Let’s continue Our defense (apologia) of the Gospel, and battle the darkness of ignorant and the superficial (the antilogia). These are both the intention and content of these posts. In their most recent era (aer) we have gone beyond the basic doctrines of the faith, which are the necessary building blocks upon which the defense must be founded, and have entered into the mysteries which Hebrews defines as the Holy of Holies. The writer uses this terminology to explain this is where we are able to meet face to face with God, and where he will at His discretion manifest His presence to those He chooses, and then reveal His will in His time.
This revelation isn’t of things that are known, nor can they be known, therefore neither are they contained in books written or words spoken by the will of men. God’s written word and His revelation are what alters time and changes man’s direction, creates kingdoms and pulls down the strong holds of others.
In time and times of great strife (antilogia – opposing discourse), usually caused by God’s people straying into confusion by men creating their own doctrines and placing them in the stead of God’s truth and intention, God uses the means of revelation to uncover mysteries, to establish and confirm the origin from whom His truth is being spoken. Logically and by necessity this must be a single voice/source, and the necessity and logic are if it weren’t from a single confirmed source it would be just another voice in the midst of mass confusion.
This is the entire point of the book of Hebrews. I have in the past called the book a Letter of Introduction of Timothy.
The book begins telling of God speaking in these last days by His son, “these last days” meaning the most resent era in which it had occurred. These “eras” are the time and times that are frequently spoken of in God’s written word, and the intervention we have been speaking of is the finality of what has been translated as the “half time.” This “half time” is actually written as the halving of time, as in dividing the time. It is telling of rightly discerning the final time of these times, and then rightly dividing the word and God speaking into existence His New Creation.
It is also a reference to the time of silence, lacking any Divine Clarification, between the First and the Second Advent. This time between is when the angels (messengers) are sent throughout the world as ministering spirits to bring the word as it was delivered to them. In this we see where and how the “falling away (apostasy)” from the delivers truth occurs, as we also see the idea of the fallen angels in those refusing to return from their rebellion, first against the truth and then in rejecting the correction opposing God Himself.
Hebrews uses many quotes from previous scriptures to bring understanding by way of establishing the continuity of God’s unchanging (while often misunderstood by neglect) plan for reestablish His will through the afore mentioned means, and bringing all things back onto His course of creating man in His image and likeness. One such quote is from Psalms 2 and it appearing as the foundation of Chapter 1.
Hebrews 1
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
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:
4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, You are my Son, this day have I begotten you? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
6 And again, when he brings in the first-begotten into the world, he says, And let all the angels of God worship him.
7 And of the angels he says, Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
8 But unto the Son he says, Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
10 And, You, LORD, in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of you hands:
11 They shall perish; but you remain; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a garment shall you fold them up, and they shall be changed: but you are the same, and your years shall not fail.
13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Psalms 2
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD has said unto me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give you the heathen for Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
The entirety of the book of Hebrews is telling of this reoccurrence as it also often warns not to reject this very word when it is spoken to you. The warnings begin chapter 2 and end chapter 12, while what is between tells us what is occurring using the similarity in form and fashion of the priesthood and the temple. The reoccurring nature is told of using Melchisedec as the example of a never-ending life without earthly origins and a priest of reformation arising outside the existing order.
Hebrews 2
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the LORD, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
5 For unto the angels has he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that you are mindful of him? or the son of man that you visit him?
7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of your hands:
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 Saying, I will declare your name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto you.
13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God has given me.
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to assist and support them that are tempted.
The book ends telling of Timothy being set at liberty. The message is telling those reading to know Timothy has been set free. The word translated as “liberty” is apoluo, literally meaning away or off (apo) and loosed (luo). It is the word used many times to describe the LORD’s being release by the officials after He had been taken to trial. As we know He could have been released but wasn’t because of the popular opinion of the people stirred by the religious leaders. In the context of this trial the writer uses this word to describe Timothy.
For those who know of Timothy, his father was a Greek and his mother was a Jew. He became the Bishop or Ephesus, and with His mixed heritage I am sure his contemporaries, most likely all Hebrews, were questioning his qualifications for being elevated to the position of what could be considered very similar to a High Priest. This is most likely the reason for this Letter of Recommendation. The Spirit of God had a bigger plan by use of divine intellect. He wrote it as if pen in His own hand to us for this time.
Revelation and divine intellect are what is alluded to in Habakkuk 3:4 when it tells of God power being in His hand and as the rays of the sun (horn) coming from His hand. The chapter begins by telling of Habakkuk hearing the speech of the LORD, and understanding it was the LORD riving his work in the midst of the years, and making known in the midst of his years. “The midst of the years” is the same dividing of time we looked at above. The same word translated “midst” is used in Habakkuk 2:19 to tell of this time of silence having declined into idolatry and there being no “breath” in the “midst” of it. Breath is life and Spirit, and this is telling of there being neither left in this “midst.” It is into this era the LORD intervenes. (Era is aer (breath), as it is the “air” of 1 Thessalonians 4:17 where we meet with the LORD,)
These are the mysteries the LORD keep for use by whom ever He chooses and anoints.
Habakkuk 2
18 What profits the graven image that the maker thereof has graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusts therein, to make dumb idols?
19 Woe unto him that says to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
Habakkuk 3
1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet concerning those in error.
2 O LORD, I have heard your speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
4 And his brightness was as the light; he had horns [as ray of the sun rise] coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
5 Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
6 He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
8 Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was your anger against the rivers? was your wrath against the sea, that you didst ride upon your horses and your chariots of salvation?
9 Your bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even your word. Selah. You didst cleave the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw you, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of your arrows they went, and at the shining of your glittering spear.
12 You didst march through the land in indignation, you didst thresh the heathen in anger.
13 You went forth for the salvation of your people, even for salvation with your anointed; you wounded the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.
14 You didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
15 You didst walk through the sea with your horses, through the heap of great waters.
16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
The picture painted using of the words Teman and Paran and the surrounding context beginning the above chapter are of one facing the sun as it rises, and is seen in strength as if a mountain with the gleam of the sun’s rays shining around him. The rays of the sun are as if the fingers of a hand from heaven.
Psalms 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.
2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his [own] errors? cleanse you me from secret faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
