Warning to Persecutors – Part Three – The Snare

Today another look at the “snare” that comes upon all the earth, and the idea that mankind finds itself in a described condition while never seeing (understanding) it until it becomes undeniably evident. After looking at the foretelling of the snare we’ll look at the condition. In Luke 21:35 the LORD speaks of the snare that will come upon all the earth, and in the verse prior we’re told of it being a day that come upon some “unaware” (suddenly – see 1 Thessalonians 5). In prior verses we see the signs we’ve studied many times; the sun and the moon as the powers of heaven, symbolizing earthy government being shaken. This is speaking of government as intended by God to shine and reflect His light of a just rule, now corrupted into darkness covering all the earth. It is also telling of a vast majority being ignorant of the depraved condition and unable to comprehend the self-evident cause.

The chapter speaks of being led away captive and separated from Jerusalem. Those that study along know Jerusalem represents what its literal Hebrew meaning states: Yarah Shalam, taught and therefor founded upon the understanding of peace by reciprocal security. Yarah tells of this not just being any teaching but as water flowing from the original source. It is telling of government as God intended it, which secures our God given rights, as a contrast to the corruption of it by man and in doing his putting the security of all under threat.

Luke 21 (snare in verse 35)
12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, and you will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.
13 And it shall turn to you to bear testimony.
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand what you shall answer.
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16 And you shall be betrayed both by parents and brethren and kinsfolk and friends, and some of you they shall cause to be put to death.
17 And you shall be hated by all men for My name’s sake.
18 But there shall not a hair of your head perish.
19 In your patience possess you your souls.
20 “And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21 Then let them that are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let them that are in the midst of it depart out, and let not them that are in the countries enter there into.
22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.
24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
25 “And there shall be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars; and upon the earth distress among nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring.
26 Men’s hearts will fail them for fear and for looking upon those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws nigh.”
29 And He spoke to them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees.
30 When they now shoot forth, you see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31 So likewise you, when you see these things come to pass, know you that the Kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
32 Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

The Greek word translated “snare” is the five times used word pagis. It is from a root word meaning to fix, as in to pitch a tent by staking it to the ground with pegs. The context is explaining a fixed position and the inability to reconsider it becoming a trap. Three of the times the word is used are in the books of Timothy.

In 1 Timothy 3 we are told of how to rule our own house and to avoid pride. These are spoken in the context of avoiding the “snare” of the devil. In chapter 6 the “snare” is spoken of as having comes upon those that for the love of money pervert the Gospel and sound teaching. It is speaking of those preaching their own prosperity doctrine and their inability to reconsider the error, and in doing choose to stay in the snare and become consumed by it.

1 Timothy 3 (snare in verse 7)
1 This is a true saying: If a man desires the office of bishop, he desires a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt at teaching;
3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 one who rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all dignity.
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 He must not be a novice in the faith, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good reputation with those who are outsiders, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

1 Timothy 6 (snare is in verse 9)
3 If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our LORD Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,
4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes over words, from which cometh envy, strife, railings, evil suspicions,
5 perverse disputings by men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness. From such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.
9 But those who would be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil; and while some have coveted after it, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you art also called and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
13 In the sight of God, who quickens all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, I give thee this charge:
14 that you keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable until the appearing of our LORD Jesus Christ,
15 which He in His times shall show — He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and LORD of lords,
16 who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see, to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.

2 Timothy 2:26 is the most descriptive in explaining how we escape this “snare.” The chapter tells of those who are actually opposing themselves by their refusal to reconsider their fixed position, and in their PRIDE refusing to acknowlegde the condition of darkness they have brought upon the world. We are told in verse 26 that the only way they can recover themselves is to accept the instruction that has brought these things to light.

2 Timothy 2
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that you hast heard from me among many witnesses, commit you the same to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Endure you therefore hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man who wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if also a man strive for masteries, yet he is not crowned unless he strive lawfully.
6 The husbandman who labors must be the first partaker of the fruits.
7 Consider what I say, and the LORD give thee understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my Gospel,
9 wherein I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even unto bonds. But the Word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him;
12 if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
13 if we believe not, yet He abides faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the LORD that they strive not about words to no profit but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase unto more ungodliness,
17 and their word will eat as doth a canker — among whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18 who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrowing the faith of some.
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal: “The LORD knows those who are His,” and, “Let every one who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
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 honor and some to dishonor.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared for every good work.
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but follow righteousness, faith, charity, and peace with those who call on the LORD out of a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they are intended to produce conflict.
24 And the servant of the LORD must not produce confict, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 in meekness instructing those in opposition. Perhaps God will give them repentance, that they may acknowledge the truth,
26 and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

The fifth time pagis (snare) is used is Romans 11:9 in quoting Psalms 69. Bothe these passages use the word “trap” with snare, and Psalms 96 goes on to say that the end is that no one shall ever again dwell in these tents (the positions they are immovably fix upon). It tells of the vinegar and gall given to the redeemer in the form of the reproach against him from the blind and ignorant.

Romans 11 is speaking of the time of the recovering and all God’s people, both awake and the awakened, are able to see. This is the resurrection that hadn’t yet come and spoken of in 2 Timothy 2:18.

Romans 11
7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeks for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded,
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.”
9 And David said, “Let their table be made a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a recompense unto them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their backs always.”
11 I say then: Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid! But rather, through their fall salvation has come unto the Gentiles to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness?
Psalms 69 (the trap is mentioned in verse 22)
12 They that sit at the gate speak against me, and I have become the song of the drunkards.
13 But as for me, my prayer is unto Thee: O LORD, in an acceptable time, O God, in the multitude of Your mercy hear me in the truth of Your salvation.
14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink; let me be delivered from them that hate me and out of the deep waters.
15 Let not the floodwater overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up; and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
16 Hear me, O LORD, for Your loving-kindness is good; turn unto me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies.
17 And hide not Your face from Your servant, for I am in trouble; hear me speedily.
18 Draw nigh unto my soul and redeem it; deliver me because of mine enemies.
19 You hast known my reproach and my shame and my dishonor; mine adversaries are all before Thee.
20 Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; I looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave me also gall for my meat, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
22 Let their table become a snare before them, and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
24 Pour out Your indignation upon them, and let Your wrathful anger take hold of them.
25 Let their habitation be desolate, and let none dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom You hast smitten, and they talk of the grief of those whom You hast wounded.
27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity, and let them not come into Your righteousness.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

All the facets we’ve discussed are found in Isaiah 24, beginning with the earth becoming without form, and void. (See the wordxp.com post from May 16, titled: Leaven is Will – Mystery, Not My Will, But Thy Will Be Done)

Isaiah 24
1 Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters abroad the inhabitants thereof.
2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest to him.
3 The land shall be utterly emptied and utterly despoiled; for the LORD hath spoken this word.
4 The earth mourns and fades away; the world languishes and fades away; the haughty people of the earth do languish.
5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
7 The new wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted do sigh.
8 The mirth of taborets ceases, the noise of them that rejoice ends, the joy of the harp ceases.
9 They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.
10 The city of confusion is broken down; every house is shut up, that no man may come in.
11 There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.
12 In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.
13 When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning of grapes when the vintage is done.
14 They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing; for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea.
15 Therefore glorify you the LORD in the valleys, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.
16 From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, “My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously, yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.”
17 Fear and the pit and the snare are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
18 And it shall come to pass that he who flees from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit, and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare; for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.
19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.
21 And it shall come to pass in that day that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.
23 Then the moon shall be confounded and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before His elders gloriously.