Judgment Day, The Rescue Offer

The title of the prior post spoke of Judgment Day, and it being a Day of Darkness and of Ignorance Covering the World. Today a deeper look into the word of God and His explaining the ignorance and darkness as a result of men teaching their own creations, thereby confusing themselves and those they have led astray from His Truth.

We know Babylon speaks of the state of confusion that now covers and captivates the world. We also know its fall into self-destruction is what is spoken of in the latter chapters of Revelation.

Be it know, as we begin to look into and speak the truth we will unavoidably, without fear, stir up those mired in this ignorance, they unwittingly rising to the defense of the darkness, which they have not only been taught, but also hold others in its confused grip.

Revelation 17 tells of Babylon as a great mystery, saying, “And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.”

The Greek word musterion here rendered “mystery,” is used three other times in the book of Revelation, each time speaking of the same secret surrounding the same seven headed beast and the unfaithful women who rides it/them.

In Revelation 1:20 we are told of the “mystery” being of the seven angels of the seven churches, meaning the mystery being uncovered in this book of Revelation (apocalypse – removing the covering) is the messengers of the churches and more specifically their falling away into corruption and confusion.

In the verses prior we read of the LORD telling John not to fear, and of His being first and the last, and having the keys to unlock death and hell. This is speaking of the seals that are eventually unsealed, as the mystery, piece by piece, is uncovered.

Revelation 1
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches.

The same two-edged sword, we read of in verse 16 above, coming from the mouth of the LORD, is the same fiery sword that later comes from His mouth in the destruction of Babylon. It is telling of His word as the key, and when they and the book are silenced/closed there is confusion and hell, and when He opens and speaks there is salvation. We know from Revelation 5 what is unsealed is the book, that was locked when it became corrupted by this falling away.

Revelation 5
1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders says unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And have made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that lives for ever and ever.

Before going on it is important to understand the mystery is Babylon – the secret is the confusion of those trying to make themselves seem as if they have some knowledge, which they don’t have because the LORD hasn’t sent them nor has He told them anything (except to repent).

To this point we understand what Peter and Paul are telling us when many times they speak of the false prophets who will be among us – these messengers (angels) of death in the churches. We know from Peter, in 2 Peter 2, that these false teachers will bring, have brought, in damnable heresies even denying the LORD who bought them. We know from Paul, 2 Thessalonians 2, that the day of the LORD doesn’t come until this falling away (from God and His truth) has occurred, and these men infest all the judgment seats.

We know from Paul, 2 Corinthians 11, the true identity of these men who make themselves out to have greater knowledge, knowing every detail as their means of weaving their web of deceit. “13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

The mystery is the confusion, and by it the people of God are unable to know the time, unable to see what is right in front of their face. AND they will never see it as long as they are listing to those who have told the lies, or expecting them to lead them out of what they have led them into.

They know what Revelation 18 says of their city they have built, and it being in flames as their works of corruption are burning. They refuse to repent because they are protecting their own kingdom and cursing God to do it. They do the work of Satan by keeping God’s people from seeing the time, because if they did see it they would know exactly what they must do.

So, the minions, the masses of confusion, will attack this truth until their end, choosing to perish rather than repent. They have chosen their end.

The next use of the word musterion is in Revelation 10:7 speaking of this sounding off. Again, we see the book being open as what ends the mystery, and it becoming in the mouth of the reader words as sweet as honey.

Revelation 10
1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And swore by him that lives for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets.
8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which stands upon the sea and upon the earth.
9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make your belly bitter, but it shall be in your mouth sweet as honey.
10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
11 And he said unto me, You must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

This takes us to this time and those hearing my words but not understanding them, because of the confusion caused by these fallen away messengers, of Babylon, confusion the mother of the fallen away (harlots).

The word musterion is actually used twice in Revelation 17, the first as we have seen to tell of the secret of the confusion (mystery Babylon), and the other as John (the angel delivering God’s words) explains the “mystery of the women,” beginning in verse 7.

The further description is found in verse 8, when we are told of the one perishing. We are also told prior of this one as being drunk in the blood of the prophets and martyrs of Jesus (killing off those God has sent to correct them). We know from our recent studies this is telling of the pattern the LORD speaks of in Matthew 23 where he ends saying:

Matthew 23
31 Wherefore you be witnesses unto yourselves, that you are the children of them which killed the prophets.
32 Fill you up then the measure of your fathers.
33 You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell?
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall you scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom you slew between the temple and the altar.
36 Truly I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets, and stones them which are sent unto you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
39 For I say unto you, You shall not see me henceforth, till you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the LORD.

John then goes on to tell of his seeing this and wondering with great admiration. Greek word here rendered “wonder” is thaumazo, from thauma, the word translated as “admiration.” A more correct rendering of the words should include the ideas of the wondering being of not understating or perceiving the end of the events being seen. This is understoond in its being immediately followed by the further description giving understanding to those not having the mark of confusion (in their heads).

There we are told of these many, who we are later told of having one mind (the wicked one as the many), and fighting against the Lamb (the many with the mind of Christ). These wicked men are those who infest what “was” the church, became not the church by falling away (“is not”), and now they go into perdition (perishing), and all the earth, whose names are not written in the book of life, wonder (thaumazo). They wonder because of the confusion, unable to understand what they are seeing, because they are looking for something else (the lie that will never come).

The Mystery Babylon is the established church fallen into this final eighth form in total confusion. This is why we read in Revelation 18 the LORD Calling his people out from among them, as we have seen in Hebrews 13. There we are called to go outside the camp, to meet the LORD, bearing his light burden, yoked together with him in the reproach bought upon us by knowing Him, and preaching this repentance in spirit and truth.

Revelation 18
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she has filled fill to her double.
7 How much she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she says in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the LORD God who judges her.

Therefor the LORD says in 2 Corinthians 6:2. “I have heard you in an acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I have rescued you.” Then in verse 16 He says, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” He then in verse 17 & 18 tells us, “Wherefore, come out from among them, and be separate, and touch no unclean thing (defiled by the dead), and I will receive you, and be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters.”

We are called to come out from under the confusion they have caused to cover the earth in total darkness. And without our doing so we will never see the time nor will we see/know the LORD.

The above, 2 Corinthians 6:17 calling us to come out from among them, as does Revelation 18, quote from and refer to Isaiah 52:11, and thereby the full chapter giving us the necessary context.

Isaiah 52
1 Awake, awake; put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.
2 Shake yourself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose yourself from the bands of your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
3 For thus says the LORD, You have sold yourselves for naught; and you shall be redeemed without money.
4 For thus says the LORD God, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.
5 Now therefore, what have I here, says the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, says the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.
6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that does speak: behold, it is I.
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 [wondered] 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.

Judgment Day, a Day of Darkness and Ignorance Covering the Earth

Continuing: the main reason people surrender into silence when confronted by the voices of evil, the godless advice (vomit) that has led the world into confusion and chaos, is fear of ridicule and an unwillingness or inability to respond with courageous inarguable truth that shuts the mouths of lions and quenches these fiery darts of the wicked. This even in a time when all know the accusers are without any moral standard holding them to truth, and all their outlets and reporters are willing accomplices propagating known lies as tactic, and these perilously their only means of offense or defense. Never before in history has it been so self-evidently apparent that to be cursed by the minions of the demonic, those speaking lies as their first language, is to be blessed in the eyes of God and the men and women who know Him. Welcome their idiocrasy with wisdom worthy its lack of veracity and its impotence; in doing light the darkness they seek to hide under.

Remember, as in the days of Jonah, the people of Nineveh didn’t know their right hand from their left. The ignorance is much greater in our time, and it is therefore a time for the greater light to lighten them.

In the prior post, we discussed the LORD saying in Luke 11 the only sign that will be given to this generation is the sign of Jonah, “For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.”

We saw the LORD speaking of this as a “sign,” of the time, when we will know it by this distinguishing fact. The passage goes on the tell of the light, and not hiding it when it is shining in this way. We are able to understand this as our rising up, as the LORD describes, to condemn this generation (judgment), and call it to repentance (mercy). In this we place our faith, with a singleness of vision, knowing this is the LORD come with healing salvation in His wings (the object of our faith).

In the past we have looked at the Greek word krisis, meaning a decision point, and as the word translated both condemnation and judgment. In John 3:19 the LORD explains the “condemnation” as being when light has come into the world and men choose instead to stay in darkness. In this we fully understand we come not to condemn in the way this generation defines condemnation. This is telling of our bringing the light, and as a result the darkness is seen as the hiding place of evil. This demands the choice, the crisis point when a decision must be made, and the true condemnation is the wrong decision, choosing not to come to the light. Separation from the light, and its life, is self-inflicted, perishing in self-destruction, by choosing to follow the advice of those preaching darkness.

Luke 11
29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
32 The men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
33 No man, when he has lighted a candle, puts it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when your eye is single, your whole body also is full of light; but when your eye is evil, your body also is full of darkness.
35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in you be not darkness.

John 3
12 If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

When the LORD speaks of the men of the south rising up in judgment with this generation, and condemning it, using the word krisis, translated “judgment,” he has spoken in terms referring to the great light rising in the creation account. We know in Genesis 1 this is the sun rising (the greater light of the day), which we also know from our studies represents the church. This is telling of the church rising and again shining God’s light on earth, as His righteousness, in truth (law), judgment, mercy and faith. We know Genesis and the LORD are speaking of our knowing the time by these, saying, “13 And the evening and the morning were the third day. 14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.”

The word rendered “condemn” in Luke 11:31 is katakrino, meaning sentence against. The Greek word krino, means to distinguish, and katakrino here in context is telling of causing this evil generation to know (right hand from left) their crimes (transgressing the law) and decide if they are of the light or of the darkness.

All of this is the revelation (apocalypse – removing the cover – of darkness) of the time we are in and what is demanded of us in overcoming it.

In both Luke 11 and Matthew 23 the LORD tells of those sitting in the seats of powers cleaning the outside of people and not making clean the inside (renewing their minds). In Matthew 23:23 the LORD tells them they have, “omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

We also know when the LORD tells us in Matthew 5 of the attitudes (attributes) that lead to happiness (blessing), He ends His list by telling of the persecutions that will come by establishing the things these men in power have omitted. He goes on to tell of the light that can’t be hidden, the lighted church as a city on a hill where all are able to see it. This is the salt that preserves the earth, and we know the LORD ends these sayings by speaking of His coming to establish the law – the truth that has been omitted, which begins judgment, is followed by mercy to those who receive it, and all without fear by knowing/having faith in the kindness of the LORD (coming for our salvation).

Matthew 5
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For truly I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Psalms 139
1 O LORD, you have searched me, and known me.
2 You knows my down-sitting and mine uprising, you understands my thought afar off.
3 You compass my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5 You have beset me behind and before, and laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from your spirit? or whither shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall your hand lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hides not from you; but the night shines as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to you.
13 For you have possessed my reins: you have covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are your works; and that my soul knows right well.
15 My substance was not hid from you, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in your book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are your thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with you.
19 Surely you will slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, you bloody men.
20 For they speak against you wickedly, and your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate you? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against you?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

It’s Judgment Day, Repent!

Continuing: there is nothing wrong with (there is no sin in) rising to power and/or gaining wealth, as long as it is done in righteousness (without deceit and inequity). There are those who preach the opposite, to justify their use of deceit and inequity, covering in darkness their love of money as the root of all their evil, to take from those who have lawfully achieved. These deceivers call themselves liberals, or social justice advocates, socialists and progressives, and come in these sheep’s clothing disguised as “news” reporters and teachers, politicians and preachers, of every cloth and with their many books. In fact, they come only to feed themselves, and to devour and consume anything that will allow itself to be consumed, until they as locusts have consumed all. These are the evil shepherds of our time, who for this love of money, or from ignorant guilt and its “good” intentions, use any and all evil means to get gain or ascend to power. There is no truth in them, and their end is self-destruction, for themselves and any held captive or complicit, led with them into their evil deeds.

We all know these types well: they preach against wealth to justify their taking control over that of others. They preach against poverty to move money through their own hands and steel from what is intended for the poor. They preach education to mandate all people be taught their corrupted ways of ignorance, and preach morals to disregard them. They call for the elimination of judgment so they can become our only judges. These are those who make themselves “experts,” our sources of “news,” and having “knowledge,” while in fact they are mass manipulators, creating demon and destroying any who dare preach righteousness, and for God’s sake don’t anyone dare mention God in spirit and truth.

REPENT!

Friends, Join in me in the condemnation of this evil in our time.

Luke 11
29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
32 The men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
33 No man, when he has lighted a candle, puts it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when your eye is single, your whole body also is full of light; but when your eye is evil, your body also is full of darkness.
35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in you be not darkness.

Ezekiel 34
1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus says the LORD God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
3 You eat the fat, and you clothe you with the wool, you kill them that are fed: but you feed not the flock.
4 The diseased have you not strengthened, neither have you healed that which was sick, neither have you bound up that which was broken, neither have you brought again that which was driven away, neither have you sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have you ruled them.
5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
7 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
8 As I live, says the LORD God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
9 Therefore, O you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
10 Thus says the LORD God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
11 For thus says the LORD God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, says the LORD God.
16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
17 And as for you, O my flock, thus says the LORD God; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
18 Seem it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but you must foul the residue with your feet?
19 And as for my flock, they eat that which you have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which you have fouled with your feet.
20 Therefore thus says the LORD God unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.
21 Because you have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad;
22 Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.
23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
24 And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.
25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
26 And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.
27 And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.
28 And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.
29 And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.
30 Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, says the LORD God.
31 And you my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, says the LORD God.

Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it whithersoever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD ponders the hearts.
3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
8 The way of man is forward and strange [twisted and perverse, and not as God intends]: but as for the pure, his work is right.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil: his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous man wisely considers the house of the wicked: but God overthrows the wicked for their wickedness.
13 Whoso stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
16 The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
17 He that loves pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spends it up.
21 He that follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and casts down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 Whoso keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who deals in proud wrath.
25 The desire of the slothful kills him; for his hands refuse to labor.
26 He covets greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spares not.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind?
28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that hears speaks constantly.
29 A wicked man hardens his face: but as for the upright, he directs his way.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

Psalm 79
1 O God, the heathen are come into your inheritance; your holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
2 The dead bodies of your servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of your saints unto the beasts of the earth.
3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
4 We are become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
5 How long, LORD? will you be angry for ever? shall your jealousy burn like fire?
6 Pour out your wrath upon the heathen that have not known you, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon your name.
7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
8 O remember not against us former iniquities: let your tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for your name’s sake.
10 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of your servants which is shed.
11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you; according to the greatness of your power preserve you those that are appointed to die;
12 And render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached you, O LORD.
13 So we your people and sheep of your pasture will give you thanks for ever: we will shew forth your praise to all generations.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, You that Kill the Prophets, and Stone Those I Send

The LORD began today in a seemingly different place, until a deeper look reveals its present meaning to those understanding the moment and the topic at hand. We are at a point where we see patterns and their fulfilment, and either chose to see it as the LORD’s doing, and marvelous, or reject it because it testifies against your evil deeds.

2 Chronicles 24
17 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.
18 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.
19 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.
20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus says God, Why transgress you the commandments of the LORD, that you cannot prosper? because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you.
21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.
22 Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.
23 And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus.
24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.
25 And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.
26 And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.

The passage begins by speaking of the death of Jehoiada, and then the princes going to the king with bad advice. Earlier in the chapter (verses 2 – 4) we are told of the king doing what was right and following the LORD. This was “doing right” manifested in his repairing the house of the LORD. The bad advice from the princes (who didn’t know the LORD) was toward the same old idols (as dead wood, knowing nothing) that had caused the decline. In this we see the advice of those in power advising to return to the ways that had cause decline, and the king following them.

Later verse in 20 we read of Jedoiada the priest as the father of Zechariah, and then in verse 25 we are told Jehoiada is the father of the priests that were slain by Joash.

The name Jedoiada means Jehovah knowing, telling in type of those in power, in church and national government, who know the LORD in spirit and truth. This is speaking of a time such as now when all but an elect remnant of this type, God knowing men, has been killed off. Those left holding the reins of power are described using the name Joash (the king), meaning Jehovah fired, and in conclusion, Jehovah burned up.

We read of the LORD sending prophets (men speaking His words of advice), and of those in power refusing to listen. In this we see the age-old struggle between good and evil, and as often discussed, it being found in whose advice is listened too.

We have also often discussed it is into just such a situation God increases His presence; when the worst advice is the chosen counsel of those in the highest seats of power, resulting in darkness and the shadow of death looming over all they affect. In the above pattern, we see it is Zechariah, the son of those knowing the LORD, who the LORD sends.

Zechariah means, the LORD has remembered. The name is spoken in contrast to what is written of king Joash forgetting the kindness of those knowing the LORD (Jedoiada) and killing off his sons.

This is the circumstance into which Zechariah is sent. In Zechariah we are told of another name for his father, Berechiah the son of Iddo. Berechiah means, kneeling before Jehovah, and Iddo means, to advance.

Zechariah is telling us of this same situation, when it is again made clear the only way forward (to advance) is to bend the knee to the LORD, meaning to remember His better ideas, taking His advice, knowing only therein will we see any repair and progress.

This is where Zechariah 3 begins, with Satan standing as the right hand of Joshua the high priest, who is standing before the angel of the LORD. We know Joshua is the Hebrew name translated as Jesus in English (by way of the Greek rendering). The angel of the LORD here is Zechariah, speaking for the Father, to the son type (Joshua) who represent the body of Christ, and Satan represents those with the bad advice. Satan standing at the “right hand” is telling of these men, giving advice opposing God, being those in power.

In the verses prior, we see this description, enlightening to define the situation, comes as the LORD tells of His being among the people. Again, we see the allusion to the “temptation,” of all those who will bend their knee to God, as it was for Christ, and as we are originally told of in Exodus 17:7. It is the LORD seen among us as we know it is His doing, and only able to come from His miraculous way (unique and distinguishing).

We will begin in Zechariah 2, wherein the LORD tells of Himself as being a wall and fire of protection around His people: His advice, protecting those who choose to receive it, and burning up all those who reject and oppose it.

O you of little faith, open your eyes and see the Glory of The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.

Zechariah 2
1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
2 Then said I, Where go you? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
5 For I, says the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, says the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, says the LORD.
7 Deliver yourself, O Zion, that dwells with the daughter of Babylon [in confusion].
8 For thus says the LORD of hosts; After the glory has he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that touches you touches the apple of his eye.
9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me.
10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the LORD.
11 And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me unto you.
12 And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

Zechariah 3
1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke you, O Satan; even the LORD that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
4 And he answered and spoke unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with change of raiment.
5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre [crown] upon his head. So they set a fair mitre [crown] upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
6 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
7 Thus says the LORD of hosts; If you will walk in my ways, and if you will keep my charge, then you shall also judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you places to walk among these that stand by.
8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you, and your fellows that sit before you: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch.
9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, says the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
10 In that day, says the LORD of hosts, shall you call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.

The word translated in Zechariah 3:6 as “protested” is the Hebrew word `uwd, meaning to witness or testify to. It is telling of what the word zakar, as in Zechariah, tells of when it speaks of things we are told we should or will remember.

This is what the LORD meant the numerous times He told His disciples they would remember and in remembering know. Zakar literally means a mark, as in what distinguishes something to be recognized.

Here is the Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary definition: Strong’s #2142: zakar (pronounced zaw-kar’) a primitive root; properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; also (as denominative from 2145) to be male:–X burn (incense), X earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount, record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, X still, think on, X well.

The word zakar is only used twice in Zechariah, once to tell of our remembering the LORD (10:9), the other to tells of the idols we will forget (13:2).

Zechariah 10
1 Ask you of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
2 For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.
3 Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts has visited his flock the house of Judah, and has made them as his goodly horse in the battle.
4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.
5 And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.
6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.
7 And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.
8 I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.
9 And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.
10 I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.
11 And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart away.
12 And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, says the LORD.

Zechariah 13
1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
2 And it shall come to pass in that day, says the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
3 And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, You shall not live; for you speaks lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesies.
4 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he has prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:
5 But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in your hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, says the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

Zechariah 14
1 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, and your spoil shall be divided in the midst of you.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
5 And you shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, you shall flee, like as you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with you.
6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
10 All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses.
11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor.
14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.
16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
20 In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness Unto The LORD; and the pots in the LORD’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 4
1 For, behold, the day comes, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
3 And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, says the LORD of hosts.
4 Remember [zakar] you the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb [where the LORD showed Himself by water and fire] for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

The Apocalypse, Unmasking the Monster

Again, we seem to find ourselves in the midst of a national persona defined by those the least like the people they command and control. We also again find this condition as a result of the rapid and aggressive return and decays of this false face back to its former grotesque features. The unmasked monster we again see are political factions and the vilest of its many heads are the acronymed fake news media outlets, all spewing their opinion based anti-truth, and leading into their way of confusion, chaos and decline. At the same time the church, as women only knowing how to seduce and be seduced, is seemingly ever led away into the same abyss, never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

So, they all say, let’s get together and shout some establishment clichés about how we will rebuild what has fallen, and thank our false gods for it. They all think they have been warmed by the fire when instead they have merely led and been led back into worshipping the same old antichrists (those denying the LORD has come in the flesh, instead presenting themselves as the saviors).

This is what the LORD says: “27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? 29 So he that goes in to his neighbor’s wife; whosoever touches her shall not be innocent. 30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. 32 But whoso commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding: he that does it destroys his own soul. 33 A wound and dishonor shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.” In such as case neither will the LORD rest until His people are returned to him.

The above is from Proverbs 6, which begins telling us this it is the LORD addressing His son, meaning His children. Here is the former portion.

Proverbs 6
1 My son, if you be surety for your friend, if you have stricken your hand with a stranger,
2 You are snared with the words of your mouth, you are taken with the words of your mouth.
3 Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, when you are come into the hand of your friend; go, humble yourself, and make sure your friend.
4 Give not sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.
5 Deliver yourself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
9 How long will you sleep, O sluggard? when will you arise out of your sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall your poverty come as one that travels, and your want as an armed man.
12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walks with a froward mouth [perverse and twisted words of deception].
13 He winks with his eyes, he speaks with his feet, he teaches with his fingers;
14 Frowardness [leading astray] is in his heart [reasoning mind], he devises mischief continually; he sows discord [conflict].
15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
16 These six things does the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren.
20 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of your mother:
21 Bind them continually upon your heart, and tie them about your neck.
22 When you go, it shall lead you; when you sleep, it shall keep you; and when you awake, it shall talk with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
24 To keep you from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
25 Lust not after her beauty in your heart; neither let her take you with her eyelids.
26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

All these other voices are the voices of death’s call, well known, proven as the destroyers of humanity, by their intentional means having destroyed all truthful discourse, having urged or enabled the degeneration away from all normal morality, and attack all the better ideas and rational reason that once allowed all to come to these conclusions as self-evident truth.

AGAIN, we must look at this in the light of human history, the nature of man and the corrupted leadership he allows on/as his course into degeneration. Isaiah 9 speaks of the light of the LORD shining on his people sitting in the darkness that covers the earth, as it is now. In the typical creation process, those sitting in darkness having never seen the light are unable to comprehend it.

John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shined in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Isaiah 9 speaks of this light as having broken the yoke that was upon the people, speaking of the heavy and unbearable burden of their oppressors. We read of this being as in the days of Midian, which we know is speaking of when Gideon called all the people to the final destruction of those troubling them. This is what we just came through in the recent miraculous election (the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in the eyes of those willing to admit reality).

The chapter goes on to tell of this being the battle in the state of confusion and the people having become the fuel of the fire. It is speaking of the tactic we see now being used, agitating and manipulating the people into doing the bidding of those controlling them for their own self-interested purposes: with bad advice and outright deception.

It goes on to tell of this as the light having shined on Jacob, and lighted upon Israel. This is explaining God’s light having set the remnant of His people on fire, the small group receiving His light, amid the great number still in rebellion standing away from Him.

John 1
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Isaiah 9 then goes on to tell of those seeing these things, being the builders of the destruction, thinking themselves entitled to be the “rebuilders” of what they have destroyed. Using deception, they divert attention away from the fact they are attempting to build the same-old farce, from slightly different materials. The problem isn’t the material, it’s the builders. It tells us it is for this reason (holding on to the ways that have destroyed us) the LORD will cut off the ancient and honorable, and the prophets that teach lies (the destroyers in/of church and nation).

The chapter ends telling of this being the LORD’s doing; and of His being angry at this: the destruction of His people by their misleaders, as if thorns and briers, having overgrown these seats that should be held by the righteous, gathered and burned. The end of the chapter tells of these being those who consume themselves as if eating their own arm. Their fires are destructive – contrasted with the LORD’s fire being as lighting a lamp to light the way in the darkness.

Isaiah 9
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before you according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For you have broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
8 The LORD sent a word into Jacob, and it has lighted upon Israel.
9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,
10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
11 Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;
12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
13 For the people turn not unto him that smites them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.
14 Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.
15 The ancient and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet that teaches lies, he is the tail.
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
17 Therefore the LORD shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
18 For wickedness burns as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.
19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
20 And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

We know these as the tares the LORD has warned of, which are the planting of an enemy and have grown among us. We also know them as the unfruitful branches cast into the fire, because they bear no fruit due to their refusal to be corrected by the word/advice of God.

John 15
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that bears not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples.
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue you in my love.
10 If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant know not what his LORD does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that you love one another.
18 If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his LORD. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
23 He that hates me hates my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But this comes to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And you also shall bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

This is the word of the LORD to His friends:

Amos 8
1 Thus has the LORD God shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.
2 And he said, Amos, what see you? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.
3 And the songs of the temple shall be howling in that day, says the LORD God: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.
4 Hear this, O you that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,
5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah [measuring out justice] small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?
6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat? [These are asking when things will get back to the same-old ways so they can continue on in their same-old injustice.]
7 The LORD has sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.
8 Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwells therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.
9 And it shall come to pass in that day, says the LORD God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:
10 And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.
11 Behold, the days come, says the LORD God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.
14 They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Your god, O Dan, lives; and, The manner of Beersheba lives; even they shall fall, and never rise up again [speaking of the idols set up in place of God].

Amos 9
1 I saw the LORD standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that flees of them shall not flee away, and he that escapes of them shall not be delivered.
2 Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:
3 And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:
4 And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.
5 And the LORD God of hosts is he that touches the land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn: and it shall rise up wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.
6 It is he that builds his stories in the heaven, and has founded his troop in the earth; he that calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.
7 Are you not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? says the LORD. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?
8 Behold, the eyes of the LORD God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, says the LORD.
9 For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.
10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.
11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom [Esau, who sold his birthright for mere morsels], and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, says the LORD that does this.
13 Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that sows seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.
14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, says the LORD your God.

What is So Disturbing About Trump’s Attack on The Freedom Caucus

What is so disturbing about Trump’s attacks on the Freedom Caucus isn’t as much his attacking them personally as it is by proxy attacking those of us who trusted him. In attacking them he is attacking those of us who believed he wouldn’t just play politics with his promises, but rather would actually keep them. We defended him vigorously and repeatedly against those who said his promises where just like, if not worse, than all the corrupted politicians before him.

It is equally as disturbing that he, contrary to his statements to the opposite during the campaign, thinks we are oblivious to, or incapable of, seeing the farce in the legislation, and unable to see the same old political ploys (bait-and-switch & and the multi staged approach that never materializes, and in the end we get stuck with a first stage contrary to the claimed fix – all we are left with is a law with a title opposite what it accomplishes).

The final way he chooses to violate our trust is to, after the bill is defeated because of the known farce, he attacks those who have kept their promise. AND, he threatens he will join the domestic enemies (the nation destroyers) to defeat the faithful. (It would be like our saying we will join with them, the same enemies (Democrat and Republican), who as their end are seeking to impeach him. The group he now sides with are the same people he ran against, and we backed him because he was against them and their type of empty self-serving tactics.)

In recent posts, we’ve discussed Trump in the light of Sampson as the pattern of someone being given unconquerable strength and then squandering it. If Trump doesn’t see the above points he has evidently reached the stage where he has been overcome by the advice/deception of his inner-circle, and has as result had his “eyes” put out.

In this same light, we’ve also discussed the end of men such as this; they never regain their sight, and are only returned their power as the wrecking-ball that brings down the whole corrupted house upon themselves.

Friends, there is a remnant that will come through this, and they will build the New City (wherein dwell righteousness) on the hill of rubble of this ruin.

Matthew 13
18 Hear you therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and anon with joy receives it;
21 Yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

I have no problem getting out of this now defiled bed.

Hebrews 13
1 Let brotherly love [Philadelphia] continue.
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
4 Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.
6 So that we may boldly say, The LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Hebrews 12
11 Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
18 For you are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
22 But you are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.
25 See that you refuse not him that speak. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.

The above ending verses must be understood in the context of Hebrews 13:5 speaking of the LORD always being among His people, “I will never leave you or forsake you,” referencing the “temptation” posed in the people’s questioning in Exodus 17:7, saying, “Is the LORD among us, or not,” and Hebrews 13:6 quoting Psalms 118:6, saying, “The LORD is on my side, I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”

The “side” spoken of above is the one that will not be removed, and in context we see it as the LORD speaking on the behalf of those who are standing with Him/me/us in this battle.

Psalms 118
7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
12 They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
13 You have thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
18 The LORD has chastened me sore: but he has not given me over unto death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise you: for you have heard me, and are become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech you, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech you, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that comes in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
27 God is the LORD, which has shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you: you are my God, I will exalt you.
29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.

When Hebrew 12 speaks of the shaking that comes by sound advice/words spoken (in the name of the LORD) it is quoting from Haggai 2:6, which is preceded by the LORD telling of His Spirit remaining among us, as He promised us (covenanted) when He brought us out of bondage in Egypt. He then tells of “once again” shaking heaven and earth. He next speaks of the glory of the latter house (the new heaven and the new earth, wherein dwells righteousness) being greater than the former house (old – corrupted and decayed – heaven and earth).

The chapter speaks of the LORD giving these words to Haggai to be spoken to Zerubbabel. We know from our recent discussion Zerubbabel means and speaks of those who have come alive in this darkness of confusion’s shadow of death. We saw it in Zechariah 4 where we also read of this coming by the Spirit of the LORD. This chapter also paints a picture showing the pattern of when Israel defeated Amalek, the story told following the temptation mentioned above and also written of in Exodus 17. The story tells of the one holding up the burden and those bearing it with Him as if yoked together by the same rod, and all who see are given strength in the battle. So, lift it up and hold it high so all may see and believe.

John 3
7 Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again.
8 The wind blows where it lists, and you hear the sound thereof, but canst not tell from where it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? [Nicodemus meaning overcoming the crowd – he then demonstrates by asking a question.]
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Are you a master of Israel, and know not these things?
11 Truly, truly, I say unto you, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and you receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Zechariah 4
1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.
2 And said unto me, What see you? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4 So I answered and spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my LORD?
5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my LORD.
6 Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.
7 Who are you, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me unto you.
10 For who has despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
13 And he answered me and said, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my LORD.
14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.

We also know from our recent studies Zachariah 5 speaks of the injustice of the old corrupted system, as the ephah, telling of the inequality in judgment (ehpah meaning measure). This again is contrasted against the new that comes as the old is shaken away and its house falls. This is our hope; the new city wherein dwell righteousness.

Zechariah 5
1 Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.
2 And he said unto me, What see you? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.
3 Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goes forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that steals shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that swears shall be cut off as on that side according to it.
4 I will bring it forth, says the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that swears falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
5 Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now your eyes, and see what is this that goes forth.
6 And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goes forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.
7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sits in the midst of the ephah.
8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.
9 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
10 Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?
11 And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

Haggai 2
1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,
2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,
3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do you see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work: for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts:
5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so my spirit remains among you: fear you not.
6 For thus says the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts.
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, says the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, says the LORD of hosts.
10 In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
11 Thus says the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.
13 Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.
14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.
15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:
16 Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the press-fat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.
17 I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you turned not to me, says the LORD.
18 Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid, consider it.
19 Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, has not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.
20 And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,
21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;
22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
23 In that day, says the LORD of hosts, will I take you, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, says the LORD, and will make you as a signet: for I have chosen you, says the LORD of hosts.

This final verse is alluding to the same warning spoken of in Hebrews 12 of hearing the voice of correction. Hebrews 12:25 uses the Greek word apostasy (standing way from where God is standing) to tells of this “turning away” from the truth being spoken. Haggai (the feast that breaks darkness – breakfast, as the sun rise) tells of Zerubbabel as the signet (I and the children God has given me are for signs (signets) and wonders – This the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes). It tells of us as the son of Shealtiel, the name meaning to ask or make a request of God, as does Nicodemus above, asking for His advice. It is referring again to Isaiah 7 and Ahaz being told to ask for something marvelous (as sign) from the LORD and Ahaz refuses. The LORD’s response is to send Immanuel, God with us as the marvelous life in those hearing His life-giving advice. I have chosen you, says the LORD of hosts. 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?

Uncovering Angels

Today a look at the ideas contained and imparted in Hebrews 13, of angels and their identity, and the willful ignorance taught by men in control of the church and nation. The motive of their false doctrine is to invalidate the authority of anyone outside their appointed “order” (means of dispersing and establishing “truth”), to disparage and denounce the truth when it appear, sent from God to man by this means – outside their orders.

Both 2 Peter 3 and Hebrews 13 use the same word to tell of those this truth is hidden from; in 2 Peter 3:5 & 8 it is the word translated “ignorance,” and in Hebrews 13:2 it is “unawares.”

Here is the word, lanthano, only used six times, from the Strong’s Greek Dictionary, which of course follows its definitions with the English forms it is translated into:

Strong’s #2990: lanthano (pronounced lan-than’-o) a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses; to lie hid (literally or figuratively); often used adverbially, unwittingly:–be hid, be ignorant of, unawares.

2 Peter is possibly the most comprehensive explanation of the difference between truth and false doctrine, with clarification of the objectives and motivations of those delivering each. These are also the topics being openly and extensively discussed in Hebrews.

Before explaining who angles are, we must first knowingly accept that these truths will be vehemently opposed and contradicted by the false preachers, because it will expose their erroneous teaching and in doing remove the cover they have hidden themselves under. (The truth is the mortal enemy of their lie.)

Angels are people who are not on the earth able to gain or lose their salvation, but are instead those whose fate was settled in a prior time. They are here as messengers bringing the word and doing the bidding of the one who sent them. (Hang with me here and try not to get too superstitious about this.) The hopelessly uncorrectables are those here held in the same darkness, carrying on the same rebellion against God, as won them their kingdom of darkness: advancing false and misleading doctrines (bad advice first as tactic and then forced in policy). The loyal angels of God are here as the opposite (look at them as God’s Special Forces).

Anyone who knows Special Forces knows one of their original missions was to go into hostile areas to advise and train the indigenous people in how to defend themselves against enemies oppressing them. The moto of the Army’s (Green Berets) Special Forces is “De oppresso liber,” meaning “to free (liberate) the oppressed.” (In our up-side-down world even this moto is under pressure to be changed because it offends the oppressors.)

The book of Hebrews begins by telling of the difference between angles and the people they have been sent to, and of this most recent time when, to end the battle, God sent the one He declares as His son. There we are told of these angels having come as our trainers and not to rule over us, rather, once the mission is accomplished, also show us how to rule ourselves (self-government).

Hebrews 1
1 God, who at sundry [various] 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 said, Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
8 But unto the Son he said, 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 your hands:
11 They shall perish; but you remains; and they all shall wax old as does a garment;
12 And as a vesture 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?

Verse 8 tells of the son, calling him “God,” using the Greek word theos, meaning the supreme judge (here of the earth).

Chapter 2 goes to tell of the son as the Captain of our salvation because of the things he has endured to bring this message we are hearing. This, signifying him as different, is the topic we have discussed the previous post, as it becomes undeniably seen as the LORD’s doing, and marvelous before our eyes. We know this last aspect as being the many times quoted passage from Psalms 118:23, speaking of the one who comes in the name of the LORD, and showing us the way, by leading us, into the kingdom of God (under rule – government – as God intended it, with mutual security in Life, Liberty, and able to pursue [His Blessings] Happiness).

The chapter uses the same word we’ve discussed as used to tell of what is seen as miraculously (meaning distinguishing and signifying it as) being the LORD’s work. The Greek word is semeion, rendered “signs” in Hebrews 2:4 speaking of the things that are being spoken and their witnessing to the difference. It goes on to tell of this not only setting the one speaking apart (sanctifying – shown as separated for the work of the LORD), but those he calls his “brothers” are seen as separated with him. (Isaiah 8:18 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.)

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 [away].
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 [semeion] 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 visited him?
7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, and did 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 sanctified 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 truly 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 succor [rescue] them that are tempted.

I am going to post 2 Peter 2 & 3 and Hebrew 12 & 13 to be read in this context. Remember, in 2 Peter 1, Peter speaks of our being established in this present truth, and of our being eye witnesses to the same things he and the others had seen. This also remember, Hebrews 11 speaks of the all those who have come before us and acted upon what they could only partially see. It tells of these many witness and all they suffered as their part to bring about this same end, knowing they weren’t going to see it then, but they and their works being perfecting in/by us and our actions now. “39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

Remember to take note when the word lanthano appears telling of the thing that aren’t seen (hid in ignorance or by intention), and that Hebrews 11 begins by telling us of all those before us acting the thing they weren’t able to see. This is the difference between the false teaching and the true, acting in faith while we (as 2 Peter 1:21 tells us) wait for the LORD to release (uncover – apocalypse) the unseen as the Holy Spirit moves upon the waters, when He decides the time is right. The false teaching makes it up as needed to satisfy their lust (to intentionally deceive for their own purposes of gaining oppressive power and control).

2 Peter 2
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily [from their own imaginations] shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the LORD that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not.
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
9 The LORD knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the LORD.
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;
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 [deceptions they have created] while they feast with you;
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:
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;
16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: by a donkey speaking with man’s voice forbidding the madness of the [false] prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
3 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the LORD and Savior:

2 Peter 3
1 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of [lanthano], that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of [lanthano] this one thing, that one day is with the LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The LORD is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the LORD will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements [the foundational ideas] shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our LORD is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Hebrews 12
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the LORD, nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
6 For whom the LORD loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?
8 But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they truly for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
18 For you are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated [demanded] that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
22 But you are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.
25 See that you refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifies [clarifying] the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrew 13
1 Let brotherly love [Philadelphia] continue.
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares [lanthano].
3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
4 Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.
6 So that we may boldly say, The LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our LORD Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
23 Know you that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

This is the Day the LORD Created, A Day to Rejoice and Be Glad

Continuing: In many prior posts, we’ve discussed Psalms 118 from the perspective of its various quoted appearances in the New Testament. Today we will more deeply examine the verses including and between the quote telling of the stone the builders rejected having become the head stone of the corner, and the one speaking of those receiving Him acknowledging He is the one coming in the Name of the LORD.

Psalms 118
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner [return or turning point].
23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech you, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech you, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that comes in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

In the prior post, we saw this deliverance being from wicked men, and from their wickedness and corruption they worked as leaven fully into church and nation. These men are the builders mentioned above, who having refused correction, and contrary to all evidence proving them incapable, think themselves entitled, by their possession of the seats of power, to rebuild. The means they present as our salvation are indisputably the same means and ideas that have now once again proven themselves flawed and failed.

In multiple scriptures, we have over and over again seen the LORD’s advice is refused, and He unwilling to force anyone into His kingdom, instead calls His people to a turning point outside their prideful and power-crazed self-destructing.

This is what verse 22 above is speaking of as it follows verses telling of the righteous receiving the LORD’s correction and enter the gates of His kingdom, wherein dwells righteousness. It is speaking of the LORD becoming the salvation of those who receive His words, and of the men who refuse His words/correction/advice doing so to their own destruction because of their self-created confusion.

Here what Peter tells us of this event in 2 Peter 3:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition [perishing] of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The LORD is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the LORD will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements [the ideas of these wicked men] shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works [of their wicked ways] that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our LORD is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

The LORD is recorded quoting Psalms 118:22 as he is in parable explaining this very thing: sending correction that is rejected by those in possession of the seats of power, and of the kingdom being taken from these wicked men and given to a new nation bringing forth the fruit of equity and justice in judgment, which the LORD desires.

Matthew 21
34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
40 When the LORD therefore of the vineyard comes, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
42 Jesus says unto them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the LORD’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them.
46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

The Hebrew word pala’ is used to tell of this being “marvelous” in our eyes. It is a word used seventy-one times, most often translated as “wondrous” or “marvelous,” and always in telling of something that distinguishes a person by how it separates them from others. Here in Psalms 118:22 it is sued to tell of what sets the LORD apart from all others is that He causes those who receive His word/correction/advice to prosper.

The word pala’ is rendered only one time as the word “hidden,” in Deuteronomy 30:11 as the LORD tells of this aspect of what separates His advice from that of all others, who ignorantly wrestle with and contradict His.

Deuteronomy 30
10 If you shall hearken unto the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if you turn unto the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul.
11 For this commandment which I command you this day, it is not hidden from you, neither is it far off.
12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
14 But the word is very nigh unto you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may do it.
15 See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil;
16 In that I command you this day to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that you may live and multiply: and the LORD your God shall bless you in the land whither you go to possess it.

You may recognize the above passage as being prominently quoted in Romans 10 as Paul speaks of the ignorance of God’s people as they go about with admirable zeal, but trying to establish their own righteousness. Paul then quotes from Deuteronomy telling of their searching for what can be only and easily be found in confession of what they have seen. He goes on to further define what he is telling us by quoting from Isaiah 53:1 asking the question that we know is actually a statement. It asks, “Who has believed our report? And unto whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” We know the statement tells us that the Arm of the LORD has been revealed unto those who have believed the report.

Romans 10
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel [all God’s people] is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes.
5 For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which does those things shall live by them.
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise, Say not in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what says it? The word is nigh you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if you shall confess with your mouth the LORD Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.
10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same LORD over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, LORD, who has believed our report?
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses says, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
20 But Isaiah is very bold, and says, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21 But to Israel he says, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

This is what we see in Psalms 118:23 when we are told, “This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” In the statements that follow we read of the writer’s realizing this aspect of the LORD sending prosperity to those who confess Him, as He then culminates the confession by saying, “Blessed is he that comes in the name of the LORD.”

Psalms 118 goes on to tell of this being for the one coming as if bound to the power of the altar, meaning in suffering he is exalted. This why Paul closes Roman 10 telling of the report being of His suffering on our behalf, and then in his death being raised into prosperity. This is the pattern we see and follow, this is the LORD’s doing and it is marvelous before our eyes. “If it be marvelous [pala’] in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvelous [pala’] in mine eyes? says the LORD of hosts.”

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.

Isaiah 54
1 Sing, O barren, you that did not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you that did not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, says the LORD.
2 Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations: spare not, lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes;
3 For you shall break forth on the right hand and on the left; and your seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
4 Fear not; for you shall not be ashamed: neither be you confounded; for you shall not be put to shame: for you shall forget the shame of your youth, and shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more.
5 For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
6 For the LORD has called you as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when you were refused, says your God.
7 For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercies will I gather you.
8 In a little wrath I hid my face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on you, says the LORD your Redeemer.
9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with you, nor rebuke you.
10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, says the LORD that has mercy on you.
11 O you afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with fair colors, and lay your foundations with sapphires.
12 And I will make your windows of agates, and your gates of carbuncles, and all your borders of pleasant stones.
13 And all your children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of your children.
14 In righteousness shall you be established: you shall be far from oppression; for you shall not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near you.
15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against you shall fall for your sake.
16 Behold, I have created the smith that blows the coals in the fire, and that brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
17 No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, says the LORD.

Isaiah 55
1 Ho, every one that thirsts, come you to the waters, and he that has no money; come you, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfies not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat you that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you know not, and nations that knew not you shall run unto you because of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified you.
6 Seek you the LORD while he may be found, call you upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not thither, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Psalms 14
1 The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good.
2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that does good, no, not one.
4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
6 You have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD brings back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Psalms 15
1 LORD, who shall abide in your tabernacle? who shall dwell in your holy hill?
2 He that walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.
3 He that backbites not with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.
4 In whose eyes a vile person [reprobate] is contemned [despised]; but he honors them that fear the LORD. He that swears to his own hurt, and changes not.
5 He that puts not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward [bribe] against the innocent. He that does these things shall never be moved [shaken].

Not by the Same Old Corrupted Power or Might (forced by deception), But By My Spirit Says the LORD

Continuing with the greatest news that will be heard in our time, even heard by this evil and corrupted generation.

Zechariah 4
1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.
2 And said unto me, What see you? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4 So I answered and spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my LORD?
5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my LORD.
6 Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.
7 Who are you, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shouting, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me unto you.
10 For who has despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
13 And he answered me and said, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my LORD.
14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.

These are the two we have often discussed, the two coming in the name of the LORD in this time, sent by the LORD into this darkness. It speaks of us, the LORD sending me with the light that has now shined into and lighted those who have receive it, our mission to bring down the high places of power in church and nation, those looming over and destroying humanity (the inhabited earth).

The translation of name Zerubbabel speaks of one brought to life in this time and place (state) of confusion. He and the children God has given him are for signs and wonders to those held captive under the shadow death casts in this confused state. I am, and you are these anointed ones God has sent.

This is great news for those who see its reality, and not so much for those only seeing the condition from their own private perspective of what they have gained (saying all the rest can go to hell).

It was this word, as if a great scroll, then flying to the leaders who have chosen to continue on in the same old corrupted ways of destruction – to popes and presidents. We saw in the above chapter we and they are told that in the new creation things will not happen by the old ways of corruption and deceit, not by your power nor by might, but rather by the Holy Spirit of the LORD. This where Zechariah 5 begins.

Zechariah 5
1 Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.
2 And he said unto me, What see you? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.
3 Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goes forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that steals shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that swears shall be cut off as on that side according to it.
4 I will bring it forth, says the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that swear falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
5 Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now your eyes, and see what is this that goes forth.
6 And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goes forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.
7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sits in the midst of the ephah.
8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.
9 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
10 Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?
11 And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

The two women tell of the rebuilding of these institutions, and replacing the women who has fully worked her corruption into the old until it was good for nothing, as a women working in leaven until the whole lump was corrupted.

The “ephah” mentioned beginning in verse 6 is from the Hebrew word ‘eyphah, meaning to measure, and is used for a measure of grain. It is telling of injustice as an improper measurement. It speaks of the thief in the house, spoken of in verse 4, and those who swear falsely by the name of the LORD.

It is a reference to both Deuteronomy 25:14 and Proverbs 20:10.

Deuteronomy 25:14 tells of the thief who kept “diverse measures” (weights) of different size to be used as needed to alter the balance in whatever way needed for their advantage. This is the wickedness in measure (the ephah), the practice an abomination in the eyes of the LORD, and here in Zechariah we see it is being perpetrated by those swearing to this falsification in the name of the LORD. The greater suggestion here is to Exodus 17 and seen when LORD immediately after telling of this as an abomination says to remember what Amalek did.

The reference is to when the people of God murmured against Moses’ authority to lead them. The LORD answered this by telling Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you of the elders of Israel; and your rod, wherewith you smote the river, take in your hand, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there upon the rock in Horeb; and you shall smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.”

This murmuring it then defined as the people tempting the LORD their God, saying, “Is the LORD among us, or not?”

After this we are told Amalek (these wicked workmen) fighting against God’s people in Rephidim (the bed they had spread for themselves). God tells Moses to stand upon the hill, (sit on the stone when needed), and to hold up the staff, the same one the LORD had given into his hand to turn the water of the enemies to blood, and to bring life giving water from the stone. As long as Moses held up the staff God’s people prevailed, and when he let it down Amalek prevailed. (The picture is the same as the candlestick [Moses] and the palm trees [Aaron and Hur] in Zechariah 4 above)

I am not saying I am, or thinking myself Moses, but I am come in the name of the LORD as did he, with the same staff (branch) that was in his hand, and standing upon the same Rock he stood and rested upon.

The point being made hear is to all in power – specifically to President and Pope, you will accomplish nothing unless it is according to this word of the LORD. (Trump, hear the word of the LORD – Publicly demand the Congress immediately send you a bill that totally repeals Obamacare – as they and you promised.)

In Proverbs 20:10 where ‘eyphah is also used telling of weights and diverse measures being and abomination to the LORD, it is preceded by speaking of the counsel in the heart (basis of reasoning) of a man is like deep waters, and a man of understand will draw from these waters.

Proverbs 20
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 A king that sits in the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, says the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boast.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

When the LORD tells of the kingdom of heaven being likened to a woman who works leaven into three measures of meal He is referring to Zechariah and corruption risen into total wickedness that covers the world in darkness (as the great mountain spoken of in Zechariah 4 and the wickedness of Zechariah 5).

The opposite of this metaphor is found in the LORD telling of his calm [smallest] voice of advice that grows into a great mustard tree, whose leaves are for the healing of the nations, and its mustard for drawing disease out of the body. This is the kingdom of God founded in the waters that flow from the throne of the LORD.

Luke 13
1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose you that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think you that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.
6 He spoke also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbers it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, LORD, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that you shall cut it down.
10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.
11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.
13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.
15 The LORD then answered him, and said, You hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?
17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
23 Then said one unto him, LORD, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and has shut to the door, and you begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, LORD, LORD, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence you are:
26 Then shall you begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets.
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence you are; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get you out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill you.
32 And he said unto them, Go you, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which kills the prophets, and stones them that are sent unto you; how often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and you would not!
35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, You shall not see me, until the time come when you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the LORD.

In these last verses of Luke 13 the LORD tells of this time and of the house long ago become desolate. It is the time to say the words, “Blessed is he that has come in the name of the LORD.”

We know this is a quote from Psalms 118:26, which Psalm we have in prior posts discussed as the origin of other well known quotes; of the stone the builders rejected becoming the headstone of the returning, and telling us that if the LORD is on our side we have no need to fear what man can do to us. The Psalm actually tells of the gate of righteousness where we enter the kingdom of God, and this righteousness coming by our receiving correction.

Psalm 118
1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endures for ever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endures for ever.
4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endures for ever.
5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
12 They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
13 You have thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
18 The LORD has chastened me sore: but he has not given me over unto death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise you: for you have heard me, and are become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech you, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech you, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that comes in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
27 God is the LORD, which has shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you: you are my God, I will exalt you.
29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.

Uncovering What has Been Covered in the Ruin

There is nothing covered that shall not be uncovered. The confusion in the church and nation aren’t part of some mass intentional conspiracy to confuse and destroy by first destroying all truth and equity in judgment. In the prior post, we began with a description of this condition by telling of it as, as do all things, tending toward degeneration. It is the product of material comfort come from success produced by achievement, which then becomes complacent and eventually surrenders to the decline by ignoring its incremental decay. Eventually in the human condition we inevitably reach the lower part of this bottomless abyss, in the fall which now is only pacified by promises of future satisfaction unreachably lying in engaging the lust of the moment, and raising up leadership willing to supply and propagate these cultivated desires (false needs) of our ignorance. It is at a time such as this, such as now, when opportunistic intention pervades, when all things are being engineered to maintain the status quo of continuing the fall.

This is what has been uncovered before the eyes of all the world. The world therefore has become divided into three types, those seeing the need for a new world, those still oblivious and following the pop culture winds wherever it takes them, and finally those not only knowing we are in a fall, but thinking they should accelerate its descent by any and all means.

This is the condition of our time into which the LORD has set an end.

In the prior post we discussed this time as the “consolation” described in Luke 2:25, and we saw the same Greek word translated as the “exhortation” mentioned in Hebrews 12:5. There in Hebrews we are told to remember that the LORD corrects (reconciles the condition causing the fall) the children He receives into His kingdom. This is what we see as the chapter ends and we are again admonished to hear the one speaking this correction.

Hebrews 12
25 See that you refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.

The writer is speaking (for the LORD) of one voice being heard from heaven, and we know heaven is what is first defined in Genesis 1 as where the word (waters) is divided and the waters above are separated from those below. Also in the prior post we saw this context in 2 Peters 3 when Peter first describes these waters as the word held in store until now – the ending of this age. He tells us these are the waters/words of the creation, as he goes on to tells us of the fires, produced by the ideas (elements) the world is now relying upon when making all its decisions and policy. These are the waters/words/advice that are seen as those above, which bring life and new creation, wherein dwells righteousness, and those below that cause the fires in the world. Peter finally tells us these are the same things Paul speaks and writes of, and that many of the false teachers and false prophets (mentioned 2 Peter 2:1) among us wrestle with to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:15 & 16), as if shaken out of heaven, as the writer of Hebrews tells us (Paul most likely being its writer).

There can be no “consolation” without a consoler, no “exhortation” without an exhorter. As we know the Greek words used tell us the person is the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit. We also know this person has been thought of as not having any form, and described as the Spirit of God that is at work in all thing. This is both a true and an incomplete definition. There are only two places the Holy Spirit works – on/in/through the Word of God and on/in/through His people. The word Paraclete means the one who comes alongside, as to console, meaning to bear our burden with us.

We know this latter description refers to the LORD’s word to us ending Matthew 11, after He has spoken of what the people had seen demonstrated before their eyes and rejected because it didn’t fit into the description they had been taught by the false teachers and false prophets of that time. We know the LORD ends this by thanking the Father for revealing Him to those the Father decided to reveal Himself to on/in/through the Son. This is followed by urging all to bear this burden with him, learning of him, come to know him, and by this know the Father, and then bearing the reproach inescapably come from living and speaking what has been revealed to us.

Matthew 11
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank you, O Father, LORD of heaven and earth, because you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them unto babes.
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in your sight.
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I am yoked together with the LORD, and have become Him by His Spirit living in me, and the life I live I no longer live to myself, but rather Christ lives in/through me. This is the burden I willing bear – having gone outside the camp and the so-called protection of the corrupted establishment, bearing not my own reproach, but the reproach aimed at the LORD who has sent me on this mission.

This is plainly written of my coming in Hebrews 13. There we are again in verse 22, just as we were in the chapter prior, called to suffer the Word of this “exhortation” (paraklesis). The passage goes on to give the name of the one sent on the mission (set at liberty – as in 1 Corinthians 4:7). Earlier in the chapter we are urged to go outside the gate, where we find the city we are looking for, to meet the LORD bearing His reproach. We are then told this reproach comes from our sacrifice of “praise,” (seeing now what we once only saw as through a glass darkly – 1 Corinthians 13:12 – seeing face to face) speaking of giving thanks for his coming to release us from this prison of corruption – the point being our speaking as eye witnesses, and this being what causes us to be reproached, as was the LORD.

Hebrews 13
1 Let brotherly love [philadelphia] continue.
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them [yoked with them]; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
4 Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.
6 So that we may boldly say, The LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our LORD Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
23 Know you that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

The burden that yokes us together isn’t found in my name; I am a messenger sent by the LORD to lead His people into His truth. The yoke is being joined directly to the LORD Himself and giving thanks to His name. It comes by receiving this message, and becoming a Child of the Living God, as I am.

John 6
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom he has sent.
30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shew you then, that we may see, and believe you? what dost you work?
31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is he which comes down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34 Then said they unto him, LORD, evermore give us this bread.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst.
36 But I said unto you, That you also have seen me, and believe not.
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39 And this is the Father’s will which has sent me, that of all which he has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

The writer of Hebrews tells exactly what he is speaking of when in Hebrews 13:6 he quotes from Psalms 118:6. He is speaking of us putting our trust in God and not in man. This is the Psalm that also goes on to tell of the stone the builder, these men thinking the will build what they have destroyed using their same old destructive means, who have rejected the head stone the LORD has chosen. It tells of His correcting us and of our entering into the gate of the city of His creation – not the corrupted one built by men. “16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD does valiantly. 17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. 18 The LORD has chastened me sore: but he has not given me over unto death. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: 20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. 21 I will praise you: for you have heard me, and are become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Do you now see? Do you now believe?

John 16
1 These things have I spoken unto you, that you should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time comes, that whosoever kills you will think that he does God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, you may remember that I told you of them (see again 1 Corinthians 4:7). And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asks me, Where go you?
6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow has filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth (1 Corinthians 4:7): for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father has are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
16 A little while, and you shall not see me: and again, a little while, and you shall see me, because I go to the Father.
17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he said unto us, A little while, and you shall not see me: and again, a little while, and you shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
18 They said therefore, What is this that he said, A little while? we cannot tell what he says.
19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do you enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and you shall not see me: and again, a little while, and you shall see me?
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That you shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
21 A woman when she is in travail has sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22 And you now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
23 And in that day you shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have you asked nothing in my name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.
25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time comes, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
26 At that day you shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
27 For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speak you plainly, and speak no proverb.
30 Now are we sure that you know all things, and need not that any man should ask you: by this we believe that you came forth from God.
31 Jesus answered them, Do you now believe?
32 Behold, the hour comes, yea, is now come, that you shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Psalms 118
1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endures for ever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endures for ever.
4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endures for ever.
5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
12 They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
13 You have thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
18 The LORD has chastened me sore: but he has not given me over unto death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise you: for you have heard me, and are become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech you, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech you, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that comes in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
27 God is the LORD, which has shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you: you are my God, I will exalt you.
29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.

Names are given for a reason.

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