Continuing: In the previous post we discussed those being ignorant of God’s glory when it is manifested before their natural eyes; this being a product of being led astray (from the LORD) and there held in captivity. Among the many places we saw this written is 2 Thessalonians 2 and it’s discussing the wickedness of those sitting in all the seats of corrupted power. Therein we read of their schemes already being at work restraining our rising up and of this becoming immensely worse in our time. We also read of these men as those putting all their trust in lies; of the LORD coming with the truth, and of this itself being what causes them to go into the depths of delusion as they attempt to maintain their deception. We know these men destroy themselves by refusing to give up their lies even as natural events manifest the truth and their evil deeds become obviously apparent. We know all the world sees it but only a spiritually minded remnant comprehends it as the glory of God, as He intervenes in human events on our (the remnant’s) behalf.
Today a look at this same context as Paul describes our time to us.
2 Timothy 3
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
10 But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the LORD delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue you in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them;
15 And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
In verse 8 Paul tells us that in this time there will be men who will be withstanding us, as Jannes and Jambres “withstood” Moses. These are names of the Egyptian wise men and sorcerers, told of in Exodus 7, where it is also stated they are magicians who use their enchantments. Those who study along here will recognize these as the same experts in our time misleading with well-created words of deception and manipulation. These are those attempting to keep us, and the world, under their mind-deadening spell by this same self-serving corrupt advice, and persecuting any who refuse to surrender to their influence.
Exodus 7
8 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you: then you shall say unto Aaron, Take your rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
13 And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
The word “withstood” used to describe these men in 2 Timothy 3:8 is the Greek word anthistemi, said to mean, to stand against. It can also be seen as meaning, keep from rising (as in antihistamine). These men can then be seen as those who keep the truth from rising.
This is the word used in Luke 21 when the LORD tells of our being delivered up and persecuted by those occupying the seats of power in churches and civil governments, and that He will give us words of wisdom they will not be able to “withstand.” The passage actually tells of their delivering us up, because we are speaking truth that opposes their lies, and this will itself become the testimony against them. It is as if their persecuting us for the truth we tell is as if a great stone they’ve rolled up a hill until it can’t be rolled any further. As the truth is manifested and undeniably seen as truth, their persecution are just as undeniably seen as vilification to cover their lies. As their intentions are seen as their attempting to keep us in the stupor their misleading has brought upon the world, their evil deeds returns upon them as self-destruction, as if the stone inevitably rolls back over those having rolled it.
Luke 21
12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
13 And it shall turn [apobaino – become, or turn into] to you for a testimony.
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what you shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
When 2 Timothy 3 describe the men in our time who will be standing against us attempting to keep us under their spell, it in verse 5 describes them as, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” The word “form” is the Greek word morphosis, meaning the fomula (as in a transforming technique); the word “godliness” is from eusebeia, literally meaning to be well revered. These are as the Egyptian experts, using the same means of casting down their serpent, while denying the power seen when God’s serpent swallows up their lying imitation.
The power they try to imitate by using its formula is what we are told of in Luke 21:15 above: it is the power to convey wisdom and truth that no man can keep from rising. This is also what Paul is telling us when he goes on to tell of the incompetent imitations as “reprobates,” using the Greek word adokimos, meaning unapproved.
Dokimos is the word “approved” used in 1 Corinthians 11:19 to tell of the reason for God allows this. The reason is the same as the LORD tells us after explaining the process in Luke 21. There He tells us to flee from these men and their institutions when we see it (their being reprobates – not being proved), just as Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:5 saying, “from such turn away.”
1 Corinthians 11
18 For first of all, when you come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
20 When you come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the LORD’s supper.
21 For in eating every one takes before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have you not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise you the church of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
23 For I have received of the LORD that which also I delivered unto you, that the LORD Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do you, as oft as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the LORD’s death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the LORD, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the LORD.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the LORD’s body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the LORD, that we should not be condemned with the world.
The word translated “unworthily” in verses 27 & 29 above is the Greek word anaxios, only used these two times. In understand this word we understand the above text as it was intended. Its literal meaning is to lead astray. The entire context of the above verses are to tell of the LORD on the eve of His death giving us His word directly to each of us to be eaten and drank (see Isaiah 55 pasted below). What we are told to do in remembrance isn’t to take bread and wine from a priest or worldly experts, but rather each of us is to eat and drink what He has given us directly, using our own mind- until he comes as the mind of Christ reproduced in us (the power). This is why we are told to eat and drink at home, be nourished daily by the Word of God, and thereby taught to judge ourselves and all things, with Godly reasoning and right judgment. We are not then judged by the approval of any man, but approved of God.
It is telling of the hungry and the drunken in the context of those hungering for the truth, and of those being in a stupor of their misled mind. This is why we are told of heresies being what men in the church feed those who come hungry or to become drunk, and that this is not the LORD’s supper. The LORD gives His truth and Spirit to us all individually and we are to consume it to nourish ourselves with His pure word. In this way we know we are following Him, and not being misled. This is the power these misleaders deny; from such turn away.
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, saith 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 cometh 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.
Revelation 22
1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the LORD God gives them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the LORD God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.
9 Then said he unto me, See you do it not: for I am your fellow-servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
10 And he said unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20 He which testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, LORD Jesus.
21 The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
