Blessed Are Those Reviled and Hated by this Evil and Degenerate Culture

Continuing: today a few words from the LORD about the man-caused fires that burn in the world, caused by corrupt foundational ideas upon which these dead men base all their words and actions, and how in the midst of this tribulation the LORD brings those who’ve received Him into His presence. It is into these most heated times the LORD acutely manifests Himself as the inner and emanating glory seen in His children.

It is at these times certain words of the LORD (should) come trumpeting through our mind and become the rallying cry of our actions. When the world calls us to join it in its degenerate ideas, and calls us away from the LORD and toward the dead, I hear “let the dead bury the dead,” and the LORD telling us, as also in Isaiah 8, “come follow me.” And His saying, no servant having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit (furnished) for the kingdom of heaven, and this speaking of the same steadfast mind as was found, written in Daniel 3, in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.

The names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego are names given when these men gained prominence in their time, in a culture ruled by corrupt principles, and therefor appropriately named Babylon (the state of confusion). Their original names are, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and their meanings tell of these men being faithful servants, favored because they had become as God in their thinking, and raised up because He was with them.

The name changes speak of them, once in positions of distinction and under the inevitable attacks (tribulations), becoming ordered and deliberate as soldiers, again as God in thinking that consistently governed their words and actions, and the presence of the LORD increasing in and through them, ever surpassing the heat of the fires that came against them.

We know in the time of these men, AS NOW, objects were set up symbolic of the culture’s standards, and this was done with the intention of enabling public attack against any who refused to conform to the corrupted thinking underlying the object itself. As now, any who refuse to become part (confederate) with their corrupted ideas, unwilling to bow in surrender anytime they are brought up in public, are thrown into the fires of ridicule by those who at their core seek only to destroy any and all who dare oppose their hold on public thoughts. We also see in our time, as in theirs, any who continue to resist, unfazed by the threats and ridicule, are then cast into the fires made seven times hotter, as the attacks turn to public hatred, vilification, demonization and even physical violence; all incited by false accusation and instigated by those being in the image and likeness of the grotesque standard of this evil and degenerate culture.

The story of these three men of God ends as ours will if we follow their example: the manifest presence of the LORD in us and with us in the fires. Even the degenerate enemies will see it, or at least those who haven’t already destroyed themselves with the fire they themselves tried to use against us.

Daniel 3
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
5 That at what time you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up:
6 And whoso falls not down and worships shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
9 They spoke and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
11 And whoso falls not down and worships, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded you: they serve not your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not you serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if you be ready that at what time you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if you worship not, you shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer you in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

The LORD in both Matthew 8:22 and Luke 9:60 advises us to let the dead bury their dead. In Matthew 8 the LORD has just cured many people of their diseases, this speaking of the things which had been at the root of their peace being disturbed (tempest – seismos, underlying cause of agitation). There in verse 16 we are plainly told He did this (healing – calming) with His word, and as we have seen and understood in so many previous discussion, this is the origin of all peace.

We know this is the kingdom of God, seen when it is called New Jerusalem; Jerusalem meaning taught and then founded upon the word flowing directly in pure form from God, and this being the only way to peace on earth (as it is in heaven, the place where the word is rightly divide, and without confusion, and thereby calming all causes of agitation).

Receiving this is what is written of so many times, and what is referenced in Matthew 8:17 telling of the LORD doing what he had just done to fulfill Isaiah 53:4. We know this is the chapter that begins asking the question that is a statement of instruction of how to recognize the king, without which there can be no kingdom. The statement askes, “Who has believed our report [word], and to whom is the arm of the LORD been revealed?” As in Matthew 8:16, those who receive this word are given this peace that is beyond comprehension, and to them is the arm of the LORD revealed, as He takes upon Himself the burden of healing our broken minds.

This the gospel I preach to you, the gospel of peace, as it was delivered directly to me from the Father who lives in me and has sent me on this mission.

(See all these parts of Matthew 8 as telling of the same peace in tribulation – come from receiving His word, that goes softly – without agitation.)

Matthew 8
16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses [Isaiah 53:4].
18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow you where ever you go.
20 And Jesus said unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has not where to lay his head.
21 And another of his disciples said unto him, LORD, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, LORD, save us: we perish.
26 And he says unto them, Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
27 But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God? are you come hither to torment us before the time?
30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
31 So the devils besought him, saying, If you cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

Here following is Isaiah 8 telling us of receiving the word of the LORD and not being confederate with the corrupted advice (word) of the degenerate culture. In verse 6 we are told these troubled waters come upon those who have refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly. These are the waters that flowed under Zion, and from the throne of God, as we are told of in Revelation 22:1 of waters flowing from God and the Lamb. They are the advice of God’s word that cause the tree of life to flourish and bring forth what heals the nations.

Later in verse 19 of Isaiah 8 there is a question asked, again making a statement that tells of our seeking the counsel of the LORD. It then asks if we should seek the living and life (God) among the dead. This is what the LORD is saying in Matthew 8, when he says to let the dead bury their dead, and for us to follow Him (He and His example, as the way, the truth and the life).

Isaiah 8
5 The LORD spoke also unto me again, saying,
6 Forasmuch as this people refuses the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son;
7 Now therefore, behold, the LORD brings up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:
8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.
9 Associate yourselves, O you people, and you shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all you of far countries: gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces.
10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
12 Say you not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear you their fear, nor be afraid.
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwells in mount Zion.
19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? [should they look] for the living to the dead?
20 [Or] To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness

Isaiah 52
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace; that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation; that says unto Zion, Your God reigns!
8 Your watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.
9 Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The LORD has made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
11 Depart you, depart you, go you out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go you out of the midst of her; be you clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
12 For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward.
13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
14 As many were astonished at you; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he has no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.