Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
In the above, Zechariah 13:7, the LORD speaks of His ONE BODY, which remains scattered in the hands of the shepherds He speaks of in prior verses and chapters. The first of these mentions appears in Zechariah 10, which begins with the LORD telling us to ask of Him rain in the time of the latter rain. As we know, this speaks of his word from heaven, from the cloud where understanding is held when its elements were separated and removed from the earth (and replaced with the corrupt elements of men).
In the following verses, speaking of this removal, we’re told of what replaced it as what brings the troubles, when the people go their own way because there is no (good) shepherd. The LORD then says His anger is kindled against these shepherds; therefore, He’s visited His people, and those who’ve received the latter rain have become His goodly horse in the battle in which we find ourselves.
As we know, His coming, lowly and unknown, proclaimed earlier in Zechariah 9:9, is to the lowly and unknown, who are the “little ones” spoken of in the title verse. They are here described as “an ass” and “a colt the foal of an ass” He’s riding. The words “little ones” are from the three times used Hebrew word tsa’ar, meaning “to be small, i.e. (figuratively) ignoble.” The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon defines it as: “to be or grow insignificant, grow small.” It’s speaking of the process of degeneration, occurring under the shepherds who’ve scattered them, resulting in desolation.
The LORD says it’s because of the army, those among us warring against us (a fact still unaccepted by all but the very elect remnant), He has come to encamp about His house. He says these (His house) are those who’ve returned and now see Him.
Zechariah 9
8 And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passes by, and because of him that returns: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes unto you: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
11 As for you also, by the blood of your covenant I have sent forth your prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.
12 Turn you to the strong hold, you prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto you;
13 When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and made you as the sword of a mighty man.
14 And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning [understanding]: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet [calling His people to gather], and shall go with whirlwinds [from where His voice is heard] of the south.
15 The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.
16 And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.
17 For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.
Zechariah 10
1 Ask you of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds [understanding seen in them], and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field [His understanding from the cloud brings life again on earth].
2 For the idols [put in God’s place] have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their [own] way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no [good] shepherd.
3 Mine anger was kindled against the [corrupt] shepherds, and I punished the goats [who as Lucifer, mislead their flocks]: for the LORD of hosts has visited his flock the house of Judah, and has made them as his goodly horse in the battle.
4 Out of him came forth the corner [pinnah – those who turn to a new nation, following the Stone the builders rejected], out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow [Judah – the elect remnant], out of him every oppressor together.
5 And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded [those whose strength is to mislead, shall not reach the end they seek].
6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph [from where comes the Strone and the good shepherd], and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.
7 And they of Ephraim [the children of Joseph – God’s people in this generation] shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.
8 I will hiss for them [to draw their attention to the LORD], and gather them [into ONE BODY]; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.
9 And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.
10 I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt [of their oppressors], and gather them out of Assyria [from the communists]; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon [this word of God, which brings purity again into the high places]; and place shall not be found for them.
11 And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart away.
12 And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.
Genesis 49
1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.
8 Judah [the leaders God choses], you are he whom your brethren shall praise: your hand shall be in the neck of your enemies; your father’s children shall bow down before you.
9 Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, you are gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet [speaking of the Davidic king line], until Shiloh come [the place the LORD first set His name – the name Shiloh meaning peace and tranquility – the coming one {Joseph’s seed – the one separated} from who it will again flow – see Ezekiel 21:27 and the overturning]; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine [this speaking of the lowly {Zechariah 9:9}, God’s elect remnant, outside the established sects, bound until Shiloh comes, when they are loosed]; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:
12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
13 Zebulun [the lowly raised up at the LORD’s coming] shall dwell at the haven of the sea [safe from the masses]; and he shall be for a haven of ships [and saving any who come to the LORD through them]; and his border shall be unto Zidon [they will be the end of those who’ve hunted souls].
14 Issachar [through him will come the reward – the fruitful bough] is a strong ass [the LORD’s people, now become His goodly horse in the battle – Zechariah 10:3] couching down between two burdens [Beauty and Bands]:
15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant [na’em – the agreement with the Father, in which He delights]; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.
16 Dan [the judge – speaking of strength returned and the righteous judgment of the world begins] shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way [as a serpent raised as a standard on a pole {nec}], an adder in the path, that bites the horse heels [this is the heel bruised in the judgment, meaning the serpents among the people, are rendered without effect], so that his rider shall fall backward [so the body of Christ will return to the place from which she fell – see, in Isaiah 28:13, what causes them to fall backward].
18 (I have waited for your salvation, O LORD.)
19 Gad [the LORD’s army, overcome until their return to Him], a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.
20 Out of Asher [happy] his bread shall be fat [happiness returns when the word of God prospers], and he shall yield royal dainties [ma’adan – speaking of the royal line again raised up – referring us to its use in Proverbs 29:17, telling us this is when rest returns, when we, by correction, give the Father “delight”].
21 Naphtali [by this wrestling – unknowingly with the LORD] is a hind let loose: he gives goodly words [our tongue {the word of God} is loosed and we teach it as received directly from Him].
22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well [a tree of life by these waters of God]; whose branches run over the wall [the wall of lies men have created and teach]:
23 The archers [ba’al – the gods of this world whose teaching has blinded all form seeing the Father, in the son, the seed of the women who brings forth the man child – see Revelation 12:17] have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
25 Even by the God of your father, who shall help you; and by the Almighty, who shall bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies under [the deep meaning that lies below the surface], blessings of the breasts, and of the womb [seed, the son]:
26 The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors [all those who have come before us, and were only blessed with part of what is perfected in our return to the LORD] unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
When Zechariah 10:3 mentions the “goats” the LORD will punish, it’s the Hebrew word ‘attuwd, meaning “prepared, i.e. full grown; spoken only (in plural) of he-goats, or (figuratively) leaders of the people.” It’s meant to refer us to its appearing in Isaiah 14:9 where its rendered “chief ones” of the earth.
Isaiah 14
3 And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear, and from the hard bondage wherein you were made to serve,
4 That you shall take up this proverb against the king of Babylon [the rulers of confusion that is the shadow of death covering the world], and say, How has the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!
5 The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, and the scepter of the rulers.
6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hinders.
7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.
8 Yea, the fir trees rejoice at you, and the cedars of Lebanon [the upright in high place], saying, Since you are laid down, no feller is come up against us.
9 Hell from beneath is moved for you to meet you at your coming: it stirs up the dead for you, even all the chief ones [‘attuwd – the goat who mislead as Lucifer] of the earth; it has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
10 All they shall speak and say unto you, Are you also become weak as we? are you become like unto us?
11 Your pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of your viols: the worm is spread under you, and the worms cover you [your dead flesh].
12 How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer [heyel – light bringer {wicked Popes and Presidents, who boast of their own righteousness and great understand} – from who flows the deception, the bad advice meant to destroy God’s people and the world. 2 Corinthians 11: 4 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.], son of the morning! how are you cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God [above all His people, ruling then as he wills]: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north [their true motives hidden in the ignorance they’ve cultivated]:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds [they exalt themselves and their ideas above God’s understanding and way]; I will be like the Most High [they believe they are almighty].
15 Yet you shall be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit [they have dug, into which they blindly fall with the blind following them].
16 They that see you shall narrowly look upon you, and consider you, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners [all humanity they now hold captive through their lies]?
18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.
19 But you are cast out of your grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcass trodden under feet.
20 You shall not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land, and slain your people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.
21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.
22 For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD.
23 I will also make it a possession for the bittern [all those in league with Satan], and pools of water [all their word, their underlying motives, together shall be understood]: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts.
24 The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
25 That I will break the Assyrian [communists – Pope, President, and their minions] in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.
26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.
27 For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
Here is Job describing the “little ones” [tsa’ar) to who the LORD turns to save them from the troubles in which they now find themselves.
Job 14
1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.
2 He comes forth like a flower, and is cut down: he flees also as a shadow, and continues not.
3 And do you open your eyes upon such an one, and bring me into judgment with you?
4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one [except God].
5 Seeing [by Him] his days are determined, the number of his months are with you, [LORD] you have appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud [as does man when the LORD sends His word], and bring forth boughs like a plant.
10 But man dies, and wastes away: yea, man gives up the ghost, and where is he?
11 As the waters [the word of God] fail from the sea [from humanity], and the flood [of these same waters] decays and dries up [as in Genesis 8:13]:
12 So man lieth down, and rises not: till the heavens [until full understanding] be no more, [without which] they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
13 O that you would hide me in the grave, that you would keep me secret, until your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come [until understanding take hold of me, and I see I am hidden here in the grave until your wrath is past, and the flood is dried up after it’s destroyed the enemies].
15 You shall call, and I [the living quickened to life] will answer you: you will have a desire to the work of your hands [which is, through His messengers, to destroy the enemies, those appointed to remain in death, and refresh your children into life everlasting; AS PROMISED].
16 For now you number my steps: do you not watch over my sin [to take it away by understanding]?
17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag [until this time], and you sew up mine iniquity.
18 And surely the mountains [the high places of this corrupt world] falling comes to naught, and the rock [in which they trust] is removed out of his place.
19 The waters wear the stones [from where their word flow]: you wash away the things which grow out of the dust [ruin] of the [desolate and corrupt] earth; and you destroy the hope of man [which is in men who have misled them into hell].
20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes: you change his countenance, and send him away [from you presence, into death].
21 His sons come to honor [by the same corrupt means], and [in the darkness of ignorance] he knows it not; and they are brought low [tsa’ar – made small], but he perceives [understands it not, because he has become dead in his ignorance] it not of them.
22 But his flesh upon him [in death] shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn [because there is no way out of death when following those who’ve led there].
As we’ve often seen, later in Job 33, Elihu (He is God, His presence manifested in him) continues from the above point. There he tells of God recovering and refreshing us (the lowly, His little ones) from the death they are (now) born into, in the flesh, which Job knows but doesn’t yet perceive and accept as reality.
Job 19
22 Why do you persecute [manifest your hate against] me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh [who God is using to draw out the erroneous thinking risen from the ruin {dust, ashes of the fires of hell} of the corrupt earth where we now all find ourselves]?
23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book [as they are]!
24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock [in this messenger God sends] forever!
25 For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand [to ransom me from death] at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin [of the body that was] worms destroy this [old flesh] body, yet in my [new] flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself [when I am changed by His understanding in me], and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins [the old corrupt ways that led me into death] be consumed within me.
28 But you [whose ways and thoughts are the corrupt elements of the earth] should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root [sheresh – the deep meaning] of the matter is found in me [to recover you from corruption into life]?
29 Be you afraid of the sword [this word of God, sent to refresh {My way} and not for destruction {man’s way}]: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment [in which all humanity now finds itself].
Job 33
2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
4 The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
5 If you can answer me, set your words in order before me, stand up.
6 Behold, I [‘aniy] AM according to your wish in God’s stead [‘aniy – I AM]: I also am formed [as by the potter] out of the clay [chomer – the mire stirred by the feet of man, which clouding the waters – Job 30:19 He has cast me into the mire {chomer}, and I am become like dust and ashes.].
7 Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
8 Surely you have spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, [God’s people, who are hated in the earth, who still haven’t perceived His long-suffering work and way, “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”] saying,
9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy,
11 He puts my feet in the stocks, he marks all my paths.
12 Behold, in this you are not just: I will answer you, that God is greater than man.
13 Why do you strive against him? for he gives not account of any of his matters.
14 For God speaks once, yea twice, yet man [still] perceives it not.
15 In a dream [of those sleeping in death], in a vision of the night [in the darkness of their ignorance], when deep sleep [of ignorance of the deep things] falls upon men, in slumbering [while thinking they are wise] upon the bed;
16 Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction [as He now has, but yet they refuse His way],
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide [thinking they are wise and know all, when they know nothing except corruption] pride from man.
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit [in which they fall after being led their by the wisdom of the world, falsely so-called], and his life from perishing [perdition] by the sword [that comes from not heeding the warning and it instruction, and changing your way].
19 He is chastened [corrected] also with pain upon his bed [where he is sleeping], and the multitude of his bones with strong pain [the troubles that come from following misleaders]:
20 So that his life abhor bread [of men], and his soul dainty meat.
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yea, his soul draws near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23 If there be a messenger with him [as I AM], an interpreter [by the understand He’s put in me], one among a thousand, to show unto man God’s uprightness:
24 Then he is gracious [freely giving this gift of His treasures from heaven] unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom [to redeem them from death].
25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s [which is the “refreshing” spoken of in Isaiah 28:12, saying “this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear”] he shall return to the days of his youth:
26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favorable unto him: and he shall see his face [presence] with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness [correction into His good right way].
27 He looks upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light [understanding shall give him life – John 1: 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men].
29 Lo, all these things works God oftentimes with man,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
Romans 10
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise, Say not in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh you, even in your mouth [as His messenger, confessing He is alive in you and speaking this message to save the world], and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach [face to face];
9 That if you shall confess with your mouth the LORD Jesus [is speaking in and through us], and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.
10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith [in Isaiah 28:16], Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.
Isaiah 28
2 Behold, the LORD has a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.
3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim [the powers now misleading God’s people, whose way is destruction], shall be trodden under feet:
4 And the glorious beauty [as the splendor of Satan’s appearance, by which he destroys and devours God’s people, the fruit the LORD comes to take from his hold {katecho}], which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looks upon it see, while it is yet in his hand he eats it up.
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 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 [of the drunken] and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. [1 Timothy 4: 16 Take heed unto yourself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this you shall both save yourself, and them that hear you.]
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine [shmuw’ah – this report]? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts [who now draw from the Ancient of Days].
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 [words that are God’s truth, which are as a foreign language to His people who’ve been brought up on corruption and lies] 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 saith the LORD God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [pinnah] stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste [be ashamed].
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 [shmuw’ah].
Hebrews 9
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment [resurrection into the new and living way]:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin [after the Father has written His word into our minds, and remembers our sin no more] unto salvation.
2 Peter 1
11 For so an entrance [eisodos] shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth.
13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our LORD Jesus Christ has shown me.
15 Moreover I will endeavor that you may be able after my decease [exodos – once to die] to have these things always in remembrance.
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming [parousia – the presence] of our LORD Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honor [time – Tim] and glory [doxa], when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory [doxa], “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased [hear you Him].”
18 And this voice which came from heaven [from the place of full understanding] we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light [understanding] that shineth in a dark [an ignorant] place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts [when the understanding of this new heaven and earth brings life to your mind]:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 2
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily [from their own imaginations] shall bring in damnable [apoleia] heresies, even denying the LORD that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction [apoleia].
2 And many shall follow their pernicious [apoleia] ways; by reason of whom the WAY OF TRUTH shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation [apoleia] slumbers not.
2 Peter 3
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the LORD and Savior:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming [parousia – presence]? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God [His presence manifested] the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water [this word], perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire [the fire mentioned in verse 12 below – in the old heaven, the old corrupt understanding] against the day of judgment and perdition [apoleia] of ungodly men [who corrupted it and brought darkness upon the world].
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The LORD is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the LORD will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens [the old corrupt understanding] shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements [stoicheion – the rudiments of the world, the corrupt ideas of this evil generation] shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness [preaching the ways, manner, of life],
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements [stoicheion – the corrupt ideas] shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness [the way of truth and justice].
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our LORD is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrestle, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction [apoleia – perdition].
17 You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.
Psalms 2
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD has said unto me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Psalms 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handywork.
2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his [own] errors? cleanse you me from secret faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalms 110
1 The LORD said unto my LORD, Sit you at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.
2 The LORD shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion: rule you in the midst of your enemies.
3 Your people shall be willing in the day of your power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: you have the dew of your youth.
4 The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
5 The LORD at your right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
7 He shall drink of the brook [the word of God] in the WAY: therefore shall he lift up the head [of His son and king, the head of His ONE BODY].
