Month: June 2019

And He shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

The title is Revelation 2:27 and is the LORD speaking to the church at Thyatira. As briefly alluded to in the prior post, the name Thyatira appears to be compounded from the Greek words thura, meaning door or gate, and tereo, meaning to guard. In the passage, these meanings are seen in their intended context, by which we understand where, by what means, and under whose power, this church is held.

Revelation 2

18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira [held down, in death, by the gates of hell] write; These things says the Son of God, who has his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;19 I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works; and the last to be more than the first.20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel [Ahab’s wife, and Baal worshipper], which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.23 And I will kill her children with death [there can be no quickening into life for those who follow false prophets and unfaithful preachers]; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.25 But that which you have already hold fast till I come.26 And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.28 And I will give him the morning star.29 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.

Here following are the definitions, of the above-mentioned words, from the Strong’s Greek Dictionary.

Strong’s #2374: thura (pronounced thoo‘-rah) apparently a primary word (compare “door”); a portal or entrance (the opening or the closure, literally or figuratively):–door, gate.

Strong’s #5083: tereo (pronounced tay–reh‘-o) from teros (a watch; perhaps akin to 2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from 5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from 2892, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), i.e. to note (a prophecy; figuratively, to fulfil a command); by implication, to detain (in custody; figuratively, to maintain); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried):–hold fast, keep(- er), (pre-, re-)serve, watch.

When Revelation 2:27 tell of the LORD breaking them as the vessel of the potter, it is referring us to Jeremiah 18 when the LORD tells Jeremiah to go down to the potter’s house. In the context of the current ongoing discussion, speaking of the end of Judah and Jerusalem, here they are likened to the work of a potter’s hand. The LORD is sending Jeremiah with His word, to (first) break in pieces the vessel marred in the hand (by the words) of the potters who’ve made them. We know from the surrounding chapters, Jeremiah has been sent to speak to the kings, priests, and prophets, who are here the potter whose hands made the marred vessel.

Jeremiah 19 begins by addressing these same men in this same light, in verse 2 calling them the “sons of Hinnom.” Hinnom is Gehenna, hell, where the kings of Judah sacrificed their children to idols, in the fire. Jeremiah is speaking to them in the east gate, which is where the LORD will enter. This is what the title and Thyatira are speaking of, where the false prophets, the corrupt priesthood, in the power of the king of hell, a son of Hinnom, Satan, are resisting and opposing the King’s entry.
What the LORD is telling Jeremiah to speak of, is He, as Master Potter, has the power, authority, and the obligation, to break the old (ruined) vessel and make a new one that is without the same fatal flaws.

Jeremiah 18

1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words.3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred [shachath – decayed or ruined] in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? says the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in mine hand, O house of Israel.7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.11 Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return you now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.13 Therefore thus says the LORD; Ask you now among the heathen, who has heard such things: the virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing.14 Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which comes from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?15 Because my people has forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up;16 To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passes thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head.17 I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.18 Then said they, Come and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.19 Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.20 Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before you to speak good for them, and to turn away your wrath from them.21 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.22 Let a cry be heard from their houses, when you shall bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.23 Yet, LORD, you know all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from your sight, but let them be overthrown before you; deal thus with them in the time of your anger.

Jeremiah 19

1 Thus says the LORD, Go and get a potter’s earthen bottle, and take of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests;2 And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom [hell], which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell you,3 And say, Hear you the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever hears, his ears shall tingle [as in 2 Kings 21:12].4 Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents;5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spoke it, neither came it into my mind:6 Therefore, behold, the days come, says the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet [a place of fire], nor The valley of the son of Hinnom [hell], but The valley of slaughter.7 And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and their carcasses will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.8 And I will make this city desolate, and a hissing; every one that passes thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof.9 And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them.10 Then shall you break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with you,11 And shall say unto them, Thus says the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet [the place of their fires], till there be no place to bury.12 Thus will I do unto this place, says the LORD, and to the inhabitants thereof, and even make this city as Tophet:13 And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.14 Then came Jeremiah from Tophet, whither the LORD had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of the LORD’s house; and said to all the people,15 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.

The word used above in saying the ears, which hear this proclamation of the end, will “tingle,” is the four times used word Hebrew word tsalal. As we see in Jeremiah 19:3 above, it also appears in 2 Kings 21:12, which we saw in the prior post speaks of the end of the Judah and Jerusalem and it coinciding with the seeming end of the Davidic king line.

The same word appears in 1 Samuel 3:11, also rendered “tingle,” and in Habakkuk 3:16 where it’s translated “quiver” in telling Habakkuk’s reaction when he hears of the LORD’s appearing. He is rejoicing at His coming, understanding it is for our salvation, but quivers because he understands it is the self-destruction of those who oppose Him.

1 Samuel 3

1 And the child Samuel [he hears God] ministered unto the LORD before Eli [the lofty – who have risen on high]. And the word of the LORD was precious [rare – not heard often, therefore Samuel at first thinks it is the word of Eli {men, priests, who’ve raised themselves up in God’s place}] in those days; there was no open vision [there was no understanding, light in people, of the deeper meaning].2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;3 And ere the lamp [understanding] of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel [hearing God] was laid down to sleep [in a death-like state];4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you did call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.7 Now Samuel did not yet know [the voice of] the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you did call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, Speak, LORD; for your servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for your servant hears.11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that hears it shall tingle [tsalal].12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end [of the corrupt priesthood – and will replace it with those hearing the voice of the LORD].13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knows; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD has said unto you? I pray you hide it not from me: God do so to you, and more also, if you hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto you.18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seems him good.19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. [The pattern that is in our time those who’ve heard His correction, become His children, and faithfully speak His word in the pure form He has given it.]21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

This last verse is what Habakkuk understands, the power as rays of light coming from the LORD’s hand, in His word and works of revelation (interpretation opening vision).

Habakkuk 3

1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth [from the word shagah, meaning to err – telling of the when the LORD’s hand is upon those who’ve erred and gone astray. It appears three times in Isaiah 28:7 describing these men. “But they also have erred [shagah] through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred [shagah] through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err [shgagah] in vision, they stumble in judgment.”]2 O LORD, I have heard your speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.3 God came from Teman [appeared in work of His right hand], and the Holy One from mount Paran [His interpretation into clarity]. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.4 And his brightness was as the light; he had horns [as rays of light] coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power [‘oz].5 Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.6 He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.7 I saw the tents of Cushan [in darkness] in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian [strife] did tremble.8 Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was your anger against the rivers? was your wrath against the sea, that you did ride upon your horses and your chariots of salvation?9 Your bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even your word. Selah. You did cleave the earth with rivers.10 The mountains saw you, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.11 The sun and moon [church and state governments] stood still in their habitation: at the light [understanding] of your arrows they went, and at the shining of your glittering spear.12 You did march through the land in indignation, you did thresh the heathen in anger.13 You went forth for the salvation of your people, even for salvation with your anointed; you wounded the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.14 You did strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.15 You did walk through the sea with your horses, through the heap of great waters [this word of God].16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered [tsalal] at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he comes up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Isaiah 28

5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sits in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.7 But they also have erred [shagah] through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred [shagah] through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err [shagah] 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 hell 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 hell 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.

Proverbs 28

9 He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.10 Whoso causes the righteous to go astray [shagah] in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that has understanding searches him out.12 When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.13 He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.14 Happy is the man that fears always: but he that hardens his heart shall fall into mischief.15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.16 The prince that wants understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hates covetousness shall prolong his days.17 A man that does violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.18 Whoso walks uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.19 He that tills his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that follows after vain persons shall have poverty enough.20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be innocent.21 To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.22 He that hastes to be rich has an evil eye, and considers not that poverty shall come upon him.23 He that rebukes a man afterwards shall find more favor than he that flatters with the tongue.24 Whoso robs his father or his mother, and says, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.25 He that is of a proud heart stirs up strife: but he that puts his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.26 He that trusts in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walks wisely, he shall be delivered.27 He that gives unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse.28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Psalms118

1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endures for ever.2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endures for ever.3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endures for ever.4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endures for ever.5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.12 They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.13 You have thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.18 The LORD has chastened me sore: but he has not given me over unto death.19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.21 I will praise you: for you have heard me, and are become my salvation.22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.24 This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.25 Save now, I beseech you, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech you, send now prosperity.26 Blessed be he that comes in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.27 God is the LORD, which has showed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.28 You are my God, and I will praise you: you are my God, I will exalt you.29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.

Psalms 61

1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto you, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.3 For you have been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.4 I will abide in your tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of your wings. Selah.5 For you, O God, have heard my vows: you have given me the heritage of those that fear your name.6 You will prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.7 He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.8 So will I sing praise unto your name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD.

The title verse is Jeremiah 16:21, the final verse of the chapter. It is referring to what is written in Habakkuk 3:4 when we are told the LORD’s power is hidden in His hand. The word Habakkuk uses, rendered “power,” is the Hebrew word ‘oz, which appears in Jeremiah 16:19 where it is translated “strength.” It comes in what is a parenthetical statement of Jeremiah as he is telling of the end of those against who the LORD said His anger has been kindled.

Jeremiah 16

17 For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.18 And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable and abominable things.19 (O LORD, my Strength, and my Fortress, and my Refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto you from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.)20 Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?21 Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD.

In the following verse, we are told the LORD’s might is in His hand, as with it He has written (documented) the sins of Judah, describing them as the ideas in their minds (hearts) and the idols they worship. This is after the death of Josiah and speaks of the end of Judah under the rule of the kings (sons of Josiah) who followed. This decline into national destruction, as mention in the previous post, is foretold in 2 Kings 21, which is referred to in Jeremiah 15:4. As we’ve seen, this is speaking, in a pattern, of our time and the continual backsliding, as came in the king immediately after Hezekiah and Josiah, who both led periods of repentance. As we know, Hezekiah’s occurred during the time of Isaiah, and Josiah’s during Jeremiah’s.

Jeremiah 17

1 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;2 Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.3 O my mountain in the field, I will give your substance and all your treasures to the spoil, and your high places for sin, throughout all your borders.4 And you, even yourself, shall discontinue from your heritage that I gave you; and I will cause you to serve your enemies in the land which you know not: for you have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.5 Thus says the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the LORD. [this is contrasted against what Jeremiah says in Jeremiah 16:9 above.] 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert [like a dry tree in the desert], and shall not see when good comes; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.7 Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.9 The heart [the mind that is without the LORD’s word, darkened and without understanding] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

2 Kings 21

1 Manasseh [causing to forget] was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hephzibah [{causing to forget} My delight {is} in her].2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.3 For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.4 And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.7 And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:8 Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.9 But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.10 And the LORD spoke by his servants the prophets, saying,11 Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, and has done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols:12 Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever hears of it, both his ears shall tingle.

Jeremiah 17:9 & 10 tell us the LORD knows the mind of man, and the self-inflicted tribulation of those without understanding. The same concept is expanded upon, by Paul in Romans 8, and by John in Revelation 2, both examples of the LORD’s power projected by the His hand as the hand of men writing His word.

Romans 8

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for?25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.27 And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies.

Revelation 2

18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira [held down, in death, by the gates of hell] write; These things says the Son of God, who has his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;19 I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works; and the last to be more than the first.20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel [Ahab’s wife, and Baal worshipper], which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.23 And I will kill her children with death [there can be no quickening into life for those who follow false prophets and unfaithful preachers]; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.25 But that which you have already hold fast till I come.26 And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.28 And I will give him the morning star.29 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.

The end of Judah and Jerusalem comes with the family line of David seemingly ending, which Jeremiah writes of in Jeremiah 22. This is spoken of in the pattern of the LORD’s death, and why the writing was placed over His head on the cross, above His crown of thorns, saying, “Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews [Judah].”

Jeremiah, in chapter 23, then tell of the LORD rising, in spite of those who have destroyed His pasture.

Jeremiah 22

1 Thus says the LORD; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,2 And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, you, and your servants, and your people that enter in by these gates:3 Thus says the LORD; Execute you judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.4 For if you do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people.5 But if you will not hear these words, I swear by myself, says the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.6 For thus says the LORD unto the king’s house [family] of Judah; You are Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon: yet surely I will make you a wilderness, and cities which are not inhabited.7 And I will prepare destroyers against you, every one with his weapons: and they shall cut down your choice cedars, and cast them into the fire.8 And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbor, Wherefore has the LORD done thus unto this great city?9 Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.10 Weep you not for the dead, neither bemoan him: but weep sore for him that goes away: for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.11 For thus says the LORD touching Shallum [the LORD’s vengeance coming upon the sons of Josiah – and our hope coming as the line is raised from the dead to resume the David line, as promised] son of Josiah king of Judah, which reigned instead of Josiah his father, which went forth out of this place; He shall not return thither any more:12 But he shall die in the place whither they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more.13 Woe unto him that builds his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that uses his neighbor’s service without wages, and gives him not for his work;14 That says, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cuts him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.15 Shall you reign, because you closest yourself in cedar? did not your father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? says the LORD.17 But your eyes and your heart are not but for your covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.18 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah LORD! or, Ah his glory!19 He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.20 Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up your voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all your lovers are destroyed.21 I spoke unto you in your prosperity; but you said, I will not hear. This has been your manner from your youth, that you obeyed not my voice.22 The wind shall eat up all your pastors, and your lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shall you be ashamed and confounded for all your wickedness.23 O inhabitant of Lebanon, that make your nest in the cedars, how gracious shall you be when pangs come upon you, the pain as of a woman in travail!24 As I live, says the LORD, though Coniah [Jehovah will reestablish – the king line] the son of Jehoiakim [in whom Jehovah raises up from the dead] king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck you thence;25 And I will give you into the hand of them that seek your life, and into the hand of them whose face you fear, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans.26 And I will cast you out, and your mother that bare you, into another country, where you were not born; and there shall you die.27 But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return.28 Is this man Coniah [the LORD will reestablish] a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.30 Thus says the LORD, Write you this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

Jeremiah 23

1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD.2 Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, says the LORD.3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, says the LORD.5 Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The LORD Our Righteousness.7 Therefore, behold, the days come, says the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD lives, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;8 But, The LORD lives, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.9 Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine has overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.10 For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourns; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force [‘oz – the power hidden in their hand] is not right.11 For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, says the LORD.12 Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, says the LORD.13 And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none does return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.15 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.16 Thus says the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.17 They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD has said, You shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walks after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.18 For who has stood in the counsel of the LORD, and has perceived and heard his word? who has marked his word, and heard it?19 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.20 The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days you shall consider it perfectly.21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.23 Am I a God at hand, says the LORD, and not a God afar off?24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? says the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? says the LORD.25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.28 The prophet that has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? says the LORD.29 Is not my word like as a fire? says the LORD; and like a hammer that break the rock in pieces?30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbor.31 Behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He says.32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, says the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, says the LORD.33 And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask you, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? you shall then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, says the LORD.34 And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house.35 Thus shall you say every one to his neighbor, and every one to his brother, What has the LORD answered? and, What has the LORD spoken?36 And the burden of the LORD shall you mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for you have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.37 Thus shall you say to the prophet, What has the LORD answered you? and, What has the LORD spoken?38 But since you say, The burden of the LORD; therefore thus says the LORD; Because you say this word, The burden of the LORD, and I have sent unto you, saying, You shall not say, The burden of the LORD;39 Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:40 And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.

1 Timothy 6

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.11 But you, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.13 I give you charge in the sight of God, who quickens all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;14 That you keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our LORD Jesus Christ:15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and LORD of lords;16 Who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy;18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

2 Timothy 2

1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.2 And the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit you to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.3 You therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.4 No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier.5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.6 The husbandman that labors must be first partaker of the fruits.7 Consider what I say; and the LORD give you understanding in all things.8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:13 If we believe not, yet he abides faithful: he cannot deny himself.14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the LORD that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Jude

…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 speaketh 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 [harpazo] 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.

Psalms 44

1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work you did in their days, in the times of old.2 How you did drive out the heathen with your hand, and planted them; how you did afflict the people, and cast them out.3 For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your countenance, because you had a favor unto them.4 You are my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.5 Through you will we push down our enemies: through your name will we tread them under that rise up against us.6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.7 But you have saved us from our enemies, and have put them to shame that hated us.8 In God we boast all the day long, and praise your name for ever. Selah.9 But you have cast off, and put us to shame; and go not forth with our armies.10 You make us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.11 You have given us like sheep appointed for meat; and have scattered us among the heathen.12 You sell your people for naught, and do not increase your wealth by their price.13 You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.14 You make us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.15 My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face has covered me,16 For the voice of him that reproaches and blasphemes; by reason of the enemy and avenger.17 All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten you, neither have we dealt falsely in your covenant.18 Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from your way;19 Though you have sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;21 Shall not God search this out? for he knows the secrets of the heart.22 Yea, for your sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.23 Awake, why sleep you, O LORD? arise, cast us not off for ever.24 Wherefore hide you your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression?25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaves unto the earth.26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for your mercies’ sake.

I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

The above is Habakkuk 2:1 and is Habakkuk waiting and watching, in silence, for the LORD to speak. This is connected to the last verse of the chapter, which says, “But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.” Just before this last verse, we are told of those who are dumb idols, who others are watching and waiting for, expecting them to rise and teach. We are told there is no breath in these men or their idols, who are as dumb stones and dead wood, in which there is no life.

(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.)

Habakkuk, meaning to grasp or take hold of with the hand (the work of the hand), is speaking of the vision of when God takes hold of His people, and in realizing His presence the wise are silent and listening to Him teach. Habakkuk is a contemporary of Jeremiah, and Zephaniah, each telling of the same silence as the word of God is found and heard. These prophets are speaking to Judah in the time of king Josiah and describing the desolation of Judah and Jerusalem, and the delay, under Josiah, of their eventual end, which is spoken of and ends Jeremiah’s book. This end comes at the hands of Babylon (confusion) and lasts until our time and the end of the LORD’s silence when He silences the idols of confusion.

Jeremiah 8

1 At that time, says the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves:2 And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.3 And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places whither I have driven them, says the LORD of hosts.4 Moreover you shall say unto them, Thus says the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?5 Why then is this people of Jerusalem slid back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.6 I hearkened and heard, but they spoke not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rushes into the battle.7 Yea, the stork in the heaven knows her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.8 How do you say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.9 The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?10 Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one deals falsely.11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, says the LORD.13 I will surely consume them, says the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.14 Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defensed cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God has put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.15 We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!16 The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.17 For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, says the LORD.18 When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.19 Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment has taken hold on me.22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

Jeremiah begins by telling us, in Jeremiah 1:2, it is in the thirteenth year of king Josiah, who at the time would have only been twenty-one years old. (See 2 Kings 22:1 and do the math.) We know from many prior studies, Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 4:23, uses the exact words of Genesis 1:2 to tell of the state of Judah and Jerusalem, as without form and void. This is the total desolation that had come, as in the Genesis pattern, when darkness covers the world, meaning the word of God was silenced and there was no understanding. We know the meaning from the only other time these Genesis words (towhu bohuw) are used, in Isaiah 34:11, there descriptively rendered instead as “confusion” and “emptiness.” It tells of the foundation becoming confusion, and the stones built upon it are emptiness (void of value).

We know in Isaiah 34:4 we are told of the heavens being rolled together as a scroll, meaning the place where the word of God is rightly divided (per Genesis 1:6 thru 8 and the second day) and the word of God was closed and unknown. We also told, later in verse 8, of all the streams turned into pitch, meaning the words and ideas flowing to the people had become darkened (nothing but ignorance).

Much later, 70 years after the end of Isaiah, in the eighteenth year of Josiah, recorded in Jeremiah 15:16, we are told of the word of God being found. We are also told of Jeremiah eating them, of them becoming his joy and rejoicing, and saying, “I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.” We know Jeremiah’s name means Jehovah will rise, and tells of the LORD rising in him, and raising up the His people through him.

This event, the book, the word of God, being found, is recorded in both 2 Kings 22:8 and 2 Chronicles 34:15. In the latter, in its earlier verses, we are told of the same events Jeremiah speaks of beginning in chapter 8 above, happening in the eighth year of king Josiah. These are telling of the pattern, spiritually speaking, of this time and the condition from which we will rise. The name Josiah translates into telling of him being the restorer of the foundation of Jehovah.

2 Chronicles 34

1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.4 And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.5 And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.6 And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.7 And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah [names meaning concealed treasure Jehovah has set apart – reserved unto this time, as Peter speaks of in 2 Peter 3:4 thru 7], and Maaseiah [those doing the work of Jehovah] the governor of the city, and Joah [Jehovah is {has become} our brother] the son of Joahaz [Jehovah has grasped – taken us by and into His hand] the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.9 And when they came to Hilkiah [whose portion, inheritance, is Jehovah] the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God [see Malachi 3:10], which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem.10 And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the LORD, to repair and amend the house:11 Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.12 And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath [He will snatch up – unite us into one] and Obadiah [those who are serving Jehovah – see Malachi 3:18], the Levites, of the sons of Merari [and heal the bitter waters]; and Zechariah [because Jehovah has remembered] and Meshullam [His friends and allies], of the sons of the Kohathites [those He has gathered to Him], to set it forward; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of music.13 Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses.15 And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.16 And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to your servants, they do it.17 And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen.18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest has given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.19 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.20 And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah [our brother has risen] a servant of the king’s, saying,21 Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.22 And Hilkiah [whose inheritance is Jehovah], and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah [this world age] the prophetess, the wife of Shallum [upon whom has come the LORD’s vengeance] the son of Tikvath [this expected end – our hope], the son of Hasrah [to a world without hope], keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spoke to her to that effect.23 And she answered them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell you the man that sent you to me,24 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:25 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.26 And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall you say unto him, Thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which you have heard;27 Because your heart was tender, and you did humble yourself before God, when you heard his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbled yourself before me, and did rend your clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard you also, says the LORD.28 Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.30 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.31 And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.32 And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Finding the book is the pattern of and finding the light, understanding given by the Spirit moving upon the waters (uncovering the deep understanding hidden in progressive and now total ignorance).

Revelation 10

1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow [light divided as a sign of correction and not destruction] was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,6 And swore by him that lives for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets.8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which stands upon the sea and upon the earth.9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make your belly bitter, but it shall be in your mouth sweet as honey.10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.11 And he said unto me, You must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

Woe to those who fail to see the reality in our midst.

Jeremiah 15

1 Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.2 And it shall come to pass, if they say unto you, Whither shall we go forth? then you shall tell them, Thus says the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.3 And I will appoint over them four kinds, says the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.4 And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem [see 2 Kings 21:9 thru 15 – this is when the end of Judah and Jerusalem is foretold, and presumably when the book was lost].5 For who shall have pity upon you, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan you? or who shall go aside to ask how you do?6 You have forsaken me, says the LORD, you are gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against you, and destroy you; I am weary with repenting.7 And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people since they return not from their ways.8 Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.9 She that has borne seven languishes [these exact word only appear together in 1 Samuel 2:5] she has given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day: she has been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, says the LORD.10 Woe is me, my mother, that you have borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them does curse me.11 The LORD said, Truly it shall be well with your remnant; truly I will cause the enemy to entreat you well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.12 Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?13 Your substance and your treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and that for all your sins, even in all your borders.14 And I will make you to pass with your enemies into a land which you know not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, which shall burn upon you.15 O LORD, you know: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in your longsuffering: know that for your sake I have suffered rebuke.16 Your words were found, and I did eat them; and your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by your name, O LORD God of hosts.17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of your hand: for you have filled me with indignation.18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuse to be healed? will you be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?19 Therefore thus says the LORD, If you return, then will I bring you again, and you shall stand before me: and if you take forth the precious from the vile, you shall be as my mouth: let them return unto you; but return not you unto them.20 And I will make you unto this people a fenced brazen wall: and they shall fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you: for I am with you to save you and to deliver you, says the LORD.21 And I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you out of the hand of the terrible.

1 Samuel 2

1 And Hannah [the LORD’s grace] prayed, and said, My heart rejoices in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in your salvation.2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside you: neither is there any rock like our God.3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren has born seven; and she that has many children is waxed feeble [languishes].6 The LORD kills, and makes alive: he brings down to the grave, and brings up.7 The LORD makes poor, and makes rich: he brings low, and lifts up.8 He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he has set the world upon them.9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

Habakkuk 2

1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that reads it.3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.5 Yea also, because he transgresses by wine, he is a proud man, neither keeps at home, who enlarges his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathers unto him all nations, and heaps unto him all people:6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increases that which is not his! how long? and to him that lades himself with thick clay!7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite you, and awake that shall vex you, and you shall be for booties unto them?8 Because you have spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil you; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.9 Woe to him that covets an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!10 You have consulted shame to your house by cutting off many people, and have sinned against your soul.11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.12 Woe to him that builds a town with blood, and establishes a city by iniquity!13 Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labor in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.15 Woe unto him that gives his neighbor drink, that puts your bottle to him, and makes him drunken also, that you may look on their nakedness!16 You are filled with shame for glory: drink you also, and let your foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’s right hand shall be turned unto you, and shameful spewing shall be on your glory.17 For the violence of Lebanon shall cover you, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.18 What profits the graven image that the maker thereof has graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusts therein, to make dumb idols?19 Woe unto him that says to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath [life] at all in the midst of it.20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

Zephaniah 3

1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.5 The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning does he bring his judgment to light, he fails not; but the unjust know no shame.6 I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passes by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.7 I said, Surely you will fear me, you will receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.8 Therefore wait you upon me, says the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia [rivers of darkness] my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.11 In that day shall you not be ashamed for all your doings, wherein you have transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of you them that rejoice in your pride, and you shall no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.12 I will also leave in the midst of you an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.15 The LORD has taken away your judgments, he has cast out your enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of you: you shall not see evil any more.16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear you not: and to Zion, Let not your hands be slack.17 The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over you with singing.18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of you, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict you: and I will save her that halts, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, says the LORD.

Psalms 28

1 Unto you will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if you be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto you, when I lift up my hands toward your holy oracle.3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.5 Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.6 Blessed be the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my supplications.7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him.8 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.9 Save your people, and bless your inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

Today’s opening verse is 2 Corinthians 11:12, and is Paul speaking of cutting off those he has spoken of earlier, in verse 4, as preaching another Jesus and another gospel. He later, in verses 13 thru 15, defines these same preachers as false apostles and deceitful workers, who’ve transformed themselves in apostles of Christ. He says we shouldn’t marvel at this, because Satan also transformed himself into an angel of light (a messenger claiming he is bringing us understanding from God). “Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

In these words, we are told these ministers are deceitful workers, whose end will be according to their works (their deceptions in God’s name). When Paul, in the title verse, says what he is doing is to cut off occasion, he is speaking of their glory as their deceptions. In verse 10 he has just said, “as the truth of Christ [the Spirit of God in him speaking and working] is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting,” meaning he is boasting of Christ in him doing the work. When he says he is doing this so these men will be found even as he is, he is saying, they, as he, are men in whom a spirit is speaking and working. This is why he then tells us these men are the ministers of Satan, who are preaching another Jesus and another gospel.

Paul speaks of His motivation as love, the true love of God manifested in him, as a Father correcting and teaching His children the truth. This is the point we have discussed many times, as described in Hebrews 12, in this same context of God as the one who corrects us, and without correction, we cannot be His children. Therein we are told we have not come to the mountain as those who heard God speaking and turned away from His voice. But we have come to new Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels (messengers bearing the true word of God’s correction). We are then told of the true Jesus, meaning, in the one God is speaking the true gospel of Jehovah’s Salvation appearing in this way. The next verse (25) then says, “see that you refuse not Him that is speaking,” and later verses go on to describes this voice, the LORD Jesus’ voice heard by His sheep, coming from (me) the son of man who God has chosen and ordained, which is NOW shaking heaven and earth.

Hebrews 12 

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds.

4 You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the LORD, nor faint when you are rebuked of him:

6 For whom the LORD loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.

7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?

8 But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you illegitimate [the children of another father], and not [God’s] sons.

9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they truly for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

11 Now no chastening for the present seem to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

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 entreats 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.

The LORD began our day in Ezekiel 16, which starts with the LORD instructing the “son of man” to show Jerusalem her abominations. The LORD then goes on to describe how He found us (His people) and built us into greatness by teaching us His superior idea and ways, under which we prospered and achieved. He then tells of Jerusalem, the place taught and founded upon His better ideas of peace and civilization, leaving Him, as did Samaria, but committing even greater abominations than her. The greater abominations are those spoken of in Jeremiah 44, wherein God’s people who are in Egypt are spoken to. In Ezekiel 16 Egypt is described as Sodom, Judah as Jerusalem, and Israel as Samaria. Understanding these are patterns tells us of all God’s people, after hiring men to replace God, are now all together called Babylon, which came because of the abominations, and produced confusion that brought the final, total, desolation. 

These are the men and ways, in whose words are deceptions, which have blinded the minds of all the world. These are those who preach the false doctrine of false love, which says God doesn’t correct error. They deny Him as He comes in the flesh to correct them and to free His misled flock. Their preaching is the words and the ways of antichrist, which now stand in almost every pulpit, preaching and teaching their own ideas, inspirited by the spirit of Satan. 

1 John 4

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 ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye 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 [Jesus Christ: the Father, Son, and Spirit in us], than he that is in the world [the spirit of Satan, deception that denies and opposed the Spirit of God in us].5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world hears them.6 We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

2 Corinthians 4

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry (preaching the true Jesus, the same yesterday, today, and forever, and the true gospel of Christ coming to us in the flesh, to be formed in our flesh], as we have received mercy, we faint not;2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully [as do the deceitful workers]; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:4 In whom the god [the spirit of Satan, that now is at work in the children of disobedience – see Ephesians 2:1 thru 10 below] of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the LORD; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

2 Corinthians 11

1 Would to God you could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.4 For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him.5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that you might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knows.12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Ephesians 2

1 And you has he quickened, 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 worketh 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 show 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 a habitation of God through the Spirit.

Ezekiel 16

1 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,2 Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,3 And say, Thus says the LORD God unto Jerusalem; Your birth and your nativity is of the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite, and your mother an Hittite.4 And as for your nativity, in the day you were born your navel was not cut, neither were you washed in water to supple you; you were not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.5 None eye pitied you, to do any of these unto you, to have compassion upon you; but you were cast out in the open field, to the loathing of your person, in the day that you were born.6 And when I passed by you, and saw you polluted in your own blood, I said unto you when you were in your blood, Live; yea, I said unto you when you were in your blood, Live.

Ezekiel 16

48 As I live, says the LORD God, Sodom your sister has not done, she nor her daughters, as you have done, you and your daughters.49 Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.51 Neither has Samaria committed half of your sins; but you have multiplied your abominations more than they, and have justified your sisters in all your abominations which you have done.52 You also, which have judged your sisters, bear your own shame for your sins that you have committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than you: yea, be you confounded also, and bear your shame, in that you have justified your sisters.53 When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of your captives in the midst of them:54 That you may bear your own shame, and may be confounded in all that you have done, in that you are a comfort unto them.55 When your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then you and your daughters shall return to your former estate.56 For your sister Sodom was not mentioned by your mouth in the day of your pride,57 Before your wickedness was discovered, as at the time of your reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise you round about.58 You have borne your lewdness and your abominations, says the LORD.59 For thus says the LORD God; I will even deal with you as you have done, which have despised the oath in breaking the covenant.60 Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish unto you an everlasting covenant.61 Then you shall remember your ways, and be ashamed, when you shall receive your sisters, your elder and your younger: and I will give them unto you for daughters, but not by your covenant.62 And I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall know that I am the LORD:63 That you may remember, and be confounded, and never open your mouth any more because of your shame, when I am pacified toward you for all that you have done, says the LORD God.

Jeremiah 44

1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt [and here we are in captivity again – see Revelation 11:8, which describes new Jerusalem], which dwell at Migdol [who should have seen these things and given warning], and at Tahpanhes [and had pity on God’s people], and at Noph [and not scattered them], and in the country of Pathros [with your own interpretations – from pathah, to open], saying,2 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; You have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwell therein,3 Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, you, nor your fathers.4 Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.5 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.6 Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.7 Therefore now thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit you this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain;8 In that you provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither you be gone to dwell, that you might cut yourselves off, and that you might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?9 Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem?10 They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.11 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah.12 And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed, and fall in the land of Egypt; they shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine: they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine: and they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.13 For I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence:14 So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape.15 Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros [those who because of their own deceitful interpretations], answered Jeremiah, saying,16 As for the word that you have spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto you.17 But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goes forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.18 But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.19 And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?20 Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying,21 The incense that you burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, you, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind?22 So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which you have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.23 Because you have burned incense, and because you have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.24 Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:25 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; You and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: you will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.26 Therefore hear you the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, says the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The LORD God liveth.27 Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.28 Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs.29 And this shall be a sign unto you, says the LORD, that I will punish you in this place, that you may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil:30 Thus says the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaoh-hophra [the great house, covered in evil] king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.

Revelation 11

4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth [spoken of in Zechariah 4, Zerubbabel and Joshua].5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless [with the smoke the darkens {removes understanding from} the sun {church} and the air {the spirit in the church}] pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our LORD was crucified.9 And they of the people and kindred and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.11 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe comes quickly.15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our LORD, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,17 Saying, We give you thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which are, and were, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned.18 And the nations were angry, and your wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward unto your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings [understanding], and voices, and thunderings [the voice of the light], and an earthquake, and great hail [and the word frozen in heaven was sent, which is what is now shaking heaven and earth].

Psalm 137

1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.6 If I do not remember you, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.7 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze it, raze it, even to the foundation thereof.8 O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewards you as you have served us.9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dashes your little ones [your offspring] against the stones.

Who is as the wise man? and who knows the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

The above is the LORD, through (in) Solomon, imparting wisdom and describing life and death by its apprehension: it seizing us; our then applying it: operating under its anointing and power. The Hebrew word rendered “interpretation,” is a one-time used word pesher, from the word pathar, meaning to open up. Pathar is only used nine times, all in Genesis 40 & 41 in telling of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams: ideas that come into the minds of the those sleeping, meaning they are in a death-like state and unable to understand anything, even their own thoughts. 

The Chaldean word equivalents are pshar, used thirty-two times, and an identical word pshar, only used once; all appearing in Daniel. In Daniel 5:16 these two words appear together, rendered “make interpretations” in telling us this is what dissolves doubt (revealing unknown meaning – as in interpreting an unknown tongue/word). 

The Chaldean (Aramaic) words translated “dissolve doubt” are shre’ qtar; the first appearing five times in Daniel and once in Ezra 5:2; the second only appearing in Daniel 5, three times. In Ezra shre’ is rendered “began” in telling of when Zerubbabel and Joshua (Jeshua) were freed to build the house of God. In the verse prior, we are told what dissolved the bands keeping them from building was the prophesying, in the name of God, of Haggai and Zechariah. As we know from previous studies, this and the resistance they encountered, are what Zachariah writes of in Zechariah 3 & 4. In Ezra 4 we are told of those who rose up to resist their building; who were offering to join in the building, as a way to subvert it from within. In Zachariah 3 these adversaries are described as Satan standing at Joshua’s right hand to resist the work of the LORD, which was to cleanse Joshua. We have seen the word there rendered “resist” is the Hebrew word satan, meaning to attack and or accuse, and in its five other appearances it is rendered adversaries (Psalms 38:20, 71:13, & 109:4, 20, & 29). 

Daniel 5 ends telling of the end of Belshazzar, which come as foretold by the hand of the LORD sent to write on the wall. Belshazzar is the son of Nebuchadnezzar, whose name we understand tells of the lies of the false prophets (which rule over God’s people) and are the abominations that cause the total, final, desolation of God’s people. Belshazzar, whose name means Baal protects the king, is said to have committed the same offenses as his father, and God, therefore, ends his kingdom (ends the rule of their creations, showing their idols are nothing and therefore unable to protect anything). This is the pattern of our time, as the same hand of God is sent to write on this wall, and end the rule of the false prophets and usurpers over God’s people. The numbers (mene) that begin and end this rule are those we have seen Daniel describe in the end Daniel 9, and are the beginning and end of Abram’s (Abraham’s) deep sleep. 

We have also seen this is the time of the awakening Daniel describe in Daniel 12, when the book is unsealed and knowledge is greatly increased. “12 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine [see Ecclesiastes 8:1, the title above] as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro [see Zechariah 4:10 below], and knowledge shall be increased.”

The final verse of Daniel 5 tells of the coming of Darius (the LORD who reigns supreme), after Daniel (the judge of God) interprets (pshar), dissolves the doubt, as foretold, and Belshazzar is slain. Ezra 4 ends describing the time as the second year of Darius, who reigns after Belshazzar, which same dating is identified by Haggai and Zechariah in as their respective Books begin. Remember, the times (mene, mene) are, in a pattern, telling of Abram’s sleep as beginning when the adversaries troubled those building the house (wall) of God, who Zechariah describes as Satan standing at Joshua’s (the priesthood) right hand to resist the work of God (who is the true and only able builder). It ends at the coming of the LORD, patterned in Darius appearing in the second year of His reign.

Hosea 6 

1 Come, and let us return [shuwb – turn again] unto the LORD: for he has torn, and he will heal us; he has smitten, and he will bind us up.

2 After two days [yowm – also a year – as in Exodus 13:10] will he revive us: in the third day [yowm – also an age] he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth [this word of God is the latter rain, and the former rain, on each side of Abraham’s sleep].

4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto you? O Judah, what shall I do unto you? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goes away [when the sun rises].

5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and your judgments are as the light [understanding] that goes forth.

6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me [says the LORD].

Daniel 5 

1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.

3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

6 Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed [shre’ – the word of God put the fear of God into him], and his knees smote one against another.

7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spoke, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation [pshar] thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

8 Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation [pshar] thereof.

9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonished.

10 Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spoke and said, O king, live for ever: let not your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance be changed:

11 There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, I say, your father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;

12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts [shre’ qtar], were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation [pshar].

13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Are you that Daniel, which are of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?

14 I have even heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in you.

15 And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation [pshar] thereof: but they could not show the interpretation [pshar] of the thing:

16 And I have heard of you, that you can make interpretations [pshar], and dissolve doubts [shre’ qtar]: now if you can read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation [pshar] thereof, you shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation [pshar].

18 O you king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor:

19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:

21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the Most High God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appoints over it whomsoever he will.

22 And you his son, O Belshazzar [O false prophets], have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this;

23 But have lifted up yourself against the LORD of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you, and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine in them; and you have praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, have you not glorified:

24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.

25 And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.

26 This is the interpretation [pshar] of the thing: Mene; God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it.

27 Tekel; You are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.

28 Peres; Your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.

31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

Ezra 3

8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua [Joshua] the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.

9 Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house [family] of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.

10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endures for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

Ezra 4

1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity built the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as you do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, You have nothing to do with us to build a house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.

4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

5 And hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

Ezra 4

24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Ezra 5

1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.

2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began [shre’ – the word of God sent and released them from the fear that kept them from building] to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

Ezra 5

9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

10 We asked their names also, to certify you, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel [Solomon] built and set up.

12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar [this is the Chaldean name of Zerubbabel – a name said {in the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon} to mean worshipper of fire – which should be worshipper in the fire – referring to Daniel as the unnamed one in the fire, whose form is like the son of God – Daniel 3:25], whom he had made governor;

15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house [family] of God be built in his place.

16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation [no other foundation than Christ – 1 Corinthians 3:11] of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not finished [see Zechariah 4:9 below – God’s Spirit in us, Christ in us, began the work and He will finish it].

17 Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

Ezra 6 

1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.

2 And there was found at Achmetha [referring us to the hearth where the fire burned {ach} – the pattern we are shown in Jeremiah 36:22 & 23 – where the word of God was rejected – the words couldn’t be burned, because they’re in a man, upon who the fire has no effect], in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:

3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;

4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house:

5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.

6 Now therefore, Tatnai [you who’ve received this free gift of God’s word], governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai [who have received it from the Star of God’s splendor], and your companions the Apharsachites [those who God will divide as deceivers – separate the false prophets from His truth], which are beyond the river, be you far from thence:

7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house [family] of God in his place.

Haggai 1

1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,

2 Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD’s house [family] should be built.

3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,

4 Is it time for you, O you, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?

5 Now therefore thus says the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

6 You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but you have not enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earns wages earns wages to put it into a bag with holes.

7 Thus says the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, says the LORD.

9 You looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when you brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? says the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and you run every man unto his own house.

10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.

11 And I called for a drought [of hearing this true word of God] upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground brings forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands.

12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD.

13 Then spoke Haggai the LORD’s messenger in the LORD’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, says the LORD.

14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,

15 In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

Haggai 2 

1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,

2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,

3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do you see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work: for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts:

5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so my spirit remains among you: fear you not.

6 For thus says the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.

8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts.

9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, says the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, says the LORD of hosts.

10 In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,

11 Thus says the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,

12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.

13 Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.

14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, says the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. [Here telling us why Zechariah, in Zechariah 3, tells of cleansing the priesthood, before telling of Zerubbabel finishing the building, by God’s Spirit in His prepared, cleansed, people.]

15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:

16 Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the press-fat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.

17 I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you turned not to me, says the LORD.

18 Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid, consider it.

19 Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, has not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.

20 And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,

21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.

23 In that day, says the LORD of hosts, will I take you, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, says the LORD, and will make you as a signet [a sign]: for I have chosen you, says the LORD of hosts.

Zechariah 3

1 And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist [satan] him.

2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke you, O Satan; even the LORD that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.

4 And he answered and spoke unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with change of raiment.

5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments [these are the garments put on by the purified priest]. And the angel of the LORD stood by. 

6 And the angel of the LORD protested [reiterated] unto Joshua, saying,

7 Thus says the LORD of hosts; If [IF] you will walk in my ways [even in the fire], and if you will keep my charge, then you shall also judge my house [as Daniel – judge of God], and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you places to walk among these that stand by.

8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you, and your fellows that sit before you: for they are men wondered at [I and the children God’s has given me are for signs and wonders – see Isaiah 8:18]: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch.

9 For behold the stone [Christ – the Chief cornerstone of the house] that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, says the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

10 In that day, says the LORD of hosts, shall you call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.

Zechariah 4

1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep [the angel appeared as a man already awakened – to awaken].

2 And said unto me, What sees you? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:

3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.

4 So I answered and spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?

5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

6 Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel [born by coming out of confusion – awakened from the sleep of ignorance], saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

7 Who are you, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain [AS GOD SHAKES HEAVEN AND EARTH, TO SHAKE THE WICKED OUT OF THEM]: and he shall bring forth the headstone [the Chief cornerstone] thereof with shouting, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me unto you.

10 For who has despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven [the awakened church]; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth, [increasing their knowledge – see Daniel 12:4 above].

11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof [Joshua and Zerubbabel – God’s elect and His people at large – who shine as the stars of heaven]?

12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?

13 And he answered me and said, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.

Psalms 109 

1 Hold not your peace, O God of my praise;

2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.

4 For my love they are my adversaries [satan]: but I give myself unto prayer.

5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

6 Set you a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.

7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.

8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.

9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.

10 Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.

11 Let the extortioner catch all that he has; and let the strangers spoil his labor.

12 Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favor his fatherless children.

13 Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.

14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.

15 Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.

16 Because that he remembered not to show mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.

17 As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.

18 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.

19 Let it be unto him as the garment which covers him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.

20 Let this be the reward of mine adversaries [satan] from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.

21 But do you for me, O God the LORD, for your name’s sake: because your mercy is good, deliver you me.

22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.

23 I am gone like the shadow when it declines: I am tossed up and down as the locust.

24 My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh fails of fatness.

25 I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shook their heads.

26 Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to your mercy:

27 That they may know that this is your hand; that you, LORD, have done it.

28 Let them curse, but bless you: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let your servant rejoice.

29 Let mine adversaries [satan] be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.

30 I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.

31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Today’s title verse, Matthew 18:6, is the LORD’s wisdom in the chapter, in reference to a comment and discussion at the previous post, at the @Message Facebook page. The chapter is given as a further explanation of the most recent post about the many antichrists and false prophets, and their intention in attacking the truth of the word of God. These men are dividers and not unifiers. (Read the comment.) They seek to cause those believing the LORD to become offended, to cast doubt about His presence (with contradictory advice and accusation) – to mislead and keep people in the darkness they and their ilk have created.

Matthew 18 1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,3 And said, Truly I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children [ready to learn as if you know nothing – not at every point looking for reasons to doubt what is being taught], you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receives me.6 But whoso shall offend [skandalizo – trip up – lead into apostasy] one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence comes!8 Wherefore if your hand or your foot offend [skandalizo] you, cut them off, and cast them from you: it is better for you to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.9 And if your eye offend [skandalizo] you, pluck it out, and cast it from you: it is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.10 Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.12 How think you? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, does he not leave the ninety and nine, and goes into the mountains, and seeks that which is gone astray?13 And if so be that he find it, truly I say unto you, he rejoices more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.15 Moreover if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he shall hear you, you have gained your brother.16 But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto you as a heathen man and a publican.18 Truly I say unto you, Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.21 Then came Peter to him, and said, LORD, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?22 Jesus said unto him, I say not unto you, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his LORD commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, LORD, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.27 Then the LORD of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, which owed him a hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that you owe.29 And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.31 So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their LORD all that was done.32 Then his LORD, after that he had called him, said unto him, O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you desired [it of] me:33 Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow-servant, even as I had pity on you?34 And his LORD was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

When the LORD, above, speaks of His seeking the sheep that stray, it is referring us to Ezekiel 34:12, and the chapter which is the LORD, through the son of man, speaking to the shepherds of Israel, who are feeding themselves and not the flock.

As we have previously, many times, discussed, this is ultimately referring us to the controversy God has with His people. It is, who is best suited to rule them, God or man; and this relating to the decision (in the valley of Jehoshaphat) as to whose advice they are going to listen. In this context, and in that of this and previous posts, read the following, viewing it with the eyes of understanding the LORD has given us by His mind now formed in us.

1 Kings 22

16 And the king [Ahab – meaning the brother of the father, which is alluding to Esau, and the name Ahijah] said unto him, How many times shall I adjure you that you tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell you that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?19 And he said, Hear you therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead [the summit of this testimony]? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, You shall persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets, and the LORD has spoken evil concerning you.24 But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah [who is like Jehovah] on the cheek, and said [mocked – and doubted the LORD’s presence], Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto you?25 And Micaiah said, Behold, you shall see in that day, when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;27 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.28 And Micaiah said, If you return at all in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.30 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put you on your robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.31 But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.32 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.33 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.34 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn your hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.35 And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.36 And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armor; according unto the word of the LORD which he spoke.39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Ahab’s end came when he made the wrong decision [krisis – the decision that condemns] and followed the advice of the false prophets.

Joel 3

1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.3 And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.4 Yea, and what have you to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon [the false rock, those who hunt the souls of men], and all the coasts of Palestine [the border of the invaders]? will you render me a recompense? and if you recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompense upon your own head;5 Because you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:6 The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have you sold unto the Grecians [those wallowing in their own mire], that you might remove them far from their border.7 Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither you have sold them, and will return your recompense upon your own head:8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD has spoken it.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 pruning-hooks 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 [see 1 Kings 22:38 above]: for the LORD dwells in Zion.

Ezekiel 34

1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus says the LORD God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?3 You eat the fat, and you clothe you with the wool, you kill them that are fed: but you feed not the flock.4 The diseased have you not strengthened, neither have you healed that which was sick, neither have you bound up that which was broken, neither have you brought again that which was driven away, neither have you sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have you ruled them.5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.7 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;8 As I live, says the LORD God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;9 Therefore, O you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;10 Thus says the LORD God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.11 For thus says the LORD God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, says the LORD God.16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.17 And as for you, O my flock, thus says the LORD God; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.18 Seems it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but you must foul the residue with your feet?19 And as for my flock, they eat that which you have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which you have fouled with your feet.20 Therefore thus says the LORD God unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.21 Because you have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad;22 Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.24 And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.26 And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.27 And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.28 And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.29 And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.30 Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, says the LORD God.31 And you my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, says the LORD God.

2 Thessalonians 2

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,2 That you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away [a straying into apostasy] first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;4 Who oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.5 Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?6 And now you know what withholds [katecho] that he might be revealed in his time.7 For the mystery of iniquity does already work [as John, in 1 John 2:18 & 19, tells of the many antichrists {the spirit of wickedness in the many false prophets and antichrists} already among us]: only he who now lets [katecho – holds God’s people down] will let, until he be taken out of the way.8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the LORD shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion [see Isaiah 66:4 below], that they should believe a lie:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the LORD, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our LORD Jesus Christ [appearing in you].15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.16 Now our LORD Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which has loved us, and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,17 Comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.
The delusion the LORD sends these men is the same lying bad advice they endlessly bark and follow, which they choose instead of the sound advice the LORD is sending them.

Isaiah 66

1 Thus says the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that you build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?2 For all those things has mine hand made, and all those things have been, says the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and tremble at my word.3 He that kills an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrifices a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offers an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burns incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations.4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.5 Hear the word of the LORD, you that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that renders recompense to his enemies.7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child [I Am].8 Who has heard such a thing? who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? says the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? says your God.10 Rejoice you with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all you that mourn for her:11 That you may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that you may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.12 For thus says the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall you suck, you shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.13 As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.14 And when you see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, says the LORD.22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, says the LORD.24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Psalms 114

1 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;2 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.5 What ailed you, O you sea, that you fled? you Jordan, that you were driven back?6 You mountains, that you skipped like rams; and you little hills, like lambs?7 Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the God of Jacob;8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

They 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 title, 1 John 2:19, comes just after John speaks of the many antichrists among us, whereby we know it is the last time. As we saw in the prior post, anti means to oppose and instead of, and (the name antichrist) speaks of those who oppose Christ and put themselves in His stead.

Any who have read the last few posts, about the mark of the beast (confusion – caused by what John describes in Revelation in the three sixes) and the antichrists, and read the comments (mostly at its posting on my @Message Facebook page) have seen antichrists in abundance in them. 

The LORD’s plan in these postings is to expose this point, manifesting the departure from Him, away from His leading, and thereby abandoning sound doctrine and truth. This, again, is manifested before our eye in these many different declarations contradicting and opposing the truth of the matter as the LORD shows it. These people, spewing ignorance, unwittingly fulfill the patter of the many false prophets of Baal, who Elijah encountered (recorded in the part of 1 Kings 18 not included in the prior post), and as John says above, “that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

John is making reference to Israel departing from Judah, which resulted in them (the ten northern tribes) setting up a false king, who put calves in God’s place and made devils priests in place of the true priests (2 Chronicles 11:15). As we know, this false king line degenerated until the coming of Ahab, who abandoned even the false premise of worshipping God, and brought in Baal worship instead (1 Kings 16:30 thru 33). In the prior post, we saw the LORD send Elijah to show himself to Ahab, to tell him of the coming rain (after three years of drought – or in our case, on this third day). This is recorded in 1 Kings 18, the middle part of the chapter describing Elijah’s encounter with these many false prophets of Baal.

Anyone who has read along through previous posts, will see and understand these most recent postings were a culminating demonstration of the larger points illuminated therein. In the comments and the attacks that came against these postings of the true word of God, we experienced (counted – psephizo, understood by touching) the prophets of Baal, the many antichrists, the coming of Elijah, and him showing himself to the false kings of our time.

The LORD knows the price of bringing His truth is the cross, and in this Christ is manifested in us. This is His message, found in the only other time the word psephizo appears, in Luke 14:28. Hear His word, eat and understand.

Luke 14

7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them.

8 When you are bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honorable man than you be bidden of him;

9 And he that bade you and him come and say to you, Give this man place; and you begin with shame to take the lowest room.

10 But when you are bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade you comes, he may say unto you, Friend, go up higher: then shall you have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with you.

11 For whosoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.

12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When you make a dinner or a supper, call not your friends, nor your brethren, neither your kinsmen, nor your rich neighbors; lest they also bid you again, and a recompense be made you.

13 But when you make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

14 And you shall be blessed; for they cannot recompense you: for you shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray you have me excused.

19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray you have me excused.

20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

21 So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

22 And the servant said, LORD, it is done as you have commanded, and yet there is room.

23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts [psephizo – knows from experience] the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

29 Lest haply, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sits not down first, and consults whether he be able with ten thousand [the LORD is able – see Jude below] to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand?

32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an ambassador, and desires conditions of peace.

33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he has, he cannot be my disciple.

34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

In this encounter, in the comments, the opposition from the many false prophets and the many antichrists, the armies of Babylon (confusion), we also saw why Jude quote Enoch, and warns those who are ignorantly speaking against the LORD at His appearing (coming into sight). We also understand the flaming fire Paul speaks of in 2 Thessalonians 1:8, as the same fire the LORD sent from heaven at Elijah’s showing himself to Ahab. This is the fire, the consuming fire of God’s word, the sword of the Spirit, which none understand comes to save men’s lives from those destroying them, even from self-destruction.

2 Thessalonians 1

6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the LORD Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our LORD Jesus Christ:

9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the LORD, and from the glory of his power;

10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Luke 9

43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,

44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,

48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receives me: and whosoever shall receive me receives him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name; and we forbad him, because he follows not with us.

50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans [the capital of those who went out from us – where the idols were set up to keep God’s people from going to Jerusalem], to make ready for him.

53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, LORD, will you that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?

55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, You know not what manner of spirit you are of.

56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, LORD, I will follow you whithersoever you go.

58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests [the beast without the spirit – given for the false kings and priest who sit in the seats of power]; but the Son of man has not where to lay his head [the son as does the father, dwells not in houses made with men’s hand – He, as do we, live inside human flesh].

59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, LORD, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead [those without the spirit] bury their dead: but go you and preach the kingdom of God.

61 And another also said, LORD, I will follow you; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. [These last two verses are connected – what is plowed under, what we have left behind, are not things we should long for or regret leaving. Remember those who chided with Moses, after the LORD brought them out of Egypt and they longed to go back into captivity. Remember Lot’s wife.]

1 Kings 18

7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah [Jehovah God] met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Are you that my lord Elijah?

8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

9 And he said, What have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?

10 As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord has not sent to seek you: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found you not.

11 And now you say, Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from you, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry you whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he shall slay me: but I your servant fear the LORD from my youth.

13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD’s prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

14 And now you says, Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.

15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself unto him to day.

16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Are you he that troubles Israel?

18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but you, and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and you have followed Baalim.

19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.

20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt you between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

24 And call you on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answers by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for you are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.

26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleep, and must be awaked.

28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.

31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be your name:

32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.

37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that you are the LORD God, and that you have turned their heart back again.

38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon [this winding river], and slew them there.

41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get you up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there arises a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand [this hand of God – the same author as the hand writing on the wall, which has told of the beginning and the ending of this kingdom of wicked men]. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare your chariot, and get you down that the rain stop you not.

45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

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 Gomorrha, 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 withereth, 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 speaketh 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 [harpazo – the truth these false prophets have turned into a lie] 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.

As we know, the word harpazo is the same word rendered “caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, which the false prophets have twisted into the rapture lie. As we know, it is the LORD coming to show His endless mercy to these same false prophets and antichrists, by pulling them from the fires of ignorance and confusion their own false teachings have created. Again, they are the sleepers (dead) Paul is speaking of in 1 Thessalonians 4, as he describes them to those who are alive (awake) and tells them not to lose hope for the dead. He is telling them of now, when the LORD appears to pull them into life, from being against Him, into being with Him, “for he that is not against us is for us.” (Luke 9:50)

1 Thessalonians 4

7 For God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

8 He therefore that despises, despises not man, but God, who has also given unto us his holy Spirit.

9 But as touching brotherly love you need not that I write unto you: for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

10 And indeed you do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia [the churches that house dead flesh]: but we beseech you, brethren, that you increase more and more;

11 And that you study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

12 That you may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that you may have lack of nothing.

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the LORD, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the LORD shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the LORD himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the LORD.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

As we know, the air (aer) the LORD pulls us all into, is defined as Paul, in Ephesians 2:2, describes the air of death, from which we must all be quickened into life. This is the same life that defines those Paul calls the “alive” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, which life he defines in 1 Thessalonians 2 as those who have entered the kingdom of God by hearing his word as the word of God, and not as the words of man. There Paul also describes the dead as those persecuting the living, who in this persecution, Paul says, are in the presence of the LORD at His coming (His life manifested in them as they take up their/His cross). This is now also manifested in our experience, as we willingly suffer persecution for the gospel truth; the death of Christ manifested in us, and His life in the resurrection in us, by His presence at His coming.

1 Thessalonians 2

3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as you know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear unto us.

9 For you remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

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 [as the voice of the LORD’s archangel], you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works [receiving it a such is what has the effect] 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 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, 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 {air} that leads the resistance, opposition, against God] 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.

Ephesians 2 

1 And you has he quickened, 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 [aer], 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 show 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. [These are not empty clichés, as the false prophets, false teacher, and antichrists make them, turning the truth of God into a lie.]

Psalms 97 

1 The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

2 Clouds and darkness are round about him [men’s willful ignorance hides His presence]: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

3 A fire goes before him, and burns up his enemies round about.

4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.

5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the LORD of the whole earth.

6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.

7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all you gods.

8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of your judgments, O LORD.

9 For you, LORD, are high above all the earth: you are exalted far above all gods.

10 You that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserves the souls of his saints; he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

11 Light [understanding] is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

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.

The above is speaking the true meaning of antichrist. The verse is Isaiah 8:9, and comes immediately after the statement “O Immanuel,” meaning God is with us. This statement is the LORD announcing His presence, manifested in His word spoken from within Isaiah’s flesh body, which is the anointing eventually fully understood by/in Christ.

The Greek word anti means opposite (to oppose) or instead of, which we see in the above passage, when God appears in flesh man (O Immanuel), and instead God’s people choose to follow, associate themselves with, men (flesh without the Spirit, inspired by the spirit of error/man) whose natural inclination is to opposing Him at His appearing.

1 John 2

18 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.19 They 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.20 But you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things.21 I have not written unto you because you know not the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.22 Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus (Jehovah’s Salvation personified in our flesh) is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son.23 Whosoever denies the Son, the same has not the Father: he that acknowledges the Son has the Father also.24 Let that therefore abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning. If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, you also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.25 And this is the promise that he has promised us, even eternal life.26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.27 But the anointing which you have received of him abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in him.28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that every one that does righteousness is born of him.

1 John 4

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.5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world hears them.6 We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.8 He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

This hearing the LORD speaking from the flesh is what produces the resurrection, and evidences life (the quickening) from the dead. Until this word is heard as the word of God (which it is in truth), you have not received the LORD at His coming (His appearing and His kingdom).

John 5

19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Truly, truly, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what things so-ever he does, these also does the Son likewise.20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that himself does: and he will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.21 For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens them; even so the Son quickens whom he will.22 For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son:23 That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him.24 Truly, truly, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.25 Truly, truly, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.26 For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself;27 And has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me.31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.32 There is another that bears witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesses of me is true.33 You sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that you might be saved.35 He was a burning and a shining light: and you were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me.37 And the Father himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.38 And you have not his word abiding in you: for whom he has sent, him you believe not.39 Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.40 And you will not come to me, that you might have life.41 I receive not honor from men.42 But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you.43 I am come in my Father’s name, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive.44 How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only?45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust.46 For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me; for he wrote of me.47 But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?

The LORD, above, is referring to what is written in Deuteronomy 31, where Moses speaks of this time when the LORD (Jehovah) and Joshua (Jesus – Jehovah’s Salvation personified) goes before God’s people. Read this chapter as it is, God speaking to us today, of this moment of (the realization of) Immanuel.

Deuteronomy 31

1 And Moses went and spoke these words unto all Israel.2 And he said unto them, I am a hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD has said unto me, You shall not go over this Jordan.3 The LORD your God, he will go over before you, and he will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall possess them: and Joshua [Jesus – what the LORD refers to above – when Moses writes of Him], he shall go over before you, as the LORD has said.4 And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og [these represent the last of the warrior giants – referring to seeing men as giants and therefore not trusting in God to conquer them, and prove them but small men in comparison to Him – it represents the thinking that kept Israel wandering in the wilderness for forty years], kings of the Amorites [those who continually run their mouths in opposition to God, and exalt themselves above Him], and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.5 And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that you may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD your God, he it is that does go with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you.7 And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for you must go with this people unto the land which the LORD has sworn unto their fathers to give them; and you shall cause them to inherit it.8 And the LORD, he it is that does go before you; he will be with you, he will not fail you, neither forsake you: fear not, neither be dismayed.9 And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.10 And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,11 When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD your God in the place which he shall choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.12 Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and your stranger that is within your gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:13 And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land whither you go over Jordan to possess it.14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, your days approach that you must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.15 And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle.16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?18 And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.19 Now therefore write you this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.20 For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore unto their fathers, that flowes with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.21 And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I swore.22 Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.23 And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land which I swore unto them: and I will be with you.24 And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,25 That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against you.27 For I know your rebellion, and your stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, you have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?28 Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.29 For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.30 And Moses spoke in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.

I plainly tell you, Moses is speaking of this time, when God, who has never left us, manifests His presence (in me, and in the children God has given me), by His work and works.

Isaiah 8

5 The LORD spoke also unto me again, saying,6 Forasmuch as this people refuse the waters of Shiloah that go softly [this word of God that flows under Zion, as its foundational teaching], and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son [they put their trust in the false image of God they have created];7 Now therefore, behold, the LORD brings up upon them the waters of the river [their own words], strong and many, even the king of Assyria [the steps by which they have exalted themselves], and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: [Their words have covered the world in darkness, and produce total confusion {ignorance} and desolation – every person thinking they know something, and trusting in their own opinions – thinking they are valuable. I beheld the world and it is now truly without form {confused} and void {of properly placed values}.] 8 And he shall pass through Judah [this condition now infects and make ineffectual all those in leadership positions]; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck [as if a body that stops at the neck –rejecting its head/leadership]; and the stretching out of his wings [of his abominations that cause desolation – below defined as the advice of this world’s self-proclaimed experts] shall fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel [it is into this void God appears].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.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, 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 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 [present, but hidden in the blindness of ignorance taught by these same experts] 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 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: should not a people seek unto their God? [Should His people be looking] for the living to the dead?20 [Or] To the law and to the testimony[?]: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light 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 [as they do this day, blindly by the same ignorance], and look upward.22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness [ignorance], dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness [by those leading them, into even greater ignorance].

Friends, I tell you the truth, the men broadcasting, preaching and teaching, are the antithesis of Christ. They have the false anointing that causes them to continually bark their own words. They must be silenced (by no longer listening to them) because they will never be tamed.

James 3

1 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.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.7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed of mankind:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

James 5

1 Go to now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. You have heaped treasure together for the last days.4 Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, cries: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the LORD of Sabaoth [Hosts – the armies of heaven] .5 You have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; you have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.6 You have condemned and killed the just; and he does not resist you.7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the LORD. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.8 Be you also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the LORD draws nigh.9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest you be condemned: behold, the judge stands before the door.10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the LORD, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the LORD; that the LORD is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest you fall into condemnation.13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the LORD:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the LORD shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.17 Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;20 Let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

James’ reference to Elijah is referring us to 1 Kings 18, where the LORD tells Elijah to show himself to Ahab (one of the false kings of Israel, who worshipped Baal) and He would send rain upon the earth. Later in the chapter, when the rain cloud final appears, it is in the form of a man’s hand, which builds into the storm from where comes a great rain.

1 Kings 18

1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show yourself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.2 And Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Are you that my LORD Elijah?8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here.9 And he said, What have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?10 As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord has not sent to seek you: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found you not.11 And now you say, Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here.12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from you, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry you whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he shall slay me: but I your servant fears the LORD from my youth.13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD’s prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?14 And now you say, Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself unto him to day.16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

What follows is Elijah’s confronting the false prophets who are worshipping Baal, which is to turn God’s people back from following them, and away from idols and again to the LORD.

1 Kings 18

37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that you are the LORD God, and that you have turned their heart back again.38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get you up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there arises a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare your chariot, and get you down that the rain stop you not.45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

The above is pointing us to the book of Obadiah, who (in the context of our recent discussions) is speaking against Edom, and telling of the border (boundary – end of wickedness). Elijah coming to show himself to the false kings and to confronting the false prophets, to turn God’s people again to Him, are in the context of his mention in Malachi 4, saying, “5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

Malachi 4 1 For, behold, the day comes, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.3 And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, says the LORD of hosts.4 Remember you the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

Obadiah

1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the LORD God concerning Edom; We have heard a rumor from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise you, and let us rise up against her in battle.2 Behold, I have made you small among the heathen: you are greatly despised.3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you that dwells [try to hide themselves – see the prior post] in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that says in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?4 Though you exalt yourself as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, thence will I bring you down, says the LORD.5 If thieves came to you, if robbers by night, (how are you cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grape-gatherers came to you, would they not leave some grapes?6 How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!7 All the men of your confederacy have brought you even to the border [the end of your wickedness]: the men that were at peace with you have deceived you, and prevailed against you; they that eat your bread have laid a wound under you: there is none understanding in him.8 Shall I not in that day, says the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?9 And your mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter.10 For your violence against your brother Jacob shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off for ever.11 In the day that you stood on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even you were as one of them.12 But you should not have looked on the day of your brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither should you have spoken proudly in the day of distress.13 You should not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, you should not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;14 Neither should you have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither should you have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as you have done, it shall be done unto you: your reward shall return upon your own head.16 For as you have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been.17 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD has spoken it.19 And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.20 And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.21 And saviors [I and the children God has given me] shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.

Psalms 50

1 The mighty God, even the LORD, has spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shined.3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, even your God.8 I will not reprove you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.9 I will take no bullock out of your house, nor he goats out of your folds.10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay your vows unto the Most High:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.16 But unto the wicked God says, What have you to do to declare my statutes, or that you should take my covenant in your mouth?17 Seeing you hate instruction, and casts my words behind you.18 When you saw a thief, then you consented with him, and have been partaker with adulterers.19 You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit.20 You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.21 These things have you done, and I kept silence; you thought that I was altogether such an one as yourself: but I will reprove you, and set them in order before your eyes.22 Now consider this, you that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.23 Whoso offers praise glorifies me: and to him that orders his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.

The demystification of the number 666, and the end of its surrounding superstitions created from the imaginations of false prophets.

The LORD began today in Revelation 13, where, in verse 18, the mark of the beast is recorded. We know from many studies, the mark of the beast, who is Babylon, is confusion, which now rules over all the world. This identity is the key to understanding what John understood, only those who break free from this captivity (in confusion), would be able to receive the truth and thereby have their minds quickened into life.

Revelation 13:2 tells us the dragon gave power to the beast, and verse 4 says they worshiped the dragon and the beast. Before this, the beast is described as like a leopard, and with feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion; all animals giving the identifying characteristics of the beast. The leopard alludes to concealment and stealth, the bear, power in (works) to tear, and the loin to devour with its mouth (words). The dragon is from the Greek word drakon (dragon), which is the same as the Hebrew tanniym (rendered dragon, whale, and serpent), and as in its earlier description, it is a creature that walks on land (with feet), conceals itself, and devours with its mouth. 

As we have many times seen, the dragon is referring to the crocodile, an idol (Sobek – the god of strength and power) of Egypt (captivity) and describes death that lurks in the waters that flow into the sea, meaning the words that flow to the masses. It is describing death that lurks, in stealth below the surface, to snare any who come near to drink; ultimately speaking of words broadcast to the masses, specifically engineered to drain the life (truth) from men, societies, and now all the world. We are told (in Revelation13:4) this dragon, (as Sobek), gives his power to the beast.

The description goes on to tell of these men’s devouring words, and the mass confusion they produce, as images all are forced to worship. These references to the image are referring us to Daniel 3, where Daniel’s three friends were thrown into a fiery furnace for not worshipping the images created (in Babylon), which all men were forced to worship or be put to death in this way. In Revelation 13 we are told of a lamb, meaning a false image (created) of Christ, which spoke as a dragon (with words containing all the aforementioned qualities). We are told in verse 13 of the great (lying signs) wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven (words that set the world on fire, broadcast through satellites from the heaven) on the earth in the sight of men.

The chapter (Revelation 13) ends by telling those with understanding, to “count” the number of the beast, which is written in text as three different Greek letters, each representing the number 6. The word “count” is the Greek word psephizo, meaning to understand by touching, experiencing the reality. Just before this, we are told only those who had the beast’s mark, the ideas of confusion broadcast from church and state media, in their hand (their work) or their forehead (in the forefront of all their thinking), would be able to buy or sell. As in a baker, or Alex Jones, or the many others who are not allowed to be heard, or to do business, because they refuse to bow to or preach the doctrine of the beast, and refuse to become dragons who give power to the beast. Ask them what they have experienced, (as have I from those who control the churches and government).

Friends, the simple truth is the three sixes are telling us what is experiences as the sixth seal is opened, the sixth angel sounds his trumpet, and the sixth vial is poured out, all of which have already been done, but because of the same confusion ruling men into blindness, have not been understood.

Revelation 6

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun [chruch] became black as sackcloth of hair [covered in darkness, without understanding], and the moon became as blood [civil government drained the life from men];

13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth [God’s people fell away from Him, and away from their fixed position in heaven, into darkness/ignorance], even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind [of false doctrine].

14 And the heaven [the place where the word of God is rightly divided from fiction, from men’s creations of their own imaginations] departed as a scroll when it is rolled together [and all understand was removed and the book, the word of God, was closed]; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17 For the great day of his wrath [by this word – which they are hiding from all the world, and from its touching their minds] is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Revelation 9

13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates [the messengers in whose words lurk death, who above are hiding themselves].

15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions [with mouths that devour]; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke [the smoke that darkened the sun and the air [aer] – Revelation 9:2], and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails [what comes after their words]: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Revelation 16

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up [and the death is in their waters is seen], that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared [the same who have been therein hidden].

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth [as words] of the dragon, and out of the mouth [as words] of the beast, and out of the mouth [as words] of the false prophet.

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

15 Behold, I come as a thief [unseen in the darkness produces by these men’s words ruling over the earth]. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon [meaning rendezvous – this appointed time].

Understanding as the key, mentioned above, refers to not understanding or accepting the state (Babylon) we are now in, and if not, we cannot logically return from it into Jerusalem. This is the error of the men who rule over all, by the information they teach and preach, their refusal to admit to producing confusion, images, created from their imaginations. This is the pattern written of in Jeremiah 29, after the false prophets spoke to God’s people telling them the LORD would destroy Babylon after two years, and they wouldn’t be in captivity, under the yoke of Babylon (confusion). The LORD says He will make the yoke of iron, and it wouldn’t be until seventy years passed, and then He would return them to Jerusalem, meaning teach them and found them upon His ways of peace and security. 

Jeremiah 29

4 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;

5 Build you houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

6 Take you wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that you may be increased there, and not diminished.

7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall you have peace.

8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.

9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, says the LORD.

10 For thus says the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end [not to disappoint you as do the idols these men have created].

12 Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

13 And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.

14 And I will be found of you, says the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, says the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

15 Because you have said, The LORD has raised us up prophets in Babylon;

16 Know that thus says the LORD of the king that sits upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwells in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity; [who are unable to see they are already held in the confusion of the false prophets whose words they hear, which have blinded them and closed their ears from hearing the true word of God]

17 Thus says the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.

18 And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:

19 Because they have not hearkened to my words, says the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but you would not hear, says the LORD.

The word of God also tells of this confusion ending, in what is experienced in the three sevens, the seventh seal, the seventh angel, and the seventh vial poured out. Revelation 10:7 tells us that when the seventh angel begins to sound, the mysteries of God shall be ended, which we know the LORD speaks on in the Gospel of John as when the Comforter comes (the Paraclete), who now leads us into all truth.

Revelation 10

1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow [the light divided in seven colored light] was upon [in] his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

2 And he had in his hand a little book open [this word of God opened]: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth [where the beast was walking],

3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars [words of life {warning} from His mouth]: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices [the noises {words} that accompany the seven colored lights].

4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not [because they were reserved in heaven for this moment].

5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

6 And swore by him that lives for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets.

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke unto me again [as I now speak unto all God’s people], and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which stands upon the sea and upon the earth.

9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make your belly bitter, but it shall be in your mouth sweet as honey.

10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

11 And he said unto me, You must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

Revelation 8 

1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

Revelation 11

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our LORD, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

17 Saying, We give you thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which are, and was, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned.

18 And the nations were angry, and your wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward unto your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation 16

16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon [meaning rendezvous – this appointed time].

17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon [the beast – confusion that is ruling over the world] came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven [the word of God, which has been reserved, frozen in heaven, for this moment], every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

Jeremiah 8 

1 At that time, says the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves:

2 And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.

3 And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places whither I have driven them, says the LORD of hosts.

4 Moreover you shall say unto them, Thus says the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?

5 Why then is this people of Jerusalem slid back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.

6 I hearkened and heard, but they spoke not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rushes into the battle.

7 Yea, the stork in the heaven knows her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.

8 How do you say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.

9 The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?

10 Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one deals falsely.

11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, says the LORD.

13 I will surely consume them, says the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.

14 Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defensed cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God has put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.

15 We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!

16 The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.

17 For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, says the LORD.

18 When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.

19 Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?

20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.

21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment has taken hold on me.

22 Is there no balm in Gilead [in this mountain of testimony]; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

It all begins with silencing the voices of those preaching and teaching from their own images, to which they have forced all to bow.

1 Samuel 2 

1 And Hannah [grace] prayed, and said, My heart rejoices in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in your salvation.

2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside you: neither is there any rock like our God.

3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren has born seven; and she that has many children is waxed feeble.

6 The LORD kills, and makes alive: he brings down to the grave, and brings up.

7 The LORD makes poor, and makes rich: he brings low, and lifts up.

8 He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he has set the world upon them.

9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

Daniel 9 

1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;

2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

3 And I set my face unto the LORD God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O LORD, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from your precepts and from your judgments:

6 Neither have we hearkened unto your servants the prophets, which spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

7 O LORD, righteousness belongs unto you, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither you have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you.

8 O LORD, to us belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.

9 To the LORD our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against him;

10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed your law, even by departing, that they might not obey your voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

12 And he has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven has not been done as has been done upon Jerusalem.

13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand your truth.

14 Therefore has the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he does: for we obeyed not his voice.

15 And now, O LORD our God, that have brought your people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have gotten you renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

16 O LORD, according to all your righteousness, I beseech you, let your anger and your fury be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people are become a reproach to all that are about us.

17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of your servant, and his supplications, and cause your face to shine upon your sanctuary that is desolate, for the LORD’s sake.

18 O my God, incline your ear, and hear; open your eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by your name: for we do not present our supplications before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies.

19 O LORD, hear; O LORD, forgive; O LORD, hearken and do; defer not, for your own sake, O my God: for your city and your people are called by your name.

20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;

21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give you skill and understanding.

23 At the beginning of your supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show you; for you are greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

24 Seventy weeks are determined upon your people and upon your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Psalms 77 

1 I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.

2 In the day of my trouble I sought the LORD: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

4 You hold mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.

6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

7 Will the LORD cast off for ever? and will he be favorable no more?

8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? does his promise fail for evermore?

9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? has he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.

10 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.

11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember your wonders of old.

12 I will meditate also of all your work, and talk of your doings.

13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?

14 You are the God that does wonders: you have declared your strength among the people.

15 You have with your arm redeemed your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

16 The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.

17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: your arrows also went abroad.

18 The voice of your thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.

19 Your way is in the sea, and your path in the great waters, and your footsteps are not known.

20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

You are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed me, even this whole nation.

The above, Malachi 3:9, is referring us to the pattern of events described in 2 Chronicles 24, where the civil government, under king Joash, through the chief priest Jehoiada, instructed the Levites to gather money from the people to repair the house of God. After first not following the king’s commandment, and the king questioned him as to why, much money was collected and the house repaired. We are told Joash did right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada, but after Jehoiada died, came the princes of Judah to Joash (all of this is taking place after Israel, the ten northern tribes, have fallen and into idolatry and made devils priests).

We are told these princes came to the king seeking his consent to resume idolatry, which he gave, and Judah left the LORD God of their fathers and worshipped groves (men as trees bearing corrupt fruit), and idols. This is the beginning of the eventual end of Judah.

The point, the wheel within the wheel, we are meant to see is the same state and pattern in our time. God’s kings and priests, those who sit in those seats, have collected money meant for the repair and maintenance of God’s house, and have instead used it to build their own houses filled with the idols they use to tickle the ears of those hearing them. Their words have become a means of extortion, and in their houses filled with the idols, they stand as a grove of trees who can only bring forth corrupt fruit. A corrupt tree cannot produce good fruit.

The LORD has offered these men His grace and correction, so they would render to Him the fruit of righteousness, which He seeks. After their rejection, the only redemption remaining for these men is to bring the LORD’s money to me, and He will, in me, restore His own house. And all the world will see His glory! Amen!

Malachi 3

8 Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings.9 You are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed me, even this whole nation.10 Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, says the LORD of hosts.12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightsome land, says the LORD of hosts.13 Your words have been stout against me, says the LORD. Yet you say, What have we spoken so much against you?14 You have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit [their motivation is profit] is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.16 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.17 And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him.18 Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not.

Matthew 21

28 But what think you? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus says unto them, Truly I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and you believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and you, when you had seen it, repented not afterward, that you might believe him.33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.40 When the LORD therefore of the vineyard comes, what will he do unto those husbandmen?41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.42 Jesus said unto them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the LORD’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them.46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

As we have discussed in previous posts, the LORD response to Joash consenting to idol worship was to send Zechariah the son of Jehoiada, to rebuke him in His name. We are told the people then conspired against Zechariah, and at Joash’s command, they stoned him to death, which the LORD refers to in Matthew 23:35.

Here following is one of the posts referenced above (from 19 November 2018).

You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of Gehenna [the burning trash heap outside the city, where worms slither and eat]?

The above is Matthew 23:33 and is the LORD defining those who would eventually kill Him as those who secretly slithered among His people. They are known by their venomous mouths that speak their own words opposing and rebelling against His words: the word of God.

Matthew 23

24 You blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel [You condemn men for the smallest offenses and committing the greater crimes against God and man].25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.26 You blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within [meaning the minds] the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like unto whited sepulchers [tombs – their churches], which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous,30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.31 Wherefore you be [this day] witnesses unto yourselves, that you are the children of them which killed the prophets.32 Fill you up then the measure of your fathers.33 You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of Gehenna?34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall you scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zechariah [who Jehovah remembers] son of Barachias [and who bent his knee to Jehovah’s will], whom you slew between the temple and the altar [see 2 Chronicles 24:21].36 Truly I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets, and stone them which are sent unto you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.39 For I say unto you, You shall not see me henceforth, till you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the LORD.

In the prior post, we discussed the beginning and ending of the circuits of darkness, which are shown in patterns we were led to by (Divinely inspired curiosity) the Hebrew word tquwphah. We examined it in some detail in three of its appearances, giving a lesser mention to the fourth, which is in 2 Chronicles 24:23. In this last appearance, we are given the deeper truth showing us the end of the light, when the work stopped and God’s people were silenced. It was when Zechariah was stoned to death, which is referenced by the LORD in verse 35 above.

2 Chronicles 24

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada [who Jehovah knows] came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king [bent their knee to the corrupt government]. Then the king hearkened unto them.18 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols [the mighty men {trees} of the world and their ideas]: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.19 Yet he [the LORD] sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah [a pattern of the last of the manly prophets – who as David remember their God] the son of Jehoiada the priest [the priests who God knows], which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus says God, Why transgress you the commandments of the LORD, that you cannot prosper? because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you.21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king [the people, the priests, at the command of the corrupted government, killed him to silence him] in the court of the house of the LORD.22 Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it [as the LORD mentions in Matthew 23:35 above].23 And it came to pass at the end [tquwphah – the end of light and the begging of darkness] of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus [meaning to silence the word – and bring intoxication {the stupefied mind} and tears].24 For the army of the Syrians [‘Aram – those who exalt themselves above God] came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash [all that was given by God].

This is telling of the end of the light, understanding of the priest and prophets and the ensuing darkness of the lights in church and state governing.
Here following is the illumination of the deep that has been hidden by the ignorance and neglect of those who now control all the church’s positions of prophets, priests, and teachers.

The next time a prophet is mentioned after Zechariah the son Jehoiada it is in 2 Chronicles 25:15. This prophet is unnamed, but we see the loss of determination (strength) when he begins to speak, as God commanded, and is told to be silent, and to save his life he bent his knee (bowed) to the demands of those in power. What follows are the two kings of God’s people who exalt themselves, and follow the advice of men.

2 Chronicles 25

14 Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah [the mighty men – who call themselves God’s people] was come from the slaughter of the Edomites [those who sold their birthright], that he brought the gods of the children of Seir [those led by the devil], and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.15 Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why have you sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of your hand?16 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Are you made of the king’s counsel? forbear; why should you be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this, and have not hearkened unto my counsel [as thought Jonah as he waited in his booth].17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.18 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar [seeing themselves as the mighty men – trees] that was in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle.

Friends, this unnamed prophet is Jonah, and Nineveh (niyn, progeny + navah – meaning to be settled – at rest) is the offspring of those in whom the light once burned brightly, in whom the light (understanding the word of God) has gone dormant – “that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand.”

Luke 11

28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet.30 For as Jonah was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.32 The men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and, behold, a greater than Jonah is here.33 No man, when he has lighted a candle, puts it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when your eye is single, your whole body also is full of light; but when your eye is evil, your body also is full of darkness.35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in you be not darkness.36 If your whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle does give you light.

This pattern of Jonah as seen in Zechariah is spoken of by Luke as he continues in chapter 11 to say the same as is written above in Matthew 23 above. In both Gospels, the LORD is speaking of the ignorance of the self-proclaimed prophets, priests, and teachers of God’s people, who can’t discern what they have done and continue doing.

As in Luke 11:32 above, both speak of the men of Nineveh rising up in judgment with this generation, as a candle ignited and conspicuously placed where it can be seen. This is so this generation can see the light of our understanding – but the light that is in us must come from a single unified vision.

(Allow me to digress for a moment: the churches and preachers of our time are bound into silence by their own sins. And refusing forgiveness and amnesty (God’s mercy), they reject correction, and choose to remain chained to the darkness of their error. These thieves and robbers, the confederacy of the corrupt, remain focused on building their own kingdoms, refuse to subordinate their will to God’s, and by these abominations, they are the desolation modern evangelism has become. “18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwells in mount Zion. 19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them [the men of this same confederation] that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? [Should God’s people be looking] for the living to the dead [these dead men, without God’s Spirit and therefore without light – understanding]? 20 [Shouldn’t people be looking] To the law and to the testimony [God’s living word that brings light by both]?: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light 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 [as these men now do – not because God has led them into it, but because they are under the control of the gods of this world who have blinded their eyes to this glorious gospel]. 22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.” Isaiah 8)

In Luke 1, when Luke tells of Zechariah the priest, he says he is unable to speak, meaning he has been silenced (but is the one who would remember the LORD and the LORD would not forget him). We know he is the father of John the Baptist – the preacher of repentance, who prepares the people to receive the coming LORD. Repentance is described in what the LORD says in Matthew 23 above, purify the mind (what is inside the cup), at which the religious have failed.

We know from Luke 1:63 that once Zachariah confirmed the name of his son is John, his mouth was opened. The Greek word John is Ioannes, said to mean God is a gracious giver. Jonah in Greek is Ionas, meaning dove. Both of these are (seemly the same name) telling of the work of the Holy Spirit. Zechariah (the end of understanding – light shining) and Jonah (the pattern of the end thru to the new beginning) are telling of John (the preparation for the coming light) coming to open the mouths of the prophets, and willing to give up his life for God’s mission, again restoring determination to the priesthood.

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 The same was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.5 And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.9 That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world.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.

As we know, the dove is also a sign of the destination reached, dry land, as was the sign of Jonah. This is what opened the mouth of those who Jehovah remembered – which is our destination and the beginning of our mission of spreading the light. The destination is this new beginning when all the past sins of those who repent and leave their errors (idols) behind, are forgiven and forgotten. This purification is the beginning point, so the LORD can enter and give understanding to any who will receive it, which produces a self-governing mind.

Hebrews 8

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the LORD; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he has made the first old. Now that which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away.

Hebrews 10

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 has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has 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, saith 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.

Luke 1

59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth [the first day of the new beginning] day they came to circumcise [take away the flesh from the mind] the child; and they called him Zechariah, after the name of his father.60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.61 And they said unto her, There is none of your kindred that is called by this name.62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marveled all.64 And his [Zechariah’s] mouth [of the prophets, which had not been understood] was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, and praised God.65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the LORD was with him.67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,68 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel; for he has visited and redeemed his people,69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David [see Psalms 132:17 below];70 As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;73 The oath which he swore to our father Abraham,74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.76 And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for you shall go before the face of the LORD to prepare his ways;77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high has visited us,79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

As mentioned above, the light in Nineveh had been darkened, becoming dormant in those who have settled on their lees (see Zephaniah 1:12 below). The Hebrew word that describes this light is niyr.

Here is the Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary definition: #5216: niyr (pronounced neer) or nir {neer}; also neyr {nare}; or ner {nare}; or (feminine) nerah {nay-raw’}; from a primitive root (see 5214; 5135) properly, meaning to glisten; a lamp (i.e. the burner) or light (literally or figuratively):–candle, lamp, light.

The word is used to describe the light that is in us, even when dormant, as it was in the sons of David. David was this light, the light in him a lamp unto the feet of God’s people, which remained in His seed. This is the light (understanding) in God’s people during their captivity in Babylon (confusion), when it burning ever so low, reduced to a smoking flax (see Isaiah 42:3). This time is when the LORD appears, and by His Spirit reignites the flame into full light. This is the meaning of the smoking flax the LORD says He hasn’t come to quench, but rather to send it as a fire upon the world in darkness (confusion).

Matthew 12

17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow does not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

Jeremiah 25

4 And the LORD has sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but you have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.5 They said, Turn you again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD has given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:6 And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.7 Yet you have not hearkened unto me, says the LORD; that you might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.8 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts; Because you have not heard my words,9 Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, says the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar [the lies {abominations} of the false prophets that cause desolation] the king of Babylon [confusion], my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment [shammah – a state of paralyzed dismay], and an hissing [shreqah – an object of ridicule], and perpetual desolations.10 Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones [the sound of work], and the light [niyr] of the candle.11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

Of the forty-eight times the work niyr is used it only appears in two other places after Jeremiah 25:10 – Zephaniah 1:12 and Zechariah 4:2.

Zephaniah 1

7 Hold your peace at the presence of the LORD God: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, he has bid his guests.8 And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD’s sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.9 In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.10 And it shall come to pass in that day, says the LORD, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.11 Howl, you inhabitants of Maktesh [hollow place – see Judges 15:19 below], for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles [niyr], and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.13 Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and have greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

Judges 15

14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.15 And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.16 And Samson [sunlight] said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.17 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramath-lehi [the lifting up of the jawbone].18 And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, You have given this great deliverance into the hand of your servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?19 But God clave an hollow place [maktesh] that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof En-hakkore [the fountain of the caller], which is in Lehi [the jaw bone – as in the mouth moving to produce words] unto this day.

The description in Judges is of the LORD’s words being heard. This is the means by which the LORD is hewing down the mighty men spoken of in Zephaniah 1.

Zechariah 4

1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.2 And said unto me, What seest you? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps [niyr] thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps [niyr], which are upon the top thereof:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.4 So I answered and spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my LORD?5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my LORD.6 Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel [those who came to life after leaving confusion], saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.7 Who are you, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone [Christ] thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me unto you.10 For who has despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil [that feed the light of understanding] out of themselves?13 And he answered me and said, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my LORD.14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones [in whom the LORD has put his Spirit – oil], that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.

The word niyr appears in Psalms 132:17 while telling of when the horn of David will bud (the light come to life), by the lamp (niyr) the LORD has anointed (with the oil that produces this light – understanding). Friends, this is the time we leave our fleshly understanding behind and come out of these temporary booths, into the habitation the LORD has prepared for Himself – our transfigured Spiritual body. Psalms 132:9 tells of this using the same language as does the LORD in Job 38:7, when He laid the foundation of the new earth and heaven, and “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Understand – this Psalm is meant for this exact moment – and speaks of the culmination of all the LORD has taught us to date.

Psalm 13

2 1 LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions:2 How he swore unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;3 Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,5 Until I find out a place for the LORD, a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.6 Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.7 We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.8 Arise, O LORD, into your rest; you, and the ark of your strength [masculine determination].9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness; and let your saints shout for joy.10 For your servant David’s sake turn not away the face of your anointed.11 The LORD has sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of your body will I set upon your throne.12 If your children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon your throne for evermore.13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation.14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.17 There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp [niyr – a fire within] for mine anointed.18 His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.
1 Timothy 612 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.13 I give you charge in the sight of God, who quickens [brings from death to life] all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;14 That you keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our LORD Jesus Christ:15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and LORD of lords;16 Who only has immortality, dwelling in the light [understanding] which no man can approach unto; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy;18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings [fruitless discussions – confused words], and oppositions of science falsely so called [antithesis gnosis pseudonumos – the opposite of “knowledge,” falsely named]:21 Which some professing [they have knowledge] have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.