His own house “as Shiloh”. We saw that the significance of being made like Shiloh was to have the glory of the Lord removed from the midst of His own people because of their self-righteous rebellions against His commandments. The response from the Lord’s people being informed of the fact that He would not tolerate their self-righteous rebellion is the same in all of us:

Jer 26:8  Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.
Jer 26:9  Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
Jer 26:10  When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king’s house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD’S house.
Jer 26:11  Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.

“All the people” includes you and me. We all just naturally rebel against the Lord’s judgments and demand to know: “Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant?”

We see ourselves in an entirely different light. We see ourselves as very righteous and giving and caring people, and indeed that may be the case. However, when we see those good works as coming from ourselves, it is at that very point those very “good works” become sinful works of rebellion against the Lord and His Truth, which is:

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Eze 33:13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

“If he trust in his own righteousness, and commit iniquity” tells us that self-righteousness is ‘iniquity’, and nothing is more repugnant to the Lord. Yet that is the very message of the parable about the Pharisee and the publican going up to the temple:

Luk 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The Lord will have us to know that He is our righteousness. Jeremiah makes this statement three times:

Jer 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Jer 33:16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

Jer 51:10 The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.

We must indeed live righteously because grace works only “through righteousness”:

Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching [G3811: ‘paideuo’, chastening] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [G165: ‘aion’ age]

It is true that we “know a tree by its fruit”, nevertheless we must acknowledge that “the Lord hath brought forth our righteousness”. If we think we have anything to do with making ourselves righteous or producing good fruit, then we are full of iniquity and judgment awaits us.

Jer 26:13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

The Lord works our righteousness, including our repentance, which He brings to us only through fiery trials of His grace such as Jeremiah is about to experience:

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.

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

This world esteems us to be “the savor of death”:

2Co 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
2Co 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
2Co 2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

As a type of who we are, Jeremiah was “the savor of death” to the religious leaders and the people of God in his day:

Jer 26:14 As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.
Jer 26:15 But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.

This is just as it happened to Christ. It was the very “Jews which believed on Him” who shouted for His crucifixion:

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Joh 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father [“the devil” – vs 44].

Jeremiah’s situation is an Old Testament type of what Christ endured. It was Jeremiah’s own nation who was calling for his death. Nevertheless, as the Lord used Pharaoh’s own baker to help Joseph (Gen 41:9), as He used Saul’s own son, Jonathan, to help David (1Sa 20:9), the Lord here uses the king’s own sons and his own scribe, Ahikam, to rescue Jeremiah from “the priests and the prophets and all the people”:

Jer 26:16 Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.
Jer 26:17 Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying,
Jer 26:18 Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

Notice how fickle “all the people” are. When “the priests and the prophets” tell them Jeremiah is worthy of death, that is what they call for:

Jer 26:8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.

Let’s compare this verse 8 from last week’s study to verse 16 of today’s study:

Jer 26:16 Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.

It was “the Jews which believed on [Christ] who also “want[ed] to kill [Him]”:

Joh 8:30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

You and I are “all the people” while we abide in the churches of Babylon, and our old man will always be working to retain his kingdom within each of us. Knowing this tendency of our flesh is why the holy spirit prompted Peter to tell us all:

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

“The whole world… [our] brethren that are in the world [are] groaning and travailing together in pain until now” even though they are not being judged in “this present time”:

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are [Greek: present tense] the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they [“your brethren that are in the world” (1Pe 1:9)], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

This ‘Micah the Morasthite’ of verse 18 is the author of the book of Micah. His prophecy was many years earlier, and it was addressed to both Jerusalem, the capital of the southern nation of Judah, and to Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel:

Mic 1:1 The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

By the time of Jeremiah’s prophecy, the northern kingdom of Israel had already been carried out of Israel into the cities of the Assyrians. Those cities included the city of Babylon, whose king would in time take over the hegemony of the Assyrian empire, and it would come to be called the Babylonian empire. The Assyrians and the Babylonians are both Chaldeans. Nebuchadnezzar, also known as Nebuchadrezzar, was the king whom the Lord chose to begin the later judgment of His people by having them spend seventy years in subjection to that pagan kingdom. Micah prophesied while the Chaldeans were still under the hegemony of Nineveh and the kings of Assyria. His prophecy came to both Israel and Judah in the days of King Hezekiah. King Hezekiah listened to the words of Micah and repented, and the Lord spared Judah at that time:

Mic 1:2 Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
Mic 1:3 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.
Mic 1:4 And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.
Mic 1:5 For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?

The princes, the king’s own sons, remind the people of that bit of their history and convince them to spare Jeremiah’s life:

Jer 26:19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus [if we kill Jeremiah] might we procure great evil against our souls.
Jer 26:20 And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:
Jer 26:21 And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;
Jer 26:22 And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.
Jer 26:23 And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

Urijah “fled… into Egypt”, and as always when we flee into Egypt for security, we lose our security. It is this very King Jehoiakim, who slew the prophet Urijah, with whom Jeremiah is contending. These ‘princes’ who are defending Jeremiah are the sons of King Jehoiakim.

Ahikam was just as respected in Jehoiakim’s court as he was in the court of Josiah, Jehoiakim’s father. So, Jeremiah has some powerful allies in the king’s court even as he is sent to prophesy against the kingdom of a king who has already slain one of the Lord’s prophets, and Jeremiah knows that his life is indeed in imminent danger.

Jer 26:24 Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

Ahikam is one of the men sent by King Josiah, Jehoiakim’s father, to Hulldah the prophetess to know what would come of Judah for being found so far away from the words of the book of the law which Hilkiah the high priest had discovered in the temple while it was being restored.

2Ki 22:12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest [“the high priest” (vs 4)], and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying,
2Ki 22:13 Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
2Ki 22:14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.

Ahikam was placed in Josiah’s court and made to partake in many celebrated events just for the purpose of giving him standing with the king and with the people so he could be used by the Lord to intervene on Jeremiah’s behalf.

The Lord’s eyes are upon His elect in the same way:

Pro 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Zec 2:7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
Zec 2:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
Zec 2:9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.

That is our study for today. Here are the verses for our next study:

Jer 27:1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Jer 27:2 Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,
Jer 27:3 And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah;
Jer 27:4 And command them to say unto their masters, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters;
Jer 27:5 I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.
Jer 27:6 And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.
Jer 27:7 And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son’s son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.
Jer 27:8 And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.
Jer 27:9 Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:
Jer 27:10 For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.
Jer 27:11 But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.
Jer 27:12 I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.
Jer 27:13 Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?
Jer 27:14 Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.
Jer 27:15 For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.
Jer 27:16 Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD’S house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.
Jer 27:17 Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste?
Jer 27:18 But if they be prophets, and if the word of the LORD be with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.
Jer 27:19 For thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that remain in this city,
Jer 27:20 Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem;
Jer 27:21 Yea, thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem;
Jer 27:22 They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the LORD; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place.

[Study Aired October 31, 2019]

PRAISE

Psa 136:1  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:2  O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:3  O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:4  To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

CREATION 

Psa 136:5  To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:6  To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:7  To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:8  The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:9  The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

JUDGMENT

Psa 136:10  To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:11  And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:12  With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:13  To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:14  And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:15  But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

OVERCOMING

Psa 136:16  To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:17  To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:18  And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:19  Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:20  And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:21  And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:22  Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.

SALVATION

Psa 136:23  Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:24  And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:25  Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

PRAISE

Psa 136:26  O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

The phrase “for his mercy endureth for ever” is mentioned twenty six times in this Psalm (2+6=8 the new man is [8 Christ] who is formed out of the [6 old man] through [2 Christ the true witness and second Adam 1Co 15:45]), and is symbolically described for us by the story of creation in Psalm 136:1-4, and then how that new creation must be judged, typified by Israel’s exodus from Egypt in Psalm 136:10-15 which demonstrates for us how “his mercy endureth for ever”.

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

The verses then go on to describe the way God’s elect will overcome the giants of our land as God leads “his people through the wilderness”, revealing how His mercy endures for ever in verses 16 to 22 (Psa 136:16-22). That mercy or goodness shown to Israel are the type-and-shadow events which point to salvation for all, and first for those who are blessed to be nourished by those “great kings” (Num 14:9) which we overcome through Christ who is cleansing our land in this age (our bodies, the body of Christ) expressed in these verses (Psa 136:23-25).

Num 14:9  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

The Psalm 136 then concludes in the last verse as it started in the first verse, with thanks we give to God as we give Him all glory for all He accomplishes in our “heavens” “for his mercy endureth for ever”.

PRAISE

Psa 136:1  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:2  O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:3  O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:4  To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

These first four verses are a declaration of the last verse of this Psalm (Psa 136:26), declaring the end from the beginning and acknowledging that it is “him who alone [that] doeth great wonders”, revealing that His mercy that “endureth for ever” is from start to finish (Php 1:6), starting with the elect and then the rest of His creation, the other fold of which Christ spoke in Matthew 22:14 and John 10:16.

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

Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

Joh 10:16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

God’s mercy which will endure forever is something for which we give thanks, because without that mercy or His goodness that leads us to repentance in this age (Rom 2:4) expressed through those wonderful works to the children of men or “great wonders” as they are called in Psalm 136:4, we would simply die in our sins and not be found in the first resurrection (Joh 8:24, Joh 6:29, Joh 8:31-32, Mat 24:13).

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Joh 8:24  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

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

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

CREATION

Psa 136:5  To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:6  To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:7  To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:8  The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:9  The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

This process of overcoming and enduring until the end is now described for us in these verses that speak about the creation week where those things which were created in that week parallel the spiritual creation which is being formed within the body of Christ.

Christ is our “wisdom” (1Co 1:30-31) who is taking the old marred vessel and destroying it and making something new (Jer 18:4) in “the heavens”, or heart and mind, of his children who are maturing in the mind of Christ (1Co 2:16, 2Pe 3:18).

1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

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

1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

2Pe 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

In order for us to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”, our lives will need to be stretched with much tribulation (Act 14:22) and fiery trials (1Pe 4:12) that God’s elect are promised we will be able to endure “for his mercy endureth for ever”.

He “stretched out the earth above the waters” describes in symbolic language the suffering that we are enduring as the body [earth] of Christ, and is “above the waters” or the sea of humanity that we are called out of (2Co 6:17), being raised in heavenly places together as God works in our earth both to will and to do of his good pleasure that stretches us (Eph 2:6, Php 2:13, Joh 15:2-3, Psa 107:20, Joh 20:21, 1Jn 4:17, Oba 1:21).

Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Joh 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Psa 107:20  He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

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

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

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

The “great lights” that God made the “sun to rule by day” and the “moon and stars to rule by night” are both within us (Isa 45:7) and are used to “bring forth salvation” (Isa 45:8). God’s mercy is expressed through these lights that rule our heavens, and we are preserved unto judgment with the light that the moon and the stars give us through the night, and then the brightness of the sun of righteousness (Mal 4:2) washes out that light that was really not so glorious in comparison to the glory of Christ within us that far exceeds the light of the stars and the moon (2Co 3:7-14). Regardless, it is Christ who made the sun and moon and the stars, and the lesson we are being shown is that he rules them all “The sun to rule by day” and “The moon and stars to rule by night” (Eph 1:11) . God’s mercy is shown in the careful and loving process that He has ordained for all of his creation to experience, each man in his appointed time (1Co 15:23-25).

Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Isa 45:8  Drop down, ye heavens, from above [Rev 21:2], and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open [Jer 22:29], and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

2Co 3:7  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
2Co 3:8  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
2Co 3:9  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
2Co 3:10  For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
2Co 3:11  For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
2Co 3:12  Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2Co 3:13  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Co 3:14  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

JUDGMENT

Psa 136:10  To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:11  And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:12  With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:13  To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:14  And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:15  But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

“He must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet” is another way of saying God will judge all mankind until there is no one left to be judged, and in that day your own words will judge you (Joh 12:48). The old heavens and the old earth of the first man Adam are judged by Christ so that a new earth and heaven is formed, but that judgement, we must always remember, begins at the house of God so that we can be that bride of Christ who has been made ready (Isa 65:17, Rev 21:1-2, Rev 19:7)

Joh 12:48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Isa 65:17  For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

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 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready (Rev 20:6).

That “last day” for God’s elect is today because we are being judged first today (1Pe 4:17), and that judgment upon us is typified by Israel who typifies the Israel of God (Gal 6:16) who comes out of Egypt, or the world, first, so that we can be judged and purified by fire in this life and be found in the first resurrection where we will be sent as Christ was to judge the nations (Rev 20:6). All of this judgment is again a representation of this statement: “for his mercy endureth for ever”, meaning that it is throughout the ages. The mercy that we are learning of in these verses and the one event that is common to all men is the judgement that will come upon all men each man in his own order, and God’s mercy will prevail and He will accomplish what He has set out to do “for his mercy endureth for ever” (Ecc 3:1, Jas 5:7, Ecc 9:2, 1Co 15:23-25).

It takes the “strong hand” and “stretched out arm” of God working in our heavens to enable us to be able to rightly divide the word of God in our heavens, and He “divided the red sea into parts” within us so that the Israel of God could “pass through the midst of it” again demonstrating how “his mercy endureth for ever” through that process that is taking place within our heavens that helps us to rightly divide the word of truth within our “red seas” (Isa 43:15-16).

Isa 43:15  I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
Isa 43:16  Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

It is God who has bound us to the altar (Psa 118:27-29) and “made Israel to pass through the midst of it”, meaning the Red Sea which represents our flesh and all the pulls within our flesh, that God will give us victory over and will “overthrow Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea”, demonstrating again that the new creation is formed through the destruction of the old man of sin typified by “Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea” who are within us but being overcome through Christ (1Jn 4:4).

Psa 118:27  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
Psa 118:28  Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
Psa 118:29  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

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

OVERCOMING

Psa 136:16  To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:17  To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:18  And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:19  Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:20  And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:21  And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:22  Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.

God is leading his people “through the wilderness” (Rom_8:14-16) and smiting “great kings” along the way that represent the powers and principalities that we are overcoming through Christ (Eph 6:12). It is those giants or “great kings” who will nourish us as they are systematically destroyed, or overcome little and by little, by the brightness of Christ’s coming who is the one true King of kings and Lord of lords who can accomplish this (Num 14:9, Deu 7:22, 2Th 2:8, Rev 19:16).

There is a progression to overcoming “great kings”, and “famous kings,” and “Sihon king of the Amorites,” along with “Og the king of Bashan”, and God knows that all these kings must be conquered in order for us to be “his inheritance in the saints“, an “heritage unto his servant Israel, his servant” that has been predestined (Eph 1:5, Eph 1:18), and this patient process of overcoming, also called the “patience and faith of the saints”, demonstrates that “his mercy endureth for ever” for those who are called [to be], chosen and faithful until the end (Php 2:12-15, Php 3:13-18).

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Php 3:16  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Php 3:17  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Php 3:18  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

An enemy of the cross can be seen described in the context of these verses (Php 3:13-18) where the main subject Paul is talking about is overcoming. A true overcomer takes nothing for granted and does not boast of the morrow, and recognizes that although our salvation is secure in Christ, if it is predestined, this should not be something that demotivates but rather makes us fight a good fight of faith as though our salvation did depend on our own effort in every instance, knowing that Christ is the one working within us both to will and to do of His good pleasure as our hope of glory (Col 1:27).

Seven crowns are worn by kings in Revelation 12:3 which represent our initial complete confidence in our flesh to make choices independently of God as we are under the strong delusion that we are masters of our own destiny not yet seeing the inheritance promised and given by the One who is working all things according to the counsel of “his own will” (Eph 1:11).

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

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:

It is the great dragon that has “seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads” of (Rev 17:12-18) who is ultimately going to “make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful”; and these “called, and chosen, and faithful” help in that overcoming process as the body of Christ (Col 1:24, Col 1:27).

Rev 17:12  And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Rev 17:13  These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Rev 17:15  And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Rev 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
Rev 17:17  For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
Rev 17:18  And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

The wars that are taking place are in our heavens which are being cleansed (Heb 9:23), and those who are given to conquer that religious beast which has two horns like a lamb but speaks as a dragon will be very few in this age (Rev 13:11, Mat 22:14). The end result of this witness of overcoming, demonstrating that we are more than conquerors through Christ alone (Rom 8:37-39) and that great mercy shown to us, is expressed in the words “for his mercy endureth for ever”, a mercy in the final analysis that caused us to overcome all the various kings within us so we could be found with His righteousness and not our own (Eze 33:13, Php 3:9, Gal 2:20-21).

Rom 8:37  But in all these things we more than conquer through him that has loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
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.

Eze 33:13  When I say to the righteous that he shall certainly live, and he trusteth to his righteousness and doeth what is wrong, none of his righteous acts shall be remembered; but in his unrighteousness which he hath done, in it shall he die.

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Gal 2:21  I do not frustrate^G114 [Gen 25:34] the grace^G5485 [Mat 20:12-16] of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

G114 ath-et-eh’-o
From a compound of G1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of G5087; to set aside, that is, (by implication) to disesteem, neutralize or violate: – cast off, despise, disannul, frustrate, bring to nought, reject.

G5485 khar’-ece
From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): – acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).

SALVATION

Psa 136:23  Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Psa 136:24  And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 136:25  Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

This next section of our study brightly reminds us that God will be merciful to His kind of first fruits remembering us “in our low estate“. That low estate can only be understood by being given a humble and contrite heart (Isa 66:2) that sees our need to be saved and “redeemed” “from our enemies” within (law prevents us from seeing what must be abolished 2Co 3:13), even as we recognize that daily deliverance with grateful hearts to the one “who giveth food to all flesh” (Psa 107:29-31, Eph 2:15, where this abolishing happens Eph 5:30, 1Co 10:16). That ongoing work He is doing in our lives as His workmanship (Eph 2:10) also demonstrates that “his mercy endureth for ever” (Mat 6:9-15).

Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

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

1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

Mat 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread. [“food to all flesh“]
Mat 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
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.

PRAISE

Psa 136:26  O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Our study finishes off as it started, giving thanks to God for the wonderful works unto the children of men whom he is working with today. Those children are experiencing his love being shed abroad in their hearts (Rom 8:28) that reassures us that we can be more than conquerors through him “that loved us” (Rom 8:37), overcoming all fear as we realize that we are being redeemed as His children whom he loves (Psa 107:2, Rom 5:5, Rom 1:16, 1Jn 3:1).

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

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Psa 107:2  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

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.

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth [Joh 6:29]; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

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

Isa 41:16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Isa 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
Isa 41:18 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
Isa 41:19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:
Isa 41:20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.
Isa 41:21 Produce your cause, saith the LORD ; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
Isa 41:22 Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
Isa 41:23  Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.
Isa 41:24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.
Isa 41:25 I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.
Isa 41:26  Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.
Isa 41:27 The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.
Isa 41:28 For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counseller, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
Isa 41:29  Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images arewind and confusion.

Here are the last two verses of our previous study which will give us the context for the first verse of our study today:

Isa 41:14  Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Isa 41:15  Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

The first verse of our study today continues, and it completes that thought:

Isa 41:16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

The last study explained our function of accomplishing in and upon others what the Lord Himself is accomplishing in and upon us “in this present time”. It is the most glorious calling we can be given:

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

In “this present time” we are given to be “joint heirs with Christ” of the kingdom His Father has given Him for all the suffering He endured, “…if so be that we suffer with Him”:

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Let’s be very clear. When are we “the sons of God?” Is “we are the children of God…” speaking of those things “that are not as though they were” or is this a present fact? The scriptures answer this question in very emphatic terms:

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Christ was the ‘Son of God’, and this is what we are told about who we are “in this world”.

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

We are at this very moment “the sons of God”, and the next words nail this down… “and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him: for we shall see Him as He is”.

In other words, “We are presently sealed by the holy spirit of promise as the sons of God here and now, as a down payment of a far more glorious inheritance, yet to come.” The receiving of that inheritance will take place at the first resurrection and it is called “the redemption of the purchased possession”:

Eph 1:14 Which [holy spirit] is the earnest [Greek: down payment] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession [until the first resurrection, Rev 20:6], unto the praise of his glory.

The holy spirit tells us:

Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Why is ‘the creature waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God’? God has decreed that it is His firstfruit harvest, “the manifested sons of God”, through whom He will redeem all men of all time. It is the Lord Himself who has revealed to us His plan for us:

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

We are not left to guess what it was Christ’s Father sent Him to accomplish:

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

It is to that end we are told:

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

The Literal Version reads:

Col 1:24 who now rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf and fill up in my flesh the things lacking of the afflictions of Christ on behalf of His body, which is the assembly,

To make that verse clear, what we are being told is that ‘the afflictions of Christ on behalf of His body are not complete without our sufferings’. What we are being told is that our bodies being offered as a living sacrifice ‘for His body, which is the church’ is ‘the things which are behind of the sufferings of Christ for His body’s sake which is the church’.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

That sounds too high a calling to be true, but our bodies offered as a living sacrifice are an essential part of the sacrifice of the body of Christ for the sins of this world, and that is why, if we are the Lord’s elect firstfruits, we will not be cast away as Ishmael, Esau and King Saul were cast away.

It is through the Lord and His Christ that these following verses will be fulfilled now in “this present time… for His body’s sake, which is the church”. But then, through us, all the rest of mankind from Adam to the lake of fire will also be brought to know and love Christ and all He has done for them.

Isa 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
Isa 41:18 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
Isa 41:19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:
Isa 41:20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

These are part of our Lord’s words which “shall never pass away” (Mat 24:35). What that means is the Lord will meet our needs in every way right now, and He will continue to do so during the thousand years of the rule of “the Lord and His Christ over the kingdoms of this world”. Finally, they will continue to apply to all the Lord will do through us during the great white throne judgment/lake of fire/second death.

The Lord’s judgments are at this very moment “first begin[ning] at the house of God”, but His kingdom will endure through the thousand-year reign and all through the great white throne judgment and until God is all and in all. For that reason, we are called to always be challenging the carnal mind of mankind:

Isa 41:21 Produce your cause, saith the LORD ; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
Isa 41:22 Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
Isa 41:23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

The scriptures are the only book in the world which tells us “what shall happen”. The scriptures alone reveal that the Lord Himself will appear, and at that time “the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1Co 15:16-17) to “rule with Him a thousand years” (Rev 20:6).

Inwardly we are at “this present time” ruling the nations within us, but the outward future application is to confront the powers of the nations as nothing and to ‘come upon princes as upon mortar, and as the Potter treads clay’.

Isa 41:24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.
Isa 41:25 I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.

Christ calls the first resurrection “the resurrection to life” (Joh 5:29). Revelation 20 reveals that when the thousand years are expired there will be a second resurrection, which Christ calls “the resurrection of damnation”. The word ‘damnation’ here is better translated as “the resurrection of judgment”, because it will be at that time the masses of mankind who are not being judged in this age will then be judged. All whose names were in the book of life prior to this second resurrection were partakers of the first resurrection at the beginning of the thousand-year reign of the Lord and His Christ:

Because we are more than servants and are considered Christ’s friends, He has revealed to us this sequence of events.

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.

“Ye are Gods” refers only to those who are in Christ:

Psa 82:6  I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

The next verse demonstrates that this is one of those instances where the Lord ‘speaks of those things which are not as though they were’ (Rom 4:17):

Psa 82:7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
Psa 82:8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

Without a resurrection we are told that mankind has “no preeminence above a beast”:

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
Ecc 3:19  For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
Ecc 3:20  All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

Ezekiel expressly tells the prince of Tyre he is “a man, and not God”.

Eze 28:1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
Eze 28:2  Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

That is what we all think of ourselves. It is only through Christ that we are raised to become gods:

Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

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

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

As they relate to “the former things” the scriptures are the most trustworthy, provable and truly scientific words on earth.

Isa 41:22 Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

The life cycle of every creature demands that every creature, as well as every creature’s food source, had to be in place from the very beginning for any of it to be here today. Evolution is a laughable, ridiculous lie and atheism is total foolishness. As a farm boy I can tell you for certain the chicken definitely came before the egg. Without a hen to lay, there are no eggs. Without a hen to set on the eggs, they do not hatch, without a hen to feed the chicks they starve. The hen was created before the eggs were laid! That’s a provable, scientifically demonstrable fact!

The entire living creation cries out for an instantaneous Creator!

Psa 14:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Psa 53:1 To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

The entire creation was spoken into existence in six literal 24 hour days consisting of six “evenings and mornings”:

Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

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

It all happened, and it was done “suddenly”.

Isa 48:3 I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.

Those who deny their own Maker are many, and they dominate all governments of men, academia, all secular journalism and all “science falsely so-called”. Religions themselves deny the God of the scriptures. We have all been adherents to the lies of the great men who rule over the nations.

Put them all together and give them the one thing they all agree with, and this is still what the Lord thinks of all of these combined forces of mankind:

Isa 41:24  Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.
Isa 41:25  I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.

As with all scripture, these words had an application to the time in which they were written concerning the coming of Cyrus the Great, who would liberate the Lord’s people and send men back to Jerusalem from Babylon to rebuild the temple. However, these words also have an application to us as the Lord’s Christ who will be the Lord’s “threshing machine with teeth”.

Isa 41:26  Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.
Isa 41:27 The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.

Who is “the first” of verse 27? Throughout this prophecy the Lord declares time and again. Our answer is in this same chapter:

Isa 41:4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

And again in:

Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Isa 48:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

Christ hammers this fact in the book of Revelation:

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

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

Rev 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

This fact is repeated for emphasis at the end of this prophecy, and it most always includes the fact that the Lord is also “the last”:

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

The point being made is:

Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

When we recognize that we are “Jerusalem above [who] is free”, then we will understand that He Who is first and by whom all things consist is giving us the good tidings, the good news of our salvation:

Isa 41:27 The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.

No one else can do such a thing. Certainly, none of those who refuse to hear the Lord’s words can:

Isa 41:26  Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.

It is only the Lord Himself who will send us a messenger of all the good He has in store for us:

Act 22:8  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Isa 41:27  The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold… I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.

The word ‘them’ is not in the Hebrew. The Lord is simply contrasting His ability to tell us what has been and what will be with those who know neither:

Isa 41:28 For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counseller, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
Isa 41:29  Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

The Lord is not telling us that His enemies hold their peace rather than tell a lie. What we are being told is that when He asks them to tell us where we came from and what the future holds for us, “there was no counselor [who] could answer a word” of Truth. There are endless theories concerning the beginnings of the creation, and there are endless books, tapes, CD’s concerning the book of Revelation, professing to know what the future holds. But “their molten images [the stumbling block of their iniquities (Eze 14:4), their false doctrines] are wind and confusion”, meaning they are all lies and deceits.

However, the Lord has made known to us both where we came from and where we are bound:

Isa 41:27  The first [the Lord] shall say to Zion, Behold, behold… I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.

That “One” who brings good tidings is Christ, and He tells us that we are Him, and that He is sending us to do what His Father sent Him to do:

Act 22:8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

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

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

If indeed we are as He is in this world, then it follows that the “one bringing good tidings” is us if we are His elect. “As my Father has sent me, even so send I you.”

We will conclude this study with a few words of those “good tidings”:

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered intothe heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

In our next study we will learn much more about that “one who brings good tidings”.

Here are our verses for our next study:

Isa 42:1  Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Isa 42:2  He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
Isa 42:3  A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
Isa 42:4  He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
Isa 42:5  Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
Isa 42:6  I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Isa 42:7  To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Isa 42:8  I am the LORD : that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Isa 42:9  Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Isa 42:10  Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
Isa 42:11  Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages thatKedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
Isa 42:12  Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.
Isa 42:13  The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.

Psa 118:24  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psa 118:25  Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
Psa 118:26  Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
Psa 118:27  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
Psa 118:28  Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
Psa 118:29  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

There are many scriptures in this Psalm and throughout God’s word that declare that “The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation”, and in this particular Psalm we are being encouraged to see the careful and perfectly designed process that God is causing to unfold to save His children as were brought to be convinced that He can “save now” and “bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar“.

We are called to have a blessed assurance of what God has promised He will do through us as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1), who are being sacrificed as Christ was for the world (Joh 3:16) laying up a good foundation of works through Christ which will assure our hearts that we are in fact His workmanship in this age, whose good pleasure it is to give us the kingdom .

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

1Jn 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1Jn 3:19  And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1Jn 3:20  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1Jn 3:21  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
1Jn 3:22  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. [Rom 14:23]
1Jn 3:23  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jn 3:24  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. [Rom 8:16]

1Ti 6:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come [the times to come (Mat 24:7, Luk 17:28)], that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Tit 3:14  And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

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

Here is a list of some of the words in this Psalm alone which point to the assurance we have in Christ who declares we can and will drink the cup of His suffering which symbolizes our filling “up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.” It is those sufferings that help produce the good works which God says are foundational to our calling, and those works are accomplished “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” and that power is represented by  the “horns of the altar” (Mar 10:39, Col 1:24, Zec 4:6).

• I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place
• The LORD is on my side
• The LORD taketh my part
• All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them
• but the LORD helped me.
• The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation
• the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
• Open to me the gates of righteousness
• bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar

The more we confirm these promises of being able to overcome by His power in this age, the better. We are being raised in earnest today (Eph 2:6) by his power (Php 3:10-12, Joh 11:25-26) hopeful we will one day experience the fullness of that resurrection in a moment and in the twinkling of an eye (1Co 15:52). The fruit which is born as a result of being steadfast and going through much tribulation in this age (2Pe 3:18, Act 14:22) is described in these following verses (Eph 3:16-21).

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection [Joh 11:25-26], and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

[Paul is striving for the mark of the prize of the high calling [the first resurrection] (Php 3:14) and understands that he has been “apprehended of Christ Jesus” for that purpose and is following after him with a steadfast spirit in hopes that he may obtain to that blessed and holy first resurrection knowing this can be accomplished by continuing in the faith and going through much tribulation (Act 14:22). He clearly shows us by what he is saying in these verses above that he understands that boasting is excluded by the law of faith as he strives or follows after that he “may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Rev 20:6, Rom 3:27)]

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

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

Verses that speak of giving thanks and praise for the salvation promised:

• O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever
• The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
• The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: [because] the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
• I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation
• Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD

God’s mercy is shown to His elect by binding “the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar” being expressed by Paul with these words [“I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus“]

• Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever
• Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever
• Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever
• O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever

Psa 118:24  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Another way that this verse is expressed is found in Psalm 107:26-32 where we learn what the meaning of “the day which the LORD hath made” is, and how blessed we are to be judged first, today, in this day of the Lord or “day which the LORD hath made“.

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

Act 26:23  That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

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

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

Joe 2:2  A day of darkness and of gloominess [for our old man], a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

Zep 1:15  That day is a day of wrath [against our old man], a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

It takes God’s strong judgment against our flesh to bring us to a place of rejoicing and being glad as expressed in these verses:

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

Tit 2:12  Teaching^G3811 us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth^G3811, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

We are learning of God’s power through the things which we suffer, not by avoiding the trials, but rather by being perfected through them, and that leads to our rejoicing as we learn through these experiences of judgment and suffering that He is faithful and that we can commit our souls to Him as unto a faithful creator.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Psa 118:14  The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
Psa 118:15  The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

Psa 118:18  The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
Psa 118:19  Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Here is Peter’s and Paul’s inspired conclusion in regard to all suffering:

1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Rom 8:11  But if the Spirit [meaning if the spirit is not in you, you will NOT be raised up until the second resurrection] of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. [Rom 8:9]

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

Rom 8:12  Therefore [because of God’s spirit working in our heavens], brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Rom 8:13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. [Rom 6:11]

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

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

[Not everyone has this hope today within them:  Col 1:27, Rom 8:25, Rom 8:9, Mat 22:14]

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Rom 8:25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Rom 8:24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? [Heb 11:25-27]

Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; [type of being dead to sin and alive in Christ  (Rom 6:11)]
Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. [type of being saved by hope which we don’t see (Rom 8:24)]

Psa 118:25  Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

“Save now“, judge me now is what we are being told, also expressed this way from King David who is a type of the elect:

Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you [Col 1:27, Rom 8:9], except ye be reprobates?

Psa 51:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Psa 51:2  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa 51:3  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

The words “O LORD: O LORD” in Psalm 118:25 are uttered twice to remind us of the witness that it is only through Christ our Lord that we can find true “prosperity” which God sends our way. Christ is sent to us, and we are prospered so that we can be sent as He was to bring spiritual prosperity to others.

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Joh 17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

Mat 4:19  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Psa 118:26  Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

We can only bless people when we come “in the name of the LORD“, and it is through Christ alone that we can come in obedience to the commandments of God, not just keeping His words but being doers of his word.

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

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

God is sending us forth as the body of Christ for this express purpose of blessing and not cursing and overcoming evil with good as Christ did.

Rom 12:4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

Luk 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Rom 12:21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

We bless people as one body coming “out of the house of the LORD” as we witness His discipleship in working together as one body with many members.

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

Rom 12:4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

1Co 12:14  For the body is not one member, but many.

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.

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

Unless the veil is ripped, we won’t see the light about which is being spoken in this verse which the LORD has shown us. The veil is flesh (Heb 10:20, Exo 27:21), and the flesh is the body of Christ (Eph 5:30, Col 1:24) and this veil is torn little by little (Exo 23:30) or from glory to glory (2Co 3:7-18, Psa 84:7) to bring us to understand, declare and be persuaded that “The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation” and that nothing can separate us from His love (Rom 8:39).

“God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light”, and He is also the one who binds the “sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar” as explained in Exodus 29:1-46. The last three verses of Exodus 29 reveal that the purpose behind all these sacrifices being offered is to “sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar” which represent to the body of Christ that is being prepared for the world as a living sacrifice (1Co 3:16). The sanctification of the priest is accomplished through the sacrifices being offered that represent our giving our whole life in service to God. The altar represents the cross of Christ which we bear for each other as those whom He has made kings and priests (2Co 1:22, Gal 6:2, Rev 1:6).

Exo 29:44  And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest’s office.
Exo 29:45  And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.
Exo 29:46  And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

God is the one who gives us the power through Christ to “bind the sacrifice“, and it takes the three-fold cord process of maturing through judgment in the church [Christ’s body] to make the bride ready. It is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom in earnest today, and He knows the plans He has for us and where all this sacrifice is leading. So we have great reason to be glad and rejoice today, right NOW! “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”

Mar 3:27  No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Ecc 4:12  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Eph 3:11  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Eph 3:12  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Eph 3:13  Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

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

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

Psa 118:28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

Let us rejoice, let us be glad, let us not fear, and above all these things let us “give honour to him” as His little sealed remnant who have been blessed to receive of His incredible mercy and kindness in this age.

2Ti 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Rom 11:7  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Rom 11:8  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

We acknowledge God’s sovereignty in our lives, and the spirit bears witness that we are His children (Rom 8:16) who are blessed to declare “Thou artmy God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee“. God gives us the power through Christ to overcome, and therefore we say “The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation” for He is the reason we can believe, and he is our helper (Heb 13:6, Psa 54:4) who helps us build up the body of Christ in love (Joh 14:12, Joh 14:26, Eph 4:16).

Psa 118:29  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

A most fitting way to end this Psalm is to give thanks for the undeserved mercy which He has extended to the weak of the world who are first called and chosen to be sanctified and made “meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work”.

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Those good works could never be accomplished unless we were (being) sanctified by our Lord (Joh 17:17, Joh 16:13) and as we have seen, it is “Aaron and his sons” who are first sanctified, an event which typifies these words: “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:7).

Hi Mike,

I have been coming across this advertisement about the age of the Earth on youtube, which I strongly disagree with.  I believe that the Earth is only about six thousand years old, and I see no evidence to believe otherwise. I just want to be certain my beliefs are of one mind with the Bible. Perhaps you might do a timely study to expose any error in understanding concerning the age of the Earth.

YbitC, B____

Hi B____,

Thank you for your question about what is called ‘The Gap Theory of Creation’.

This man in the link you gave me quotes:

Isa 45:18  For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain [Hebrew: tohu], he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

Then he quotes:

Gen 1:2  And the earth was without form Hebrew, [tohu], and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Then he concludes that since Isaiah says it was not created in tohu, and Genesis 1:2 states that “the earth was… tohu”, therefore the earth had been created perfect, and something happened between verses 1 and 2 of Genesis 1, which caused the earth to ‘become’ tohu. He speculates that the period between verse 1 and 2 could be millions or billions of years. He points out that the Hebrew word ‘haya‘, translated as ‘was’ should have been translated as ‘became’ and should read ‘… the earth became tohu‘.

What this man will not allow is that the creation account begins with God creating a ball of mud in tohu: water and earth mixed together, out of which, in a mere six days, He separated the earth from the water and created dry land and all that is upon the dry land and in the waters and in the air. He created the ball of mud and step by step created dry land, plants, fish, birds and animals, all within a period of six “evenings and mornings” as we are told six times in Genesis one and again confirmed in:

Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

However, the entire six-day creation all began with a ball of mud, in tohu. It was in tohu because the creation was not yet completed. In its completed form, Isaiah 18 tells us: “…He created it not in vain [Hebrew: tohu], he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.”

The earth and the trees, the fish and all the animals in the sea, the birds and even Adam, were all created with the appearance of age and not as helpless babies. Why would not the earth itself be created with an appearance of age also? The trees were created with rings already in them. The birds were created with mature wings capable of flying, and Adam was created with an outward appearance of age. So there is no need for a lengthy gap between verses 1 and 2 of Genesis one.

There is an FAQ written over a decade ago dealing with this question. You can read it at this link:

Is There A Gap Between Gen 1:1 and 2?

There is nothing, not even the use of the word ‘haya’, to lead one to this man’s conclusion that since we are told the earth was not created in ‘tohu‘ that therefore ‘tohu‘ could not possibly have been part of the creation process. That is absurd.

Now just look at where we next see this word ‘haya‘:

Gen 2:25  And they were^{H1961 ‘haya’} both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Did Adam and Eve start off clothed only to “become naked”, as this man wants to make Genesis 1:2 read? That is a preposterous question. Adam and Eve were both created naked and in a sinful state. They did not become that way after millions or billions of years. It all took place in a very short period of time, and indeed “He created it not in ‘tohu‘, even though the creation process began with a ‘tohu‘ mass of mud. The creation simply was not yet complete, and God is simply revealing for our benefit that He is even now in the process of completing His creation as a new spiritual man, which began in a state of ‘tohu‘.

This ‘Gap Theory’ was the doctrine of the World Wide Church of God out of which Sandi and I were delivered back in 1973, so I am very familiar with it.

Read that link to the FAQ which was written over a decade ago, and if you still have questions, then feel free to get back to me.

YbitC, Mike

Hello again, Mike,

I am trying to get my thoughts in writing with respect to what I believe about 7 day creationism.

I note that you said many churches teach a gap theory. This is true. However, not all fundamentalist churches would hold to that position. I know that your literal interpretation is the exact same view that I was taught when I was a young Christian. I guess I would still need you to clarify for me how the whole stay of bread/ water can be removed when you are teaching specifically a certain doctrine that is still widely accepted.

But all the same token, I feel that literal seven-day creationism misses a few details in the Genesis narrative. Like you have done, please allow me to quote, bolder and underline the scriptures. I am quoting from the New American Standard version.

Gen 1:1-5 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

I read that for many years, Mike, thinking that on the first day, God made the sun because how else can there be day or night except for the fact that the earth moved about the sun rotating as it does? As you pointed out, everything in the Genesis account is specifically qualified by the phrase “evening and morning”, but how do we account for that when, according to the Genesis account, there is no sun until the 4th day? It was only recently when I started to pay more attention that I noticed the sun and the moon and the other stars were not made until the 4th day:

Gen 1:14-19 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also. God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

So, Mike, how do we interpret the scriptures now when we are specifically told that the sun and the moon were not made until the 4th day? Clearly, the spirit is hiding this in plain sight for the wise man, or the king within us, to seek out:

Pro 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

Both evening and morning are qualified on all six days of creation, and no distinction is made before the 4th day, and yet, the sun and the moon and the stars were not actually created until the 4th day.

I feel we must ask ourselves why this is so? Why did the spirit expressly have this written in such a way? Mike, I believe it is because this, like many other parts of the scriptures, are not to be taken literally.

At this point, you may say again to me: I am a believer in the six times qualified statement that this earth and all in it was created and spoken into existence instantly with the appearance of maturity in six literal “morning[s] and evening[s].”

But as I have shown you, Mike, if the sun and the moon and stars, which we are told were for the purpose of governing the day and the night, were not created until the 4th day, how can we reconcile the previous three days as being literal 24-hour periods of time? What was the earth orbiting? How was photosynthesis achieved on the 3rd day with respect to plant life without a sun to create ultra violet light?

Mike, this doctrine of seven literal 24-hour days seems akin to the fundamentalist reading of this verse and concluding that it means precisely what it says:

Rev 14:10-11 They will be tormented with burning sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.

I read that verse for many years and actually was terrified that I would be the person being burned alive with sulphur and that the smoke from my singed body would ascend until eternity. It was not until about a year ago that I began to see through the literal and understand that the bible cannot be taken that way all the time, because to do so simply leads one in circles. When I began to accept this, it was like a new understanding was given to me. Even though I am still learning, I do feel like I have been given new eyes to see the scripture.

Many thanks to you again.
S____

Hi S____,

If, after qualifying that this was all done in six evenings and mornings, we refuse to believe it is literal evenings and mornings, and as you conclude, the point in doing that is to show us that we are not to take the evenings and the mornings as literal days, then how can we know that anything in scripture is literal and physical?

I explained to you that when the scriptures qualify anything, then we are to accept those qualifying statements. When we are told that the sun stood still for a full day when Joshua was fighting the Canaanites, I hope we do not conclude that none of this is literal or that it didn’t really happen, just because we cannot understand how that is possible.

Jos 10:12 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
Jos 10:13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

I have already been through the same thought processes you are now experiencing. As I have quoted before:

Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

If God grants us the faith to believe He created the entire universe, then He can also give us the faith to believe that He did it in the time and in the order in which He tells us He did it. “Let there be light” does not say ‘Let there be the sun and all the other stars of the heavens’.

Here is the creation account:

Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

If God can create this earth, can He not also provide the light for six evenings and mornings without the stars of the heavens? I have no problem with that at all if that is what He says He did.
Here are His words about the order in which He created the earth and the universe:

Gen 1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Gen 1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
Gen 1:8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
Gen 1:9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
Gen 1:10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
Gen 1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
Gen 1:12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Gen 1:13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

Now we come to the fourth day:

Gen 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Gen 1:15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
Gen 1:16 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.
Gen 1:17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
Gen 1:18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
Gen 1:19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

Being human and knowing that the earth revolves around the Sun, we think in natural human terms. We cannot just naturally imagine that Christ Himself is the Sun, and that the sun consists in Him, or that He is capable of lighting the earth without the sun. However, that is exactly what we are told, and all we need is the faith to believe the order in which He reveals that He did it all. It is really no harder than believing or accepting that a virgin conceived a son, or “Sun”, without first having a male to contribute sperm. The one is no harder to believe than the other:

Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

So the physical sun is but a mere type and shadow of the true light which lighted and still lights this world:

Joh 1:9 That [Christ] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

So light does not depend on whether the sun was created before the earth. The physical sun consists and has its being in Christ and not vice versa.

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

So there was no need for a physical sun, moon and stars to exist before Christ could have the power and the means to create the earth just as He tells us He did it. He was quite capable of providing light and causing the earth to rotate on its axis without the other heavenly bodies. If we cannot believe what He says here in Genesis, then we might also have a hard time believing in Joshua’s long day or Hezekiah’s long day.

We are told that all of the accomplishments of the first three days were completed and then the stars were created on the fourth day. So He created the stars, of which our physical sun was but one of billions, on the fourth day.

You ask:

“So Mike, how do we interpret the scriptures now when we are specifically told that the sun, and the moon were not made until the 4th day? Clearly, the spirit is hiding this in plain sight for the wise man, or the king within us, to seek out:

Pro 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

Both evening and morning are qualified on all six days of creation and no distinction is made before the 4th day and yet, the sun and the moon and the stars were not actually created until the 4th day.

I feel we must ask ourselves why this is so? Why did the spirit expressly have this written in such a way?” (end quote)

Answer:

What this all serves to tell us is this principle on which God operates:

1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

The sun and stars are all types of the heavens and the spiritual realm, and that is why the Lord made them after He made the earth. It was to tell us that when He qualifies a matter we are not to ignore those qualifying words.

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

You said this also:

“Mike, this doctrine of seven literal 24-hour days seems akin to the fundamentalist reading of this verse and concluding that it means precisely what it says:

Rev 14:10-11 They will be tormented with burning sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.

I read that verse for many years and actually was terrified that I would be the person being burned alive with sulphur and that the smoke from my singed body would ascend until eternity. It was not until about a year ago that I began to see through the literal and understand that the bible cannot be taken that way all the time because to do so, simply leads one in circles. When I began to accept this, it was like a new understanding was given to me. Even though I am still learning, I do feel like I have been given new eyes to see the scripture.

Yes, we do go in circles when we have no way of knowing what is to be taken as literal and what is to be take as spiritual. That is why we must be careful never to “think above what is written”. The only way you can know that the fire of the lake of fire is not literal is because those words have been qualified elsewhere in scripture as spiritual words which save mankind instead of tormenting him for eternity:

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

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

So when we have such clear qualifying statements, then we know that the fire of scripture saves us, likewise when the days of creation are six times qualified as being six evenings and mornings of the earth rotating on its axis before the sun is even created, and we are told that the natural precedes the heavenly and the spiritual, then we know why the Lord created the earth in the order in which He reveals it to us.

1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual [the sun], but that which is natural [the earth]; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49  And as we have [first] borne the image of the earthy, we shall also [afterward] bear the image of the heavenly.

That is “the glory of a king to search out a matter.” That gives us a spiritual lesson which we do not get if we ignore the qualifying words which agree with the fact that we are plainly told that what was accomplished was done “instantly” in six evenings and mornings.

Isa 48:3 I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly [Hebrew: pith’ôm,  instantly], and they came to pass.

That is quite a qualifying verse which tells us that the evenings and mornings are to be taken literally as being literally spoken into existence. Christ made “the best wine” in an instant, and He also spoke the world into existence “suddenly”. God could have spoken it all into existence in six seconds, but He did it in six evenings and mornings for the purpose of creating man on the sixth day and giving man the number six, with everything that number reveals.

He created the physical earth before the physical heavens for what that reveals. When God does something it is “a short work”.

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

The last thing I want to do is to offend you. I hope you can appreciate my own position of being an easy target for every yellow journalist who is out there. Your experience with my detractors has graphically demonstrated how the forked-tongued serpent operates within his children. I truly believe you are seeking the Truth.

If I believed for one moment that you wanted me to teach against the scriptures, I would not be writing you. Regarding the subject of the order in which the universe was created, I hope you can also accept that I cannot “think above what is written” in any of our correspondences. I try hard to conform all of my thoughts and doctrines to what is written and not vice versa. Believing in a virgin birth does not require that you check your brain at the door. Neither does a six literal evening and morning creation, but both do require faith in the word of God.

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

Your brother in Christ.
Mike

Hello Mike,

I must thank you for replying so quickly. I was not expecting a response in such a short space of time.

I stopped attending organized services about two years ago. However, I found your website while researching the law of the old testament and how it applies to a Christian today. Your paper on the subject I feel was extremely well written, and has been, so far, the basis for my interest in your website. I am almost finished working through it. It is very involved, and I am taking my time.

That brings me to my next point. From what I have seen, there is a bit I wouldn’t agree with on your webpage. My first question to you was regarding 7-day creationism.

I find it curious that your position would be in agreement with more fundamentalist doctrines as you differ with them on almost every other point. I have also read somewhere on your website pages that you say something along the lines of every doctrine in the church is a lie, that the whole stay of bread and water has been removed. So I am confused at your adherence to this, based on that statement. Maybe you could clarify that for me?

I accept what you say about the criticism online but also, I do have some concerns with the ad hominem way in which you dismissed it. There seems to be no doubt about the person’s bitterness, but what about the audio of yourself? I have, for example, heard you dressing down your children publicly, and in others I have heard you asking for money directly, even though your email reply said that you will never do that. I also heard an elder refer to himself as “incredibly humble” which, to be frank, was sending up a red flag to me. I was hoping you would speak to that at some point.

Regarding the works of service, I would be inclined to agree with what you said in your email reply with the exception of giving money to a homeless drunk or drug abuser. It would be irresponsible, in my opinion, to give such a person money and the way you worded things made it appear that you didn’t care either way what they did with the money. Is that your position or have I read you incorrectly? But everything else I agreed with and I appreciated your use of the scripture in your reply as well.

I hope we can continue our email replies, Mike. I am trying to be honest and to the point, something that within organised religion, as you well know, is often looked down upon.

Again, an immediate reply is not expected or requested. Thanking you, Mike.

S____

Hi ____,

Thank you for giving me some background on yourself. I very much enjoy hearing the details of how God has dealt with any and all of His sheep in dragging them to Himself. As I always point out, the details vary and are very interesting, but in the final analysis all things come alike to all, and there is but one event to all, both the righteous and the wicked, simply because “there is none righteous” to begin with. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and as such, all have their names blotted out of God’s book of life before their names are re- instituted through the judgment that must come first upon the house of God.

Exo 32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

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

Just look at these verses of scripture:

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

Those words are true for every man who ever has or ever will live.

Add to that this verse:

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.

Yes, it is a matter of order:

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Here now is that “fiery… judgment… one event” by which “all in Adam” will be “saved” in Christ:

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

That ‘fire’ is the word of God, which purifies our new last man by and through the destruction of our old first man. It is all made clear in 1Corinthians 15. Right after telling us that all in Adam will be saved by fire, each in his own order, we are then given these details:

1Co 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

All men are the first Adam first, and each in his own order will “put on the heavenly” and become “the last man Adam” through the fiery judgment, one event which will come alike to all men, “every man in his own order…” because:

1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially [not exclusively, but “firstfruit, specially”] of those that believe.

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only [not for the firstfruits only], but also for the sins of the whole world.

Again, I will answer you in the order in which you ask of me.

I feel certain you will identify with all those verses of scripture and hear the voice of the True Shepherd in them. It is amazing how our experiences are so different and yet are accomplishing the same “one event” in us all.

Here is your first part of this e-mail that I will now address:

… From what I have seen, there is a bit I wouldn’t agree with on your webpage. My first question to you was regarding 7-day creationism. I find it curious that your position would be in agreement with more fundamentalist doctrines as you differ with them on almost every other point. I have also read somewhere on your website pages that you say something along the lines of every doctrine in the church is a lie, that the whole stay of bread and water has been removed. So I am confused at your adherence to this, based on that statement. Maybe you could clarify that for me?

I am very pleased that you do not immediately agree with everything on iswasandwillbe. com after only two months of reading. It took me two whole years to come to see that God really is going to save not only his firstfruits “but also… the whole world… each in his own order”.

It took another two whole years later for me to accept the simple truth of scripture which teaches plainly and consistently that God is “working all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph 1:11). So I am much more comfortable with a person who struggles to see what the scriptures teach than I am with a person who immediately falls down at the feet of the angel who shows him these things, and worships him when that ‘angel’ is nothing more than a fellow laborer.

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

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

We all have that in us also, but we must all get past that stage of our walk and honor our teachers without worshiping them.

As for my saying that God has taken away the whole stay of bread and water, those are not my words but God’s:

Isa 3:1 For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

Your sincere insinuation is that if I believe in a young earth as many fundamentalists do, then I cannot say that the whole stay is taken away. However, you are failing to allow for the Biblical revelation which demonstrates that truth can come from the mouth of the serpent himself, and at the same time that very truth can be tainted with an accompanying lie.

For example: Was it true that eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would make Adam and Eve as God? Yes, God Himself confesses that the serpent told the truth when he told Adam and Eve that eating of the tree would make them like God to know good and evil:

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

Does this equate to the serpent having any of the true bread or any of the true water of the word of God? Of course it doesn’t mean that at all. The most effective lies always come from the forked tongue of the serpent who confesses that what God says is true, while at the same time calling God a liar. Truth which is tainted with falsehood is not truth at all, but merely poison bait for the “unlearned and unstable” who will always wrest what the spirit reveals to make it say what they want to hear. But the truth of God’s Word still remains:

Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Let me tell you of what my son said to me when I first told our entire Bible study group one morning that Isaiah 3:1 was just as true as 1Corinthians 15:22.

Isa 3:1 For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

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

When I read that verse in Isaiah 3 and compared it to 1Corinthians 15:22, my son, who you did indeed hear me “dress down” (I will deal with that in a few minutes), actually interrupted my delivery and reprimanded me in front of the whole assembly saying, and I quote, “Dad, you cannot say things like that! That simply is not true!” So I asked him immediately, “Okay son, if that is not true, then please give me just one doctrine of Babylon which has not been tainted with the forked tongue of the Adversary.” His answer was (and it is very similar to what you point out here about fundamentalists believing what the Bible clearly teaches about a six evening and morning creation), “Dad, we all believe that Christ died for our sins. Even Babylon teaches that.” So I asked him, “Son, do you honestly believe that there is anyone in Babylon who believes that Christ ever really died?” I reminded him that most of Babylon believes that Christ and all men have an immortal soul which cannot be killed and that they teach that Christ went to hell and preached to spirits in prison, or He was in paradise with the thief, or some such contradictory imaginations of men who do cannot see what the scriptures actually say because God has indeed taken from them the whole stay of bread and the whole stay of water.

So when you say that fundamentalists believe in a young earth, and therefore I cannot say that God has taken the whole stay of bread and the whole stay of water away from them, you are forgetting that their young-earth doctrine usually also teaches a gap theory between verses one and two of Genesis one, and/or they do not believe that Christ is the beginning of the creation of God, or they do not believe Satan and “all things in heaven and in earth” were created by Christ “in six days” qualified as six days consisting of six “evening[s]” and six “morning[s]”. If that were not six times so qualified, and if we were not again told that “it happened instantly”, then we might well have reason to think otherwise, but when the scriptures qualify what they mean, then we need to acknowledge the fact that they have been clarified to avoid being misunderstood.

The scriptures are super clear on this subject. Have we been granted faith in “that which is written”, or have we been given to lean to our own understanding?

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

I certainly do not believe that we must check our brains at the door in order to please God, but if our definition of ‘faith’ is physical evidence, then we simply have the wrong religion. I say that because no one yet has ever demonstrated in a scientific manner how a virgin can conceive and bring forth a child without the agency of a human sperm donor. Yet we all claim we believe in that doctrine. An instantaneous creation is no harder to believe than the virgin birth of our Savior.

Consider this Godly advice:

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

I hope that helps you to see that I am in no way contradicting myself when I believe what the scriptures clearly state concerning the age of this earth. I will gladly let God be true and “science falsely so-called [and] all men liars”.

Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

1Ti 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

Here is your next paragraph:

I accept what you say about the criticism online but also, I do have some concerns with the ad hominem way in which you dismissed it. There seems to be no doubt about the person’s bitterness, but what about the audio of yourself? I have, for example, heard you dressing down your children publicly and in others, I have heard you asking for money directly, even though your email reply said that you will never do that. I also heard an elder refer to himself as “incredibly humble” which, to be frank, was sending up a red flag to me. I was hoping you would speak to that at some point.

First, I am gratified to our heavenly Father that He has granted you the ability to try the spirit with which you are dealing and to hear the bitter voice of a stranger therein. I can also understand why you would take offense at how I dealt with my children in such a public way. I hope you will also allow for the fact that I, like the apostles themselves even after the day of Pentecost, can be so hypocritical as to separate themselves from the Gentiles and later repent. Such a spirit is the spirit of Christ within any man. I have apologized to my sons for allowing that to be posted, but I cannot apologize for the content of what was said since I am commanded to “mark those who cause divisions” even if it is my own sons. That is what I have done, and I made those statements to those who were a part of what had taken place, which is simply following the instructions of scripture, and the example of the apostles themselves. Paul rebuked the apostles Peter and Barnabas “before them all”, and we are commanded to do the same when a brother or a sister in our fellowship attempts to scatter the flock with false doctrines as my own sons were doing.

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

I tremble at those words, especially since I was warned in advance this would happen:

Mat 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Isa 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

These are just a couple verses which command the true shepherds who fear God more than men, or their wives, to not allow heretics to bring heresies into the flock of God:

Act 20:17 And from Miletus he [Paul] sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
Act 20:18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
Act 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
Act 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

Before I go on quoting what the spirit tells us to do here in Acts 20, I want to tell you that we had a Bible study tonight which is hosted by a brother named Aaron Lohman. There were eleven computers logged in with perhaps 15 people who have all known me for many years. I took the opportunity to ask them all a simple question. I asked them, “Have any of you on this study ever once in all the years you have known me, ever heard me ask for money?” Of course they all replied immediately that they never had heard such a thing, simply because that is the truth. The Lord knows it is the truth, and that is all that matters.

One brother did point out that at all of our conferences, which are all convened by local brothers and sisters who use their own funds to finance the meeting halls, the catered meals, coffee and drinks, and whatever is needed to make our stay a profitable and comfortable time of fellowship, that at those conferences, I always remind those attending to contribute to the expenses, if they are able, of the rental of the meeting space and the food, etc. We are specifically told “bear our own burden” and to carry our own weight:

Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

Neither you nor anyone else has ever heard me ask for monies for my own personal use. I always contribute to our expenses, and if indeed you have heard me “ask for money directly” for myself, then it was accomplished in the same way the whole nation heard George Zimmerman tell that dispatcher that Trayvon Martin was a black man in the recent news incident. It was done by editing a tape to make it say what the lying editors wanted it to say. My chief detractor bragged to me that he had deliberately lied to me about repenting of the things that he had said about me, and then he belittled me for being so gullible as to accept his apology. So I apologize if my answer came across as dismissive or in an “ad hominem manner”. I was careful to point out that this, too, is a work of God, and I did not attack the character of those involved. I even told you that I knew that what they did was not the fault of anyone involved; either my own sons, their wives, or any of our other detractors. Many of them, on the other hand, have indeed attacked my character “ad hominem”.

Now continuing with what we are told by the apostle Paul in Acts 20:

Act 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
Act 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. [Not “smooth things” which agree with popular doctrines or popular “science so called”.]
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

If my goal were to garner a following, I certainly would not continue teaching a message which has turned my own children against me, and which I have been told would do just that:

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.

As noted above:

Mat 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

I would very much like to hear an audio where you “heard [me] asking for money directly” for anything other than what I have just explained which is scripturally proper when we see the apostles themselves urging those in their charge to be quick to communicate with the needs of others in their in their midst and to “bear one another’s burdens” instead of placing all the burden for a Bible conference upon the shoulders of just one or two brothers or sisters.

Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Php 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

As I pointed out earlier, Christ commended Mary for placing her gift upon His body, and that is all I am doing when I ask those who partake of the Lord’s table to help those who have made it all possible for us to be together. Christ had no problem accepting help from those to whom He ministered. That is how He has ordained that the gospel be preached, and He set us that example without ever soliciting funds for himself:

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

Paul taught what Christ taught by His example:

1Co 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
1Co 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
1Co 9:15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

Like Paul I will not solicit funds for my own use, but like Christ and His apostles, I will gladly ask for funds to help the needy saints and those who are led to host a time of study and fellowship.

Rom 15:25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
Rom 15:26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
Rom 15:27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

It was concerning this same gift for the poor saints that Paul solicited funds from the Corinthians:

1Co 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
1Co 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Am I doing anything differently from what Paul did? I think not, and that is the only circumstance under which I have ever “asked for money directly”.

While detractors will never be satisfied, they will not point to any scripture which is being spat upon in the way they themselves do, while telling you that the scriptures are not even the word of God.

So I commend you for detecting the bitterness, and I pray you will also consider that those who do not attempt to hide their disdain for the word of God, and who cannot hide their bitterness, will and do think nothing of deliberately lying and twisting what is said by those who are faithful to God’s word. It took place in the days of the apostles, and since that time “evil men and seducers [have only] wax[ed] worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” to the extent that “if it were possible even the very elect should be deceived”.

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Truer words have never been written or spoken.

Peter testifies to this principle:

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

Am I accusing my detractors of being “unlearned and unstable” and of “wresting” the things which are written on our website? While there are no doubt many honest and sincere people who disagree with the doctrines of scripture, there are also many who scriptures do indeed label as “unlearned and unstable”, even if they have many degrees to show to the world. I do not forget that I, too, was in Babylon just ‘yesterday’, and that I was as sincere then as I am today. That does not change the fact that I was “unlearned and unstable” and that I, too, was guilty of wresting the scriptures to my own predestined destruction of my own deceived old man.

As for giving money to a drunk or a drug addict, again I made it clear that the body of Christ is where the bulk of my giving takes place. If that came across as giving great sums to such people with no concern for how it was spent, then all I can make of that is that one of the problems of communicating by e-mail is that you cannot detect whether you have been misunderstood until you hear back from the person with whom you are communicating. I can just see a detractor taking that statement and making it say that I said God’s people should support drunks and drug addicts without considering whether they are being nothing more than enablers. So adding to what I said, here is what our Lord tells us:

Mat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Did Christ ever ask anyone He healed or fed with His loaves and fishes whether they were drunks or wife abusers or gluttons, etc? I do not see that in scripture, but I do see where the needs of the body of Christ and the needs of “the household of faith” are to be preferred over the needs of the poor of the world.

Here are our instructions, plain and simple:

Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

“All men” does not exclude drunks or ungrateful lepers. Christ asked no questions when He was approached for His favors.

Luk 17:12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
Luk 17:13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
Luk 17:14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
Luk 17:15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
Luk 17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luk 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
Luk 17:18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

Did Christ ask the adulteress whether she intended to continue as a prostitute before he forgave her sins? Of course not. He first forgave her sins, saved her from being stoned to death, and then He told her to “go and sin no more…”

So if you are approached on the street by a beggar, then by all means go with him if you wish and buy him a meal and make sure he doesn’t waste your charity on more wine or liquor. However, are you going to use that for an excuse not to give him enough money to satisfy his hunger simply because you do not have time to supervise how your alms are being spent? If that is what you feel led to do, then by all means do so, but I will gladly take that chance and let the Lord show me in His Word where I should supervise those I help to be sure my gift is used properly.

The last thing I want to do is to “think above what is written” (1Co 4:6).

I hope that clarifies what I meant by what I said in our last communication. Of course I care how my “alabaster box” of “three hundred pence” is spent, but I would never use “enabling an addict” as an excuse to refuse him a few dollars to buy a meal and then worry that it might be misspent, or feel guilty as an enabler if I am unable to make certain my alms were used in a righteous manner. My greater concern is that I might fail to minister to any legitimate need of my fellow man.

I want to be able to say that I trembled at these words:

Mat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Here is your last paragraph:

I hope we can continue our email replies, Mike. I am trying to be honest and to the point, something that within organized religion as you well know, is often looked down upon.

I too, hope we can continue our exchanges as long as we are both simply seeking to know the Truth. Indeed I am aware that honest questions concerning policy or doctrine are not welcome in organized historical Christian churches. I take great pleasure in encouraging all in our fellowship to ask any question whatever concerning the scriptures.

I cannot give you faith in the Word of God, and I am told to “avoid” those who have not yet been given that gift, and have not even been dragged to Christ or have apostatized from that God-given gift:

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

We have been given very direct instructions for how we are to deal with differences within the body of Christ, but that is a subject which has been dealt with in great detail already, and is much too involved to deal with in a single e-mail.

I too, am being direct and straightforward. It is my prayer that you will hear the voice of the True Shepherd in the writings which you read on iswasandwillbe. com, and if you do not, please point it out. At the same time I pray that you are also given to also know the voice of a stranger and flee from him. A bitter and Bible-bashing voice is just that, and I would only hope you are given to deal with such a spirit in a Biblical way.

In closing, I am sorry if it sounds ‘ad hominem’ when I say that I have no idea what you are talking about when you say you have heard an elder say he is “incredibly humble”. I have never heard anyone in our fellowship make such a bragging statement, so you will just have to show that to me before I would have any idea where that comes from. Every brother and sister in this fellowship is very well aware that “without [Christ he/she] can do nothing” and that “no flesh should glory in His presence”. You will hear many say they have been ‘humbled’, which is what this life is all about.

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

If editing can make George Zimmerman say clearly for the whole nation to hear: “I am following a man, and he is a black man” by simply and deliberately leaving out the dispatcher asking for the man’s race, then I suppose you could indeed have heard what you say you heard, but consider the source you are going to for your information. My chief detractor is an admitted liar, and I have the e-mails in which he makes that brag. If that sounds like an attack on his character, then so be it. I must call a spade a spade. I sign my name to everything I write, and I dare say you don’t even know that writer’s name, simply because he never signs anything he writes. Just consider that while you read that bitter and twisted blog or site. If I am wrong and you can find his name, then please let me know.

I want very much to answer any sincere questions, but I hope you will see through what is being done and realize that bitterness and hatred is not worth spending a lot of time with, and we can get into questions which are in line with the things we are told to think on:

1Ti 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

Those “two or three witnesses” are not to be bitter Bible-bashing witnesses, but proven brothers who have been faithful to the word of God. That is not what you are reading on that site. We look for the best in everyone and allow for the fact that we are all at different stages of maturity, while still remaining faithful to the command that we are to “try the spirits to see whether they are of God” (1Jn 4:1).

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Your brother who counts it all joy to be persecuted for Christ’s name sake,

Mike

Mr. Vinson,

I have a question that has been bothering me.
What does the Bible mean when it says God “created darkness”? Some say that darkness does not “exist,” that it’s just the opposite of light. Others say that the Bible means God creates darkness because of “night” (i. e. because the Earth rotates, it appears dark on one side of the Earth, hence “darkness”.
Anyway, I have scary thoughts about things like, if God did not exist, what would there be? Would there be light or darkness?
Please respond.

I____

Hi I____,
Thank you for your question.
You ask:

What does the Bible mean when it says God “created darkness”?”

As hard as this is for orthodox Christians to believe, what this means is that God, through Satan, is responsible for all that takes place within His creation. He does not pass the buck to either Satan or our fabled “free will”. There is no such thing as “free” will and Satan is nothing more than a tool in God’s sovereign hand.

Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
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:
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

“It is NOT of him that wills… but of God…” The time mankind spends in these temporary “vessels of clay” is intentionally designed to simply demonstrate why “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” because of the corruptible nature of these temporary vessels of clay.

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

It was God, not Satan, who created the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and He did so intentionally so mankind, “marred” in His own hand, would eat of that tree and would come to see that he is in need of a Savior.

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

God is trying to tell us all of this, even as mankind tries to ‘save His reputation’ by lying and saying that God does not create evil.

Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

What does “I create evil” mean? Does it mean ‘disaster’ or ‘calamity’, such as earthquakes and tsunamis? Is that what “I… create evil means”? No, that is not what “I… create evil” means. Here is what that means.

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

Which ‘wicked’ has God made for Himself? What ‘evil’ has God “created”? What ‘erring’ has He ‘made us to err’? He has made all the wicked for Himself and He has created all the evil this ever has been or ever will be, and He has made all erring that has ever taken place.

Act 17:28 For in him we [ including the wicked Athenians Paul is speaking to] live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Amo 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

So God has created evil and flesh as the ugly scaffold through which He is building a new and better house in He will dwell. In the end, all men will be saved, and this ‘scaffold’ of sinful flesh will be destroyed. But that end will come only through fiery judgment which is even now on the house of God, but will in time come upon all men to salvation.

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The “lake of fire” is the instrument of God for the salvation of all men.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

As long as one person is still dead, death is not “destroyed”. But if the life of Christ is, in the end, granted to all men, then death will be destroyed.

1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially [‘first’, but not exclusively] of those that believe.

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?

So judgment is now on “the house of God”, but that is just where it “begins”. That is not where it ends. In time Christ’s work will save “the whole world”.

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

So the answer to your question is that ‘Yes, God did create darkness’, but He did so for the purpose of ‘calling light out of darkness’.

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

We understand only by contrasting one thing with another. So God is calling light and righteousness out of the darkness of sin and evil. He is calling life out of death, and He is calling good out of evil.
It is foolish to say that ‘darkness does not exist, it is just the opposite of light’. That is the same as saying that light doesn’t exist because it is just the opposite of darkness.
If God did not exist, then there would be nothing, because it is in Him and through His Christ that all things consist.

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

“All things” means all evil as well as all good. The most heinous act of all time was the murder of our Savior Jesus Christ. That too, was done only as God Himself had ordained”

Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

There is an in depth paper on this subject on the iswasandwillbe. com website. It is in the Essential Reading section which is in the upper left corner of the homepage. It is entitled After The Counsel of His Own Will. Read that article, and if you still have questions please feel free to get back to me.
‘Darkness’ is the Biblical symbol of ignorance, and ‘light’ is the Biblical symbol of knowledge.
Life eternal is defined as ‘knowing God and His Son’.

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

When in God’s own time, all men come to “know… God and Jesus Christ”, both darkness and death will be destroyed, and light and life will be all that remains.
I hope this helps you to understand that God did indeed create evil, but that He did so simply as a tool in His hand by which to drag all men to Himself.
Your brother in Christ,

Mike

Hi,

I know you are always striving for truth. It seems that something is not right in the young earth theory.

From here: http:// www. iswasandwillbe. com/ Earth_ age_ and_ astrology. php

I won’t repeat what you said, but will simply say that it doesn’t seem to me that the concept of time started until after the sun and moon and they weren’t created until the fourth day. So the concluding statements about “evening and morning” may not be literal or may have some other significance. One thing to also keep in mind is that we now know that our universe is ever expanding and it expands exponentially. When God first created this universe, the size was much smaller than presently, so the expansion at that point would have been much more rapid. I’m not an astronomer or physicist, but simply searching and praying for understanding, knowledge, wisdom, love, forgiveness, obedience and more that only He gives.

Gen 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Gen 1:15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
Gen 1:16 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.
Gen 1:17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
Gen 1:18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
Gen 1:19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

God is good. I’m thankful he has sent you.

J____

Hi J____,

Thank you for taking the time to communicate your concern to me.
You make this statement:

“I won’t repeat what you said, but will simply say that it doesn’t seem to me that the concept of time started until after the sun and moon and they weren’t created until the fourth day. “

I hope you will not mind reading this URL to get the answer to your concerns. If after reading that you still have a question, then please feel free to let me know.
I make no claim of being a scientist. I do claim to have been granted faith in the Word of God. That does not mean that I check my brain at the door when I open my Bible, but neither do I check my brain at the door when I read about scientific conclusions, which are often based upon false premises, as has been proven over and over again in my 64 years on this earth.
When I was in grade school, scientists were concerned that we were headed into another ice age. Today they are just as certain that the earth is on the verge of becoming too hot.
It was not long ago that scientists explained fruit flies with something they called spontaneous generation. So I am not overly impressed with “what we know now” whenever what we know now contradicts the clear statements of scripture like “In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and all that in them is…”
I first look for the spiritual meaning behind the words of scripture, but even I have to accept that when a word like the word ‘day’ is qualified with the statement “the evening and the morning were the 1st day, 2nd day, etc., or “are there not twelve hours in the day”, then maybe it means “evening and morning”, and that the spiritual lesson is to be understood through accepting that God made this earth “suddenly”, which is better translated ‘instantly’. That is how He plainly states He accomplished the Creation, and that is what our vast interdependent creation demands.
Every part of God’s creation demands a food source without which it could not survive one month. Every part of God’s creation demands the skills and means for requiring that food be in place instantly, not through completely unverifiable evolutionary theories of millions of years, which completely contradict the laws of science and of logic.
Here is what the scriptures say, and this is what God has given me the faith and the logic to believe:

Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

It was neither a mental challenge nor a physical challenge. God was not tired. The word ‘sabbath’ means ‘to cease’. It has nothing to do with God being tired. Here is Strong’s definition of the word:

shabba th
shab- bawth’
Intensive from H7673; intermission, that is, (specifically) the Sabbath: – (+ every) sabbath.

When we look at #7673, from which the word ‘shabbath’ comes, this is what we learn:

H7673
sha bath
shaw- bath’
A primitive root; to repose, that is, desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causatively, figuratively or specifically): – (cause to, let, make to) cease, celebrate, cause (make) to fail, keep (sabbath), suffer to be lacking, leave, put away (down), (make to) rest, rid, still, take away.

So the Creator did not even break a sweat when ‘instantly’ speaking this universe into existence. He just told His spirit to manifest itself as such, and there it is.

Isa 48:3 I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.

God has declared everything “from the beginning”. I have no problem believing that. He did it all “suddenly”, not over long eons of time. Now here is what the Hebrew word translated ‘suddenly’ means:

H6597
pith’o m pith’o m
pith- ome’, pith- ome’
From H6621; instantly: – straightway, sudden (- ly).

Here is how this same word is used elsewhere in scripture:

Jos 11:6 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.
Jos 11:7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.

Successful battles take place ‘suddenly’. They do not drag out for millions of years.
Two thousand years ago Christ said there were 12 hours in a day, and there are still 12 hours in a day, even as “the universe expands exponentially”, according to science. I for one will simply believe God and let every man be a liar. If I am to be chastened for being foolish then so be it, but I suspect that by “becoming a fool” I will be proven to be very wise indeed.

Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

You conclude by saying:

“God is good. I’m thankful he has sent you.”

I pray that you still feel that way. I must stand on the only Truth there really is.
Your brother in Christ who is that Truth.

Mike