Rejoicing – Is, Was and Will Be – The Unknown Character of Christ and His Word

Zec 9:1-17 The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus

Tony Cullen — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 18:01:33 +0000

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Zec 9:1-17 The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus

[Study Aired July 27, 2023]

Zec 9:1 The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.
Zec 9:2 And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.
Zec 9:3 And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.
Zec 9:4 Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.
Zec 9:5 Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
Zec 9:6 And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
Zec 9:7 And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.
Zec 9:8 And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.
Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Zec 9:10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
Zec 9:11 As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.
Zec 9:12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;
Zec 9:13 When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
Zec 9:14 And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.
Zec 9:15 The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.
Zec 9:16 And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.
Zec 9:17 For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.

The first verse of this ninth chapter of Zechariah sets the stage for a prophecy that declares all the world will be judged by God through the church which will be an ensign upon the land revealing God’s goodness and beauty to all the earth, making the world rejoice in the word of hope the elect will bring (Rev 2:26-29).

Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 2:28 And I will give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

This judgment over the nations which are given to the elect is what “The burden^H4853 of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD” represents, and is a prophecy of the judgment of all the world symbolized by this statement, “as of all the tribes of Israel.“

H4853
Burden
maśśâ’ mas-saw’

From H5375; a burden; specifically tribute, or (abstractly) porterage; figuratively an utterance, chiefly a doom, especially singing; mental, desire: – burden, carry away, prophecy, X they set, song, tribute.

It is a physical and mental burden to have our old man judged in this age (1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 4:17), but it is also a joyful burden (2Co 7:4) knowing that the present suffering we are enduring cannot compare to the glory that will be revealed in the first resurrection, and so we look to the joy that is set before us through Christ who gives us that vision through the church (Rom 8:17-18, Heb 12:2, Pro 29:18).

2Co 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation [Act 14:22]

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.

This chapter of Zechariah talks about the judgements that will come upon Babylon through the church expressed as “the burden^H4853 of the word of the LORD“. That same expression can be found in Isaiah 19:1-25 where Egypt, representing all the world, will be judged by the LORD who will “rideth upon a swift cloud [God’s elect the great cloud of witness (Heb 12:1)], and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it”.

Isa 19:1 The burden^H4853 of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

This chapter of Zechariah is about God’s indignation against the nations of the world and how He will judge all men with a mighty stretched out arm (Exo 15:16, Isa 34:1-6).

Exo 15:16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. [God’s elect being connected to the passover lamb (1Co 6:19-20, Rom 8:36, Col 1:24)]

Isa 34:1 Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.
Isa 34:2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
Isa 34:3 Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
Isa 34:4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree [Rev 6:12-13].
Isa 34:5 For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea^H123, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
Isa 34:6 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea^H123. [Rev 14:18-20]

H123
‘ĕdôm ‘ĕdôm
ed-ome’, ed-ome’

From H122; red (see Gen 25:25); Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him: – Edom, Edomites, Idumea.

When God’s judgments are in the earth, men will learn righteousness (Isa 26:9), so although these verses we have read speak of some very hard things that will happen unto the world at the hand of God via the elect, the end result will bring healing. This time in Christ’s life found in Mark 3:1-14 is a parable of what God’s elect will experience during the thousand-year reign, being like him in the earth (1Jn 4:17). The twelve disciples, who are sent forth by Christ to preach, are typical of the foundational [12] body of Christ that will be sent forth to preach to all the world during the thousand-year reign of the saints. Right down to the smallest detail, there are parallels to be drawn from this section of the gospel of Mark and the ninth chapter of Zechariah, which we will look at before we get into the actual verses of the study.

Mar 3:1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand [a withered hand in the synagogue represents our inability in Babylon to sow the word of God correctly].
Mar 3:2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
Mar 3:3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
Mar 3:4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
Mar 3:5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
Mar 3:6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him [All of the physical healing during the reign of the saints does not prevent the events of Revelation 20:8 from transpiring, showing there was no spiritual healing taking place, no conversion].
Mar 3:7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,
Mar 3:8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.
Mar 3:9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
Mar 3:10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
Mar 3:11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
Mar 3:12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.
Mar 3:13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.
Mar 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
Mar 3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

The judgment upon Hadrach (the country) and Damascus (the capital city), by way of the word of God which judges us, symbolizes what will happen to all men in time who will be dragged to Christ “when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD” (Joh 6:44).

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

All the world will labor to enter into that rest, “the rest thereof” each man in his own order (1Co 15:21-24). Being before Christ and believing because we have been dragged there by the Father requires that we continue in that relationship if we are going to grow unto maturity, as we are dragged to Christ to that “private place” [Hadrach], the hidden idols of our Adamic hearts’ “sack of blood” [Damascus] that are revealed and repented of in this age, Lord willing (Joh 8:31-32, Jas 1:18-20, 1Jn 1:7). That dragging for us today as the body of Christ (Joh 6:44) burns up the idols of our Adamic hearts typified by the names Hadrach^H2317 and Damascus^H1834.

Zec 9:1 The burden of the Word of I was, I am, I will be against the land of private place^H2317 Hadrach BDB definition =”dwelling”, and its resting place, sack of blood^H1834 Damascus BDB definition = “silent is the sackcloth weaver” , (when the eye of man, and all the tribes of he will rule with God shall be toward I was, I am, I will be), [PNB-YLT-1]

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.

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.
Jas 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Jas 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Zec 9:2 And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.
Zec 9:3 And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.

These next verses discuss the condition of man’s heart and the idols of the heart that will be destroyed by the body of Christ bringing great fear upon all the world, and they parallel very well with the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Act 5:1-11).

The verses start off by describing cities that represent the strongholds of our flesh [Hamath^H2574 BDB=”walled”; PNB=wall of anger], the deceitful and desperately wicked heart (Jer 17:9) that is proud and “very wise” having built itself upon the negative rock [Tyrus^H6865 BDB=”a rock”; PNB=strength ] thinking we are complete and fulfilled in our self-sufficiency not having need of Christ’s words. Man’s wisdom is not the power of God, but God allows mankind to dwell in a place that creates a false sense of security where strongholds are laid up, “Tyrus did build herself a strong hold“; and riches of the flesh are accumulated through our industriousness [Zidon^H6721 BDB = “hunting”; PNB=hunting place] and “heaped up as silver as the dust” along with “fine gold as the mire of the streets.” “Dust and mire” – that’s the conclusion Paul comes to regarding the wisdom of man versus the power of God which is revealed in the true gospel of Jesus Christ (Php 3:8, Rom 1:16-17).

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

This is the mindset that is needed to win Christ that Paul is describing for us and the fruit of that mindset is then described in Philippians 3:9.

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:

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; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Zec 9:4 Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.
Zec 9:5 Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
Zec 9:6 And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

Tyrus is being discussed now, which is the Phoenician way of saying the port city of Tyre. These verses are talking about the judgment of mankind at this time, and God uses the port city of Tyrus as a type of Babylon that must be judged by the saints and will be during their reign with Christ (Rev 8:9, Rev 18:17, Rev 18:19).

Etymology blurb:

The predominant form in Classical Greek was Týros (Τύρος), which was first seen in the works of Herodotus but may have been adopted considerably earlier. It gave rise to Latin Tyrus, which entered English during the Middle English period as Tyre. The demonym for Tyre is Tyrian, and the inhabitants are Tyrians.

Rev 8:9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

Rev 18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

Rev 18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

The “Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire“, tells us that it is with the word of God that man’s false sense of power will be taken away, “in the sea“, meaning in our flesh and amongst all the rest of humanity that we trade with and exchange our ideas, all based on the lie that we have free moral agency.

What this judgment causes is fear and sorrow and torment, described with these words, “Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.“

This thought of “Ashkelon^{H831 BDB = the fire of infamy}: I shall be weighed“ and “Gaza^{H5804 BDB = “the strong”}” seeing this judgment unfold on Tyrus, and fearing, reminds us of this verse previously mentioned (Rev 18:19). The king perishing from Gaza, “the king shall perish from Gaza“, is symbolic language meaning that mankind is being shown we are not the masters of our own destinies, our own kings with ten crowns (Rev 13:1), and so the king of kings in our hearts [small k], with its lie of free moral agency, has to die. Ashkelon, which means ‘the weighing place’, will consider these events and see an end coming to its self-willed enterprising mind, all happening in thirds, meaning a process of judgment that must occur to rid mankind of these idols, as mentioned in Revelation 8:9. Men’s ideas about themselves, in other words, are no longer going to thrive and flourish: “Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.” So, it is a bastard^H4464 who dwells in Ashdod^{H795, H7703} at this point, seeing that the legitimacy of mankind’s ‘Jewishness’ has been exposed (Deu 23:2, Rev 3:9).

H795
Ashdod ‘ashdôd
ash-dode’

From H7703; ravager; Ashdod, a place in Palestine: – Ashdod.

H7703
shâdad
shaw-dad’

A primitive root; properly to be burly, that is, (figuratively) powerful (passively impregnable); by implication to ravage: – dead, destroy (-er), oppress, robber, spoil (-er), X utterly, (lay) waste.

H4464
Bastard
mamzêr mam-zare’

From an unused root mian. to alienate; a mongrel, that is, born of a Jewish father and a heathen mother: – bastard.

Deu 23:2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

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

Zec 9:7 And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.

Still speaking of Tyre, we are told that God will “take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth“, symbols of ‘another Jesus’ based upon our own understanding of Christ. Taking away our Adamic blood is what is required to understand the precious blood of Christ (1Pe 1:19). The abomination between our teeth is the man of perdition who sits on the throne of our hearts and represents our self-willed spirits that reject God’s sovereignty at first. So, God taking away “his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth” is a good thing and something that requires a process of judgment (Luk 21:19-20, 2Th 2:8, Mat 24:15, Lev 7:18).

Then we’re told, “but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.” There will be no conversion during the thousand-year reign of the saints, but this verse shows us that there will be different levels of comprehension with the unconverted masses and even those who will befriend the elect acting as governors^H441 in Judah [typifying the elect], and Ekron^H6138, as a Jebusite^{H2983, H2982}.

governorsH441
BDB: 1. tame, docile
friend, intimate
3. chief

Strong’s: From H502; familiar; a friend also gentle; hence a bullock (as being tame; applied although masculine to a cow); and so a chieftain (as notable like neat cattle): – captain duke (chief) friend governor guide ox.

Ekron H6138
BDB: Ekron = emigration or torn up by the roots
the most northerly of the 5 principal cities of the Philistines; located in the lowlands of Judah and later given to Dan.
Strong’s: From H6131; eradication;

H6131: A primitive root; to pluck up (especially by the roots); specifically to hamstring; figuratively to exterminate: – dig down hough pluck up root up.

Jebusite H2983
BDB: descendants of Jebus
Strong’s: Patrial from H2982

H2982: BDB = threshing place ; Strongs = trodden that is threshing place;

Zec 9:6 The people in Ashdod will not even know who their real fathers are. I will completely destroy the proud Philistine people.
Zec 9:7 They will no longer eat meat with the blood still in it or any other forbidden food. Any Philistine left living will become a part of my people—they will be just one more family group in Judah. The people of Ekron will become a part of my people, just like the Jebusite people did (1Ch 11:4; 1Ki 9:19-22). I will protect my country. (ERV)

1Ch 11:4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.

1Ki 9:19 And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
1Ki 9:20 And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel,
1Ki 9:21 Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice (forced labour / slaves / servants) unto this day.

Mary was not converted, nor were any of Christ’s disciples at the point where He was on the cross. However, there was a closeness they had with Him that others did not share, and Mary’s heart was threshed and pierced at seeing her beloved son dying in such a horrific manner (Luk 2:35). This should give us hope for those who are yet unconverted in our midst, still blessed to have known Christ within the body of Christ (Gal 2:20).

Zec 9:8 And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.

Now the reality is in front of the world, God is dwelling on earth with His saints in the person of Jesus Christ, “I will encamp about mine house” where His bride “encamps about” to protect the holy city (Mat 26:53) so that “the exactor shall not pass over them furthermore” (CLV). “No oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes” (Rev 21:26-27) is another way of saying we will see him face to face in that day, when we are spirit beings who cannot be oppressed by the world. The natural precedes the spiritual in that regard as well, knowing that all those who are raised up as spirits in the second resurrection will not be able to oppress the elect but will be judged by the saints (1Co 13:12, 1Co 6:3, Mat 22:29-30).

Mat 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Mat 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Mat 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

This verse is commonly thought of as a prophecy that points to the time when Christ makes His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and it is, but that moment in Christ’s life was also typical of His coming into the life of the elect, who are typified as Jerusalem (Gal 4:26) and now have taken on the perfected mind of Christ in the first resurrection and are glad and rejoicing for this loving relationship we have with our husband (Rev 19:7). We are glad and rejoicing and are also called the “daughter of Zion” and the “daughter of Jerusalem” throughout the scriptures. In light of the thousand-year reign though, we can also see this declaration spoken to ‘the other sheep not of this fold’ (Joh 10:16), the rest of humanity who are going to be saved and told, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee” (Oba 1:21, Psa 127:3, Psa 113:9, Isa 54:1-5)

Psa 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

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.

Psa 113:9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

With Christ being our head, the elect are like Him and are represented by “a colt the foal of an ass“, the tamed beast Christ controls and rides triumphantly into Jerusalem above, where we are raised in heavenly places (Eph 2:6). Because the Lord has guided our lives in this age, and we have been led by God’s spirit (Rom 8:14-16), we have been crushed and have suffered, making it possible for us to become that meek bride, being made ready to rule and reign under Christ (1Pe 3:4, Pro 18:22).

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

Pro 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

That crushing of the elect is directed by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who is “riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” that is going over the tree branches and clothes (Mat 21:8) which represent the elect whose lives have been lost and cut down and crushed under the stone, Jesus Christ (Mat 21:44), as a glorious witness of His power and might that is able to finish this work of salvation (Zec 4:6, Psa 149:4, Luk 12:32) within the elect as His kind of first fruits (Jas 1:18).

Psa 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

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

Zec 9:10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

This verse contrasts with Christ “riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass“ showing us the need for judgment in the earth in order for the world to learn of His righteousness. God will take away the power of the nations, symbolized by these words, “I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off.“

There will be no area of the world where Christ’s and His Christ’s influence will not be felt and implemented, declared here saying, “and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.”

Zec 9:11 As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.
Zec 9:12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

These two verses are talking about God’s elect today who are being given hope in His word that tells us because of our communion with Christ (1Co 10:16), He will, at the appointed time, send “forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water”, which has both an inward application and a dispensational one as well. We are told today to “Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope” as we look to Christ as our hope of glory within who can deliver us from our wretched flesh. We are hoping in those things which are not seen, by the faith of Christ (Col 1:27, Rom 7:24, Heb 11:1). He declares to His elect even today the double blessing which will be given to those who endure until the end and overcome by God’s power in this life “even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee.“

Zec 9:13 When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
Zec 9:14 And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.

These verses show us that God is preparing us for the battles that have been ordained for us to go through, battles that belong to the Lord (1Sa 17:47) but are executed through His bow, “When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.” The spirit of Christ in God’s elect is against the fleshly carnal heart of man, to which is what this section of the verse is referring, “and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece [representing carnal, gentile flesh, which is what all flesh is in God’s eyes], and made thee [God’s elect] as the sword of a mighty man.“

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

The world will see this work of judgment unfolding upon them through the elect, which is what we are being told here, “And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.” The arrows represent His word that will go forth from our lips as lightning. All God’s elect do will be directed and guided by Christ, who will “blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south“, meaning we will take our lead from Christ. Coming from the south means we will go forth with the prosperity of His word in our quiver to do His bidding on the earth (Psa 127:3-5).

Psa 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psa 127:4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Psa 127:5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Zec 9:15 The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.

The imagery in this verse describes the certainty of God’s judgments that will prevail throughout the earth. He will defend us and win our battles for us, and the giants in the land at that time will be slain, which was typified by King David slaying Goliath. “The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones” (1Sa 17:49-50).

This will be a great time of rejoicing for the bride of Christ as we see the loving protection and mighty arm of our saviour taking us into battle and giving us victory at every turn. That is why it says, “and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine.“ We shall be “filled like bowls and as the corners of the altar“, representing the complete power of judgment that will go forth from the body of Christ. The corners of the altar are where there are horns representing that power of God working in our lives. Today that power is made known to us as we die daily being, bound to the altar by the grace-through-faith relationship we have with our Lord (Psa 118:27).

Zec 9:16 And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.
Zec 9:17 For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.

Again, some reassuring verses that remind us of God’s love toward the bride of Christ and the little flock who will be an ensign unto all the earth, “for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land” (Mal 3:17).

How great is God’s goodness toward us, and how great is His beauty, indeed! Our joy will be in living lives that have learned throughout our lifetime of overcoming that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Rev 4:8, Act 20:35), having been prepared as the bride of Christ for that service to all the world. That service is what this verse foreshadows, “For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.” We will have the privilege of giving the world the truth, represented by “corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.”

Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Rev 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Rev 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Prophecy of Isaiah – Isa 65:13-18 Behold I Create New Heavens and a New Earth

Mike Vinson — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 04:08:46 +0000

Isa 65:13-18 Behold I Create New Heavens and a New Earth

[Study Aired October 4, 2020]

Isa 65:13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:
Isa 65:14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
Isa 65:15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:
Isa 65:16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.
Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Isa 65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

Our study today begins with the word, ‘Therefore’. For that reason we will begin by simply reading the last five verses of last week’s study so we can understand the grounds for what is being revealed to us.

Here are those five verses:

Isa 65:8 Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all.
Isa 65:9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
Isa 65:10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.
Isa 65:11 But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.
Isa 65:12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

It is not at all over-simplifying the message of all scripture to say that the entire Bible, and every story in the Bible, regardless of the subject and regardless of the numbers of persons involved in any story, whether it is Joseph and his brothers, or Israel and Syria, or Israel and Assyria and Babylon; it is not over simplifying the message of the scriptures at all to say that all scripture concerns nothing more than two men. Those two men are “our old man” and our “new man”, and those two men are always at war with each other. Here is how the scriptures frame these two warring parties:

Gen 25:22 And the children struggled together within her [Rebecca, Isaac’s wife]; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
Gen 25:23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

Those “two nations” are indeed “two nations”. They are not ‘one nation’, although they do come out of one womb, and that ‘one womb’ is “the first man Adam”. The first Adam in “every man” was “made to be taken and destroyed”, because he has a “natural… carnal mind” which must be destroyed if the new man is to be birthed. This is how Christ speaks of these two men:

Joh 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die [our carnal minded old man], it abideth alone : but if it die [if it is destroyed], it bringeth forth much fruit [If our rebellious, carnal minded old man dies then it is through that dying process that our new man is born].
Joh 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Only one of these two men can “inherit the kingdom of God”. Therefore the natural first man, our “old man” must begin to be “put off” and be destroyed and begin to die before “the new man” can begin to be born. But the ‘birth’ of our “new man” is a process which continues within us until we draw our last physical breath. Only then will be “bear the heavenly” body in the fulness of our “new man”:

1Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
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. [A “spiritual body” can pass through a locked door and appear as a natural body. A “natural body” cannot do that. (Luk 24:39)]
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 [our old man]: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly [our new man].
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. [There is no such thing as “a spiritual physical body” as so many teach]

“The old man [and] the new man; the first man [and] the second man”, these are the two men with whom all scripture is concerned.

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

‘Putting off the old man, and putting on the new man’ are both in the aorist tense, and are taking place daily within our new man. ‘Corrupt according to deceitful lust and being renewed in the spirit of your mind’ are both in the present tense as the dying process of our old man is being worked out.

Our ‘old man’ is also called “the son of the bondwoman” and this is what we know of his fate:

Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

We were “in time past… children of the prince of the power of the air… children of disobedience” but no more (Eph 2:2-3).

The spiritual significance of the number six is, that which is not completed within mankind:

Here is a link to the study of the Number Six

The spiritual significance of the number three is the process of judgment:

Numbers in Scripture – Three, the Process of Spiritual Completion Through Judgment

The Number Three in Scripture

It is not a coincidence that mankind was created on the sixth day along with all the other beasts:

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

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.

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.

In Genesis we are told that man is to have dominion over ‘the fish, the fowl the cattle, and over all the earth”, but in Ecclesiastes 3 we are told that man has no preeminence over a beast.

This apparent contradiction evaporates when we discover that the words “Let us make man in our image” is better translated as:

Gen 1:26 And saying is the Elohim, “Make will We humanity in Our image, and according to Our likeness, and sway shall they over the fish of the sea, and over the flyer of the heavens, and over the beast, and over all land life, and over every moving animal moving on the land.
Gen 1:27 And creating is the Elohim humanity in His image. In the image of the Elohim He creates it. Male and female He creates them.

Every verb in those two verses is in the Hebrew Qal stem, which is the equivalent of the Greek aorist tense. What that means is that God did not “make man in His image”. The fact is that He shaped man in dust and iniquity and conceived Adam in sin as we clearly informed:

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

But did we not just read:

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.

Add this next verse to Gen 1:31 to get “the sum of [His] word” concerning what was created in those six days:

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.

“All that in them is” would include the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the crooked deceitful serpent and thorns and briers. Indeed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was a “very good” tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The “crooked serpent” was a “very good… crooked, lying, murderous” serpent. Adam and Eve themselves were “very good… flesh and blood… corruption”:

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

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

The serpent did not become a liar after Adam and Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They ate of that tree because the serpent beguiled them and lied to them. That is what a “very good” serpent does. He is “very good” at what he was created to do. He did not become a “crooked serpent” after he lied to Eve. The Lord’s hand formed that “crooked serpent”:

Job 26:13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

What does all of this tell us about that which is “very good”? The law of Moses is said to be “good”, and yet we are told it “is not for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient”:

1Ti 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
1Ti 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

The “lawful use of the law” of Moses must be applied in our lives “according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God”, and in answer to the question… “What does all of this tell us about that which is ‘very good’?” this is what “the glorious gospel of the blessed God” tells us about that which is “very good”:

2Co 3:10 For even that which was made glorious [the law of Moses] had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

Let’s look at that verse along with the verses surrounding it so we can get its full impact:

2Co 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, [“The law {of Moses} is good” (1Ti 1:12)] 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 [“The law of Christ” (Gal 6:2 and Mat 5-7)] 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.

Based upon what we have just read, it is not adding to or taking from the Word of God to say, “That which was ‘very good’ was not good by reason of that which excels.” In other words ‘the good is actually the enemy of excellence’, to the point that “the milk of the Word” has become the enemy of going on to perfection.

To make this point I will quote from the end of Hebrews 5 and the beginning of Hebrews 6 without the verses nor the chapter breaks:

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. [The judgment which is now on the house of God and the great white throne judgment, the salvation of all]
And this will we do, if God permit.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

The phrase “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ…” connects what was said about being spiritual babes to the “milk of the Word” doctrines which are all listed here, and the phrase “For it is impossible… to renew them again to repentance…” connects what has just been stated about those spiritual babes with the warning that “it is impossible to renew them again to repentance.” In other words, those who insist on remaining only on the milk of the Word are actually crucifying Christ afresh and putting Him to an open shame, and are simply unwilling to receive a crown of life and a coat of many colors because they instinctively realize those gifts will separate them from those who want only ‘the milk of the Word’. A coat of many colors and a crown of life will separate us from our brothers, and a “coat of many colors” which will cause us to be “hated of [our] brothers”:

Gen 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
Gen 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

The Lord has demonstrated this Truth to all of us when He dragged us out of Babylon and then He has demonstrated it over and over again when He causes those who were our equal, those who were our guides and our intimate acquaintances, those who ate bread with us and with whom we have over the years taken sweet counsel, and with whom for years we had gone up the house of God to suddenly forsake us, turn against us and magnify themselves against us.

These verses are addressed to you and to me:

Psa 41:9 Even a man desiring my welfare, I trusted in him, eating of my bread; this one has lifted up his heel against me.

Psa 55:12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
Psa 55:13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
Psa 55:14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

All these Words of Christ will never pass away. They will be experienced by the saints of every generation:

Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

When Christ says, “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled,” “these things” includes “the end [of the age”] (vs 14), as well as “the abomination that makes desolate spoken of by Daniel the prophet” (vs 15). This demonstrates the ‘is, was, and will be’ nature of the Word of God. It will always have an application to those living at the time it was penned, as well as every subsequent generation… “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away”. Any and all exceptions to this rule are made very clear in scripture. Things like being of the “blessed and holy… few” who are given to have a part in the first resurrection, and “the rest of the dead” who are not given that privilege (Rev 20:6). Those who are in the first resurrection are clearly told “the second death… shall not hurt [them] and has no power over [them] (Rev 2:10-11 and 20:6).

There is no way to apply these words to those who are in the lake of fire because the devil himself is being purified in that ‘fire’:

Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

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

But when the apostle Peter writes:

2Pe 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts [our old man], made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
2Pe 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
2Pe 2:14 Having eyes full of [spiritual] adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
2Pe 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Those who are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God (Mat 13:10-15) will always remember these words of the apostle Paul, and will give every word here in 2 Peter a primarily personal application, while at the same time acknowledging that the scriptures also have a secondary past application as well as an apocalyptic end-time application:

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course [Greek: aion, age] of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ [‘quickened’ Greek, aorist tense, ‘being given life’], (by grace ye are saved;)

Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth [Is], and was [Was] dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore [Will be], Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Those who are granted to remember that “we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others”, will never forget to personally apply these words of the apostle Peter…

2Pe 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
2Pe 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
2Pe 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
2Pe 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Knowing the meaning of “My words shall never pass away” we will always apply these words of Peter to our own old man whom we know very well we have served for so very long.

If we read scripture from any other perspective it becomes nothing more than a history book, with absolutely no personal application. However, if we see every story in scripture as a struggle between these two men and if we understand that these two nations are typically at war within our own heavens constantly struggling the one against the other then:

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

There are “two nations” within every man. One is the first to be given the hegemony over our heavens. Those “two nations” share a common ancestor, and yet they have nothing else in common. That ‘common ancestor’ is “the first man Adam”, and just as his actions involuntarily negatively affected all men, so also “the last Adam’s” actions will positively, involuntarily affect all men of all time. In other words, God did not at all “make men in His image”; rather the Truth of the scriptures is that He is in the process of making man in His image in two phases. Those two phases of His creation are “the first man Adam”, and “the last Adam”:

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.

Our study today concerns itself with the contrasts that exist between these two men who have nothing in common but the judgments of their Creator.

Our last study ended with the Lord revealing to us the marred condition of our old man:

Isa 65:11 But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.
Isa 65:12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

Being “numbered to the sword” is being numbered to destruction, which is indeed the fate of our old man.

Our study today contrasts the cursed fruit of the ways of our rebellious old man with the blessings of the fruit of having Christ and His mind living within us:

It is our old man who while spiritually starving to death, and spiritually dying of thirst, and being shamefully naked, actually thinks he is rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing:

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

As the converted Nebuchadnezzar, a type of our new man, confessed after seven years of humiliation at the hands of the Lord:

Dan 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride [our old man] he is able to abase.

Such is how the Lord has chosen to work with His creatures. It is only through much humiliation and tribulation that any of us will enter into the kingdom of God. It is only through being brought to see our miserable, starved, thirsty and shamefully naked condition that the Lord drags us to Himself, as He tells us over and over again throughout the scriptures:

Lev 26:26 And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

Job 27:14 If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

Just as Isaiah is doing in this 65^th chapter, the Lord, throughout scripture, contrasts the fate of our old man with the fate of our new man:

Psa 37:18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
Psa 37:19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

Isaiah continues with this contrast between the rewards for the humility and obedience of our new man in “this present time” to the shameful, poverty-stricken fruits of the pride and rebellion of our old man against his own Creator and Maker:

Isa 65:14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

“My servants shall rejoice… My servants shall sing for joy of heart”, does not mean we will do so because we will know nothing but physical blessings and physical joy in “this present time”. Do not allow yourself to be taken in by the insidious false doctrine of a “substitutionary atonement”. That particular lie is believed by literally millions of Christians. That false doctrine teaches that Christ came to this earth to die for you, which is true, of course. However, just as he did in the Garden of Eden, the serpent states a truth and then he twists that same truth into a lie which simply cannot be detected by those who live on nothing but smooth, sweet milk of the Word. Christ did not come and die for us so we could avoid persecution and the hatred of all men. These are His own words:

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.

Does that sound like Christ thought His death on the cross would somehow miraculously deliver us from sore trials in “this present time”? Just a few verses later, in this same chapter, Christ tells us in very clear language that He did not die for us so we would not have to die, rather He died for us so He could come in His Father’s spirit and give us the strength to die with Him for “His body’s sake, which is the church” (Col 1:24-27).

This is what Christ has to say about the function of His death for us and what we can expect if we are granted to believe in Him and His doctrines:

Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
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.
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

There it is in very clear language. Christ expects us to die with Him. He did not die for us so we could avoid death. The exact opposite is The Truth.

This is how the apostle Paul expresses how these words of our Lord affected his life:

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 [So I could be “crucified with Him”].

These “earthen vessels” (2Co 4:7) are the curse of corruption which cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50), which is the subject of our next two verses:

Isa 65:15 And ye [you and I, our old man] shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen [our new man with a “new name”, Rev 2:17 and 3:12]: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:
Isa 65:16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

“Swearing by the God of Truth” has been changed by our Lord to simply stating the Truth, which ‘Truth’ is that we will be the first to be saved, and in time “all in Adam shall be made alive in Christ”:

Mat 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
Mat 5:34  But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
Mat 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Mat 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Mat 5:37  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

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.

All the blessings of the kingdom are ours at this very moment in down-payment earnest form. Nevertheless “the redemption of the purchased possession” is the fullness of our promised reward and all of that is yet before us if we are granted to endure “much tribulation” to the end:

Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Isa 65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

This “new heavens and new earth” are being created within us at this very moment through “much tribulation”, and “Jerusalem” is the “new name” of verse 15:

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.

Rev 3:12 He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name. (ASV)

If indeed we are Christ, as He declares (Mat 25:40 and Act 22:8), and if indeed “His inheritance is in the saints” as we are informed in…

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,

…Then our new name is His new name, and that name is “New Jerusalem”, a name befitting our “new man”.

This is what life is like in the New Jerusalem:

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John [Aaron, Steve, and all of us] 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 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

In “This present time” we rejoice in the glory that is to be revealed in us:

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.

As “the manifested sons of God” the best is yet to come, minus all suffering, and according to our Lord “it is near even at the doors” (Mat 24:33).

That is our study for today, and here are the verses for our next study where we will learn the meaning of “the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed”:

Isa 65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
Isa 65:20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.
Isa 65:21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
Isa 65:22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
Isa 65:23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
Isa 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Isa 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.