Psalms 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: the LORD has said unto me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 10 Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Continuing: of course, the prior post caused a fire in the minds of those who, as the prior post told of, are dead in mind, caused by false teaching of the wicked ones they’ve followed, first into and now choosing to continue in, the grave (in the earth – hell). When Ephesians 4 tells of Christ, (in death where he remained – in the belly of the earth – for “three days” before resurrection) first descending into the lower parts of the earth, its words are clearly telling of His descending into death, and among the dead here on earth. What follows tells of His purpose in doing so, to raise some from death, which it clearly states are those physically alive, while mentally (no higher brain function – without healthy reasoning) they are as dead men. This is true throughout all time, Christ enters our dead body (the anointing by the anointed one) and raises it to life. In this we understand the necessity of God’s spirit to enter into the dead, all man without His Spirit being dead, and to as many as receive Him gives he power to become the children of God.
The attackers who come every time this truth, or any of God’s truth (intentionally hidden from the wicked) is brought to light, are those who think they are the living, but the spirit that is in them is the false anointing, and is the spirit which now works in the children of disobedience (those taught by those now ruling, as princes having power over what the culture – prevalent air/spirit – knows and believes) These are those spoken of in verse 14, children who have been carried about by every wind of false doctrine, by the “sleight” of men and their cunning craftiness, while they laid and lie in wait to deceive.
The Greek word translated sleight is kubeia, meaning an object (here words) used in gambling. It is used telling of those who are gambling, thinking that by their deceptive words they will at least deceive some (now all by its prevalence), to bring a reward (power converted into/over tithe and tax).
Here’s the word from the Strong’s Greek Dictionary: Strong’s #2940: kubeia (pronounced koo-bi’-ah) from kubos (a “cube”, i.e. die for playing); gambling, i.e. (figuratively) artifice or fraud:–sleight.
Kubeia is only used this once, but there are (only) two other closely associated forms, kubernesis (only used once), and kubernetes (only used twice), both meaning to steer, as helmsmen; the first is translated as government; the second as master, telling of the shipmasters of Babylon (confusion) in Revelation 18:17.
Strong’s #2941: kubernesis (pronounced koo-ber’-nay-sis) from kubernao (of Latin origin, to steer); pilotage, i.e. (figuratively) directorship (in the church):– government.
Strong’s #2942: kubernetes (pronounced koo-ber-nay’-tace) from the same as 2941; helmsman, i.e. (by implication) captain:– (ship) master.
This aspect of Ephesians 4:14 speaks of those in church and government offices, those steering the ship, taking it astray into the tempest, along with those captive in it. Verse 15 then tells of the way into life being our speaking the truth in love, and growing into Christ in all things, which is the Head, meaning the leader of our turning (the stone which these builders refused, has become the head stone of the corner (re-turning). This is the work of the LORD, and marvelous in our eyes.)
This is why Paul immediately (actually in Ephesians 5:14) quotes from Isaiah 60:1 & 2, giving us the pattern of being led into this death’s sleep, which we, in the prior post, read in Isaiah 59, and, as we saw in its last verse, the LORD puts His words in our mouth, so that we can speak them as truth, in love. We then see in both Isaiah and Ephesians, this is the means of awakening the sleeping and raising the dead, as this light comes to them.
Ephesians 4
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 supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying 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 neighbor: 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.
Friends, The LORD once asked, “If you have not believed when I have told you earthly things, how shall you believe if tell you of the heavenly?” I am going to tell you what I know, heavenly things, and meant for those who are able to receive them.
Ephesians 4 tells of the LORD first descending into the lower parts of the earth, before he ascended (is raised to life). Now is the lowest state the earth has ever been in, since the creation. Its state being a condition totally without truth (form), and void of any understanding. It is into this darkness the LORD, My Father, has sent me, and first bringing me again to life here as His first born from the dead. “The LORD has said unto me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you.” He then said to the world in need, “1 Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you.”
I know who I AM, and I wasn’t alive until His Spirit fill me and awakened me from death’s grip. (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.)
I know, because I’ve seen, the light shined in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
I know, that was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world [all seeing, while few comprehend].
I know, as many as received the light, to them the light gave power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on his name [believes this is Jehovah’s Salvation sent to man]: and those who receive it are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 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.
I know the first resurrection comes in those, who throughout history have heard and trusted in the LORD. This is that resurrection, from death to now, in physical bodies, and this is the judgment of the world.
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; 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: 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 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.
When verse 12 above speaks of the patience of the saints: and that here (waiting in patience) are they that keep (not straying from) the commandments of God, and therefore have the faith of Jesus (totally relying on Jehovah’s Salvation, and His promise to raise us from death); it is telling of what is written in the following verse. It is a voice from heaven, saying, “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.” What follows immediately is the LORD coming for the salvation of His people, and reaping the earth.
All of this is what James is speaking of in James 5, when the riches gained by fraud testify against those possessing them, as (exactly like) in Revelation 18, when these masters of confusion, the shipmasters of Babylon, and all their works, are seen on fire, and no one buys their deception any longer. The resurrection is on the earth, and brings it out of its lowest condition, without form, and void: when darkness covers the face of the deep.
James 5
1 Go to now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. You have heaped treasure together for the last days.
4 Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, cries: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the LORD of Sabaoth.
5 You have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; you have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned and killed the just; and he does not resist you.
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the LORD. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be you also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the LORD draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest you be condemned: behold, the judge stands before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the LORD, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the LORD; that the LORD is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest you fall into condemnation.
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the LORD:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the LORD shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Revelation 20
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Psalms 121
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence comes my help.
2 My help comes from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer your foot to be moved: he that keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper: the LORD is your shade upon your right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil: he shall preserve your soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
