Continuing with our discussion of the way to life being through the strait gate and the narrow way, and in doing see why there are only few that find it. As we saw in the previous post the Greek words used for “strait” and “narrow” are, stenos and thlibo. Stenos means narrowed by the obstacles standing about, and thlibo means the to be crowded, as in being pressed in a direction by a crowd (popular prejudices). It is a word also translated tribulation, trouble, afflict, and throng. We further saw in the previous post the quote is found in a chapter, Matthews 13, which deals almost entirely with contrasting the ways of poor and good judgment. We additionally saw it in agreement by common contextual meaning to Daniel 9:25, and it speaking of building the street and the wall of [New] Jerusalem in troublous times. The conclusion was our understanding this as taking us to our decision point (krisis – Judgment) and being what is referred to in Joel 3, again in common context, when it speaks to our be gathered into the valley of decision.
To begin I will tell the way to life is found by navigating, avoiding or overcoming, obstacles. Being able to do this begins with knowing the difference between obstacles and oracles. Matthew 13 speaks very plainly about this subject of judgment and how we will know. It tells first of knowing the origin by what is received in comparison to what has been asked for or promised, and if it isn’t what was promised or asked for it isn’t from God nor is it His way. We are then told that by the fruit we will know, by what is produced from what is spoken. The corrupt tree brings forth corrupt fruit, and the good tree brings good fruit.
We see this in our time played out daily in promises meant to sway public opinion using lies telling us of all the great thing they are doing, which are later both exposed as intentional deceptions and never produce what we were promised or asked for. This is their fruit. We also see it when people in these same positions of power call for unity, only doing so to encourage and enable victimizing some other group of people. The fruit in these instances is increased distress, agitation and chaos, and these again being the true intentions seen in the fruit of the corrupted tree. We are told that we should know by this evidence that these are corrupt, and know that there is nothing but further corruption that can come from them. This is good and sound judgment. It also tells why the news media and pop culture must cover-up and malign the truth whenever it appears. They can only survive an environment “without any from” of good judgment, “and void” of all understanding how to properly discern it.
This takes us to further understanding these events and our time as the great battle that ends this age of ignorance/confusion and begins the new. In recent posts we’ve seen this through many different scriptural pictures all showing the same traits of the unclean and decayed replaced by restoration to the pure. In all cases it centered on the difference in our foundation of understanding, which we use as the basis of our decision-making. It is the difference between the obstacles created by following the advice of those proven corrupted in their own self-centric “so called” wisdom opposing God, or listening to the advice of God, beginning with the first (arch) principles found in the Two Great Commandments – in Spirit meant to and achieving peace and security: true civilization in New Jerusalem (Yarah-Shalam).
This, today, here and now, is the battle of Armageddon. Seeing all the above from this perspective we see the two sides gathered as is written in Revelation 16:16. The name Armageddon is only used this one time translated into Greek, and is from two Hebrew words. The first is the word har, which is a shortened form of harar, meaning to loom up. When the word is studied we see its “looming” being in the sense of something conceived, then growing into an ever increasingly conspicuous state, culminating in the finality that was understood to be the inevitable end (example – pregnancy – harah). This is telling of the looming battle and its ending, which all humanity has been gathered to.
The second word is Megiddow, from the prefix ma defining this as “that” battle, and gadad, meaning to crowd, as being pressed into something. It has the addition meaning of armies being gathered. It is humanity’s self-inflicted wound.
Here is the meaning from the Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary: Strong’s #1413: gadad (pronounced gaw-dad’) a primitive root (compare 1464); to crowd; also to gash (as if by pressing into):–assemble (selves by troops), gather (selves together, self in troops), cut selves.
Revelation 16
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done.”
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
Remember from our past studies, the river is where the dragon dwells, and this is telling of death in the (waters) advice flowing to the masses. When the river is dried up people are able to see what is in it (death), and seeing this is referring to the ability to rightly judge once understanding. We see it in verse 13 as what is coming for the mouth of those deceiving the world (unclean spirits), and gathering them to this day. Once this is comprehended the looming advent occurs. It is done!
In the following chapters Babylon is destroyed by this understanding, and Babylon, as is its meaning, symbolizing confusion reigning over the world. What we see in Revelation 19:15 and 21 are the sword of the LORD is what is coming from His mouth. This is the anointed Son of man in victory, after having put on the armor of God, and using the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. This is what is defined and what we admonished toward in Ephesians 6. This is our stand against the power (dynamic) destroying the world by spiritual wickedness in high places.
Revelation 19
1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the LORD our God:
2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he has judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
3 And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all you his servants, and you that fear him, both small and great.
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, Alleluia: for the LORD God omnipotent reigns.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he said unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See you do it not: I am your fellow-servant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God [which only he knows].
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And LORD Of Lords.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Ephesians 6
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Micah 3
1 And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and you princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?
2 Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;
3 Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.
4 Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.
5 Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that puts not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.
6 Therefore night shall be unto you, that you shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that you shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.
7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.
8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
9 Hear this, I pray you, you heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.
10 They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.
11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
12 Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.
Micah 4
1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken it.
5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
6 In that day, says the LORD, will I assemble her that is lame, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;
7 And I will make her that is lame a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.
8 And you, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto you shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.
9 Now why dost you cry out aloud? is there no king in you? is your counselor perished? for pangs have taken you as a woman in travail.
10 Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in the spasms of birth: for now shall you go forth out of the city, and you shall dwell in the field, and you shall go even to Babylon (confusion); there shall you be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem you from the hand of your enemies.
11 Now also many nations are gathered against you, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
12 But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make your horn [power as] iron, and I will make your hoofs brass: and you shall beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the LORD of the whole earth.
Micah 5
1 Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops: he has laid siege against us: they shall smite the one judging Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
Matthew 5:39 tells us not to resist (me anthistemi) the evil, and it gives as the example clarifying, if one strikes us on one cheek turn to him the other. It is telling of the sacrifice needed to willingly “with-stand” to get the message to and through to understanding.
This and the above ending verse from Micah are what we are told of in Isaiah 50:6. Remember, this is the chapter we studied a few days ago when looking at the fires of the world burning and this melting away the principles (elements – stoicheion) the world has relied on (see 2 Peter 3).
Isaiah 50
1 Thus says the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have you sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinks, because there is no water, and dies for thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
4 The LORD God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear as the learned.
5 The LORD God has opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
7 For the LORD God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
8 He is near that justifies me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
9 Behold, the LORD God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
10 Who is among you that fears the LORD, that obeys the voice of his servant, that walks in darkness, and has no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
11 Behold, all you that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that you have kindled. This shall you have of mine hand; you shall lie down in sorrow.
