5 – 8 November 2023
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spoke and saw.
Friends, the point in all the LORD’s healings is not the body but the mind (freeing it from corruption and reconnecting it to the Father by agreement), and with it, the body is made whole. In the above, Matthew 12:22, the devils are the religious leaders who control the minds of those who follow their teaching, making them (their body) blind (to reality) and unable to hear or speak (the word of God).
As we know from many previous studies, the idea of devils in the pulpits originates in 2 Chronicles 11:15, when God’s people were divided into two kingdoms (Israel, the ten tribes in the north and Judah, with Benjamin, in the south) and Jeroboam (the new king of the north) didn’t want his people going to Jerusalem to worship (where God said he would meet them, above His mercy seat in the Holy of Holies). He (Jeroboam, after casting off the Levites from the priest’s office in his kingdom) ordained his own priests (of the lowest of the people – 1 Kings 12:31), and devils (sa’iyr – hairy, he-goats {as misleaders of the flock}, as describes Esau: Edom whose capital is Seir: devils in power, as was Herod, an enemy mixed among us, in power: in civil government). He (the king) also made calves he put in Bethel (misleading the house, family, of God) and Dan (corrupting their good judgment), which these priests, possessed by devils, told the people were their gods.
We know that later this same thing (bringing idols into the temple and worshipping them in God’s place) happened in Judah. These events (enemies stopping the wells) led to the end of both kingdoms and their king lines sitting enthroned.
In Matthew, the LORD, the unseated king of Judah, is speaking of the priests (Levites) of the Jews (Judah), both groups (governments in church and state) as the devils possessed by Satan, possessing those they made blind and dumb.
As we know, this is the smiting of the shepherds that scatter the sheep, after the LORD, the life in the body of his work, is betrayed into the hand of these same men in power, who only desire wealth and control by which they gain it.
Matthew 26
25 Then Judas [Judah], which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, You have said.
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body [the word made flesh, His full exposition in the firmament].
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink you all of it;
28 For this is my blood [the life poured out] of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day [the ‘achariyth – these last days] when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
31 Then said Jesus unto them, All you shall be offended [skandalizo – ashamed of me because of the ridicule and accusation of the powerful] because of me this night [when the light, understanding, has left the earth]: for it is written, I will smite [patasso] the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad [quoted from Zechariah 13:7].
32 But after I Am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee [this inner circle].
33 Peter [the Rock, those knowing the LORD is the Father in the Son, upon which the church is founded, against which the gates {mouths} of hell will not prevail] answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended [skandalizo] because of you, yet will I never be offended [skandalizo – ashamed {disappointed, not reaching the end you foretold in the darkness} and deny the Father is alive in me].
34 Jesus said unto him, Truly I say unto you, That this night, before the cock crow [and the light returns], you shall deny me thrice.
The Strong’s Greek Dictionary definition of skandalizo is: “to entrap, i.e. trip up (figuratively, stumble (transitively) or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure):–(make to) offend.” The Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, among its meanings, adds “to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey.”
The LORD, as He quotes Zechariah 13:7 in verse 31 above, using the word patasso (“smite”), tells us, in His only other use of the word in Matthew, what is “smote.”
It (patasso) appears in Matthew 26:51, as the LORD is betrayed into the hands of those who will crucify Him, and one of those with him drew his sword and “smote” off the ear of the servant of the high priest (those who are supposed to enter the LORD’s presence and hear Him speak). This is speaking of ending these men’s (the priesthood’s) authority (ability) to enter the LORD’s presence or to hear Him when He speaks.
The good news for these men comes in Luke’s telling of this same smiting when he adds that the LORD touched this ear, and it was healed.
The word appears telling of this event (smiting the shepherds) in all of the Gospels except John’s, who further defines it in using it (patasso) twice in Revelation.
The first of these comes in Revelation 11:6, as we’re told this sword comes from the mouth of the two witnesses, an association that reveals John to be speaking of Joshua and Zerubbabel. As we know, in Zechariah, these names speak of the priesthood and the king (church and state government as the two great lights, witnessing from heaven) cleansed and raised out of confusion to life.
Revelation 11
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles [those who don’t know the LORD]: and the holy city shall they tread under foot [pateo – a five times used word referring us to its appearing in Luke 21:24, speaking of the darkening that occurs during the] forty and two months.
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days [continuing to shine their light during the forty-two months], clothed in sackcloth [mourning the degeneration, the fall in the bottomless pit, of God people].
4 These are the two olive trees [Joshua and Zerubbabel], and the two candlesticks [see Zechariah 4:3 & 11] standing before the God of the earth.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite [patasso] the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast [Babylon – confusion] that ascended [risen] out of the bottomless pit [the endless fall away from the LORD, which is only stopped when He stops it in the resurrection of the dead] shall make war against them, and shall overcome them [the priesthood and just civil government as the LORD intended them to shine His light upon the earth], and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies [animated flesh without the LORD’s Spirit] shall lie in the street of the great city [Jerusalem – old and corrupt], which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our LORD was [betrayed and] crucified.
9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves [because they don’t know they are the dead, because they are dead with them and don’t know it].
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them [because they have silenced their voices and they no longer speak the word of God and His good judgment], and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
11 And after three days and a half [the time in death, ending in the last days] spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither [into heaven with me, into full understanding: light which is life]. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud [where understanding is held]; and their enemies beheld them.
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand [the vermin in the church]: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe comes quickly.
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven [giving this understanding, as thunder, the sound of the light in the cloud], saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our LORD, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty elders [the children of Jacob and the apostles of Jesus Christ], which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give you thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which are, and wast, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned.
18 And the nations were angry, and your wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you shouldest give reward unto your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple [His people] the ark of his testament [their open mouths speaking this word as received]: and there were lightnings [understanding], and [heard in their] voices, and thundering [as the sound of understanding from the cloud], and an earthquake [that shakes the wicked from their position of power and control], and great hail [this word reserved in heaven for this time of war, sent upon the current crop of corrupt leaders destroying the earth].
The word rendered “dumb” in the title verse is kophos, said to mean “from 2875; blunted, i.e. (figuratively) of hearing (deaf) or speech (dumb):–deaf, dumb, speechless.” It only appears (fourteen times) in the Gospels of Mathew, Mark, and Luke, and all, except once, speak of it being cured by the LORD. The one exception, in Luke 1:22, speaks of Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father. The verse says, “And when he came out [Zechariah the priest, out of the temple], he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless [kophos].”
The relevance today is in what (treasure), hidden in the book bearing the same name, has been kept silent and how (as a sword from the LORD’s mouth) it is revealed. It is speaking of cleansing and curing the priesthood first, opening their ears and then their mouths, to bring forth the child that makes straight the (before crooked) highway to the LORD.
As we know, the name Zechariah is said to mean, Jah (Yahh – short for Jehovah) has remembered, from the word zakar, meaning “to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; also (as denominative from 2145) to be male.” It’s more accurately speaking of this as the end, when we remember the LORD, put away childish things, and become the man (male) He is making as His image and likeness (manifested to those reproduced after His own kind).
It (zakar) only appears twice in the book of Zechariah, in 10:9 revealing what we remember, and in Zechariah 13:2 speaking what we will no longer remember.
Zechariah 10
1 Ask you of the LORD rain [My word from heaven] in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall [from the separated element] make bright clouds [where understanding is held when it left the earth], and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field [new life upon the earth].
2 For the idols [the men who put themselves in God’s place] have spoken vanity, and the diviners [who’ve told you they know how He comes] 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 [ra’ah – no seer to lead them].
3 My anger was kindled against the [misleading] shepherds, and I punished [paqad – visit in judgment] the goats [misleading devils who put themselves in God’s place]: for the LORD of hosts has visited [paqad – as the Chief Over-seer {good shepherd} of the earth] his flock the house of Judah, and has made them as his goodly horse in the battle [the “ass” and its “colt” of Zechariah 9:9, God’s people now seen as the white horse He rides, in Revelation 19:11].
4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every governor 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 [buwsh – ashamed when the end they said was coming isn’t the ends that have come].
6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, 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 [when they are no more dumb].
7 And they of Ephraim [the seed 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 [draw their attention to Myself], and gather them; 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 [zakar – recognize] me in far countries [merchaq – this time and place the LORD decreed]; and they shall live [chayah – come to life] with their children, and turn again [shuwb – return to the LORD].
10 I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt [this land of oppression], and gather them out of Assyria [from the communists that now rule]; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead [this mountain of My testimony] and Lebanon [purity shall be seen in high places]; and place shall not be found for them [the communist that brought injustice, mass misery, and oppression upon them].
11 And he shall pass through the sea [this generation] with affliction, and shall smite [nakah] the waves in the sea [the pride of those who have risen up and trust in their power to do evil], and all the deeps [the understanding the proud say they have – which is darkness and ignorance] of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria [the communists who trust in the positions of power] shall be brought down, and the scepter [shebet] of Egypt [the rule of oppressors] shall depart away.
12 And I will strengthen them [by this word] in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name [manifesting His identity, as I Am], says the LORD.
Zechariah 13
1 In that day there shall be a fountain [of these living waters] opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
2 And it shall come to pass in that day, says the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered [zakar]: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
3 And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, You shall not live; for you speak lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesies.
4 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he has prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:
5 But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am a husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds [nakah] in your hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded [in this sacrifice] in the house of my friends.
7 Awake, O sword [this word from the mouth of the LORD], against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, says the LORD of hosts: smite [nakah] the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn my hand upon the little ones.
8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, says the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein [and come to life].
9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try [bachan] them as gold is tried [bachan]: they shall call on my name [manifesting My identity repeating the word from My mouth], and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
The “little ones” the LORD speaks of above is from the three times used word tsa’ar, meaning “to be small, i.e. (figuratively) ignoble:–be brought low, little one, be small.” It refers to its appearance in Jeremiah 30:19, the chapter speaking of the tribulation into which the LORD comes, to save us from it, as a brand plucked from the fires.
Zechariah 3
1 And he showed me [ra’ah – shepherded me into understanding] Joshua the high priest [the priesthood] standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist [satan – the word only appear five other times, all in the Psalms – see below] him.
2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke you, O Satan; even the LORD that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you: is not this a brand plucked [natsal] out of the fire?
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments [spotted by dead flesh], and stood before the angel.
4 And he answered and spoke unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments [the corruption that makes them blind and dumb] from him. And unto him [the priesthood] he said, Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with change of raiment.
5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments [the LORD’s righteousness – the garments of the cleansed priesthood]. And the angel of the LORD [I Am] stood by.
6 And the angel of the LORD protested [reiterated] unto Joshua, saying,
7 Thus says the LORD of hosts; If you will walk in my ways, and if you will keep my charge, then you shall also judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you places to walk among these that stand by.
8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you, and your fellows that sit before you: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch [from where comes this good fruit].
9 For behold the stone [from where this word flows] that I have laid before [paniym – as My presence in] Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes [seers seeing as the LORD sees]: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof [writing this word into their minds], says the LORD of hosts [a man of war], and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
10 In that day, says the LORD of hosts, shall you call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree [to become branches from where comes this good fruit].
Jeremiah 30
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 Thus [in this manner] speaks the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write you all the words that I have spoken unto you in a book.
3 For, lo, the days come, says the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, says the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
4 And these are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
5 For thus says the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.
6 Ask you now, and see whether a man does travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble [tsarah – tribulation], but he shall be saved out of it.
8 For it shall come to pass in that day, says the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and will burst your bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
9 But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
10 Therefore fear you not, O my servant Jacob, says the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.
11 For I am with you, says the LORD, to save you: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered you, yet I will not make a full end of you: but I will correct you in measure, and will not leave you altogether unpunished.
12 For thus says the LORD, Your bruise is incurable, and your wound is grievous.
13 There is none to plead your cause, that you mayest be bound up: you have no healing medicines.
14 All your lovers have forgotten you; they seek you not; for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquity; because your sins were increased.
15 Why cry you for your affliction? your sorrow is incurable for the multitude of your iniquity: because your sins were increased, I have done these things unto you.
16 Therefore all they that devour you shall be devoured; and all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil you shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon you will I give for a prey.
17 For I will restore health unto you, and I will heal you of your wounds, says the LORD; because they called you an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeks after.
18 Thus says the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwelling-places; and the city shall be built upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.
19 And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small [tsa’ar].
20 Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish [paqad – as the Chief Overseer of the earth] all that oppress them.
21 And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? says the LORD.
22 And you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
23 Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goes forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.
24 The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he has done it, and until he has performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days [‘achariyth] you shall consider [biyn – understand] it.
The scepter (shebet) to rule, now in the hand of oppressors, in Zechariah 10:11 above, refers us to Ezekiel 21, where we’re told of its overturning until it’s given to the one whose right it is.
Ezekiel 21
9 Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the LORD; Say, A sword [this word from the mouth of the LORD], a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
10 It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemn the rod of my son, as every tree.
11 And he has given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.
12 Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon your thigh.
13 Because it is a trial [bachan], and what if the sword [this word of God, from His mouth] contemn even the rod [shebet – the scepter to rule]? it shall be no more, says the LORD God.
14 You therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite [nakar] your hands together and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which enters into their privy chambers [the things hidden in their ignorance].
15 I have set the point of the sword against all their gates [against their mouths], that their heart [minds] may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.
16 Go you one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever your face is set.
17 I will also smite [nakah] hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it.
18 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
19 Also, you son of man, appoint you two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose you a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.
20 Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath [the great men of the world] of the Ammonites [who separate God’s people and weaken them], and to Judah in Jerusalem the defensed.
21 For the king of Babylon [the confusion that rules the world, wrought by the words of wicked men in power] stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver [the deep, which cleanses the body].
22 At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates [of heaven], to cast a mount, and to build a fort.
23 And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he [the LORD] will call to remembrance [zakar] the iniquity, that they may be taken.
24 Therefore thus says the LORD God; Because you have made your iniquity to be remembered [zakar], in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that you are come to remembrance [zakar], you shall be taken with the hand.
25 And you, profane wicked prince of Israel [who is like Reuben, sitting in God’s place], whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,
26 Thus says the LORD God; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.
27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he [Shiloh, the seed of Joseph] come whose right it is; and I will give it him.
28 And you, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the LORD God concerning the Ammonites [who have scattered My people], and concerning their reproach; even say you, The sword [this word from My mouth], the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:
29 Whiles they see vanity unto you, whiles they divine a lie unto you, to bring you upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.
30 Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge you in the place where you were created, in the land of your nativity.
31 And I will pour out my indignation [za’am] upon you, I will blow against you in the fire of my wrath, and deliver you into the hand of brutish men, and skillful to destroy.
32 You shall be for fuel to the fire; your blood shall be in the midst of the land; you shall be no more remembered [zakar]: for I the LORD have spoken it.
Haggai 2
4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel [born, brought to life, by coming out of confusion], says the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua [Jehovah’s Salvation personified], son of Josedech [born from the righteousness of Jehovah – the purified priesthood], the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work: for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts:
5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so my spirit remains among you: fear you not.
6 For thus says the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake [ra’ash – the LORD’s voice will shake] the heavens, and the earth, and the sea [all humanity], and the dry land [the places that have been without My word];
7 And I will shake [ra’ash] all nations [all who haven’t known Me], and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory [fill My family with My manifested presence], says the LORD of hosts [a man of war].
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts.
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, says the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, says the LORD of hosts.
10 In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai [the sacrifice, the one paying this price] the prophet, saying,
11 Thus says the LORD of hosts; Ask [sha’al] now the priests concerning the law, saying,
12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.
13 Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.
14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, says the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean [this wholly leavened nation and people, as a great mountain risen to rule over all the earth: Babylon where confusion and mass insanity now rules by many thousand voices, each leading for their own enlargement, to exalt their voice, even above this word from the mouth of God].
15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:
16 Since those days were, when one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the press-at for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty [when you hoped to gather much but only found little].
17 I smote [nakah] you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you turned not to me, says the LORD.
18 Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid, consider it.
19 Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, has not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.
20 And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,
21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake [ra’ash] the heavens and the earth;
22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen [those who haven’t known Me]; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, everyone by the sword [words] of his brother.
23 In that day, says the LORD of hosts, will I take you, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel [from sha’al – through whom the LORD asks the questions He then answered], says the LORD, and will make you as a signet [chowtham – the seal pressed into the earth, the LORD’s signature, as in Job 38:14]: for I have chosen you, says the LORD of hosts.
Zechariah 4
1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep. [Are you awake yet sleepers?]
2 And said unto me, What see you? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
3 And two olive trees by it [who are My two witnesses, the sun and the moon], one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4 So I answered and spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my LORD?
5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my LORD.
6 Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word [as oil into these lamps] of the LORD [through Joshua – the cleansed priesthood] unto Zerubbabel [those awakened, come to life, by coming out of Babylon: out of confusion into the light], saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.
7 Who are you, O great mountain [Babylon]? before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shouting, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me unto you.
10 For who has despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet [seeing as the LORD sees, speaking His assessment] in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven [sun and moon together witnessing, church and civil governments raised to life again]; they are the eyes of the LORD [judging as He judges], which run to and fro through the whole earth.
11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches [from where comes this good fruit] which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
13 And he answered me and said, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my LORD.
14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.
Revelation 19
1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Hallelujah; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the LORD our God:
2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he has judged the great whore [the unfaithful institutions of church and state, who are the rulers of Babylon; who have ruled the world into insanity], which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
3 And again they said, Hallelujah, And her smoke rose up forever and ever.
4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Hallelujah.
5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God [in us doing the work, sending understanding and strength], all you his servants, and you that fear him, both small and great.
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude [God’s people at large, no longer dumb], and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thundering [the sound of the light, the voice of understanding heard from God’s people], saying, Hallelujah [praise Jehovah]: for the LORD God omnipotent [All-Ruling – pantokrator: “God (as absolute and universal sovereign)”] reigns.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he said unto me [as I say unto you], Write, Blessed are they which are called unto [this] the marriage supper of the Lamb [to eat this body of His sacrifice]. And he says unto me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me [as I say unto you], See you do it not: I am your fellow-servant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus [testifying that this word is His: Jehovah’s Salvation manifested in the flesh, as is His manner {heurisko – where His salvation is “found”}]: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold [when our eye of understanding are opened, we see Him as He sees us, as] a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire [melting away ignorance], and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, [the Word of God] that no man [I Am] knew, but he [a man] himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword [the Word of God, I Am this word made flesh], that with it he should smite [patasso] the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And LORD Of Lords.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast [Babylon] was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark [confusion, lies masking deception] of the beast, and them that worshipped his image [his creations – lies of liars, known to those whose eyes have been opened]. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword [the Word of God] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Psalms 38
A Psalms of David, to bring [God’s people] to remembrance [zakar].
1 O LORD, rebuke me not in your wrath: neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.
2 For your arrows [of correction] stick fast in me, and your hand [work] presses me sore.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities are gone over my head: as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long [while Your understanding is upon us].
7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness [ahamah – the roaring, only elsewhere in Isaiah 5:30] of my heart [mind].
9 LORD, all my desire is before you; and my groaning is not hid from you.
10 My heart pants, my strength fails me: as for the light of my eyes [understanding what is seen], it also is gone from me.
11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen [our evil neighbors at war with us] stand afar off [rachowq – decreeing evil against us].
12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous [havvah – referring us to its use Micah 7:3] things, and imagine deceits all the day long [while your understanding is upon us and them].
13 But I, as a deaf man, heard [shama’ – obeyed] not; and I was as a dumb man that open not his mouth [as You commanded].
14 Thus I was as a man that hears [shame’ – obeyed] not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs [not speaking Your correction as You have spoken it].
15 For in you [in Your manifested presence], O LORD, do I hope: you will hear [‘anah – will be my eye], O LORD [‘Adonay – my King] my God.
16 For I said, Hear [pen – remove blindness from] me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slips, they magnify themselves against me.
17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.
18 For I will declare [nagad – I will stand boldly against] my iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
19 But my enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
20 They also that render evil for good are my adversaries [satan]; because I follow [radaph – pursued and found] the thing that good is.
21 Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from [rachaq – be not as the evil the wicked have decreed against] me.
22 Make haste to help me, O LORD my salvation [tshuw’ah – my rescue and victory].
Isaiah 5
22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine [to corrupt and confuse], and men of strength to mingle strong drink [causing the world to become ignorant and isane]:
23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
24 Therefore as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root [from where flows corruption] shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts [a man of war], and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25 Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he has stretched forth his hand against them, and has smitten [nakah] them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn [their dead body was scattered] in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
26 And he will lift up an ensign [nec – the son of man lifted and the voice of the LORD is exalted above all others] to the nations from far [rachowq – in this time when the world is ruled by evil decree], and will hiss [will draw attention] unto them from the end of the [old and corrupt] earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:
27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle [this preparation] of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:
28 Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses’ hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind [the Almighty Spirit of the LORD, from where His voice is heard]:
29 Their [open mouths] roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.
30 And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring [ahamah] of the sea [all humanity]: and if one looks unto the land [‘erets – the earth], behold darkness [ignorance] and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens [where understanding should be found] thereof [on the earth].
Micah 7
1 Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the first-ripe fruit.
2 The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.
3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asks, and the judge asks for a reward [shilluwm – a bribe]; and the great man, he utters his mischievous [havvah] desire: so they wrap it up [‘abath – they conspire together].
4 The best of them is as a brier [a deceiver]: the most upright is sharper than a thorn [misleading] hedge: the day of your watchmen [tsaphah – the seers of which the world is unaware] and your visitation [pquddah – the Chief Overseer of the earth] comes; now shall be their perplexity [mbuwkah – only used here and in Isaiah 22:5 For it is a day of trouble {mbuwkah}, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the LORD God of hosts in the valley of vision {when the seers are here, at the earth’s lowest point}, breaking down the walls {of the lies in which the wicked trust}, and of crying to the mountains. 6 And Elam {eternity} bare the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen {of God}, and Kir {the wall} uncovered the shield {the protection of the earth}].
5 Trust you not in a friend, put you not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of your mouth from her that lies in your bosom [be not one of the many voices, peeping and muttering, misleading the world, “if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no understanding in them”].
6 For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.
7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
8 Rejoice not against me, O my enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light [understanding] unto me.
9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
10 Then she [the whore: Babylon, the unfaithful and confused] that is my enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD your God? eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.
11 In the day that your walls are to be built, in that day shall the [evil] decree [choq] be far removed [rachaq – shall be understood to be evil decrees ruling the world].
12 In that day also he shall come even to you from Assyria [the communists], and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river [the word that flows into the sea: to humanity], and from sea to sea [generation to generation], and from mountain to mountain [government to government].
13 Notwithstanding the land [‘erets – the earth] shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.
14 Feed your people with your rod [of correction], the flock of your heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel [Your garden of Eden]: let them feed in Bashan [of the fruitfulness] and Gilead [of the full body of Your word and work], as in the days of old.
15 According to the days of your coming out of the land of Egypt will I show unto him marvelous things.
16 The nations [those who haven’t known the LORD] shall see and be confounded at all their might [this strength the LORD has given us]: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf [they shall become dumb].
17 They shall lick the dust [the ruin of the earth] like a serpent [realized to be in My garden misleading], they shall move out of their holes [awakened from their graves to everlasting contempt] like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of you.
18 Who is a God like unto you, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retains not his anger forever, because he delights in mercy.
19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
20 You will perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which you have sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
Psalms 72
1 In you, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
2 Deliver [natsal – the equivalent of harpazo “caught up”, pull] me [as a brand plucked from the fires into heaven: cleansed from corruption into full understanding] in your righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline your ear unto me, and save me.
3 Be you my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: you have given commandment to save me; for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver [natsal] me, O my God, [pluck me] out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5 For you are my hope, O LORD God: you are my trust from my youth.
6 By you have I been held up from the womb: you are he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of you.
7 I am as a wonder unto many; but you are my strong refuge.
8 Let my mouth be filled with your praise and with your honor all the day [showing Your understanding].
9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength fails.
10 For my enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
11 Saying, God has forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
12 O God, be not far from [rachaq – rescue us from the evil the wicked have decreed against] me: O my God, make haste for my help.
13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries [satan] to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonor that seek my hurt.
14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise you more and more.
15 My mouth shall show forth your righteousness and your salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
16 I will go in the strength of the LORD God: I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours only [exalting Your voice above all others].
17 O God, you have taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared [nagad] your wondrous works.
18 Now also when I am old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shown your strength unto this generation, and your power to every one that is to come.
19 Your righteousness also, O God, is very high, who have done great things: O God, who is like unto you!
20 You, which have shown me great and sore troubles [tsarah – great tribulation], shall quicken [chayah – bring life to] me again, and shall bring me up again from the depths [thowm – the abyss, the darkened deep, the belly] of the earth.
21 You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
22 I will also praise you with the psaltery, even your truth, O my God: unto you will I sing with the harp, O you Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing [repeat these words] unto you; and my soul, which you have redeemed.
24 My tongue also shall talk of your righteousness all the day long: for they [the wicked, as dogs barking in the darkness] are confounded, for they [those possessed by satan] are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.
Psalms 109
1 Hold not your peace, O God of my praise;
2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
4 For my love they are my adversaries [satan]: but I give myself unto prayer.
5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
6 Set you a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office [pquddah – his position as overseer of the earth].
9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
10 Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
11 Let the extortioner catch all that he has; and let the strangers spoil his labor.
12 Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favor his fatherless children.
13 Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15 Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
16 Because that he remembered not to show mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.
17 As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
18 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
19 Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
20 Let this be the reward of my adversaries [satan] from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
21 But do you for me, O God the LORD, for your name’s sake: because your mercy is good, deliver you me.
22 For I am poor [without power] and needy [needing Your help], and my heart [the mind of My ONE BODY] is wounded within me.
23 I Am gone like the shadow when it declines [now when the sun if fully risen]: I Am tossed up and down as the locust [as if I was the one that devours the earth].
24 My knees are weak through fasting [My ONE BODY without Your word]; and my flesh fails of fatness [prosperity].
25 I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shake their heads [in disapproval].
26 Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to your mercy:
27 That they may know that this [Your word and word] is your hand; that you, LORD, [In me] have done it.
28 Let them curse, but bless you: when they arise, let them be ashamed [not reaching the end they desire]; but let your servant rejoice.
29 Let my adversaries [satan] be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.
30 I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth [as You have commanded all Your children]; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
31 For he [the LORD] shall stand at the right hand of the poor [giving power to those without it], to save him from those that condemn his [immortal] soul.
