Continuing: today a look at the type of words used by those who corrupt the world, the LORD beginning our exploration as John 1 ends with the record of His first encounter with Nathaniel, one of the twelve. The passage begins with His seeing Nathaniel and immediately knowing him as a man without “guile.” Guile is translated from the Greek word dolos, and meaning a trick, as in bait used to catch.
Here is the word as it appears in the Strong’s Greek Dictionary: Strong’s #1388: dolos (pronounced dol’-os) from an obsolete primary verb, dello (probably meaning to decoy; compare 1185); a trick (bait), i.e. (figuratively) wile:–craft, deceit, guile, subtilty.
The idea of “guile” is what we have been discussing as the main tactic of the wicked, those bearing the mark of devil. In the prior post, when examining Jeremiah 32, the “Chaldeans” were further explained in brackets as being the Magi, who moved people with their words. The Magi, from where comes our words magic and magicians, are people from the east who were astrologers, knowing the movements of the stars and planets, and knowing these movements when others were ignorant, they were able to use them to trick people (seemingly able to make things in the sky appear and disappear).
This “magic” is in like manner to what is taking place before our eyes as the deceivers of this world, the news media with their fake information, use their craft of fake reporting, with the motive and intention (again: with motive and intention) to move people in ways they wish them to go.
Friends, they are manipulating the minds of the simple masses, and their goal is to destroy our nation and our culture. As is the way of the godless materialists, thinking man as merely matter to be manipulated, they interfere with and alter his programing, and incite and deploy him in mass as needed, to do their bidding for them, his (self-asserted) more intellectually advanced betters. They, in their reversed and twisted mind, think they are saving it (the world) from us, and more specifically from our “unique” culture, which defines and set boundaries according to the law of nature and nature’s God, which are in fact the best ideas ever delivered to and realized by man, and are what define human interaction in a way that allows for self-governing (self-control, macro and micro).
All the law hangs on this one aspect: how we treat our fellow man, in discourse and in action. Words spoken to others or about them, should either enlighten or communicate instruction, and demonstrate understanding of truth as word coincides with demonstrable reality. Guile is using words, with the intention and motive, that give no understanding nor do they communicate truth, instead they are crafted to insinuate what isn’t true without having to tell it in its pure form of the lie it alludes to. This is the “subtlety” in Acts 13:10 when Paul address those using such means to deceive (sorcerers), and there defines them as children of the devil (born of his spirit of deception, and one in mind).
Acts 13
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.
10 And said, O full of all subtilty [dolos] and all mischief, you child of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the LORD?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the LORD is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the LORD.
Friends, there are many now, in the news media and in the pulpit, who are preaching about words and telling of how we shouldn’t be using words that inflame the masses. This is itself a subtlety of their craft and meant to extinguish the righteous fire that speaks truth to their power of darkness. I tell you the truth. My words are meant to inflame, to reignite the fire in man, as it was intended: zeal for the righteousness, which comes as Truth is spoken and recognized.
The deceptive manipulation of the masses (dolos) is the “subtilty” we are told of in Matthew 26:4, and the “craft” in Mark 14:1, both used to take the LORD and publicly crucify Him. In our time, we see those who claim to have “progressive” ideas still using this same age old craft, truly the world’s oldest profession, and these are the ideas that have forever sought to use their manipulations and deception to destroy the peace of societies, and to kill those who dare preach truth to release those held in its power. These men, using these tactics, come in every generation, but now they rule the world, controlling all information and perpetrating the greatest deception to ever victimize humanity. Their panic is due to the contrast that now exposes their lie, and they knowing their time is short, with full force apply their craft upon the world, again, ignorantly believing more darkness can extinguish the light.
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” Joseph Goebbels
Friends, Hebrews 4:12 uses a word that is only used once in the scriptures to describe the word of God as what “pierces” through this deception. It is the word diikneomai, literally meaning to reach trough, from dia, meaning through, and the word hikanos, meaning to arrive in season.
Now is the season for us to understand, awaken to righteousness, in doing display the signs of life, adding to our zeal this knowledge. This is the season we must press forward into, piercing the darkness and wickedness of our time, and in establishing truth to its rightful place comes the new heaven and new earth.
Hebrews 4
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7 Again, he limits a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remains therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Ephesians 4
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the LORD, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One LORD, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he says, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effective working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying [educating] of itself in love.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the LORD, that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be you angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.
Revelation 14
1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are they which were not defiled with women [were not led away from God, by the craft of wicked man]; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile [dolos]: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark [one mind, in word and deed] of his name.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the LORD from henceforth: Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.
14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle, and reap: for the time is come for you to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the LORD;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He has loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps,
His day is marching on.
I have read His fiery gospel writ in rows of burnished steel!
“As you deal with my condemners, so with you My grace shall deal!
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel, “
Since God is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him; be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me;
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free!
While God is marching on.
