Today – just a few words for those who’ve criticized and mocked these posts, those who are too busy with other more important things but have time to stop and disparage.
To them from the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY Himself: “Behold, you despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.”
Matthew 25 1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, LORD, LORD, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Truly I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes. 14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his LORD’s money. 19 After a long time the LORD of those servants comes, and reckon with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, LORD, you delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His LORD said unto him, Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your LORD. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, LORD, you delivered unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His LORD said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your LORD. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, LORD, I knew you that you are an hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth: lo, there you have that is your. 26 His LORD answered and said unto him, You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 You ought therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which has ten talents. 29 For unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has. 30 And cast you the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divide his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungered, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: 36 Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, LORD, when saw we you an hungered, and fed you? or thirsty, and gave you drink? 38 When saw we you a stranger, and took you in? or naked, and clothed you? 39 Or when saw we you sick, or in prison, and came unto you? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Truly I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungered, and you gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, LORD, when saw we you an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto you? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Truly I say unto you, Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
James 3 3 My brethren, be not many masters [teachers], knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor lists [wills]. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell [Gehenna].
Luke 13 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 [where there are many obstacles you will need to avoid: the venomous mouths {words and ideas} of men {antichrists} who deny the LORD has come in the flesh]: 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 kill the prophets, and stones them that are sent unto you; how often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen does gather her brood under her wings, and you would not! 35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and truly I say unto you, You [individually] shall not see me, until the time come when you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the LORD [in whom the LORD manifests His presence in their flesh – you shall not see Him until you see Him there].
There are none so blind as those who refuse to see, and there are none so ignorant as those who refuse to learn.
Psalms 24 1 The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2 For he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that has clean hands, and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek your face, O Jacob. Selah. 7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be you lifted up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O you gates; even lift them up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Friends, I have told you, and now tell you again, without equivocation, the LORD has come in the flesh to judge the world. “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1 John 5:19 & 20)
The title is 1 John 2:18, verse 19 saying, “They [the antichrists] went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
The subject above, as it is in most of the word of God, is truth, the place the many antichrists have departed. Without it there is no ordered thought, understanding or wisdom, which brings in the mischief of confusion resulting in delusion and chaos in minds and society.
All modern discourse, which is the transmission and reception of information and ideas, lacks a conscience placing a priority on the factual, rational, and complete elucidation (illumination that accurately portrays the truthful reality). This is true in church and state, from wherever a microphone can be found or a pen or keyboard is taken in hand. Self-serving opinion, private interpretation of what is observed, twisting reality to demonstrate a “higher” state of enlightenment, to gain acceptance by agreement with the prejudices popular (cool) in the prevailing culture (in church and state).
Isaiah 8 5 The LORD spoke also unto me again, saying, 6 Forasmuch as this people refuses the waters of Shiloah [the waters that flow under Zion, meaning the word that flows from God, which bring peace and security] that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son [names meaning they delight in those they have put in Jehovah’s place]; 7 Now therefore, behold, the LORD [Jehovah] brings up upon them the waters of the river [the information and ideas], strong and many, even the king of Assyria [the ideas of communism that now rule with the pop-culture], and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: 8 And he shall pass through Judah [the place where all God’s leaders are]; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck [will not corrupt the head – which is the LORD]; and the stretching out of his wings [under which the people put their trust – and which brings in the final, total, desolation] shall fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel [into this condition the LORD manifests His presence and character {glory}, as He appears among us for our salvation and deliverance]. 9 Associate yourselves, O you people, and you shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all you of far countries: gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces. 10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us [those who by faith receive Him at His appearing and His kingdom]. 11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, 12 Say you not, A confederacy [don’t join with the popular culture and their delusions], to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear you their fear, nor be afraid. 13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of [Christ on] offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. 16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders [do you stand out as one who rejects the delusion of the culture, or one who seeks popularity? Do you speak the truth in love, that those perishing in their own darkness can see it and come to the light {understanding}] in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwells in mount Zion. 19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter [the so-called “experts, using their baseless opinions to manipulate and control people]: should not a people seek unto their God? [Should they be looking] for the living to the dead? 20 [Shouldn’t they be looking] To the law and to the [our] testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light [understanding] in them. 21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward. 22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.
When verse 6 above tells of the waters of Shiloah it is the same as the rest and refreshing spoken of in Isaiah 28:12, in both places refused by those the LORD is attempting to enlighten. Above we are told of the LORD manifesting Himself into the corrupted state caused by those who have usurped His position. In Isaiah 28 we are told these are those who have made a covenant with death and are in agreement with Sheol: the habitation of the dead, in agreement with the prevailing cultural winds (zeitgeists).
Verse 15 above then tells us of the many among God’s people who have stumbled, fallen, are broken, snared, and taken. We are told in verse 14 this comes as they are confronted by the Stone of stumbling, the Rock that is on offence against the corruption blinding them.
We know Isaiah 28:19 says of this same word of God, “From the time that it goes forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.” We see in the earlier verses, the LORD is speaking to His drunken people, those whose minds have been without truth and understanding and thereby become stupefied and blind.
Isaiah 28 5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory [our crown is His presence {glory} seen in us], and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, 6 And for a spirit of judgment [in this day of His Righteous Judgment upon the earth] to him that sits in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate. [to separate the lawless and deluded enemy from God’s law-abiding people – Revelation 22:14 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 {who refuse to stop their continuous barking}, and sorcerers, and whoremongers {those who have sold their own souls and those of others}, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.] 7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. 8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. 9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith you may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. 14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16 Therefore thus says the LORD God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste. 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then you shall be trodden down by it. 19 From the time that it goes forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.
John uses the Greek word aletheia, always rendered truth, twenty-five times in the Gospel of John, nine times in 1 John, five times in 2 John, and six times in 3 John. In John 1:14 & 17 it tells of the LORD appears with “grace and truth,” which we know is the gift of His life-giving word, delivered, with much sacrifice and long-suffering, to those who are by their own works (all of us) undeserving of it.
The next time aletheia appears it is in John 3:21 where the LORD says, “21 But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” This comes after He has just told us the enemy, those who choose the darkness because their deed are evil, will not come to the light because by it their deeds are reproved. It is the LORD speaking of what John later describes in 1 John 5:19 and 20, “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
Earlier in John 3 the LORD tells of the Son of man who is in heaven, and of when he comes he must be lifted up as Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness.
John 3 11 Truly, truly, I say unto you, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen [have understood by the light, and become the light – Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid]; 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 [as the city on the hills, His light in us]: 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 [krisis, the choice that causes men to perish], 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.
From previous discussions, we understand the LORD is referring to Numbers 21 when these same venomous serpents were among the people, and the LORD told Moses to raise up a serpent. We know the LORD said that when the people were bitten, if they looked to the fiery serpent, the bite, the poisonous effect (death) of what was coming from the mouths of these beasts, would have no effect. Numbers 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make you a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looks upon it, shall live.
John 12 24 Truly, truly, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit. 25 He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spoke to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die. 34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abides for ever: and how say you, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? 35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light [Christ is the son of man, in whom the light is] with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walks in darkness [without understanding this] knows not whither he goes. 36 While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. 37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38 That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, LORD, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Isaiah said again, 40 He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41 These things said Isaiah, when he saw his glory, and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men [popularity] more than the praise of God. 44 Jesus cried and said, He that believes on me, believes not on me, but on him that sent me. 45 And he that sees me sees him that sent me. 46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believes on me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if any man hears my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day [this day of the LORD’s Righteous Judgment upon the earth]. 49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
The children of the light, in whom the light is reproduced, confess the light and lift Him up in life. This is the difference between the first and second advent, at the first there was not yet given power from on high, no Holy Spirit yet sent in the name of the LORD, to lead us into all truth. There is no second death, because we have accepted the first as sufficient payment. (See Hebrews 10:26 below)
Hebrews 10 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together [joining together into one body, by this judgment feast – “unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” see Revelation 19:9 below], as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who have trodden under foot the Son of God, and have counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and have done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that has said, Vengeance belongs unto me, I will recompense, says the LORD. And again, The LORD shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst you were made a gazing-stock [held up {lifted up} for public ridicule and to be discredited] both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst you became companions of them that were so used. 34 For you had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward. 36 For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall has no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
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 thundering, 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 does 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. 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.
Friends, again I tell you, “we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our LORD Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”
2 Peter 1 17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
The honor and glory Peter speaks of is the same he describes in 1 Peter 1:7, which come as we are purified by the trial of our faith, that come upon us, the LORD’s honor and glory seen, by us, and in us, at His appearing.
1 Peter 1 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification [the separation from sin and error, into all truth] of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood [His sacrifice and long-suffering] of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that faded not away [as does the glory of man], reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations [being tempted not to believe the LORD is with us, quickening us], 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be you holy; for I am holy. 17 And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who truly was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower thereof falls away: 25 But the word of the LORD endures for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you
We know Peter, above in verse 24 and 25 is quoting Isaiah 40:6 thru 8, which is followed by Isaiah saying, “9 O Zion, that brings good tidings, get you up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that brings good tidings, lift up your voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! 10 Behold, the LORD God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. 12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? 13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor has taught him? 14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?”
Above in John 12, the LORD speaks of this report, telling of the coming of the LORD of Glory, first quoting Isaiah 53:1, asking, “who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” We know the question is actually a statement saying that those who have believed the report, to them the arm (work) of the LORD is revealed. We know in John 12 the LORD says of those who have seen His works, “But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him.”
After quoting Isaiah 53:1 the LORD then quotes Isaiah 6, which further says, “8 Also I heard the voice of the LORD, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 9 And he said, Go, and tell this people [report to them my words], Hear you indeed, but understand not; and see you indeed, but perceive not. [see John 1 below] 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. 11 Then said I, LORD, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, 12 And the LORD has removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. see Jeremiah 4 and Ezekiel 33 below]
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. 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that comes after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
Jeremiah 4 20 Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment. 21 How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? 22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. 23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. 24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. 25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. 26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger. 27 For thus has the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end. 28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
Ezekiel 33 28 For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through. 29 Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed. 30 Also, you son of man, the children of your people still are talking against you by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that comes forth from the LORD. 31 And they come unto you as the people comes, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goes after their covetousness. 32 And, lo, you are unto them as a very lovely song of one that has a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear your words, but they do them not. 33 And when this comes to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet has been among them.
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
Friends, there is a very basic idea, an axiom, a law of nature and nature’s God, a self-verifying and thereby self-evident truth that says acquiring knowledge, contemplating it into understanding and then acting upon it, is wisdom which produces peace a security in the minds of men, and just as truly, produces civilization in societies. This same understanding tells us there are those who will reject this essential foundation, not because it isn’t truth, but rather because of sloth, they refuse the process, instead choosing to subvert it to fulfil their lusts, lawlessly acquiring what rightfully belongs to those who have followed it. In their twisted process, they reject reality and law so they can redefine good as evil and evil as good, to justify their wickedness by calling it good, and to victimise the just, who they falsely accuse as the wicked in need of suffering such judgment. This latter, now the new “normal,” has led to the desolation of all correct order and reason, and become the world in which we all now find ourselves held. (Jeremiah 4:23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light [understanding].)
1 John 3 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death. 15 Whosoever hated his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso has this world’s good, and sees his brother has need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him [speaking of understanding and giving it as what is truly needed for life – as in every word that proceeds from the mouth of God – see Deuteronomy 8:3], how dwells the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things [and will freely give us understanding]. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24 And he that keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.
The title is Proverbs 1:5 & 6, part of Solomon imparting, freely giving, what is needed for a good life, “this world’s good.”
Proverbs 1 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark [un-comprehended] sayings. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother: 9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto your head, and chains about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, consent you not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily [secretly – with ideas created in their wicked minds] for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave [Sheol]; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in your lot among us; let us all have one purse [the ideas of communists – who necessarily reject God in their deeds, even if not is their deceptive words]: 15 My son, walk not you in the way with them; refrain your foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird [understand and see the trap, use your mind and see the end of their ways, which they now openly set before the eyes of all]. 18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives [their ideas destroy all who follow them, even those who’ve dreamed them up]. 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. 20 Wisdom cries without; she utters her voice in the streets: 21 She cries in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she utters her words, saying, 22 How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. [Psalm 78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: 3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.] 24 Because I have called, and you refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But you have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear comes; 27 When your fear comes as desolation, and your destruction comes as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then shall they [the unrepentant and incorrigible wicked] call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkens unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Friends, we have reached the point in time, the time appointed by God, of our rendezvous with His Righteous Judgment, when He has again made well knows to us His character and ways, and made us aware of the consequence those who reject His waning bring upon themselves.
Peter, in 2 Peter 3, tells us, reminds us, of the things we (God’s people) once knew, but through neglect have now turned to clichés, and after forgetting became ignorant of the evidence of their validity as it manifested before unseeing eyes of all the world.
2 Peter 3 1 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: 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers [mockers, believers and unbelievers alike, saying it is not the time, and then spouting their opinions about why it isn’t], 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, 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 [in God’s storehouse], reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition 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 [this is God’s character – Salvation and Deliverance to those who will hear and amend their ways]. 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 [stoicheion – ideas, foundational principles] shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [It is the works, the fruit of their corrupt ideas, that are burned up, as the ideas melt away from the heat of the same fires they have caused. These are the marks in the hand {works} and in the head {ideas} of the beast whose name is confusion, Babylon, and who are cast alive into the lake of fire and brimstone. Revelation 19:20 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.] 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 [stoicheion – ideas, foundational principles] 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 [this is telling of the perdition of the wicked who refuse to be taught and instead continuing in the ways of confusion, following false teachers and false prophets – as Peter tells of in 2 Peter 2, saying, 1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily {images 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.] 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.
Friends, the ideas that oppose God’s, and the self-evident truth of history, (which are the only way to peace and security,) are the ways of the communist. What we now see and know, in what is called the highest seat of Christianity, the Pope sitting there as if he is God, and in the Democrat Party, all those there now sitting in the highest seats of power, and those who seek the presidency, are all avowed communists. This sickness of mind has also become the doctrine of the most famous of Christian preachers of our time, thinking they have a right to the money (property) of those who follow them. These men have created false doctrines, twisted God’s word to justify robbing Him, and have led into the grave (Sheol) those who think they are the true believers.
All these men are those the LORD calls us away from, because they are those who hold His people down, and will hold them down (katecho) until they are removed. We know this is what Paul warns of in 2 Thessalonians 2, and then tells us in 2 Thessalonians 3, they are wicked men who are unreasonable, using the word atopos, meaning they are fixed and unmovable in their positions. From many previous studies, we know the law of nature and nature’s God tells us the only way to respond to those who reject the law and this judgment, refuse correction even after they have been shown mercy, is to separate them from the law-abiding. They will never separate themselves, because they are parasites only surviving off the hosts to which they have attached themselves. We must, for the good of civilization and to maintain the peace, and for the general welfare and security of our law-abiding society, separate ourselves from them.
I call on all men of sound mind and good conscience to declare their separation from these corrupted men and the establishments they control.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
WHEN in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience has shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.
Isaiah 40 1 Comfort you, comfort you my people, says your God. 2 Speak you comfortably to Jerusalem [see Hebrews 12:22 below], and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she has received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. 3 The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it. 6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withers, the flower fades: because the spirit of the LORD blows upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. 9 O Zion, that brings good tidings, get you up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up your voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! 10 Behold, the LORD God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. 12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? 13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor has taught him? 14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? 15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. 16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. 17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. 18 To whom then will you liken God? or what likeness will you compare unto him? 19 The workman melts a graven image, and the goldsmith spreads it over with gold, and casts silver chains. 20 He that is so impoverished that he has no oblation chooses a tree that will not rot; he seeks unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved. 21 Have you not known? have you not heard? has it not been told you from the beginning? have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is he that sits upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in: 23 That brings the princes to nothing; he makes the judges of the earth as vanity. 24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. 25 To whom then will you liken me, or shall I be equal? says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who has created these things, that brings out their host by number: he calls them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one fails. 27 Why say you, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 28 Have you not known? have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Hebrews 12 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 Zion, 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 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.
Hebrews 13 1 Let brotherly love [Philadelphia] continue. 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels [messengers of God] 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 [joining together] is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers [those who have sold themselves – as Esau] and adulterers [the unfaithful] God will judge. 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness [be not communists]; 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 [our Rock] the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange [communist] doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace [freely giving the word of God to those who need it]; not with meats [not with material things to be consumed], which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Revelation 19 1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, 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 thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the LORD God omnipotent reigneth. 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 saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith 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 does 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. 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 goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth 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.
Psalms 41 1 Blessed is he that considers the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and you will not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. 3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: you will make all his bed in his sickness. 4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against you. 5 Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? 6 And if he come to see me, he speaks vanity: his heart gathers iniquity to itself; when he goes abroad, he tells it. 7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. 8 An evil disease, say they, cleaves fast unto him: and now that he lies he shall rise up no more. 9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. 10 But you, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. 11 By this I know that you favor me, because mine enemy does not triumph over me. 12 And as for me, you uphold me in mine integrity, and set me before your face for ever. 13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
The above is from Matthew 13:35 where the LORD is quoting Psalms 78:2. Today, it’s the LORD’s answer to a request appearing at biblegateway.com in the verse of the day, Psalms 90:12, asking Him, “So teach us to number our days [understand our time], that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
The Matthew verse comes as the LORD is describing the kingdom of heaven, first as this tree that has grown, in whose branches all the great men of the earth dwell, and then as where the unfaithful have worked in corruption until all are corrupt. He then, after the above quote, declares the meaning of the parable of the tares: those (the corrupters and the corrupt) the enemy has sown into His earth among His people. The point of these ideas is then summarized in His saying, “41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Matthew 13 31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. 33 Another parable spoke he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 34 All these things spoke Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spoke he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. 36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37 He answered and said unto them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear. 44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man has found, he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has, and buyer that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 51 Jesus said unto them, Have you understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, LORD. 52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which brings forth out of his treasure things new and old. 53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence has this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then has this man all these things? 57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
The LORD is teaching about faith that with grace (the gift of wisdom – understanding, freely given to all who receive His words) grows into overcoming the corruption and desolation of the world. This faith is believing these words are the word of God, and are meant to instruct us now, in this day of the LORD’s Righteous Judgment upon the earth.
Do you understand this? “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Hear it again:
Luke 6 42 Either how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in your eye, when you yourself behold not the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, cast out first the beam [what is corrupting your judgment] out of your own eye, and then shall you see clearly to pull out the mote that is in your brother’s eye. 43 For a good tree brings not forth corrupt fruit; neither does a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 46 And why call you me, LORD, LORD, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever comes to me, and hears my sayings, and does them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that hears, and does not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Friends, these trees, the good ones are those fed by the LORD’s watering, meaning His good word (good tidings) sent to them. They are the Shittim trees, those who Joel 3:18 defines as in the valley of decision, the valley of Jehoshaphat, the valley of Jehovah’s Judgment, who are gathered to the LORD by hearing and doing His word, in the place He describes as the valley of Shittim, which He has watered.
The name Shittim is said to describe the acacias tree. It appears to be associated with the Hebrew word shatach, meaning to expand, as in the growing mustard tree. In Joel, it expands and grows by faith in the LORD’s watering.
Joel 3 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun [the church] and the moon [civil government] shall be darkened [without understanding], and the stars [the people of God] shall withdraw their shining [see Matthew 13:43 above]. 16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. 17 So shall you know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. 18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. 19 Egypt [our captors] shall be a desolation, and Edom [those who have sold their birthright] shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwells in Zion.
Micah 5 1 Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops: he has laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel [I AM] with a rod upon the cheek. 2 But you, Bethlehem Ephratah [the house of bread that has again become a ruin], though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting [the son of man, in the order of Melchisedec]. 3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travails has brought forth [the son of man]: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. 5 And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian [the communists with their strange ways] shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. 6 And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod [the rebels removed] in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he comes into our land, and when he treads within our borders. 7 And the remnant of Jacob [God’s elect now grown among the tares] shall be in the midst of many people as a dew [as waters from the air] from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarries not for [isn’t stopped by] man, nor waits for the sons of men. 8 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles [those who are ignorant of the true living God and His ways] in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treads down, and tears in pieces, and none can deliver. 9 Your hand shall be lifted up upon your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off. 10 And it shall come to pass in that day, says the LORD, that I will cut off your horses out of the midst of you, and I will destroy your chariots: 11 And I will cut off the cities of your land, and throw down all your strong holds: 12 And I will cut off witchcrafts [those who use their words to manipulate and control people] out of your hand; and you shall have no more soothsayers: 13 Your graven images also will I cut off, and your standing images out of the midst of you; and you shall no more worship the work of your hands. 14 And I will pluck up your groves [the mighty men, the wicked in seats of power] out of the midst of you: so will I destroy your cities. 15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.
Micah 6 1 Hear you now what the LORD says; Arise, contend you before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. 2 Hear you, O mountains, the LORD’s controversy, and you strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. 3 O my people, what have I done unto you? and wherein have I wearied you? testify against me. 4 For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of servants; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim [when he decided {bowed} to speak only the words God put in his mouth] unto Gilgal [when the LORD turned the cures of the enemies into a blessing]; that you may know the righteousness of the LORD. 6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? [Hosea 14:2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.] 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? 9 The LORD’s voice cries unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see your name: hear you the rod, and who has appointed it. 10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? 11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights? 12 For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. 13 Therefore also will I make you sick in smiting you, in making you desolate because of your sins. 14 You shall eat, but not be satisfied; and your casting down shall be in the midst of you; and you shall take hold, but shall not deliver; and that which you deliverest will I give up to the sword. 15 You shall sow, but you shall not reap; you shall tread the olives, but you shall not anoint you with oil; and sweet wine, but shall not drink wine. 16 For the statutes of Omri are kept [1 Kings 16:25 But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him], and all the works of the house of Ahab, and you walk in their counsels; that I should make you a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore you shall bear the reproach of my people.
Micah 7 1 Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the first-ripe fruit. 2 The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. 3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asks, and the judge asks for a reward; and the great man, he utters his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up. 4 The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of your watchmen and your visitation comes; now shall be their perplexity. 5 Trust you not in a friend, put you not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of your mouth from her that lies in your bosom. 6 For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house. 7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. 8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. 9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. 10 Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD your God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets. 11 In the day that your walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed. 12 In that day also he shall come even to you from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain. 13 Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings. 14 Feed your people with your rod, the flock of your heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. 15 According to the days of your coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvelous things. 16 The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf. 17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of you. 18 Who is a God like unto you, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retains not his anger for ever, because he delights in mercy. 19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. 20 You will perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which you have sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
Isaiah 55 1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, 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 labour for that which satisfieth 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 knowest 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.
John 17 1 These words spoke Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify your Son, that your Son also may glorify you: 2 As you have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify you me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was. 6 I have manifested your name unto the men which you gave me out of the world: yours they were, and you gave them me; and they have kept your word. 7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever you have given me are of you. 8 For I have given unto them the words which you gave me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from you, and they have believed that you did send me. 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which you have given me; for they are yours. 10 And all mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep through your own name those whom you have given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name: those that you gave me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth. 18 As you have sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 And the glory which you gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me. 24 Father, I will that they also, whom you have given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which you have given me: for you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, the world has not known you: but I have known you, and these have known that you have sent me. 26 And I have declared unto them your name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.
Psalm 78 1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: 3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he has done. 5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: 8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. 9 The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. 10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; 11 And forgot his works, and his wonders that he had showed them. 12 Marvelous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as a heap. 14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. 15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. 16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. 17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. 18 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. 19 Yea, they spoke against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? 20 Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? 21 Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; 22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: 23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, 24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. 25 Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full. 26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. 27 He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: 28 And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. 29 So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; 30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, 31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. 32 For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. 33 Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. 34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God. 35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. 36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. 37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant. 38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. 39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passes away, and comes not again. 40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! 41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. 42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy. 43 How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan. 44 And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink. 45 He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them. 46 He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, and their labor unto the locust. 47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost. 48 He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. 49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them. 50 He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; 51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: 52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. 53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. 54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased. 55 He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. 56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: 57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. 58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. 59 When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: 60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; 61 And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand. 62 He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. 63 The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage. 64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation. 65 Then the LORD awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouts by reason of wine. 66 And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach. 67 Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: 68 But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. 69 And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he has established for ever. 70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: 71 From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. 72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
Let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
This day of the LORD’s Judgment is spoken of by all the writers the LORD God inspirited. Jude even tells of Enoch describing it saying, “Behold, the LORD comes with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
Jude, earlier in verse 4, describes these men, saying, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [a cover to fulfil their lust], and denying the only LORD God, and our LORD Jesus Christ.”
We know these are the same men Peter speaks of in 2 Peter 2, saying they are false teachers now among us, who have brought in damnable heresies, and because of them, the ways of truth will be (is) spoken of as evil. These are those preaching the LORD’s return is different than He told us it would be, in John 14, when asked by Judah (not Iscariot) how He world manifest himself to us and not to the world. He says that if we love Him we keep His word (meaning receive, protect, preserve, and deliver it in the form it was received) He and the Father will live in us. He then tells of His and the Father’s coming as the Holy Spirit (first externally in others speaking the Word of God to us, then, when received as the word of God, in us working) and in this way leading us into all truth.
John 14 19 Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also. 20 At that day [this day] you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself [make My presence known] to him. 22 Judas [Judah] said unto him, not Iscariot, LORD, how is it that you will manifest yourself [make your presence known] unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep [tereo – watch over, guard, to keep the meaning from being lost] my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with [live in] him. 24 He that loves me not keeps not my sayings: and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, you might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world comes, [Satan, the spirit {air} that now works in the children of disobedience, who reject and oppose the truth] and has nothing in me.
This truth is the same truth Peter says is evil spoken of because of the corrupted teaching, the damnable heresies of the false teachers. Just before Peter tells us this he describes the authentic and truthfully inspirited, who haven’t and don’t preach these fables. He says they are men who waited for this same move of the Holy Spirit, the LORD God speaking to and through the true prophets, which these false prophets and false teachers then oppose.
2 Peter 1 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth [the presence of the LORD – from the Greek word pareimi. The word the LORD uses in John 7:6 telling of when his time will “come” when He will be shown to all the world. He is in this passage, unknown to them, telling His disciples when they believe God is speaking to them in Him, He will then be seen by the world in them as they follow His commandments]. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our LORD Jesus Christ has shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavor that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our LORD Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light [understanding] that shines in a dark place [into man-caused confusion], until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts [until the light is comprehended by our reasoning mind]: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter2 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 [the same presence of truth spoken of in verse 12 above] 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.
We know this is the same truth Paul describes the LORD coming with, in 2 Thessalonians 2, where he also speaks of those who perish, because they reject Him (the love of the truth), the LORD’s presence when He comes. There Paul describes them as wicked and unreasonable men, who are sitting in the seats of power, in God’s place showing themselves as if they are God. There, and then in chapter 3, he says these men were opposing and will oppose the truth (of the LORD’s coming) until they are taken out of the way.
2 Thessalonians 3 1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the LORD may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you [Paul is referring to 1 Thessalonians 2:13, saying, “because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually [which is the power that works in you] works also in you that believe.”] 2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith [the faith it takes to believe this word is the Word of God, Him actually speaking to those who by it will be saved/delivered from these wicked men and their devices]. 3 But the LORD is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil. 4 And we have confidence in the LORD touching you, that you both do and will do the things which we command you. 5 And the LORD direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. 6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 7 For yourselves know how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for naught; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
AGAIN, we know the LORD first speaking to us through men He sends with His word, the Holy Spirit as the living God in them speaking, is the presence of the LORD at His coming and then in the receiver as they come to life by Christ formed in them. We know because Paul specifically says so as he continues in 1 Thessalonians 2, first describing the same wicked men who have resisted the truth, and even killed the LORD and the prophets because they were speaking the word of God, which they opposed because it was against their lies. In verses 18 & 19 Paul says to those who received his word as the word of the LORD, that they are in the presence of the LORD at His coming. He says they saw the glory of God in him, which caused his joy and is the power that works in them producing the same glory.
1 Thessalonians 2 11 As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father does his children, 12 That you would walk worthy of God, who has called you unto his kingdom and glory. 13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe. 14 For you, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 15 Who both killed the LORD Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles [those who don’t know God, by these men’s teaching are ignorant of Him and His ways] that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. 17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence [we are not present with you, but the LORD by this word is present with you], not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan [the spirit in these men, the power working in them – see Ephesians 2:2 below, which tell us this is the air of disobedience the LORD comes to catch us away from, into the air of obedience to His commandment and truth] hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our LORD Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
Friends, this word I preach to you, this teaching, is God speaking to you through me, in me. Receiving His word as such is the power to break the grasp of ignorance that is now holding down (katecho) all the world. This is the LORD coming, descending from heaven (by this rightly divided word) with the voice of an archangel, and the trump of God, with the truth that sets men free from the power that now works in the children of disobedience.
Ephesians 2 1 And you has he quickened [brought from death to life], who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) 6 And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. 11 Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the LORD: 22 In whom you also are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Jude 1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: 2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only LORD God, and our LORD Jesus Christ. 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though you once knew this, how that the LORD, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The LORD rebuke you. 10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. 14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the LORD comes with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaks great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. 17 But, beloved, remember you the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our LORD Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Friends, the LORD began our conversation today in 2 Chronicles 19, which speaks of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, as the example of the LORD’s judgment. The name Jehoshaphat means, Jehovah’s judgment, and his actions described in the chapter are examples for our understanding.
2 Chronicles 19 1 And Jehoshaphat [Jehovah’s judgment] the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. 2 And Jehu [he is Jehovah] the son of Hanani [grace] the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Should you help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon you from before the LORD. 3 Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have taken away the groves out of the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God. 4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim [from the ruin of idol worship back to the promises of God], and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers. 5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city, 6 And said to the judges, Take heed what you do: for you judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. 7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. 8 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. 9 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall you do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. 10 And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in your cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and you shall not trespass. 11 And, behold, Amariah [Jehovah speaks] the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah [endowed by Jehovah] the son of Ishmael [those who hear God], the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king’s matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.
The LORD living in, speaking and working through men, is Christ. I know for a fact He is alive in me, speaking and working out the salvation of those who love Him and keep His word. When Hebrews describes the LORD as a priest forever, in the order of Melchisedec, it is describing His endless priesthood of/as Christ in man. This is also the sure mercies of David, Christ in man justly ruling, governing, God’s people in His kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven.
Hebrews 7 1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abides a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. 11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertains to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our LORD sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there arises another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifies, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: 21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The LORD swore and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needs not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law makes men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, makes the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Again, we know Christ was in David, speaking and working God’s will, David saying so in 2 Samuel 23.
2 Samuel 23 1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, 2 The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and his word was in my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. 5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. 6 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: 7 But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.
We know, from Paul saying so in 1 Corinthians 10, that Christ was in Moses, as the Rock from where the word of God flowed. This is the same Rock of which David speaks.
1 Corinthians 10 1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Psalms 110 A Psalm of David 1 The LORD said unto my LORD, Sit you at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool. 2 The LORD shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion: rule you in the midst of your enemies. 3 Your people shall be willing in the day of your power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: you have the dew of your youth. 4 The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. 5 The LORD at your right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. 6 He shall judge among the heathen [those who are ignorant of God, and His ways], he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. 7 He shall drink of the brook in the way [these waters, speaking of loving and keeping this word of God – and then using it as He intended – to lift up the head of His anointed]: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Joel 3 describes this time, when, as the LORD said by Amos, He lets judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. He says it is when the LORD gathers all the world to a place He calls the valley of Jehoshaphat, which we know means it is to Jehovah’s judgment.
We know from the LORD speaking through Paul on Mars’ Hill, this is a time when all men are ignorant of God, at which God winked, but now calls all men to repentance. Paul says it is a day when God will judge the world by a man of God’s choosing. I am that man. Logically it has to be some man, I just happen to be the one He has chosen. Just as logically, no matter who the He chose, they would be rejected by those in power, because the wicked love the darkness, and want it instead so the can keep their evil deeds.
The LORD goes on in Joel 3 to define this same valley as the valley of decision. This the time we are in, who will or will not believe the LORD has come in the flesh. We know the deniers, those who refuse to hear the LORD speaking in us, are those the LORD Himself defines as antichrists.
Acts 17 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is LORD of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands [He dwells in man]; 25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And has made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the times before appointed [now], and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the LORD, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent: 31 Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; whereof he has given assurance unto all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.
1 John4 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know you the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Joel 3 9 Proclaim you this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: 10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. 11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all you heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause your mighty ones to come down, O LORD. 12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13 Put you in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. 17 So shall you know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. 18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. 19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwells in Zion.
