Thus says the LORD, “Stand you in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls.” But they said, “We will not walk therein.”
The above, Jeremiah 6:16, is followed by the LORD saying, “‘Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet.’ But they said, ‘We will not hearken.'”
As we know, the “trumpet” is the voice of the LORD, heard from those He chooses and sends to call His people to gather to Him in the battle. Above, as usual, His people don’t heed His advice to walk in His good way: the old paths that lead to rest. They don’t listen because they’re already following the evil misleading of the powerful, men of renown, who tell them what scratches their itching ears (what they want to hear).
The prophet here is Jeremiah, and the watchmen sent are those speaking according to the word of God spoken through him. Through them, the LORD is warning of the war and darkness, which (warning) is opposed by the false prophets proclaiming peace and safety.
Jeremiah 4
19 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
20 Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.
21 How long shall I see the standard [nec, the son of man lifted, as Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness], and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 For my people are foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have no understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void [tohuw bohuw – the identical phase as in Genesis 1:2]; and the heavens, and they had no light [understanding].
1 Thessalonians 5
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the LORD so comes [has come] as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness [ignorance], that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light [understanding], and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Jeremiah 6
1 O you children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa [those held prisoner by the false prophets], and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem [the house of the vineyard – to which the wicked have come and gathered until the vine was bare]: for evil appears out of the north [out of the darkness: ignorance], and great destruction.
2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.
3 The [misleading] shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.
4 [The misleader] Prepare you war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day [light: understanding] goes away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.
5 Arise, and let us [the misleaders] go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
6 For thus has the LORD of hosts said, Hew you down trees [the upright men], and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
7 As a fountain casts out her waters, so she cast out her wickedness [the evil words, bad advice, intended to manipulate and control away from understanding what is occurring]: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is [the resulting] grief and wounds.
8 Be you instructed [hear My words of Good advice], O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from you; lest I make you desolate, a land not inhabited.
9 Thus says the LORD of hosts, They [those intentionally misleading you] shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back your hand as a grape gatherer into the baskets.
10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised [they would rather hear and follow the words of flesh men, who are as beast come to devour], and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.
12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, says the LORD.
13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one deals falsely.
14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, “Peace, peace;” when there is no peace.
15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore, they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, says the LORD.
16 Thus says the LORD, “Stand you in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls.” But they said, “We will not walk therein.”
17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, “Hearken to the sound of the trumpet.” But they said, “We will not hearken.”
18 Therefore hear, you nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.
19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
2 Timothy 3
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses [against him casting down rods which turned to serpents, which Aaron’s rod, turned into a serpent, ate] so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith [speaking words against the son of man God has sent to free His people from those oppressing them].
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
10 But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the LORD delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue you in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them;
15 And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 4
1 I charge you therefore before God, and the LORD Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry.
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
In this final verse, Paul speaks of the crown that comes with realizing the LORD’s presence in him, and everything he said and wrote was the LORD’s correct (correction) way, the old paths that lead into rest.
As we’ve seen in previous posts, the word above rendered “appearing” is the six times used Greek word epiphaneia (epiphany), meaning “a manifestation, i.e. (specially) the advent of Christ (past or future):–appearing, brightness.”
The “crown” is the word stephanos, meaning “from an apparently primary stepho (to twine or wreathe); a chaplet (as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally; but more conspicuous and elaborate than the simple fillet, 1238), literally or figuratively:–crown.”
It (stephanos) speak of when the LORD’s presence becomes very conspicuous, through His words and works, in the flesh in which he appears (epiphaneia). It (stephanos) only appears four times in the Gospels, once in each, all in describing the “crown” of thorns on the LORD’s head. As we know, His crowning (corona) came at the hand of the thorns, the misleaders sprung up in the unattended garden. They are the same that proclaimed Him king, “And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews [Judah – the LORD of Lords, the leaders of God’s righteous leaders]!
1 Thessalonians 2
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe [it is, and you are, therefore and thereby, in the presence of the LORD at His appearing and kingdom].
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 [as Satan hindering us, keeping this word of God from those who don’t know Him]:
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles [those who don’t know God] that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost [telos – this end point].
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 hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown [stephanos] 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.
As we’ve seen many times in previous posts, this crowning is described in the Hebrew word tsphiyrah, from the root word tsaphar, meaning “to skip about, i.e. return [home]:–depart early.” It (tsphiyrah) is only used three times, twice rendered “morning” in Ezekiel 7, there telling of the crowning that comes as a new day (at His return to our sight, at His appearing, epiphany), when the end has come (as it now has). The other use is in Isaiah 28, verse 5 & 6 saying, “In that day shall the LORD of hosts [the Commander of the army of heaven] be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem [tsphiyrah – a crown] of beauty, unto the residue of his people, And for a spirit of judgment to him that sits in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to [win the war at] the gate.”
The following is from the post of 25 January 2020:
Isaiah 28
7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine [shmuwah - the report, teaching, the rumor of Ezekiel 7:26 below]? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn [[attiyq - only other use is in 1Chronicles 4:22, there speaking of the "ancient things"]] from the breasts [[and now draw from Ancient of Days, who knows the old path that leads to rest]]. 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 [shmuwah – the sound doctrine, teaching, the rumor of Ezekiel 7:26 below].
20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
21 For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim [2 Samuel 5:20 – as water from His throne, breaking forth upon His enemies], he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon [Joshua 10:10 & 11 – His word reserved {frozen} in heaven, sent as great hailstones upon the wicked], that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.
22 Now therefore be you not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the LORD God of hosts a consumption [kalah – a full end, as in Daniel 9:27], even determined upon the whole earth.
23 Give you ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.
24 Does the plowman plow all day to sow? does he open and break the clods of his ground?
25 When he has made plain the face thereof, does he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place?
26 For his God does instruct him to discretion [mishpat – good judgment], and does teach him.
27 For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.
28 Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.
29 This also comes forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.
Ezekiel 7
1 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Also, you son of man, thus says the LORD God unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.
3 Now is the end come upon you, and I will send mine anger upon you, and will judge you according to your ways, and will recompense upon you all your abominations.
4 And mine eye shall not spare you, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense your ways upon you, and your abominations shall be in the midst of you: and you shall know that I am the LORD.
5 Thus says the LORD God; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come.
6 An end is come, the end is come: it watches for you; behold, it is come.
7 The morning [tsphiyrah – the crown [[the corona – the crown of thorns, that’s come by the hand of the misleaders]], the crowning of the LORD’s chosen, the man of God, as was David] is come unto you, O you that dwells in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains.
8 Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon you, and accomplish mine anger upon you: and I will judge you according to your ways, and will recompense you for all your abominations.
9 And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense you according to your ways and your abominations that are in the midst of you; and you shall know that I am the LORD that smites.
10 Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning [tsphiyrah – the crowning] is gone forth; the rod has blossomed, pride has budded.
11 Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither shall there be wailing for them.
12 The time is come, the day draw near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.
13 For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.
14 They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goes to the battle: for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.
15 The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.
16 But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.
17 All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water.
18 They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads.
19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumbling-block of their iniquity.
20 As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them.
21 And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.
22 My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.
23 Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.
24 Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled.
25 Destruction comes; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.
26 Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumor [shmuw’ah – teaching sound doctrine, and reporting truth] shall be upon rumor [shmuw’ah – teaching and reporting that isn’t believed, and the man of God reporting is still unknown – because of the lies and misleading of those who’ve blinded to world by drunkenness]; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.
27 The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
In 2 Timothy 4 Paul warns of this time and tells of the crown (the tsphiyah) discussed above, given when the LORD appears (the epiphaneia and emphanizo). He is telling of when those who love the LORD, as He describes in John 14 above, realize this word is the actual word of God, and that they are in the presence of the LORD at His coming.
2 Timothy 4
1 I charge you therefore before God, and the LORD Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick [those He has brought from death to life] and the dead at his appearing [epiphaneia – the manifestation to us and not to the world who sees nothing, because they are dead] and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine [the shmuw’ah, this report, the rumor proved to be truth]; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables [the lies taught and reported, in church and state].
5 But watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry.
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown [the tsphiyrah] of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing [epiphaneia – His manifestation].
The word epiphaneia only appears six times, all telling of the advent of Christ, who is God (known or unknown) in us. Paul, in Titus 2, speaks of teaching this sound doctrine, which is the sober mind that leads us to the blessed hope, which is the glorious appearance of God and the Savior Jesus Christ, to those looking for Him.
Titus 2
1 But speak you the things which become sound doctrine:
2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as become holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
7 In all things showing yourself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing un-corruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10 Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared [epiphaino] to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing [epiphaneia] of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise you.
The words epiphaneia and epiphaino are from the words epi, meaning over, upon, or rest on, and phaino, meaning lighten, shine, or show, from the words phos and phao, meaning to shine or manifest, especially by (luminous) rays.
This deeper meaning refers us to Isaiah 8 saying we should be “looking” for the LORD, and not listening to the advice of men, and Isaiah 9 telling of the light that lights upon the true Israel of God. Habakkuk 3 then tells us of first hearing the LORD’s voice, and then understanding His power is in the rays of light coming from His hand, and Psalms 45:1 saying, “My heart is inditing [running over with] a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”
Isaiah 8
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 offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders 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 [the so-called knowledgeable of this world] that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? [Should they 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.
Isaiah 9
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before you according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For you have broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
8 The LORD sent a word into Jacob, and it has lighted upon Israel.
Habakkuk 3
1 A prayer of Habakkuk [meaning to take hold of, with His hand] the prophet upon Shigionoth [those who have strayed, been misled].
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 [the place of the Theophany, where wisdom is found], and the Holy One from mount Paran [where things are made clear]. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
4 And his brightness was as the light [giving understanding]; he had horns [rays of light] coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
5 Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
6 He stood, and measured [assessed] 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 [darkness – ignorance] in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian [strife – the places of endless argument] did tremble.
8 Was the LORD displeased against the rivers [or their pollution by the lies of men]? was your anger against the rivers [or the lies]? was your wrath against the sea [into which the rivers flow their polluted information], 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) [this parenthetical statement is referring us Joseph’s blessing written in Genesis 49]. Selah. You did cleave the earth with rivers [through which these pure waters flow].
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 national government – misleaders] 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 [misleaders] of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
The other appearances of epiphaneia are in 2 Timothy 1:10 and 2 Thessalonians 2:8, both speaking of this time when the LORD appears and makes manifest that our calling is according to His purpose and grace, which was given to us before this new world began (at His appearing and kingdom).
2 Timothy 1
6Wherefore I put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands.
7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not you therefore ashamed of the testimony of our LORD, nor of me his prisoner: but be you partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest [phaneroo] by the appearing [epiphaneia] of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, and has brought life and immortality [eternal life] to light through the gospel:
11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which you have heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
14 That good thing which was committed unto you keep by the Holy Ghost which dwells in us.
2 Thessalonians 2
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. [Who is it in your church, sitting in God’s place, opposing this teaching and exalting themselves above the true word of 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 – holds down, keeps from rising] that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity does already work [men were already sitting in God’s place, exalting themselves against His true word]: only he who now lets [katecho – holds down] will let [will keep God’s people from rising to join with Him], 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 [epiphaneia] 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, 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.
Isaiah 66
…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 [the epiphaneia – has appeared] 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.
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.
Psalms 45
1 My heart is inditing [running over with] a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
2 You are fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into your lips: therefore God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword upon your thigh, O most mighty, with your glory and your majesty.
4 And in your majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and your right hand shall teach you terrible things.
5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under you.
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever: the scepter of your kingdom is a right scepter.
7 You love righteousness, and hate wickedness: therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
8 All your garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made you glad.
9 Kings’ daughters were among your honorable women: upon your right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
10 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear; forget also your own people, and your father’s house;
11 So shall the king greatly desire your beauty: for he is your LORD; and worship you him.
12 And the daughter of Tyre [those who were part of the false church, in which men put their trust in vain] shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall entreat your favor.
13 The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
14 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto you.
15 With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.
16 Instead of your fathers shall be your children, whom you may make princes in all the earth.
17 I will make your name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise you forever and ever.
