The LORD of hosts [of the armies of heaven] is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

The LORD of hosts [of the armies of heaven] is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 

For the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

Today a look at Genesis and the eighth day as the first, as is this day.
 
Genesis 1 
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was [hayah – became] without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
 
On the eighth day the above is repeated. We are told the earth became without form and void because it had not yet rained, meaning God’s word didn’t flow from Him. It says there was no man to till the ground, and only mist went up from the earth watering the face of the ground, meaning man was ignorant [without light], and there was no man to break up what man thought he knew. Then the spirit of God moved and created light in one man as He breathed life [understanding] into the second Adam.
 
Genesis 2
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground [out of the ruin the earth had become], and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
 
Job 38 
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkened counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and answer you me.
4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.
5 Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know? or who has stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,
10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shall you come, but no further: and here shall your proud waves be stayed?
12 Have you commanded the morning since your days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15 And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm shall be broken.
16 Have you entered into the springs of the sea? or have you walked in the search of the depth?
17 Have the gates of death been opened unto you? or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if you know it all.
19 Where is the way where light dwells? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
20 That you should take it to the bound thereof, and that you should know the paths to the house thereof?
21 Know you it, because you were then born? or because the number of your days is great?
22 Have you entered into the treasures of the snow? or have you seen the treasures of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light parted, which scatters the east wind upon the earth?
25 Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 Has the rain a father? or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who has gendered it?
30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 Can you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Can you bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or can you guide Arcturus with his sons?
33 Know you the ordinances of heaven? can you set the dominion thereof in the earth?
34 Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?
35 Can you send lightnings, that they may go and say unto you, Here we are?
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? or who has given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust grows into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Will you hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 Who provides for the raven [those covered in darkness] his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat [they wander in the wilderness because they have no knowledge or understanding].
 
Genesis 1
6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
 
As we know, the firmament is the word expanded though understanding, so the waters of the earth (the mist as the words of men), and the waters of God were rightly divided, and God called this dividing by the expansion heaven. 
 
Genesis 2
8 And the LORD God planted a garden [where the ground was broken up] eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.

When verse 9 above speaks of the trees we know it is speaking of mighty men, one giving life, the other the knowledge of good and evil. The first is the one into whom God breathed life, who inhaled it and exhales the same as He received. The other is the serpent, and the “knowledge” he has of good and evil is from the Hebrew word da’ath, only used twice in Genesis, in verses 9 and 17. 
 
Here is the definition from the Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary: #1847: da`ath (pronounced dah’-ath) from 3045; knowledge:–cunning, (ig-)norantly, know(-ledge), (un-)awares (wittingly).
 
As we see, da’ath can mean more than knowledge, and can also mean one who thinks they have, or presumes they have, knowledge, while in fact being ignorant. The words in the same verse translated “good” and “evil” are towb and ra’. Towb appears seven times before here, all in God saying He saw each of the seven days and said they were “good.” Ra’ appears here and in chapter 3 defining what is learned from the tree and isn’t used again until Genesis 6:5 where it is first rendered “wickedness” and then “evil.” It is speaking of those who mix what God created and said was good, with the evil creations of men, corrupting all knowledge. This led to the flood, which was the word of God sent to overflow all these ideas and to start over without the corruption. We know from 2 Peter 3 these men, the perpetrators of the same corruption, are ignorant that this word is now kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and the perdition of these ungodly men. 


Genesis 6
1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men [as trees] which were of old, men of renown [famous preachers].
5 And God saw that the wickedness [ra’] of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil [ra’] continually.
 
2 Peter 3
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers [as in the days of Noah], walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The LORD is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the LORD will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.


The name Eden is from the word ‘eden, meaning pleasure or to please, which is only used four times. We are told in Genesis 2:10 of the river that flows from Eden, the same described in Psalms 36:8 from where drinks those who put their trust in the LORD who preserves man and beast (as in the days of Noah). The Psalm describe these two trees, one producing life and security, the other, the LORD whose mercy is in the heavens, where His truth is separated from these men’s wickedness: their counsel darkened without knowledge.
 
Psalms 36 
1 The transgression of the wicked says within my heart [by my sound mind I know these wicked men’s ways say], that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he has left off to be wise, and to do good.
4 He devise mischief upon his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he abhors not evil.
5 Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and your faithfulness reaches unto the clouds [from where your voice is heard – as thunder is the sound of the light].
6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; your judgments are a great deep: O LORD, you preserve man and beast [as in the days of Noah].
7 How excellent is your lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings.
8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness [prosperity in abundance] of your house; and you shall make them drink of the river of your pleasures [‘eden].
9 For with you is the fountain of life: in your light [understanding] shall we see light [understanding].
10 O continue your lovingkindness unto them that know you; and your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.
The word ‘eden is then used in Jeremiah 51:34 to tell us it is Nebuchadrezzer the king of Babylon who made Eden desolate. We know these names translate into describing the lies of the false prophets causing the desolation ruling over the world as confusion. Again we know these are the same false prophets Peter describes in 2 Peter 2, after describing the true prophets as those who wait to be moved by the LORD as He speaks His truth through them. These are the same men he later describes in 2 Peter 3 as ignorant, and even the later as the unlearned and unstable who wrestle with the word of God to their destruction. This destruction is spoken of in 2 Peter 2:1 as coming swiftly as these men bring it upon themselves by their damnable heresies and the resulting denial of the LORD.
 
2 Peter 1
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our LORD Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light [understanding] that shines in a dark [an ignorant and confused] place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts [understanding in your minds]:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation [idios epilusis – from own loosing].
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 [as the spirit moved upon the face of the deep producing understanding – light {see Genesis 1:2 & 3}].
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 heresies, even denying the LORD that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not.
 
Friends, we know from many previous discussions, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:19 that there must be heresies among us (the LORD allowing them), so that those who are approved by God may be made manifest among us. This is the same manifestation Peter describes above as both the Spirit moving, and the truth against which these false teachers speak evil.


1 Corinthians 11
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
 
This manifestation puts the lie to these same “know it all” men saying the LORD never moves to show He approves a man. These men thinking so is at the root of much of their evil, rejecting Christ among us from the beginning of creation, even as God the Father shows His approval.
 
The word “manifest” is the Greek word phaneros, the word rendered “may appear” in 1 Timothy 4:15, speaking of what profits into salvation and of meditating on it so it “may appear” to all.
 
1 Timothy 4
7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables [things produced by the imaginations of false teachers], and exercise yourself rather unto godliness.
8 For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.
11 These things command and teach.
12 Let no man despise your youth; but be you an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in you, which was given you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give yourself wholly to them; that your profiting may appear [phaneros] to all.
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.


Jeremiah 51
33 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon [confusion] is like a threshing-floor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come [has now come!]
34 [And the daughter of confusions says] Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me, he has crushed me, he has made me an empty vessel, he has swallowed me up like a dragon [crocodile – death lurking below the surface of their waters/words], he has filled his belly with my delicates [‘eden], he has cast me out.
35 The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon [their confusion], shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea [those who use their words to manipulate and destroy my people], shall Jerusalem say.
36 Therefore thus says the LORD; Behold, I will plead your cause, and take vengeance for you; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.
37 And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling-place for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.
38 They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions’ whelps.
39 In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, says the LORD.
 
Ezekiel 6
1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,
3 And say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD God; Thus says the LORD God to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.
4 And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.
5 And I will lay the dead carcasses of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.
6 In all your dwelling-places the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.
7 And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and you shall know that I am the LORD.
8 Yet will I leave a remnant, that you may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when you shall be scattered through the countries.
9 And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which has departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall loathe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.
10 And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.
11 Thus says the LORD God; Smite with your hand, and stamp with your foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.
12 He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remains and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them.
13 Then shall you know that I am the LORD, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savor to all their idols.
14 So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
 
1 Thessalonians 4
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.
 
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 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, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our LORD Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also you do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the LORD, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the LORD that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
28 The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
 
Psalms 46 
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he has made in the earth.
9 He makes wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and cuts the spear in sunder; he burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.