a study on the parable of the Pharisee and the publican

[shawn]

In the parable of the Pharisee and the publican ., the Pharisee was secure in his own mind of his religion and could not humble himself but the publican, a sinner, was able to humble himself and confess his sins:

(Luke 18:9 KJV) And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

We see this very parable demonstrated by the rich ruler and Zaccchaeus, also a rich man. The rich ruler was very confident of his religion....he did all the right things and felt he did not lack anything. It is as though he sought confirmation of this from the "Good Teacher:"

18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

He could not accept the teaching of the "Good Teacher"....he could not humble himself and let go of those things that made him rich. He built his life around those things...around his theologies, ministries, control of the flock, etc....he felt he did not lack anything...he thought he was complete. The "Good Teacher" also shows us in Revelation about the rich in the church of Laodicea...that they think they lack nothing. But, just the opposite is true:

(Rev 3:17 KJV) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

But yet Jesus has pointed out what the rich lacked and told them how to correct it His instruction is to "buy" from him gold tried in the fire.....the spiritual wisdom of the Scriptures....true treasures indeed.

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

He rebukes and chastens those he loves.....Jesus loved the rich man (Mark 10:21.) But the rich man was grieved and "went away." He departed from the Lord and did not follow him because that would require him to give up his religious life and follow after Truth.

(Mark 10:22 KJV) And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

Those who seek to save their life shall lose it....the rich ruler sought to save all those possessions...he could not let his "life" go.

(Luke 17:33 KJV) Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.


24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

At the beginning of the next chapter of Luke, we find the continued demonstration of the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. Now we see Zaachaeus....who was rich also. For all things are possible for God, even the salvation of the rich. But there were differences between the two rich men

19:1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

Zacchaeus was the "chief among the publicans".....a sinner.....a man that others despised and looked down upon as a sinner. He was a man who knew he was a sinner...a man who was not confident in his own religion....a man who can see readily what he lacks. This was a man who could immediately accept the teachings of Jesus unlike the rich ruler who could not see his faults. We see Jesus entering and passing through Jericho when this event happened. Jericho is forever linked to the "harlot Rahab".....a sinner who was the only one saved (and all those with her.) She believed the spies....she received them with peace....and this is what saved her from perishing from the others who could not believe and receive with peace (the rich rulers..the shepherds of the flock.)

(Heb 11:31 KJV) By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

Spiritually, Rahab received the Truth readily...."she received the messengers" of the Truth. She was justified by her works...receiving the Truth with belief and action.

(James 2:25 KJV) Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Zacchaeus was a seeker of Jesus. Although a "sinner," he sought the Lord with a pure heart:

3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

Those pure in heart shall see God. The name "Zacchaeus" means "pure." He was also purified....salvation.

(Mat 5:8 KJV) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Whoever "sees" Jesus, sees the Father (John 14:9.) Jesus said to Zacchaeus to make "haste and come down."

5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

Zacchaeus does what is instructed of the Lord....he "made haste"....he wasted no time...spiritually, he represents those who diligently study the Scriptures with the understanding given by the Lord (to speed study)....he "came down"....he descended from the sycamore tree....he was able to humble himself in order to receive the Lord....he received him with JOY.

6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

And yet those who saw, murmured about Jesus going to be a guest with a "sinner."

7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

Jesus stated to Zacchaeus that he must abide at his house....Jesus states in Revelation, that if any man hear his voice and opens the door, he will come in to him and will dine with him and with God. We "dine" on the spiritual understanding of the Scriptures that has been hidden all these years...it is the "hidden manna."

(Rev 3:20 KJV) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Zacchaeus not only believed but had "works" to show that he believed...he took action to rectify his sins once he obeyed the voice of the Lord...he represents those who "overcome" what has hindered them. He "lost" his life in order to save it:

8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

He restored "fourfold" anything taken from any man by "false accusation." Spiritually, this represents those rich leaders who deceive the flock for unjust gain. They "steal" by deception the sheep that rightfully belong to the Lord. They use false interpretations of the Scriptures to support their motives....they spiritually "kill" the just by leading them astray. In James we find this accusation against the rich....the leaders of the flock. They make merchandise of the flock...they sell the sheep for gain.

(James 5:6 KJV) Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

For if a man steal a "sheep" and kill or sell it, he shall restore four-fold for it....just as Zacchaeus would restore four-fold.

(Exo 22:1 KJV) If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.

2000 years ago Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost of the lost sheep of the house of Israel........he comes again at the end of this age to do the same with all of those who have gone astray.

9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

He descends from heaven with the voice of the archangel...the chief messenger...with the Truth of the Scriptures. But will any one listen to it when they hear it? The church was to wait for him just as the children of Israel were instructed to wait for Moses. Not to lean on our own understanding of the Scriptures...not to form doctrines of men...not to devise the way we think God should be worshipped...not to make a gold calf. We have all gone astray. But who will believe....who will have faith on the earth? Not those who are secure in their religious ways and beliefs...for they think they lack nothing. But it will be those "sinners" who will enter the kingdom of God....they will readily accept the Truth...it will be "the poor, the maimed, and the halt, and the blind."

(Luke 14:21 KJV) So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

It will be the "harlots and the publicans" of the religious world that will do the will of the Father: They will be those who readily accept the Truth when they hear it and repent and be saved:

(Mat 21:31 KJV) Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

They are more readily able to accept the "new wine" of the Truth....for they are not holding fast to the old ways and thinking of man's religion...the new wine goes into new bottles and are preserved:

(Luke 5:38 KJV) But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

The spiritual Truth of the Scriptures will not fit with the old interpretations of the bible that religion has held onto over the last 2000 years...the new garment will not agree with the old:

(Luke 5:36 KJV) And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.

The sinners are the "camel"....an unclean animal....that will enter into the kingdom of God with the spiritual Truth of the Scriptures....the eye of a needle. They will readily hear and repent and be purified.

[Victor]

Excellent insight. The parable of the rich man and the publican finds a parallel in the narratives that follow in the Gospel of Luke: the rich ruler who doesn't follow Jesus and the publican Zacchaeus who recieves Him.

[alec cotton]

Shawn . I must object to the statement "He could not accept the teaching of the "Good Teacher"...." I have heard that so often in many different ways, The inference is that Jesus moved the goal posts when pressed. Jesus never ,ever made poverty a condition of eternal life. His teaching was and is: If any man lives by the divine law as given to moses then he has eternal life.When the man objectd ,Jesus said (in effect) Oh! If you want a bonus :Give your earthly treasures to the poor and you will have treasures in heaven. The next one about the camel passing through the eye of a needle. I have heard quite a few preachers labouring that one. The explanation was quite simple . What is impossible with men is possible with God. Of course it is harder for a rich man than a poor one to live righteously. The rich man has far more oppotunities to do wrong and many less restrictions imposed than the poor man. Now before you object and say,"we are not under law now",let me remind you that when we live in the Kingdom of God we are subject to the laws of God. Jesus said "if any man breaks the least of these laws and teaches men so shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven and if any man keeps these laws he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Alec

[Richard Amiel McGough]

His teaching was and is: If any man lives by the divine law as given to moses then he has eternal life.


Hi Alec,

Great to see you stopped by! I trust all is well with you.

I am confused by your assertion that Jesus taught eternal life could be earned by obeying the law of Moses. If that is the case, then what of all the clear statements elsewhere in the NT that state the opposite? Here are a few examples:

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 9:30-32 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Hebrews 7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

The list could be greatly extended of course.

Many blessings,

Richard

[alec cotton]

Hello richard
I like to think of you as my friend. A friend who I have never met and never will this side of eternity. A friend for whom I have the greatest affection and hold in the highest esteem . It would take me a long time to express my grattitude to you for creating this site. As so often happens I have been misunderstood . I did not mean to infer that we are JUSTIFIED by keeping the law ,but we have an obligation to live by it. We are ,in a way self regulating. Because we have confidence in the pardon of the anointed. We excercise restraint. Without the law,the cross is meaningless. We cannot possibly understand the new testament without some understanding of the old. We must have a standard to live by. The law as given to Moses is the only reliable standard. Every word in it is designed to benefit us human beings ,People,individuals. Now to anyone else who may read this I welcome criticism . It is like a whetstone to a blade:It makes me sharper. To Richard I say ,thankyou and God bless you .
Alec

[alec cotton]

In response to my first post ,Richard wrote "I am confused by your assertion that Jesus taught eternal life could be earned by obeying the law of Moses. If that is the case, then what of all the clear statements elsewhere in the NT that state the opposite? Here are a few examples".

I wrote in haste and repent at leasure.The path is so curly and convoluted that it is not always easy to find your way. All the people and the patriarchs found their way to the everlasting kingdom through the obedience to the law. It was not the blood of cows and sheep and goats which saved them ,but faith,confidence,heartfelt assurance. Abraham was justified by faith, but his faith was demonstrated by his actions. Although the people may not have been aware of it at the time:the sacrifices were only a symbol or a token of reality. When the goat was given its liberty to roam the desert ,there was not one sin clinging to its hair. I can sympathise with Paul the apostle as he wrote to the Romans. He could see the picture clearly , but when he tried to put it in writing it was like chasing his own tail. It was always faith which justified. He must have been ready to pull his hair out at times. We can only do what is right when we know what is right . We can only know what is right when Know what the law requires. I often say that the only thing that changed at Calvary was the sacrifice. That is not quite accurate. It was a few years later that the temple worship was abolished along with ritiuals and washing. Blessed ( priviliged .Honoured)is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law he meditates day and night. That has not changed.That is totally inadequate and feeble, but it is the best that I can do.
Alec

[Brother Les]

18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

All of the parables point directly to 'Israel'... What the 'ruler' (OC followers) was asking was how to receive what was 'The Hope' of The Fathers (of Israel)... Redemption (from the Dead), Salvation (from the Dead), Resurrection (from the Dead)... The only way to recieve this was to come into the New Covenant Age. The 'Good News' (new covenant news) must go to 'The Gentiles' (the poor) and that will usher in the raising of the Dead of Israel.

Brother Les

[shawn]

The two responses of the two rich men....the rich ruler and Zacchaeus....demonstrate many verses in Proverbs. Zacchaeus heard the instruction of Jesus and received it joyfully but the rich ruler refused the instruction of the way of life. Zacchaeus humbled himself (came down) and received the Truth joyfully:


(Luke 19:6 KJV) And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

The rich ruler had the opposite response to the Truth of our Lord:

(Luke 18:23 KJV) And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

We find many verses in Proverbs highlighting men's responses to the revealed Truth:


(Prov 8:33 KJV) Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

The rich ruler refused reproof....and errored out of the way of the Truth:

(Prov 10:17 KJV) He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

The rich ruler hated the reproof of Jesus:

(Prov 12:1 KJV) Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

But there is a consequence to refusing the instruction.....the rich ruler will lose all that he has:

(Prov 13:18 KJV) Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

(Prov 15:31 KJV) The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

What the rich ruler did was essentially sellling the Truth for his riches....the things of this religious world mean more to him than the revealed Truth that is coming at the end of this age:

(Prov 23:23 KJV) Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

The rich ruler did not deny himself......and follow Jesus who has the words of true Life:

(Mat 16:24 KJV) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

The rich ruler exchanged his riches for his very soul:

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

For the Son of Man will come with the revealed Truth of the Scriptures....who will open our understanding to the Scriptures so that we may become righteous and do the works of God. He will reward every man according to his works......how will man handle the Truth when it is revealed.....the "Revelation" of the Truth.


27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

For the wrath of God is revealed against ungodliness and unrighteousness of men....who hold the truth in unrighteousness.....who refuse the reproof of the Truth when it comes. How will men react to the revelation of the hidden mysteries of the Scriptures?

(Rom 1:18 KJV) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

for every idle word that men speak against the revealed Truth when it comes will be judged...how will religious man receive the instruction/reproof of the revelation of Jesus Christ?

(Mat 12:36 KJV) But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

[Victor]

Hey Shawn! Do you also see anything in the way Zacchaeus acted that also demonstrates verses in Proverbs?

[shawn]

Hi Victor.....yes. I will look into that after this. Thanks for reading!



Solomon was the wisest king over all of Israel. There were certain requirements for kings to follow in the Law.....one of these was to write a copy of this law in a book.....that he should read all the days of his life....one in which he should learn to fear the Lord his God....to keep all the words of this law and these statutes....and to do them:

(Deu 17:18 KJV) And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

Solomon kept this requirement......Solomon's "book" that was a copy of this law is with us today. It is the book of Ecclesiates.....because the conclusion of Ecclesiates is one that tells us to fear God and keep His commandments:

(Eccl 12:13 KJV) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

For all the works Solomon undertook were a chasing after the wind....although he kept his wisdom...he experienced them for us and wrote them in a book. But he forsaw the religious works of men...that they would follow in his footsteps.....devoid of wisdom....without Truth. These men are our leaders...our pastors, reverends, priests, preachers, etc. They have been "kings" over the flock of God.....exercising their lordship over the people of God instead of being servants to all. Producing worldly things based on their literal understanding of the Scriptures.

We find also the other requirements in the Law for a king.....these Solomon ultimately did not keep:

(Deu 17:16 KJV) But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

Solomon did all these things.....he multiplied horses to himself....he cause the people to return to Egypt to get them.......he also multiplied wives .....and greatly multiplied silver and gold to himself. All these things he did which led him astray from his first love.....God whom he did not follow with all his heart. Religious man.....those leaders over us....has also done these things. To "multiply horses" is to multiply untrue doctrines of men to lead others astray....for a spiritual "horse" is a "vain thing".....an untruth based on the literal understanding....the earthly wisdom of man:

(Psa 33:16 KJV) There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

The untruths....the falsehoods of man's doctrines and commandments....keep people in spiritual bondage....Egypt. These are all based on the literal, earthly understanding of the Scriptures....they use them to keep the flock in bondage. The "horse" is a strong animal.....so also their doctrines have strength to keep those who are deceived in a prison. Solomon had horses brought out from "Egypt".....even as the Law stated they should not be.

(1 Ki 10:28 KJV) And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

Likewise the "king's merchants"...religious man....paid a price for the privilege to be able to bring horses out of Egypt. They share in the increase of the deception of man's doctrines.....they are able to buy and sell horses out of Egypt.

(Dan 11:39 KJV) Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.

But the "rich" will wail and lament when the Truth is revealed:

(Rev 18:11 KJV) And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

They had grown rich because the literal, earthly understanding of the Scriptures.....the confusion...."Babylon".... afforded their lifestyle....their power over the flock of God.

(Rev 18:3 KJV) For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies

[shawn]

Zacchaeus represents the rich who can be saved by God. He humbled himself in the presence of Jesus who has God’s words of wisdom…the true life. Zacchaeus was a 'publican'…..a tax gatherer….a 'tax farmer:'

(Luke 19:2 KJV) And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

The tax 'farmer' of the day bid on the job to collect a promised amount to give to the government and so won the privilege to collect the taxes from the people and keep any additional amount over and above the contracted amount. This left the opportunity for the tax gatherer to dishonestly overcharge the people for taxes….in the process making the tax 'farmer' rich. I speculate that the most overcharged would’ve been the poor….those who did not know better…..the 'least' of the brothers. The tax collector of the day is comparable to Solomon’s merchants who brought horses out of Egypt at a set price and resold them to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria….the merchants themselves became very rich in the process:

(1 Ki 10:28 KJV) And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

The 'linen yarn' is the Hebrew word 'miqveh' which means 'something waited for, confidence in, a collection or pool of water, a caravan, a drove of (horses or men.) The 'linen yarn' is spiritually-speaking the earthly, literal teachings of man….the earthly 'wisdom' and understanding of the Scriptures…which produces wealth for all those who traffic in it. They have confidence in their own wisdom which is not from above. Like horses, they are strong doctrines of men….and men use them for power over the people of God. They preach the Word of God for gain….without the Truth. They are part of the system of 'Babylon'….the confusion over the Scriptures…there is opportunity over the sheep during this time of confusion. Men have ridden upon earthly-wisdom based doctrines…like men in chariots pulled by the horses of war. As Solomon’s merchants….they resold to the kings of the 'Hittites' and the kings of 'Syria'….. 'Hittite' means 'terror' or 'sons of terror' and 'Syria' means 'to be elevated.' These men are shepherds over the flock….they are 'elevated' and their teachings keep people under their control by 'terror.'

29 And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.

The merchants have brought the 'horses' out 'by their means'…..by their 'yad'….the Hebrew word for 'hand' or power…there is power in their teachings…a power that will be done away with in the unveiling of the Truth of the Scriptures. For we are as lost sheep….and our shepherds have caused us to go astray:

(Jer 50:6 KJV) My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.

They have rejoiced in their positions….Babylon has richly rewarded them….yet, they are destroyers of God’s heritage:

(Jer 50:11 KJV) Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;

Zacchaeus represents those merchants who will overcome this system….they will humble themselves at the unveiling of the Truth….they will rectify the errors they once participated in….they will have mercy upon the poor they once stole from…those lost sheep. Zacchaeus once increased his riches by unjust gain….but his heart changed and had pity on the poor:

(Prov 28:8 KJV) He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

He did not have to ask the Lord what he must do to correct himself…unlike the rich ruler who had to ask what he must do to inherit eternal life….like what was the minimum he could do, Zacchaeus volunteered to give half of his goods to the poor. He was a cheerful giver….not one of necessity as the rich ruler demonstrated.

(Luke 19:8 KJV) And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

For God loves a cheerful giver:

(2 Cor 9:7 KJV) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Also, Zacchaeus realized that he, by 'false accusation,' had taken the heritage of God…the sheep of God have been deceived by those rich shepherds….those over us…our pastors, priests, reverends, preachers, etc, etc. The Law states that it must be restored four-fold:

(Exo 22:1 KJV) If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.

We, as sheep have been 'killed'…we have been 'sold' as merchandise by those over us. David also realized this when Nathan gave him this parable….after David had obtained the wife of Uriah:

(2 Sam 12:4 KJV) And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

The lamb was to be restored 'fourfold'….because it was done without pity….the poor sheep of God have been taken advantage of without pity by our own shepherds. But Zacchaeus realized what he had done…and was going to restore what his past actions have caused. David’s psalm about this event can be found in Psalms 51 and sheds light about restoring unto God four-fold:

51:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Zacchaeus acknowledge his transgressions and offered solutions…likewise the repentant rich rulers at the receiving revelation of the Truth at the end of this age will also do:

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Zacchaeus received the Lord with JOY….likewise,there will be those rich who will hear the revealed Truth and receive it with JOY:

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

'Zacchaeus' means 'pure'…..those who receive the revealed Truth with joy will be deemed pure….God will create in us a 'clean heart.' Blessed are the pure in heart…for they shall see God.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Salvation came to Zacchaeus….salvation will come to all those who receive the revealed Truth with joy….just as Zacchaeus….just as David:

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Zacchaeus received the Truth with JOY….Zacchaeus then became a teacher of Truth….as part of the fourfold repayment to God:

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Zacchaeus was saved from 'bloodguiltiness' for deceiving the sheep (defrauding by 'false accusation')…..and as part of the fourfold repayment, his tongue shall sing aloud of God’s righteousness….to sing the Truth…to guide others to true righteousness which is in God:

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

Zacchaeus….as part of the fourfold repayment….shall show forth the praise of God….to preach the revealed Truth of God:

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

Zacchaeus humbled himself before the Lord…just as David did when he realized his sin…his error. Zacchaeus came down from the tree…..he descended…he humbled himself:

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Zacchaeus represents those rich today in the religious world who will soon hear the revealed Truth and rectify their ways. They will receive it with joy. God can save them…for nothing is impossible for God. They will be deemed pure and righteous at the receiving of the revealed Truth...because they will believe in God and will have works to show they do....just as Zacchaeus...just as Rahab was deemed righteous...even though she was previously a sinner.

[shawn]

Zacchaeus was 'little of stature'….he was rich which is really a spiritually 'low place.'

(Luke 19:3 KJV) And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

The rich sit in a low place spiritually speaking….folly is set in great dignity in the eyes of men…for what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the presence of God.

(Eccl 10:6 KJV) Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

The 'ransom of a man’s life are his riches'…..those 'rich' in the church ….those spiritual leaders…those shepherds that truly seek God will let go of those things that they have been actively involved in: the building of ministries, the grand church buildings, the charging of money for their 'services' and goods, the making merchandise of the lost sheep through their erroneous teachings, the making of a name for themselves, etc,etc.

(Prov 13:8 KJV) The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

But those rich who 'heareth not rebuke' are really the poor…..they will refuse the revealed Truth of the Scriptures when it comes. They make a choice to keep their religious activities instead of following Jesus….just as the rich ruler departed from the Lord…who could not follow him because of his great riches. They will 'seek death'….that is their desire…their own works of their hands…they seek to keep riches produced by their own hands. As in says in Proverbs 21, 'the robbery of the wicked shall destroy them, because they refuse to do judgment:'

(Prov 21:6 KJV) The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

Fortunately, 'Zacchaeus' (which means 'pure') is the example of the rich man who heeds the rebuke when it comes….his work 'is right:'

8 The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

The works of Zacchaeus shows that he does judgment after he receives the Lord with joy. Those who do right to the poor will be established for ever:

(Prov 29:14 KJV) The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.

The Zacchaeus of today will open his mouth and treat the poor rightfully:

(Prov 31:9 KJV) Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Zacchaeus sought the Lord….but his little stature prevented him from seeing him…riches can blind a person to seeing the Lord as he should. The 'rich man is wise in his own conceit.' The rich man is really of a low position spiritually...he can not see too far.

(Prov 28:11 KJV) The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

But Zacchaeus sought with all his heart and soul…those that seek the Lord will find Him:

(Deu 4:29 KJV) But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

But the wicked….through the 'pride of his countenance' will not seek after God….for God is not in all his thoughts. The 'wicked' are religious people who, like Solomon, have built great things….done many wonderful works in God’s name….and say 'Lord, Lord.' Those things will not save them….because they will refuse the revealed Truth when it comes, and have pleasure in their own works of darkness. They will not deny themselves in order to follow Jesus…who comes with the Truth….with the voice of the archangel. Instead of humbling themselves, they will exalt themselves against the Truth…in their pride. Pride comes before a fall. Those who exalt themselves will be brought low, those who humble themselves at the receiving of the revealed Truth will be exalted…..as Zacchaeus did.

(Psa 10:4 KJV) The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

To seek the Lord is to seek His counsel…..His wisdom:

(Prov 8:17 KJV) I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Zacchaeus 'made haste' at the words of life….he humbled himself...he followed the instructions of Jesus...he followed Jesus:

(Luke 19:5 KJV) And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

Zacchaeus shows us that there will be those who will humble themselves at the revelation of the Truth. The source of their riches was the destruction of the poor:

(Prov 10:15 KJV) The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

But Zacchaeus believed Jesus and the works that he proposed to do shows his belief…he changed his ways. Zacchaeus held the Truth in righteousness and not in unrighteousness. Zacchaeus was righteous in the receiving of the Truth with joy ….and his works reflected such.

(Prov 12:7 KJV) The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

'The house of the righteous shall stand'…..Zacchaeus 'stood.' After Zacchaeus humbled himself, he 'stood'…..exalted by the Lord.

(Luke 19:8 KJV) And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

Zacchaeus’s works show that he believed in the Truth. He will have pity on those he once took advantage of….those poor…the poor in spirit….the lost sheep who do not know their left from their right hand. He had mercy on the poor:

(Prov 14:21 KJV) He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

He had pity upon the poor:

(Prov 19:17 KJV) He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

The Zacchaeus of today will give his bread to the poor….he will be a teacher of the Truth of God….he will gladly give to the poor:

(Prov 22:9 KJV) He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

The Zacchaeus of today will cast his bread to the people..he will be a preacher of Truth..and the Lord will bless him....the Lord will repay him.

(Eccl 11:1 KJV) Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

The Zacchaeus of today will give to the poor…he will not hide his eyes from them….he will not withhold the Truth from those who are badly in need to hear it:

(Prov 28:27 KJV) He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

Zacchaeus was considered righteous…because he received the belief of the Truth in righteousness…..he will consider the cause of the poor…he will feed them with true bread and will give drink to the thirsty.

(Prov 29:7 KJV) The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

[shawn]

Like Zacchaeus, many have 'ran before' the Lord instead of following him.

(Luke 19:4 KJV) And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

In their eagerness to see Jesus as he is, religious leaders have ran ahead and figuratively 'climbed up into a sycamore tree.' The 'sycamore tree' is the Scriptures….by 'climbing' or ascending, they took it upon themselves to privately interpret the Scriptures….they leaned on their own understanding….they used their own wisdom to teach things out of the bible before the proper interpretation came from the mouth of the Lord. As it says in Luke 19:4, 'he was to pass that way'…..our Lord comes to open up the Scriptures for our understanding….at the appointed time. Only then can we cleanse ourselves from the things that religious men have invented and caused others to follow….when we realize what has been done…the errors that have been made….the missing of the mark….errors when it comes to Truth. Jesus 'came to the place, he looked up'…..Jesus comes to open the Scriptures so that we may properly see the condition we are in…. 'looked up'….spiritually, the time of the recovery of the spiritual sight….the revelation of the hidden mysteries of the Scriptures….the 'regeneration.'

5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

Jesus instructed Zacchaeus to 'make haste'……to speed….to study the Scriptures with the correct interpreter, Jesus the Anointed. Only he can rightly divide the Word for us…only he can make us of a quick understanding in the fear of the Lord…which is the beginning of wisdom. Jesus told Zacchaeus to 'come down'….to humble oneself at the revelation of the Truth. One must 'cease from thine own wisdom'….cease from one’s own interpretation of the Scriptures. Many have labored to be rich using their own understanding:

(Prov 23:4 KJV) Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

By improperly using the Scriptures, men have labored to be rich. By doing so is not showing love for the brothers…we were to follow Jesus…we were to walk after his commandments and not after our desires to be rich. The commandment to love one another is the doctrine of Christ and many have not abided in it…they ran ahead.

(2 John 1:6 KJV) And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

To love one another is the 'daily sacrifice.' It is the daily debt we continually owe. To love one another is fulfilling the Law:

(Rom 13:8 KJV) Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

But the 'daily sacrifice' has been taken away….the love of most has grown cold…many in the church do not keep the 'daily sacrifice' because of the transgressions….the many different private interpretations of the Scriptures in which men have caused divisions in the church….strife and envy among the people of God.

(Dan 8:12 KJV) And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered.

This is what Jesus told us in Matthew….. ' because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.' The 'love of many' = the 'daily sacrifice.' And the 'daily sacrifice' has been taken away 'by reason of transgression' = 'iniquity shall abound'….. and the source is incorrect interpretations of the Scriptures…..which casts truth to the ground.

(Mat 24:10 KJV) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Then Jesus will open up the Scriptures for our understanding….the good news of deliverance from this condition will be preached….redemption, salvation, love, joy, understanding in the kingdom.

(Mat 24:14 KJV) And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

But how will religious men receive the opening up of the Scriptures when Jesus comes to that location…at the sycamore tree…how will he handle the Truth? Will he follow the Lord at his instruction…at his rebuke? We saw Zacchaeus doing correctly…he received it with joy and had works related to his belief in our Lord and Savior. But we also see the other reaction in the rich ruler who departed from the Lord in grief because he could not let go of his great possessions:

(Mat 19:22 KJV) But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Once we hear the revealed Truth…the rebuke of our Lord, do we ignore it …depart from it? The Lord rebukes those he loves as he did the rich ruler…for he loved him when he saw him.

(Rev 3:19 KJV) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

The rich ruler could not accept his rebuke…his instruction….for he loved his life the way it was….he could not deny himself in order to follow the Lord…he could not repent. Then we see in Proverbs the consequence of this decision to stubbornly cling to our own understanding…to our riches we have built up using such. Wisdom uttereth her voice in the streets…Jesus 'gone forth in the way' (Mark 10:17.) Meaning the time of the revelation.

(Prov 1:20 KJV) Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

Wisdom cries in the 'openings of the gates'….the opening of the understanding of the Scriptures…the revelation of Jesus Christ. 'in the city' = New Jerusalem.

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Jesus…who has the wisdom of God…rebukes those he loves. 'I will make known my words unto you'…..the hidden mysteries of the Scriptures will be made known…the hidden manna:

23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

But as the rich ruler demonstrated, there will be those who refuse the call:

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

By rejecting the counsel of the Lord, the rich ruler 'set at nought' his counsel….and would not listen to the 'reproof:'

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

The decision will have been made…by turning away from the rebuke, there will be no remedy afterwards. They will have rejected their own mercy.

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

The consequence of ignoring the rebuke and chastisement of our Lord is to 'eat of the fruit' of our own way. To be given over to a reprobate mind to be filled with all unrighteousness….to be filled with their 'own devices'…their own counsel which will prove frustrating, angry and wicked….weeping and gnashing of teeth.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

The rich ruler turned away from Jesus…he departed from his instruction, his rebuke….only to find out later that his own prosperity would destroy him in wickedness.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

Jesus says he will 'spue thee out of my mouth' if we do not heed his counsel and repent:

(Rev 3:16 KJV) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

The Lord will give us the hidden mysteries of the Scriptures if we answer his call…his knocking at the door….if we open the door and receive him with joy and belief.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

To those who can overcome their lives in which they have labored at to be rich….to cease from their own wisdom, the Lord will grant us the privilege to sit with him in his throne…to judge with him:

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

For that is also what he told the disciples…the learners…at the 'regeneration' we shall sit with him in the throne of his glory. What a wonderful promise!

(Mat 19:27 KJV) Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

[Victor]

Thank you for posting this array of verses. There's much in common between Wisdom literature of the OT and the stories in the Gospels, specially in Luke.

By the way, one of the verses you quote - Proverbs 21:8 - uses the Hebrew word that is the basis for the name Zacchaeus.

8 The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure [zak], his work is right.

[shawn]

By the way, one of the verses you quote - Proverbs 21:8 - uses the Hebrew word that is the basis for the name Zacchaeus.

8 The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure [zak], his work is right.

Thank you Victor for highlighting this.

I think Proverbs is very important in understanding the teachings of Jesus....for it says in Proverbs:

(Prov 1:6 KJV) To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

Solomon's words are the words of Christ.

Shawn

[shawn]

As we saw previously, Zacchaeus climbed into a sycamore tree….which is a representation of the Scriptures and the leaning on of man's understanding of them….using his own wisdom of the Scriptures…ascending into the tree:

(Luke 19:4 KJV) And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

Yet, we find another man and a tree in John. Nathanael was under the fig tree:

John 1:45:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

What Nathanael was doing was studying the Scriptures as Philip’s call to him showed….he found Nathanael under the fig tree….reading and searching for whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write. He was a seeker of Truth:

(John 1:45 KJV) Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Nathanael represents men who study…waiting and watching…for the interpretation to be given by Jesus Christ. 'Nathanael' means 'given of God.' God reveals to us the Truth of the Scriptures and not man. They study and yet do not lean on their own understanding….they do not produce works with what they think it says…they do not lead others astray with their own words and thoughts. They are 'under the fig tree.' They had not 'climbed' into the tree to rise above others….as those who seek to be preeminent among men…as those who seek to be rich. They love God and their brothers…not seeking their own gain. Nathanael represents those who have 'no guile'…they do not defraud others with 'false accusation' as Zacchaeus had once did. They do not lead others astray with their own deceiving interpretations of the Scriptures.

46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Because Nathanael was prepared, awake and watching (studying) 'under the fig tree', he was able to immediately recognize Jesus as the Son of God…the King of Israel…the Rabbi…the teacher of the Truth. No rebuke was needed.

49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Nathanael immediately believed he was the King of Israel….he heard the voice of Jesus and believed. Jesus bears witness to the Truth….he is the Truth.

(John 18:37 KJV) Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. With the opening of the Scriptures to our understanding (the revelation of Jesus Christ), we are able to find the truth…the righteousness of God…the way of righteousness….the life. Religious man can then see his sin and repent and turn back to God.

(John 14:6 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus told Nathanael that he would see 'heaven open:'

50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

To see 'heaven open' is to see the opening of the understanding of the Scriptures….heavenly wisdom from above. The fig tree is the Scriptures and it produces 'sprouts' of leaves in the spring….it begins to reveal the Truth as a sprout and grows to produce fruits of joy, peace, righteousness.

(Mat 24:32 KJV) Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

As Jesus says in Matthew, when we shall 'see' all these things he was talking about, we know that the end is near:

(Mat 24:33 KJV) So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

To 'see' is to understand…when we understand all the things Jesus talked about, we 'know' that it is near, even at the doors. It is the UNDERSTANDING of these things that we look for….when we finally properly UNDERSTAND the things we read in the Scriptures is a sign that Jesus speaks to us….the 'shoot, sprout' of the truth. 'Truth shall spring out of the earth'…..Truth shall sprout of the earth…out of the Scriptures:

(Psa 85:11 KJV) Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

As Nathanael asks, 'can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?' Some say 'Nazareth' means 'sprout, shoot.' Can anything come out of the sprout of the Truth?

46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see

Righteousness, joy, love, peace comes out of the knowledge of the Truth. The earth will produce the precious fruit of righteousness and joy and love and all the good things.

(James 5:7 KJV) Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

The rain is the words of God…for God speaks…he reveals to us the Truth and we are able to produce fruits of righteousness….as trees of righteousness.

(Deu 32:1 KJV) Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

For God will create a new heaven and a new earth…the home of righteousness. Spiritual new heavens and a new earth…by the opening up of the understanding of the Scriptures.

(2 Pet 3:13 KJV) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

And when we look for new heavens and a new earth, we must go back to Genesis to see the transformation of the earth that was without form and void…the 'regeneration.' Man has been wandering in darkness…not knowing the proper interpretation of the Scriptures…not knowing the Truth until the light of Christ rises upon us….who gives us the revealed knowledge of God as a light that shines in the darkness. The 'waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place' = the gathering of people to hear the Truth:

(Gen 1:9 KJV) And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

The people will be gathered together to hear the Truth…..the 'dry land appears'…the Truth manifests itself by Gods words…. 'and God said.' He reveals the Truth of the Scriptures to us.

(Isa 43:8 KJV) Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

The 'sprout' of the Truth comes out of the earth….and brings forth salvation and righteousness…it is God whose word is as the rain…who speaks to the earth and the earth brings it forth:

(Isa 45:8 KJV) Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

God speaks to the earth and the earth brings it forth…..the new earth…the home of righteousness. It brings forth salvation and righteousness in the regeneration…..a resurrection of the Truth on the 'third day' …where life appears sprouting from the dry ground.

Genesis 1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

[shawn]

The "regeneration" is the creation of the new heaven and new earth. The earth has become spiritually without form and void....and spiritually needs to be recreated starting with the Light of the Truth of the Scriptures. It is a third creation (remember "third heaven")....the first one was before Noah...which was destroyed by the flood:

(2 Pet 3:4 KJV) 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:

The second creation we presently live in is reserved for fire...but not a literal burning....but a changing of the way things are done....where all the highly esteemed things of man are done away with and the things of God rule.

(2 Pet 3:7 KJV) 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.

As it says in 2 Peter 3:7......"by the same word".....God's word does not change, but it allows to repeat. When we consider Noah's ark, it had three floors....indicating three creations.....it had one door for all 3 levels....indicating Christ is that door by which men are saved...... for each regeneration:

(John 10:9 KJV) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

We find a "window" in the ark......it represents the Wisdom of God....who is like a "mother" to us all. God's Wisdom sheds the light of knowledge onto the Scriptures by which we are saved....by His Truth are we saved. The window was finished "above".....the Wisdom from above. It was made "in a cubit"....."cubit" meaning "mother of a measure."

(Gen 6:16 KJV) A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

If we look at the marriage at Cana....it was on the "third day".....spiritually representing the third creation. We find the mother of Jesus there......spiritually, she is the Wisdom of God....the window of the ark:

(John 2:1 KJV) And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

It was the "third day" in "Galilee".....the "circle" of God's Word....which allows a repeat of the creation (recreation) by the same Word of God...in this case the third creation. "Cana" means "nest, reed".....the third floor of the ark was probably where the "window" of the ark was to give light. The "mother of measure".....Wisdom....was found in the beginning:

(Prov 8:22 KJV) The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

The marriage at Cana has two clues that this is the representation of a new beginning....a new creation: the mother of Jesus was there....wisdom was there at the beginning. The second clue....the changing of the water into wine was the "beginning" of the miracles of Jesus:

(John 2:11 KJV) This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.


To be continued.....

[shawn]

At the marriage, the people ran out of wine and the mother of Jesus.....Wisdom....said "they have no wine:"

(John 2:3 KJV) And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

"Wine" is symbolic of joy. The church has also ran out of joy in these end days.....the wine has ran out and we have no wine....no joy. Our "earth" has been made desolate....without form and void because of the transgressions of those of the church. It becomes without form and void just as Genesis 1:2 states. The darkness is the lack of knowledge that man currently sits in.

(Gen 1:2 KJV) And the earth was 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.

It is God who has made it desolate as judgment upon the church.

(Isa 24:1 KJV) Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

It is because of sin that it has been made this way. There is fighting and war within our churches....there is coveting....there is a lack of love....there is no joy. To love each other is the "ordinance"....it is the commandment...it is the "daily sacrifice" that has been done away with. It is the doctrine of Christ....it is the foundation of the building of the church.

(Isa 24:5 KJV) The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

In James, it shows how "nation shall rise against nation"....it is the wars and fightings within the churches (nations) brought on by envy and strife.....by coveting. This is spoken to the religious:

(James 4:1 KJV) From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

The joy has been taken away....the voice of gladness....and the whole land is desolate....as we serve the king of confusion....Babylon....the churches have no knowledge. There are many denominations.....we are divided and against each other over man-made interpretations of the bible. We war and strive with one another.

(Jer 25:10 KJV) Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.
11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

The joy of our heart is ceased......we have no wine....it has ran out:

(Lam 5:15 KJV) The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.
16 The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!
17 For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.
18 Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.

There is crying for wine (joy ) in the streets.....all joy is darkened .....the wine has ran out:

(Isa 24:11 KJV) There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.

(Jer 7:34 KJV) Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate.

So at the marriage in Cana, we see the condition of the guests.....lacking wine....for their is no wine because it ran out....the joy has been removed.....for the earth became without form and void:

(John 2:3 KJV) And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

But Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness....the hour will come when God says "let their be light." Jesus manifests his glory....his light ....his knowledge will shine in the darkness that men currently sit in. Wisdom is the "woman:"

4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

The light will manifest forth in glory....shining in the darkness....the hour is coming....it is even at the door:

(John 2:11 KJV) This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.


To be continued......

[Victor]

It is very interesting to find out that, except for James 4:1 and Lamentations 5:15, all verses that you quote are connected to Spoke 2 (Bet) of the structure of books, chapters and verses of the Bible.

These are the passages you reference:

John 2 - Spoke 2 of the Inner Cycle of John

Genesis 1:2 - Spoke 2 of the Inner Cycle of Genesis 1

Isaiah 24 - Spoke 2 of the Inner Wheel of Isaiah

Jeremiah (various verses) - Spoke 2 of the Bible Wheel

The texts are interconnected with two ideas: the double concept of "formless and void" and the theme of marriage, the union of the couple. So each of the two subjects have a link to Spoke 2.

BTW, the two Hebrew words ("formless" and "void") are only found elsewhere in Jeremiah.

[shawn]

Thank you Victor for pointing that out.


I thank God for His Light in this beautiful morning!

(John 2:11 KJV) This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

The word "manifested" is "phaneroo" which means "to render apparent, declare, manifest forth" ....which comes from the "phaneros" which means "shining forth." Jesus is the light that shines forth in the darkness of man's understanding....in his confusion , envy and strife....in the state of having "no wine".....having no joy in his religious activities and organizations which are devoid of truth. The hour is coming for the light.....the truth, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, strength, counsel, righteousness of God....to shine in the darkness.....the glory of the Lord is "manifested forth:"

(Isa 60:1 KJV) Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Because in this day religious man sits in darkness......darkness has covered the "earth".....thick, gloomy darkness....but the Lord shall arise as the morning sun upon the land of darkness.

2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Religious man has no knowledge to do good......the "earth was without form and void:"

(Jer 4:22 KJV) For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

Jesus had warned us that the "night" was coming.....when "no man can work"......no man has done the works of God in this night:

(John 9:4 KJV) I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Men "sleep" at "night." And as we slept the enemy sowed tares among the wheat:

(Mat 13:25 KJV) But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

We are in darkness.....we are "wise to do evil." Our religious works and teachings (tares) are really works of darkness and false teachings.....and we are not even aware of this. But as Paul says to the church today in "Romans" which means "strength"......to the awakening church to the knowledge of God......it is "high time to awake out of sleep:"

(Rom 13:11 KJV) And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

We must cast off the works of darkness.....not to behave as we once did as a church....not in "rioting and drunkenness"......not literally drunk, but drunk on our own wisdom ....on our own works. Our very religious lives were in error....as it was motivated in lusts for worldly things.....earthly wisdom which produces strife and envy. The religious works of men are not motivated by brotherly love.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

For as Jesus told the church in Sardis......if we do not "watch", to "awaken," he will come as a thief......as a thief in the night:

(Rev 3:3 KJV) Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

For the "morning" comes.....the dawning of the Truth of God.....for Christ comes as the light shining in the darkness.....in him there is no "night." He who comes has the keys of death and Hades....to let his church out of this current darkness.....where there is no wine....no joy. Jesus tells those churches in "Asia," which means "sunrise, east, resurrection," that those who overcome the darkness will inherit all things. His "countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength:"

(Rev 1:16 KJV) And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

We are the churches in "Asia" today....the sun is starting to rise on the churches after the night....the dawning. He has the keys of "hell and death" to let those of the churches out of their prison.....he is the light that shines in the darkness....he is the sun rising in the new day of the Truth that chases off the night that men have slept in. We have been as "dead"......asleep. But we will awake...live....in the morning of the Truth.

18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

To those who overcome....to those who fear His name....when they hear the Truth shall the "Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings." We shall go forth out of the prison we were once in....the "stall."

(Mal 4:2 KJV) But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

In the Lord's light, we have the "fountain of life".....the water of life by which we are saved.

(Psa 36:9 KJV) For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

The "entrance of thy words" gives light.....the "opening" of His Word gives us understanding. The Scriptures are opened up so that we may have understanding....this light gives us understanding.

(Psa 119:130 KJV) The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

The light arises in the darkness:

(Psa 112:4 KJV) Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

The light is the truth of God....the complete knowledge of God:

(Psa 43:3 KJV) O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

We shall "shine forth as the sun" in the kingdom of our Father:

(Mat 13:41 KJV) The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

In the end of this age, the Son of man sends forth his messengers.....the "angels" of the Truth who speak the Word of God. For in the "resurrection".....the rising of the "sun".....we are as the "angels".....we are the servants of God who repeat what the Lord says....we have ears to hear:

(Mark 12:25 KJV) For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

As we find in the marriage at Cana......his mother....which is the Wisdom of God.....says to the "servants" (who are as the angels in heaven) "whatsoever he saith unto you, do it:"

(John 2:5 KJV) His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

"Who hath hears to hear, let him hear"......

(Rev 3:6 KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

As the servants were instructed, whatever he says to us, we bring forth...the Greek word "poieo" means to "bring forth, bear"....as messengers of the Truth we bring forth the Word of God whose doctrine is as the rain upon the dry, desolate earth....upon man's desolate ways and thoughts. The rain produces fruits of righteousness, love for one another, peace, unity, strength.....all those good things of God we are desperately lacking in our churches today.

We are as the "angels" in heaven....we are to be His messengers in the rising of the sun.....the bright, morning star that rises in the darkness of men's hearts:

(Rev 22:16 KJV) I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

The Spirit and the bride say "come".....and those that hear them also say "come"....for those who hear are as the angels of heaven.....they are the messengers that repeat what the Spirit says in this regeneration:

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

This water of life produces "wine".....pure joy....which no man can take away. And as messengers, we participate with God in recreating the earth that had become without form and void. We are his family and it is God and his family (the plural "Elohiym") that speaks.....we serve as witnesses to God's wonderful works.....we participate with God in establishing His Word....in establishing the earth in righteousness.....may His will be done in earth as it is in heaven! For it is in the mouth of two or three witnesses that every Word of God is established......the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the messengers (angels) that repeat what they hear the Spirit says.

(1 Tim 5:21 KJV) I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

(Luke 9:26 KJV) For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.


To be continued.......

[shawn]

(John 2:5 KJV) His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

The "servants" are the messengers of the Truth....that act as the conduit of the Truth of God. They are like stars in the heavens....they are people who listen to the Spirit of Truth....who teach others in the way of righteousness. They will shine as the "brightness of the firmament"......as "stars for ever and ever."

(Dan 12:3 KJV) And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

They will fight against all those who are opposed to the Truth....."they fought from heaven, the stars in their courses"......just as they fought against Sisera during the time of Deborah...the judge. These will be teachers who care nothing for riches....like most shepherds do today.

(Judg 5:19 KJV) The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.
20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

These messengers of Truth are the "angels".....not the ethereal kind....but of flesh and blood....you and I that listen to the Spirit and overcome. You are the angel of Ephesus if you hear the Spirit in this last day and overcome:

(Rev 2:1 KJV) Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Those that hear the Spirit of Truth at the appointed time of the revelation of the Truth and overcome become messengers of the Truth.....reapers who harvest for God. Those that hear and overcome become one of the angels.....collectively speaking...of the seven churches....that will shine in the darkness.

(Rev 2:7 KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

The functions of the "stars" are to rule over the day and over the night and to divide the light from the darkness:

(Gen 1:16 KJV) And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

This is symbolic of rulership with Christ in his kingdom....those who overcome will set down with Christ in his throne.....in the Father's throne:

(Rev 3:21 KJV) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

To rule the day and the night....power over the nations will be given to those who hear the Spirit of Truth and overcome:

(Rev 2:26 KJV) And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

They will divide light from darkness....they will speak the Truth which will separate the tares from the wheat:

(Mat 13:30 KJV) Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

You are one of the "angels"......messengers of the Truth if one hears the Spirit of Truth and overcomes. The Son of man shall send forth his angels with the Truth:

(Mat 13:41 KJV) The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

They divide the light from the darkness....they will sever the wicked from the just:

(Mat 13:49 KJV) So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

As Jesus asked the disciples.....have you understood all these things? Understanding is the key to hearing the Spirit....to understand the Scriptures.....to be instructed by the Spirit in this end day about the kingdom of heaven.

51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

We are the "scribe" that will be instructed about the kingdom of heaven by Jesus ....who is the Truth, Light and Way of righteousness. We will by like a man that is an "householder" which brings forth out of his treasure things new and old....to be messengers of the Truth with Christ. We participate in dividing the light from the darkness....he makes us kings and priests....stars in heaven:

52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

The "stars" in heaven are the messengers of the Truth....we will be the servants of God who help in the recreation of the earth that had become desolate. Religious man has become darkened in understanding and his works are works of darkness. The Lord makes the "seven stars"....those messengers of the Truth who participate in turning the "shadow of death into the morning:"

(Amos 5:8 KJV) Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:

The messengers of the Truth are as the constellations of the heavens...they come forth in their season...the Son of man sends his "angels" forth with the Truth....to preach the Truth as a "star" of heaven......to lead others to righteousness in God...to divide the light from the darkness:

(Job 38:31 KJV) Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

The "heavens" declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handiwork.....the night shows knowledge....the stars shine in the darkness....the messengers of the Truth speak the Truth and lead others to righteousness.

(Psa 19:1 KJV) To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth 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 hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth 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.

To be continued......

[shawn]

The Lord comes with his messengers to divide the light from the darkness.....he comes for DIVISION....the Truth of God is revealed which causes a division among the people.....the tares from the wheat....the goats from the sheep....darkness from the light.

(Luke 12:51 KJV) Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Our enemies are of our own household.....among us in the church. But it is the Truth that comes to reveal what is in their hearts.....the revealing of the man of sin.....those of our own "countrymen" who will persecute any one who escapes from their influences. God is calling us into his kingdom and glory....at the revealing of the Truth....how will religious man accept the Truth when it comes?

(1 Th 2:12 KJV) That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

The wrath comes upon those who vilify the Truth....who vilify those who clean escape from them. They are of our own household.....they will receive not the love of the revealed Truth so that they may be saved from their sins.....their darkness.....their works.....and the wrath of God who comes upon those who hold the revealed Truth in unrighteousness:

(Rom 1:18 KJV) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Those who do not believe in the revealed Truth but cling on to their religious works of darkness.....their pleasure in unrighteousness....will be judged.

(2 Th 2:12 KJV) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The light comes into the world....."let there be light".....but some religious men will not believe in the Truth.....they will not believe in the words of Jesus...the light....nor in his name which means "Jehovah saves." They will hate the light.....because they love their own deeds of darkness.....light is divided from the darkness:

(John 3:18 KJV) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

They...those who are of our own household....will not obey the gospel.....the full gospel that will be preached at the end of this age by the messengers (angels.) They will not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who comes to save us from the darkness...the prison we are currently in.

(2 Th 1:7 KJV) And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

How will religious man accept the Truth when it comes? If he exalts himself against the Truth, he will be humbled....for by his words shall he be justified....in believing the Truth when it comes....or he will be condemned because he doesn't believe in the Truth:

(Mat 12:37 KJV) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

For the man who resists the Truth is likened to "Alexander the coppersmith"....his works will be rewarded to him:

(2 Tim 4:14 KJV) Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

For the man who resists the Truth is likened to those who rose up against Stephen. They are "Libertines"...they call themselves freemen but are really servants of sin. They are religious....of a synagogue:

(Acts 6:9 KJV) Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

Yet Stephen's face was like the face of an angel....for he was a messenger of the Truth....which they did not want to hear.

15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.




To be continued......

[shawn]

2 Tim 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

"Alexander" means "defender of man"......signifying those religious who stand up to the Truth...that exalt themselves and defend their doctrines of men....their commandments of men. They will resist the Truth when it comes...they will withstand the words of Truth. They love this "present world" of Babylon....the confusion over the Scriptures by which they rule. They are of the synagogue of the "Libertines"......Cyrenians and "Alexandrians:"

(Acts 6:9 KJV) Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

They call themselves free men....."Libertines".....but are really "servants of corruption." They promise those who would listen to them freedom:

(2 Pet 2:19 KJV) While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

They do not believe in the name of the Lord.....Jesus....which means "Jehovah saves, delivers, rescues"......they think they already have freedom. Little do they realize they are in a prison which our Lord graciously offers to let us out of at the revelation of the Truth....he who has the keys of death and Hades will let us out if we have ears that hear. They are "Cyrenians" which means "wall".....referring to their pride. Their pride against the Truth will be humbled:

(Isa 2:12 KJV) For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
13 And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,
14 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,
15 And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,
16 And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.
17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
18 And the idols he shall utterly abolish.
19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?

They are "Alexandrians"...they defend their own wisdom....their own doctrines of men. They love the way things are now....they do not deny themselves....but do deny the Lord by rising up against His Truth. They are of "Cilicia and of Asia." "Cilicia" means "which rolls or overturns"......meaning at the time of the revelation of the Truth.....at the "resurrection" the stone "rolls" away. The literal, earthly understanding of the Scriptures rolls away to show us the spiritual understanding of the Lord. The stone rolls away from the tomb and life emerges....true life in the Lord. "Asia" means "sunrise, resurrection"....it will at the revelation of Jesus Christ.....at the shining of his knowledge of God....that they will rise up to dispute with the Lord. He is our King. As they rose up to dispute with "Stephen" which means "crown," they will rise up to dispute with the Crown.....the government of God....they will "despise government."

(2 Pet 2:10 KJV) But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

These are people who say we already have the revealed Truth of God and so overthrow the faith of some. The faith is overthrown because it leads people astray from the expectation of the Lord coming with the Truth.....they say the "resurrection" is past already. They say we have the Truth and need nothing else:

(2 Tim 2:16 KJV) But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

"Hymenaeus and Philetus" are symbolic of all those who say we have the Truth now....and do not expect the Lord who will come as a thief in the night upon them. They do not prepare themselves for the Lord because they trust in their own doctrines to save them....they lean upon their own understanding instead of trusting in the Lord. "Hymenaeus" means "belonging to marriage, the god of marriage" and "Philetus" means "fond of, amiable, beloved"......they are married to their doctrines of men that they love......they will refuse the Truth when it comes because they say they already have the Truth...the "resurrection is past already." They will not believe in the Truth when it comes......they have married "strange wives"....strange, foreign doctrines:

(Luke 14:20 KJV) And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

They are like "Demas" which means "popular".....which is code for all those who love this present religious system who refuse to come to the Truth....to the light:

(2 Tim 4:10 KJV) For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

To be popular....to be a much loved ruler...false prophet.... over the people is not good:

(Luke 6:26 KJV) Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

They will say at the revelation of the Truth they have "no sin".....for they already have the Truth...they haven't "missed the mark:"

(1 John 1:8 KJV) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

They love the current system because it has made them "rich".....they will be confident that "no sin" will be found in them because of their "wonderful works"....which are really works of darkness:

(Hosea 12:8 KJV) And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.

(Rev 3:17 KJV) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

At the time of the "resurrection"......which "Asia" means.....they will turn away from the Truth. Just as "Phygellus and Hermogenes" turned away from Paul in Asia:

(2 Tim 1:15 KJV) This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

They will turn their away their ears from the Truth....they love this present religious world of Babylon....they love the darkness and will not deny themselves to follow the Lord:

(2 Tim 4:1 KJV) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

But let the "wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts." For the ways of the current religious system is in error....because they know not the Scriptures and the power of God....we have all erred concerning the Truth.

(Isa 55:6 KJV) Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

We have been under lies in the current religious system....there has not been one other than our Lord who has not sinned....all our works have been works of darkness. But the contrast at the coming of the Truth of God will show us the light.....it will glorify God. We have not had understanding for the last 2000 years.

(Rom 3:7 KJV) For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

For our Lord Jesus Christ was the only one without sin...who resisted the temptation of Satan to turn the literal, earthly understanding of the Scriptures into bread for men to eat and produce riches from. For he has paid for the sins that we have been actively participating in.....we our judged as sinners in this day and age. We, the current religious world, have made "stones" into bread....we have used the Scriptures (the twisting of them) to lead others astray. Our doctrines of men have been used to "feed" people.....deceitful bread and stolen water. Our religious empires only reflect our own "glory" and not God's. But we will have mercy when Truth comes....for we live by every word of God...for He will interpret the Scriptures properly for us so that we may know true life, the way of righteousness, the light, works of righteousness.

(Mat 4:3 KJV) And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

The church has been put into prison by Satan.....we have been taken captive by him....the snare of the devil that most of the churches have been trapped in:

(2 Tim 2:25 KJV) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,






To be continued.....

[shawn]

Not all of the religious will enter into the kingdom of heaven.....because they will not listen to the Truth when it comes. When we "hear" the sayings of Jesus and do them, we will have built the house on a rock. The rock is the revelation of the knowledge of God.....God reveals it to us and not man. But men who continue with their works of iniquity....their religious works of things based on man's understanding...will miss out. Those who resist the Truth will fall....their own works will not save them in the day of wrath.

(Mat 7:21 KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

It was the religious that John the Baptist preached to in the wilderness. It is the religious today that need to repent. It was the religious that needed baptized in the Jordan 2000 years ago....it is the religious today that need to immerse themselves in the Truth of God....in the Spirit of Truth that descends from heaven. Heavenly wisdom descends as New Jerusalem. "Jordan" means "descender." It was the religious that was the "untoward generation".....the warped generation that they needed to save themselves from:

(Acts 2:40 KJV) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

The message is especially very relevant today....for the times are evil....right in our own churches. We need to save ourselves from our own "untoward generation." We need to depart from iniquity that is prevalent in our churches....."let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity:"

(2 Tim 2:19 KJV) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

We need to depart from our "wonderful works" which are really works of iniquity. It was the religious that needed to repent and be saved 2000 years ago. We have come full circle....we are no better than they were. For the religious leaders of back then loved money, loved to be preeminent among men, loved themselves, were proud and boastful, resisted the truth, etc. Today, we find those very same attributes among us. For in the last days religious men behave like they did:

(2 Tim 3:1 KJV) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

They will hear the Truth when it is revealed but will never able to believe in it....their own works and wisdom prevent them. It is the "epignosis".....the full, complete knowledge that is revealed.

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.


They will continue in their works after hearing and rejecting the Truth....the "epignosis." They willfully continue in them....and there will remain no more sacrifice for their sins...they have made their choice in the face of the Truth of God. The wrath comes upon those who reject the Truth...the Light for their works of darkness. They will hold the Truth in unrighteousness.

(Heb 10:26 KJV) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

And as Paul told the "Romans" which means "strength".....let us cast off the works of darkness. For as a church, we had walked spiritually in rioting and drunkenness in our own wisdom.....which produces strife and envy among the members of the church:

(Rom 13:11 KJV) And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Not only was the book of "Romans" written to the church of 2000 years ago, it was especially written for today....to the awakening church....to the church who comes into "strength"...."Romans." He is speaking directly to us today. We, as a church, have been servants of sin....but now to the church in "strength" (Romans,) we will have obeyed the "form of doctrine that was delivered" to us....the Truth will be revealed by which we cleanse ourselves.

(Rom 6:17 KJV) But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

We, as religious men, have yielded our members to uncleanness....but now that the Truth is revealed (to the church in strength,) we become servants of righteousness.

19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

For when we realize the Truth and how we have all missed the mark of the Truth....we will be ashamed of the things we had worked for ....all the religious activities were for nothing but to be burned:

21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For the house built on the sand will fall.....those "wonderful works" we have all participated in will disappear. The "works" will be burned up. The "heavens" will pass away....those leaders who participate in these things will lose their positions over the flock of God.

(2 Pet 3:10 KJV) 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.


To be continued.....

[shawn]

Good morning. I thank God for His Light that shines in the darkness….and I pray others may hear His voice….to know the Scriptures and the power of God.

The earth became without form and void…..men have become darkened in their understanding and ways concerning God. They have no knowledge of the righteousness of God. For sin, has God judged the church.

(Gen 1:2 KJV) And the earth was 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.

His judgments are a great deep:

(Psa 36:6 KJV) Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

Man has not understood these judgments….the 'darkness was upon the face of the deep.' The judgments came upon religious man for his covetousness:

(Isa 57:17 KJV) For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

Man needs the Light to understand the judgment of God and to be led in the Way of righteousness. Without the Light we have wandered in the darkness and the waves and winds toss us to and fro. But the Spirit of God moves upon the face of the waters….just as Jesus walked upon the waters in the night:

(Mark 6:47 KJV) And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

Just as the Spirit of God moves upon the face of the waters….the disciples saw Jesus on the water as though he was a spirit:

49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

The disciples were 'toiling in rowing for the wind was contrary unto them.' This refers to the four winds of heaven….which is the judgment of God. We have been dispersed to the four winds by reason of our transgressions….our 'toiling' at our own works. The four winds strive upon the seas in the night. Man’s understanding is darkened….religious men use their own understanding of the Scriptures….and it causes many troubles….division, wars, envy, strife….the judgments of God upon the churches. As we see in Daniel, the four winds of heaven strove upon the great sea at night:

(Dan 7:2 KJV) Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

And we see a beast that came up from the sea….the raging sea that the four winds strive upon. The first beast was like a lion….symbolically like a king:

4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

We, the churches, have lived like kings without the knowledge of God….in darkness…we have reigned without Truth and righteousness:

(1 Cor 4:8 KJV) Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

The first beast had eagle’s wings which were plucked off….the eagle’s wings are symbolic of God’s protection, loving kindness and mercies. The peace of God has been taken away from the church….His loving kindness and mercies have been removed…the wings of the eagle had been 'plucked.'

(Jer 16:5 KJV) For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, even lovingkindness and mercies.

(Exo 19:4 KJV) Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.

The first beast was 'lifted up from the earth'….men are proud in their erroneous, religious understanding. It had the feet as a man….religious men walk in their own 'righteousness' and not God’s. It had a man’s heart…..the understanding of men is not based on the Truth of God. It is his own understanding that he leans on. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. Our church fathers had forsaken the Lord. We have inherited their 'understanding' of the Scriptures…their doctrines….their ways….their traditions….their errors. When we understand this, we ask why did the Lord pronounce these judgments upon the church…..we find the answer in Jeremiah:

(Jer 16:10 KJV) And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt show this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?

The first beast had feet as a man….our fathers 'walked after other gods'….they walked after the imagination of his evil heart….as the religious still do today…we have inherited their ways.

11 Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;

We walk after the imagination of our own evil heart….the heart of a man in the first beast.

12 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:

We have been on the sea tossed to and fro in the darkness…..carried with every wind of doctrine….by the deception of men’s doctrines that come from the imagination of their own evil hearts.

(Eph 4:14 KJV) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

The doctrines of men are based on the literal, earthly understanding of the Scriptures….. 'a lying tongue' that seeks the getting of 'treasures' ….they love money ….they love to be met in the marketplaces…they love to have preeminence among men…they hate the Truth.

(Prov 21:6 KJV) The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

Wavering, double-minded men are like waves of the sea driven with the wind and tossed:

(James 1:6 KJV) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

They are like raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame:

(Jude 1:13 KJV) Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

The four horses of Revelation show us the four winds of heaven….they scatter the people. They are the judgments of God….the sword, famine, pestilence. The sword takes the peace of God from among men. We have 1000 different denominations not living in peace and unity. We have a famine now from hearing the Word of God. We have spiritual hunger in our churches. We are asleep as a church…. 'death' and Hades….in a state of having no wisdom…no light…no peace…no spiritual food. We are in darkness….the earth became without form and void…and darkness was upon the face of the deep.

(Rev 6:7 KJV) And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

But Jesus comes walking upon the water during the 'fourth watch of the night'….the Spirit of God moves upon the face of the waters.

(Mark 6:48 KJV) And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

Jesus has the keys of death and Hades to let his church out of these conditions:

(Rev 1:18 KJV) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

God said 'let there be light'…..Jesus told his disciples 'behold, it is I:'

(Mark 6:50 KJV) For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

(John 6:20 KJV) But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

We shall know him when he speaks to us….he is the Light that shines in the darkness:

(Isa 52:6 KJV) Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I

Jesus is the Light of men….the Light of Life:

(John 8:12 KJV) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

We shall no longer walk in darkness if we follow him. We shall come from the four winds and live in God…in His peace…in unity:

(Ezek 37:9 KJV) Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

At God’s call, we will be delivered from Babylon….from the confusion …from the four winds…from the 'land of the north'….. 'north' is 'tsaphown' which means 'dark.'

(Zec 2:6 KJV) Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.

It is his messengers who shall gather his elect from the four winds…they will speak the Truth of God that they hear from His voice:

(Mark 13:27 KJV) And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

If we willingly receive the Truth…it will cease the 'wind:'

(John 6:21 KJV) Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

(Mark 6:51 KJV) And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

(Mat 14:32 KJV) And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

We will be comforted by the Lord if we repent and accept His Truth…to accept His judgments for what they are. We have all sinned and fall short…we have endured His righteous judgment and now He calls us out. For our works of 'righteousness' have been unclean….our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away from the Lord’s goodness:

(Isa 64:6 KJV) But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

As the ship sailed toward Capernaum, it was dark….it has been our 'dark ages' for the churches….and Jesus had not come yet….for he was as one who went on a long journey:

(John 6:17 KJV) And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

But he comes back, and if we willingly receive him into the ship with us….we will know repentance, God’s peace, comfort….. 'Capernaum' means 'city of comfort.'

(Isa 40:1 KJV) Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

And as 'Noah' means 'rest,' God will give us His rest….. 'this same shall comfort us' concerning our work and toil of our hands……the religious works of darkness that we have all been actively involved that cause envy, strife, division, etc:

(Gen 5:29 KJV) And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.

And we will cast away our works of darkness….let all who name the name of Christ depart from iniquity:

(Isa 2:20 KJV) In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

We are to cease from our own wisdom and fear the Lord….which is the beginning of true wisdom.

(Prov 3:7 KJV) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

The disciples were afraid when they saw the Lord….but he will comfort us if we accept his Truth and repent.

(John 6:19 KJV) So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

For we will ALL hear His voice….His Truth which will brings us out of the 'grave' we have all been in:

(John 5:28 KJV) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

If we accept His Truth and repent of our works, we stand up into true Life in God….but if we deny the Truth for our works, we come forth into the 'resurrection of damnation:'

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

There will be no rest for those who hear and reject the Truth:

(Isa 57:20 KJV) But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

[shawn]

Peter was bid to come to the Lord upon the water:

(Mat 14:28 KJV) And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

And as Peter walked upon the water he saw the wind 'boisterous' and was afraid:

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

When we see the Light of our salvation upon the water (the Spirit of God upon the face of the waters who says 'let there be light',) let us not be afraid of the 'boisterous' wind as Peter was….the 'boisterous wind' being the enemies’ words that will most assuredly taunt those who come to the true Light…our Lord Jesus Christ. As it says in Psalm 27, whom shall I be afraid of?

(Psa 27:1 KJV) A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

The 'foes' are those who will not accept the Truth and be saved….they will make war against those who do accept the Truth. Man’s doctrines will not succeed….their power will be lost. The 'wind' will cease. The 'boisterous wind' is their words that we should not be afraid of….they will come upon us to 'eat up my flesh' with their mouths:

2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

Just as Jesus 'stretched forth his hand' and caught Peter……he will save us and give us power to tread on 'serpents and scorpions'….to walk upon the water….those proud waves who rise up against those who love the Truth. He will give us power over the enemy and they shall not hurt us. His 'hand' is symbolic of his power that he will stretch forth. He will rescue us from those enemies.

(Luke 10:19 KJV) Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

The 'serpents' are those who lead us astray by the twisting of the Scriptures. They are 'scorpions'….they sting with their words. They have the power of 'death'…they have kept the church asleep…they have compassed the church with their doctrines, ways, rules, and 'missing the mark'-of – the - Truth teachings…..sin.

They have been 'floods of ungodly men'….they are the 'sorrows of death' and the 'sorrows of hell' that have compassed the Lord’s church:

(Psa 18:2 KJV) The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

But as Peter, we call upon the Lord to save us from the enemies…from the 'boisterous wind' of their words ….from the raging waves of the sea that foam up their shame.

3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

For He rules the 'raging of the sea' and stills those who rise up against us:

(Psa 89:9 KJV) Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

Those 'floods' of proud men rise up against the Truth and those who love it. But the Lord is mightier than the waves of the sea….those enemies who will rise up.

(Psa 93:3 KJV) The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
93:4The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

And as it says in Ezekiel, 'be not afraid of them' and their words…nor their proud looks…. those we dwell among are the'scorpions' because they use their words to sting. They are 'briers and thorns'….they are the 'tares' among the wheat:

(Ezek 2:6 KJV) And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

For we shall 'tread down the wicked:'

(Mal 4:3 KJV) And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

The Truth sets us free…free from ungodly men…free from the 'grave.' The trumpet of the Truth shall sound…the Scriptures will show forth the spiritual meaning…and it will not be an 'uncertain sound'….it will have meaning for us and show us the way to go…into God’s righteousness…into His works. We will prepare ourselves when we understand the Scriptures…the battle will be with those who refuse the revealed Truth when it comes.

(1 Cor 14:8 KJV) For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

The Scriptures have been 'dead' so to speak…they do not speak what was intended for them to speak. Earthly man has taken them and twisted the meanings….distorted them. They have been manipulated. They have been corrupted by the earthly understanding of men who only see the temporary things….those things that can be readily seen with the fleshly mind…the literal things. They literalize the Scriptures. All Moses’, the prophets, the disciples writings have suffered the 'death' as Jesus did….who is the Word of God. The Scriptures have been in tribulation, prison, the grave. But it will shine its meanings as the sun rises….it becomes 'incorruptible:'

(1 Cor 15:52 KJV) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For the trumpet shall sound….a certain, definite sound….and we will understand the Scriptures. The 'dead' shall be raised 'incorruptible'….the Scriptures will be understood where earthly man can no longer twist its meanings and deceive us. And we shall be changed…we will no longer be as children tossed about by the doctrines of men….as the 'earthly man.' We shall grow up into a perfect man…as the heavenly man…unto the full measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. We shall be unified in the belief of the knowledge of the Son of God….the 'full' knowledge….Greek word 'epignosis.' We will not just know 'in part' any longer….but will have full knowledge of the Son of God who saves us…..he is the Truth.

(Eph 4:13 KJV) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

We must have the full knowledge of the Son of God....which makes the corruptible incorruptible….no longer can we be deceived into ruin, decay…for we will have understanding of the Scriptures….and the Scriptures also are no longer 'corrupted' by the earthly man’s mind…who only understands those things seen…which are temporary.

1 Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Then those who have the power of 'death'….those that deceive us…will no longer be in power over us. Their deceptions…the misuse of the Scriptures….have lead us all into sin. We have been judged…the church has been under the judgment…the earth has become without form and void…we have been under the curses of the Law. Sin had 'slew' us….the strength of sin is the Law:

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

But we may overcome in Christ…who opens the Scriptures for us. We have been scattered to the four winds….from one end of heaven to the other…but if we obey His voice today with all our hearts and souls, He shall have compassion on us and will gather us together in unity.

(Deu 30:1 KJV) And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,
2 And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

He will gather us from the 'outmost parts of heaven:'

Deu 30:4 If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:
5 And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.

He will send His messengers of the Truth out to gather His elect from the four winds with a 'great sound of a trumpet' from one end of heaven to the other:

(Mat 24:31 KJV) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

We shall be cleansed by God through His Truth:

6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

And the Lord will put all the curses upon the enemies…because they will hate us and the Truth. Their part is in the 'Lake of Fire.' The desolators of the church will be desolated themselves.

7 And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.
8 And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.
9 And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:

There will be no more curse upon us:

(Rev 22:3 KJV) And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

But woe to those who enjoy the way things are now…those rich shepherds who have had their power over us…woe to those who are full now in this world…woe to those who laugh now…woe to those who enjoy being a friend of the world…to those who all men speak well of.

(Luke 6:24 KJV) But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

[shawn]

When they shall "peace and safety...."

(1 Th 5:3 KJV) For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

When they hear the words of this curse and bless himself in his heart, saying I shall have peace.....to walk in the imagination of my heart and to add drunkenness to thirst. There will be leaders who turn their ears from the Truth....and they will not teach the people the correct interpretation of the Scriptures.....they add "drunkenness" to their thirst. They will not give people a drink, spiritual food.....they will not cloth them with righteousness....they will not visit them in prison....they will not be taking care of the least of the brethren of Jesus. Instead, they preach a "peace and safety" message that the wrath of God will not come upon them:

(Deu 29:19 KJV) And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:[/B]

They make the people "err" by crying "peace"....and they will prepare war against those who side with the Lord in Truth.

[B](Micah 3:5 KJV) Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

Those leaders will have their "sun" go down.....they no longer will be in power over God's heritage....His sheep....His people. There will be no answer of God....just as King Saul had no answer from God....they will lose their authority....and it will be given to another who will take care of the sheep.

6 Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.
7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

They are the "stars of heaven" that shall fall.....they are the "powers that are in heaven" that shall be shaken:

(Mark 13:24 KJV) But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.


But there is hope for the "steward"....the leader of God's heritage....when he understands he is accused of wasting the goods of a certain rich man....our Lord Jesus Christ. He can lighten the burden of the people underneath him.....he can feed the people the Truth....he can give back to those he defrauded....those he scattered:

(Luke 16:1 KJV) And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

For our Lord comes to reward everyone according to his works.....the deeds and words of those who receive or reject the revealed Truth in its time....he is the Truth:

(Rev 22:12 KJV) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

How will man receive the Truth....will he listen and willingly accept it or will he turn his ears from it and receive his reward for doing such?

Will they be like "Demetrius" and the fellow craftsmen......who felt threatened by the Truth?

(Acts 19:36 KJV) Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
39 But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

There is real danger in making an "uproar" against the Truth:

40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

Demetrius and his fellows are symbolic of all those who have become rich off the current religious system....they have lived well with man's earthly understanding of the Scriptures.....they see only the surface of the Scriptures....the "dust" do they understand. They have use the surface understanding without the spiritual to fashion teachings, doctrines, traditions of men which ultimately make those rich by use.

(Acts 19:24 KJV) For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

It is by men's doctrines....his understanding of the fleshly mind that they have their wealth. When the Truth is revealed, it threatens that very "occupation."

25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

"Demetrius" means "lover of earth".....he loves the earthly understanding of the Scriptures....because he profits from it. He is a "silversmith".....he beats the silver....he beats and misuses the Scriptures to his advantage. He fashions doctrines that suit his goals....riches, wealth, power. Demetrius was worried about Paul who came with the Truth and turned people away from the works of "Demetrius." This happened in "Asia".....which is code for the "sunrise, resurrection" of the Truth. This is a prophetic picture of what happens at the revealing of the Truth. The merchants of the earthly wisdom of the Scriptures will rise up and complain...for it threatens their very livelihood.

26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

But there is real danger in rising up against the Truth......to claim "peace and safety"....


To be continued......

[shawn]

The Lord will come to open the Scriptures for our understanding..he interprets them….just as he did after his resurrection to the two disciples on the road to 'Emmaus' which means 'hot springs.'

(Luke 24:27 KJV) And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

His glory is to open the Scriptures to us....the Light of knowledge:

(Luke 24:26 KJV) Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

(Luke 24:45 KJV) Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

When we intelligently hear the Truth of the Scriptures, our hearts will burn within us…. 'Emmaus'…hot springs of life will well up.

(Luke 24:32 KJV) And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

For the understanding of the Scriptures is a 'wellspring of life:'

(Prov 16:22 KJV) Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

He who will believe in Jesus’ testimony….his interpretation….of the Scriptures will have living waters flow from within themselves….he will be like a fountain that flows out the living water of the Lord….a messenger of Truth to the thirsty.

(John 7:38 KJV) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Whoever will drink of the water….to accept the Truth of our Lord, a well of water springs up within us to life:

(John 4:14 KJV) But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The Lord will give those who are athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely:

(Rev 21:6 KJV) And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

The Lord comes with the Truth at the end of this age….he is the Truth. He opens the Scriptures to our understanding…..the books of the bible are 'opened' for understanding. As it says in Daniel, the judgment is 'set' by the opening up of the 'books'….which are the Scriptures:

(Dan 7:10 KJV) A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

Again in Revelation, we see the books being 'opened:

(Rev 20:11 KJV) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The 'dead' are those who have been asleep in the church….we have been asleep when the tares were sowed. We will 'awaken' to the Truth….the meaning of the Scriptures will be opened up….which is the time for judgment. The judgment is determined about how we will accept or reject the Truth…..in the here and now….not in some future afterlife as so many have supposed. It is in the here and now that the Scriptures will opened up for our understanding…it is in the here and now that the judgment will happen….and it depends on how each person handles the Truth when it comes. It is according to our works that we will judged….it was what we do when the books of the Scriptures will be opened. In the face of complete understanding….how will we react to it? The 'sea'…. 'death'….Hades give up the dead who are in them…..no longer will this current religious system toss us about with their winds of doctrines….no longer will be kept in the dark and dumbed down by our leaders…who have been the prison keepers. We will be released from these things…from the darkness of not understanding….from having no wisdom….from 'death and Hades.' The Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his holy angels….his messengers of the Truth. He shall reward EVERY man according to his works….the reward is how we accept or reject the Truth when he comes. Life and peace to those who willingly accept the Truth and overcome…but the lake of fire for those who reject the Truth. It is our atonement for the sins of religious man….his doctrines of error, his traditions, his wisdom….

(Mat 16:27 KJV) For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

It was Peter, James and John who saw the Son of man coming in his kingdom….the transfiguration is the changing of the Scriptures into a spiritual message of Truth….into pure, eternal Light.

17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.



4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

We are to hear the Son….for he interprets Moses and the prophets for us….he makes the Scriptures shine with meaning…..he is the Word of God…who takes the 'dead' Scriptures and interprets them….he brings them to life. With the understanding of the Scriptures, we can cleanse ourselves….white robes for each of us….the atonement of Christ. He unites us in Truth and Spirit….so that we may worship God.

5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

We are to hear it as the disciples did. He will tell us to 'arise and be not afraid'…..we awaken to the Truth. Those who accept the Truth will not be afraid of the wrath of God that comes upon those who do not listen.

7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

When they had 'lifted up their eyes'….they understand….they saw Jesus only. When we understand the Scriptures, we see it as ONE….not in compartments….such as the Law (Moses,) the prophets, and the 'new testament.' Three tabernacles. It is ONE…having the same message for us all….that God saves us….He rescues us from our enemies. And we will be united in Christ as one.

8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

For it is the enemies who will not accept the Truth. The judgment is set at the opening of the Scriptures to understanding….the knowledge of God…..the 'epignosis' of the Truth. Those that do not accept the Truth will be cut off by it:

(Psa 54:5 KJV) He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

Their names will be blotted out of the book of Life…for they despise God’s Truth. To have it 'blotted' out means you were there originally…but then removed. It will be removed because of their words, their deeds against the Truth….at the opening of the Scriptures. Previously, all those who have twisted the Scriptures and lead others astray will be forgiven….for they had not the Truth….they will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But when the Spirit of Truth comes, those who blaspheme will never be forgiven:

(Mark 3:28 KJV) Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

There is real danger when the Spirit of Truth reveals the Scriptures to us…how will we accept what he says….who will hearken to the Spirit? Who will listen to the Father, Son and his messengers of the Truth?

(Heb 10:28 KJV) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

At the revealing of the Truth, will one really tread under foot the Son of God and count the blood of the covenant as unholy? Will one do 'despite unto the Spirit of grace?' God is gracious to those who hear with their ears….He forgives. He is merciful and will forgive us of our sins.

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Those that refuse the Truth and follow after their works of darkness…after the imagination of their hearts….will drink the wine of the wrath of God. They shall be tormented in the presence of the messengers of the Truth and in the presence of the Lamb.

(Rev 14:9 KJV) And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

There will be no rest for the wicked….no peace:

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

They will exchange the truth of God for a lie….they will believe a lie. They will seek not to keep the Truth…they would rather worship and serve the 'creature' more than the Creator. They like the way things are now in the church…they like the earthly wisdom of the Scriptures. They like their dead works….they worship and serve all the religious things which are corrupted things.

(Rom 1:25 KJV) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

They will not 'hearken to the sound of the trumpet'…..they will refuse to hear the Truth….they will refuse the instruction of the Lord to repent and turn back to Him.

(Jer 6:17 KJV) Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.

He will bring the 'fruit of their thoughts' upon them….they will be given over to a reprobate mind to filled with all unrighteousness:

19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
20 To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.

Men will call them 'reprobate silver'…..because the Lord will have rejected them…and they are given over to their lusts to filled with all unrighteousness….wickedness which burns everything.

(Jer 6:30 KJV) Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

All the curses of the Law will be upon them:

(Deu 29:21 KJV) And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law:
22 So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it;

The 'lake of fire:'

23 And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:
24 Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger?
25 Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt:
26 For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them:
27 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book:
28 And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.

The Lord our God reveals His Truth to us…it belongs to us so that we may please Him who made heaven and earth.

29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

[shawn]

The "fullness of the Gentiles".....is not referring to the last gentile to be saved but is referring to the fullness of the sin of the Christian church. A cup has to be filled first before all of Israel is turned away from ungodliness:

(Rom 11:25 KJV) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

And so all Israel shall be turned away from ungodliness......all of us....ALL....including the ungodliness in the church:

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Sin has a cup to be filled and the churches cup is nearly full. We are told that "evil men and seducers" would get worse and worse. These are referring to men in the church...the tares:

(2 Tim 3:13 KJV) But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

And again, it says "perilous times" would come for the church...as men in the church would become lovers of themselves, covetous, proud, etc, etc:

(2 Tim 3:1 KJV) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

As the Lord heard the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah was great because of sin and its heavy burden, the church also has its sin become great...heavy:

(Gen 18:20 KJV) And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.


As we read Abraham's negotiation with God to find at least ten righteous in the cities, we (the Christian church) are reminded that we have been no better:


26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

For we are not any better than the Jews were, for we have all been under sin....there is not one righteous in the church who does not truly seek after God in Spirit and Truth.

(Rom 3:9 KJV) What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

But as God told Abram, we shall all not be turned from ungodliness until the "iniquity of the Amorites" is not full yet:

(Gen 15:16 KJV) But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

The "Amorites" are those of the Christian church....."Amorite" meaning "prominence, to boast oneself".....and there are many Amorites in the church today.

[shawn]

The "little book" in Revelation 10 is the book of Amos.

(Rev 10:1 KJV) And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

The angel cried with a loud voice as a lion roars:

3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

Which is from a key verse in Amos:

(Amos 1:2 KJV) And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.

And again in Amos, we find the lion roars:

(Amos 3:8 KJV) The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

Another key verse in Revelation that points to the book of Amos:

(Rev 10:7 KJV) But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

In Amos, we find that He reveals his secret to His servants the prophets:

(Amos 3:7 KJV) Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

The book of Amos is the last trumpet that is sounded....of the judgment upon the tares and wheat. Amos was a "herdsman" from "Tekoa" which means "trumpet.:

(Amos 1:1 KJV) The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

The book opens with "the WORDS of Amos"......indicating it is spoken and not "written" so to speak...it is spoken when we have understanding...the little book has to be "opened" first from being sealed previously. As shown in Revelation, what the 7 thunders said was not to be "written."

(Rev 10:4 KJV) And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

Most of Amos is a historical parable for the end of this age. There were 7 thunders in Revelation that uttered their voices....and yet there are 8 judgments in Amos. One has already been fulfilled in the Jew's judgment for the last 2000 years.....the blindness of the Jews for not listening to the Lord:

(Amos 2:4 KJV) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:
5 But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.

This leaves 7 judgments to be fulfilled......and they are on the church. The surrounding nations of Israel are the tares that have grown up together with the wheat....they are not literal nations. The sin in the kingdom of heaven will have reached maximum....the cup will be filled....as it indicates...."for three transgressions" and for four."

(Amos 2:6 KJV) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
7 That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:
8 And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.

For 3 transgressions and for four is a way of saying that it has reached completeness.....the transgressions will go no further. This three and four style of completion is highlighted in Proverbs:

(Prov 30:21 KJV) For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

(Prov 30:29 KJV) There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

(Prov 30:18 KJV) There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

The seven thunders utter judgments upon the church. The 7 thunders are those utterances of judgment in Amos. The tares do not love the Truth....the judgment....nor do they love each other as it indicates in Amos. To love one another is the commandment most violated among the various divisions of the church......they are those of "Edom" who do not love one another:

(Amos 1:11 KJV) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:

And again, the other nations are guilty of giving up of those little ones of the church to "Edom:"

(Amos 1:6 KJV) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:

"Tyrus" remembered not the "brotherly covenant:"

(Amos 1:9 KJV) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:

This is the commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ....the "brotherly covenant".....the "daily sacrifice:"

(John 13:34 KJV) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Delivering people to "Edom"....is to violate the commandment of the Lord....and is brought on by those teachers of the doctrines of men....who lean on their own understanding of the Scriptures. They divide people....they stir it up. The thunders of Amos are the judgments that will be pronounced at the last trumpet upon those of the church. The little book is a book of woe and lamentation as it is indicated in Ezekiel:

(Ezek 2:9 KJV) And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
10 And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.
3:1 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.

The "little book" is to be opened for understanding and spoken with understanding. To "eat the roll" is to understand the sayings....to make it a part of you. And we are to speak to the church....warning everyone of the coming judgment which is imminent. The "little book" is open in the hand of the messenger....it is opened for understanding:

(Rev 10:2 KJV) And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

[shawn]

The "little book" in Revelation 10 is the book of Amos.

(Rev 10:1 KJV) And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

The angel cried with a loud voice as a lion roars:

3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

Which is from a key verse in Amos:

(Amos 1:2 KJV) And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.

And again in Amos, we find the lion roars:

(Amos 3:8 KJV) The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

Another key verse in Revelation that points to the book of Amos:

(Rev 10:7 KJV) But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

In Amos, we find that He reveals his secret to His servants the prophets:

(Amos 3:7 KJV) Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

The book of Amos is the last trumpet that is sounded....of the judgment upon the tares and wheat. Amos was a "herdsman" from "Tekoa" which means "trumpet.:

(Amos 1:1 KJV) The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

The book opens with "the WORDS of Amos"......indicating it is spoken and not "written" so to speak...it is spoken when we have understanding...the little book has to be "opened" first from being sealed previously. As shown in Revelation, what the 7 thunders said was not to be "written."

(Rev 10:4 KJV) And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

Most of Amos is a historical parable for the end of this age. There were 7 thunders in Revelation that uttered their voices....and yet there are 8 judgments in Amos. One has already been fulfilled in the Jew's judgment for the last 2000 years.....the blindness of the Jews for not listening to the Lord:

(Amos 2:4 KJV) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:
5 But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.

This leaves 7 judgments to be fulfilled......and they are on the church. The surrounding nations of Israel are the tares that have grown up together with the wheat....they are not literal nations. The sin in the kingdom of heaven will have reached maximum....the cup will be filled....as it indicates...."for three transgressions" and for four."

(Amos 2:6 KJV) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
7 That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:
8 And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.

For 3 transgressions and for four is a way of saying that it has reached completeness.....the transgressions will go no further. This three and four style of completion is highlighted in Proverbs:

(Prov 30:21 KJV) For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

(Prov 30:29 KJV) There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

(Prov 30:18 KJV) There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

The seven thunders utter judgments upon the church. The 7 thunders are those utterances of judgment in Amos. The tares do not love the Truth....the judgment....nor do they love each other as it indicates in Amos. To love one another is the commandment most violated among the various divisions of the church......they are those of "Edom" who do not love one another:

(Amos 1:11 KJV) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:

And again, the other nations are guilty of giving up of those little ones of the church to "Edom:"

(Amos 1:6 KJV) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:

"Tyrus" remembered not the "brotherly covenant:"

(Amos 1:9 KJV) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:

This is the commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ....the "brotherly covenant".....the "daily sacrifice:"

(John 13:34 KJV) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Delivering people to "Edom"....is to violate the commandment of the Lord....and is brought on by those teachers of the doctrines of men....who lean on their own understanding of the Scriptures. They divide people....they stir it up. The thunders of Amos are the judgments that will be pronounced at the last trumpet upon those of the church. The little book is a book of woe and lamentation as it is indicated in Ezekiel:

(Ezek 2:9 KJV) And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
10 And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.
3:1 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.

The "little book" is to be opened for understanding and spoken with understanding. To "eat the roll" is to understand the sayings....to make it a part of you. And we are to speak to the church....warning everyone of the coming judgment which is imminent. The "little book" is open in the hand of the messenger....it is opened for understanding:

(Rev 10:2 KJV) And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

[shawn]

And as we see, the little book was eaten and it was as sweet as honey in the mouth but made the belly bitter:


(Rev 10:9 KJV) And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

We also see this in Ezekiel:

(Ezek 3:3 KJV) And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
4 And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.

The Word of God is sweet.....sweeter than honey to our mouths. We observe His judgments....to keep His Word:

(Psa 119:102 KJV) I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

The knowledge of God's wisdom is as honey and the honeycomb which is sweet to the taste:

(Prov 24:13 KJV) My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

It is the interpretation of the Scriptures....the words of our Lord that is like a honeycomb. As he said "these are the words that I speak to you:"

(Luke 24:42 KJV) And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

But those who will reject, oppose the Truth when it comes for their works of darkness will have bitterness. Their end is destruction....whose God is their belly. They mind earthly things. The book of Amos is a warning of the coming judgment of God....the wrath of God who hold the Truth in unrighteousness.

(Phil 3:18 KJV) (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Though they feast now and have happiness....this will all change into mourning and lamentation. A bitter day:


(Amos 8:10 KJV) And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.

There are those in our churches today who love the way things are.....they do not want to see things change...they reject and oppose the Truth. They will say they have the Truth.

(Luke 6:25 KJV) Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

The servants of God will have joy of heart....because they will receive the Truth with gladness and sacrifice. They will deny their religious works for God's mercy and forgiveness. They will inherit true Life in God and worship Him in Spirit and Truth. But those who resist will have sorrow of heart and shall cry for "vexation of spirit."

(Isa 65:14 KJV) Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

They shall cry bitterly....for all of the dainty things of Babylon will burn leaving them nothing:

(Ezek 27:30 KJV) And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes:
31 And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.


For our God is a jealous God.....He wants us to turn to Him. He gives the opportunity to be redeemed from our dead religious works....He is full of mercy and forgiveness. We will be "enlightened" to the Truth...we will taste the honey in our mouths....the heavenly gift of the Truth that descends from above. The Spirit of Truth will guide us into all knowledge...for there will be nothing that will not be revealed. The Scriptures will have its proper interpretation from the mouth of God Himself. And if we taste this excellent honey and fall away....to reject the Truth.... there is no more sacrifice for our sins. What bears thorns and briers will be rejected and burned. It is "nigh unto cursing:"


(Heb 6:4 KJV) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

For our God is a jealous God:

(Nahum 1:2 KJV) God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

And as we see the "law of jealousies" in Numbers, the curses of the Law will lay upon the man who rejects the Truth. Their bellies will swell....not literally but spiritually. All those earthly things will rot and cause pain, frustration and vexation of spirit....for they will be guilty of holding the Truth in unrighteousness....they are unfaithful to God...our God is a jealous God.

(Num 5:22 KJV) And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And the woman shall say, Amen, amen.
23 And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water:
24 And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter.
25 Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the offering before the LORD, and offer it upon the altar:
26 And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, even the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.
27 And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people.
28 And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.
29 This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled;
30 Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law.
31 Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.


For our God is a jealous God:

(Deu 29:19 KJV) And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
19 And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:

His jealousy "shall smoke against that man" and all the curses shall lie upon him.....the Lord shall blot his name from under heaven:

20 The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.
21 And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law:

And whoever has their name blotted out of the book of life will cast into the lake of fire.....which is all the curses of the Law.

(Rev 20:15 KJV) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

So the book of Amos is the judgments that are sounded as a trumpet...to warn all those who name the name of Christ to depart from works of darkness....and turn to the living God. He is merciful, good and full of compassion to us....forgiving us abundantly of our sins....of our works of error....of missing the mark of the Truth. Once the book of Amos is opened for understanding....we will know that the judgment is coming soon....for Amos saw these things 2 years before the earthquake:

(Amos 1:1 KJV) The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

We are living in the days of "Jeroboam"....which means "the increase of the people"....which is a reference to the wealth built up in the last days of the church...and those shepherds who think nothing but of gain. It corresponds to the church at "Laodicea" which means "judgment of the people".....they think that the increase of wealth is a sign of their godliness....that they have no sin within them.

(Rev 3:17 KJV) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Amos spoke those words in the time of Jeroboam the son of "Joash"....which means "the fire of Jehovah".....the judgment of God....the lake of fire....the curses of the Law. And as it says in James, weep and howl for the miseries that will come upon those who mind the earthly things....those that pursue wealth and fame in the name of religion. Those that are busy building buildings, ministries, books, cds, etc,etc. Making merchandise of the heritage of God....heaping treasure together in these last days...in the face of impending judgment.

(James 5:1 KJV) Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

But God warns everyone first....for He does nothing until He reveals His Word. We have the chance to listen and correct all these things. To seek the kingdom of God first and not run after all these things that eventually will hurt us. A warning will go out...the wicked can turn from his wickedness....to have his soul delivered from the coming wrath on those who continue to work iniquity in the church...in the kingdom of heaven:

(Ezek 3:19 KJV) Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

[shawn]

Like Saul, there will be people who will try to prevent others from tasting of the Truth when it comes.

(1 Sam 14:24 KJV) And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.

Those that come to the 'wood' found honey upon the ground…..spiritually, this is the correct interpretation of the Scriptures from the mouth of the Lord. His words are like the honey….in the honeycomb….in the Scriptures.

25 And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.

And as Jonathan was 'enlightened,' we also will have our 'eyes enlightened' with the words of our Lord….with His interpretation of the Scriptures, our understanding will be enlightened:

27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.

The honey is symbolic of the words of the Lord who interprets the Scriptures for us….it is compared also to meat.

29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

How much more could the people defeat their enemies (those that oppose the Truth) with the meat of the Word? How much more can they overcome with the meat of the Truth?

30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?

But like Saul, there will be those who will try to prevent others from eating of meat….the Word of Truth. They will depart from the faith….forbidding to marry the Truth….commanding to abstain from meats…..from the spiritual Truth that will sustain those who have been spiritually hungry and thirsty.

(1 Tim 4:1 KJV) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

In the 'latter times,' some men will try to prevent others from making the Truth a part of themselves. We are not to refuse the Truth when it comes….but to receive it with thanksgiving:

3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

For they will be just like the 'lawyers' who threw away the key of knowledge (the honey, the meat)….they will not enter into the kingdom of God and they will seek to prevent others from doing so:

(Luke 11:52 KJV) Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

They will be just like the scribes and Pharisees….they will attempt to shut up the kingdom of heaven and prevent others from entering. They will not love the Truth and will not teach it…..they will not 'enlighten' others because it will destroy all their works.

(Mat 23:13 KJV) But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

For once they have tasted the revealed Truth (the honey) and fall away, it is impossible to 'renew them again' to repentance. They can not be restored because of their rebellion….it takes for them to deny themselves…which they can’t do….they will not be able to cease from sin.

(Heb 6:4 KJV) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

The 'falling away' is from the Truth when it is revealed. The revealed Truth will show what is in the heart of men. The 'man of sin' will be revealed….his heart will be revealed for what is in it. He will oppose the Truth when it comes….they are Christians who will not depart from their works of darkness.

(2 Th 2:3 KJV) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

They will 'oppose and exalt' themselves against the Truth….they will make themselves as God…..they will sit in the temple of God….they will set themselves up as the holders of Truth…the purveyors of Truth….the true teachers of the Truth…in opposition to the real Truth of God.

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

The revealed Truth exposes what is really in a man’s heart…for our Lord searches the most inner mind and heart of man…..and he will give to everyone according to his work….whether it be for the Truth or against the Truth…for out of the heart will things come from each man in regards to the revealed Truth.

(Rev 2:23 KJV) And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

We were not to judge until the Lord comes…..who is the Truth, the way and the Light of life….He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness….and will show everyone the heart of each man…whether it will be good or bad. How will religious man react to the revealed Truth when it comes?

(1 Cor 4:5 KJV) Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

For nothing will be left covered that shall not be revealed…neither hid that will not be known….the hearts of men will be revealed at the revelation of the knowledge of God.

(Luke 12:2 KJV) For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

But let us fear those who can deceive us at the revelation of the Truth….who will have power to keep us from accepting the Truth…that will throw away the key of knowledge…who will seek to keep us from the kingdom of heaven…from the Truth and the power of God:

(Luke 12:5 KJV) But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

For they will seek to bring back those who have tasted the revealed Truth…who escaped from them who live in error….into the bondage of sin. Back into their religious works of darkness which are motivated by money, power, fame, etc. Fear these people…for those who follow them will have their part in the lake of fire….the sins and plagues of Babylon…the curses of the Law.

(2 Pet 2:18 KJV) For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

The glory of the Lord shall be revealed…and all will see it. The correct interpretation of the Scriptures comes….how will man react to it?

(Isa 40:5 KJV) And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

The Christian church will be judged according to Paul’s gospel….the hearts…the secrets of men shall be judged by how they handle the gospel….the good news of the revealed Truth.

(Rom 2:16 KJV) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

And as it says in 'Romans'….to the awakening church of 'strength'….the revelation of the mystery that has been kept secret for the last 2000 years (since the 'world' began for us,) shall be revealed….the secrets of the gospel will be made known…by which we are saved or judged by how we handle the preaching of Jesus Christ. The Revelation of Jesus Christ = the preaching of Jesus Christ.

(Rom 16:25 KJV) Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

The revelation of the Truth will enable us to finally be obedient to God:

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

With the revelation of the mystery that has been hidden, we can be presented perfect…complete…in Christ Jesus.

(Col 1:25 KJV) Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Paul had 'great conflict' for them at 'Laodicea'….a special meaning for us today…for we live among those who have accumulated great wealth in the name of God (those wonderful works)….but the true treasures are the secrets of the wisdom and knowledge. Let us acknowledge the mystery of God.

2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Our God is love and He is a 'God of knowledge'….let us handle and accept the complete knowledge of God with humbleness and not with pride against the Truth…..we will be judged according to how we accept it or reject it when it comes.

(1 Sam 2:3 KJV) Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

If we humbly accept the Truth….it is like the King coming to us having salvation…lowly:

(Zec 9:9 KJV) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

But if we continue to do things as we have been doing ….in the face of the revealed Truth….he comes to cut off all those works and those who do them…the chariot and the horse…the doctrines of men…the traditions of men…the works of men…which are works of war:

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.

We should throw down our 'garments' as they did when Jesus rode into Jerusalem…let us humbly accept the Truth….let us accept his righteousness….let us give up our works of 'righteousness.' We need to deny ourselves when he comes with the Truth….to be humble.

(Mat 21:5 KJV) Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strowed them in the way.
9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

But those who do not humble themselves….he will come as the King who will cast out all those who make merchandise of the flock…those that sell their own brand of peace…they will lose their power….he will cut off the chariot and the horse;

10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Those that set themselves up in the temple of God will be cast out…the man of sin:

12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Those merchants bring 'horses' and 'chariots' from 'Egypt' just as those did during Solomon’s days. The doctrines of men and their power to make war over the flock of God will be 'cut.' And as we see….a 'chariot' was worth 600 shekels of silver and the 'horse' was worth 150 shekels of silver:

(1 Ki 10:29 KJV) And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.

This totals 750 shekels of silver….and as we see the wisdom of Solomon demonstrated in the command to divide in two:

(1 Ki 3:24 KJV) And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.

If we divide 750 by 2, we get the gematria of 'Solomon' which is 375 meaning peace, prosperity, health. He will cut off the chariot and horse….and will speak 'peace' to the heathen.

(Zec 9:10 KJV) 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.

Their works will no longer be acceptable….their silver will be rejected….men will call them reprobate silver. For Solomon made silver practically worthless in his time….our Lord will make the works of men worthless.

(Jer 6:30 KJV) Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

[shawn]

As Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, many spread their garments in the way. When the Truth comes at the end of this age, many will do likewise….they will get rid of their doctrines of men….their works of 'righteousness'…which are works of men not based on Truth. They will humbly accept the Truth and have works to prove it. They will make sacrifices that are acceptable to God.

(Mat 21:8 KJV) And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strowed them in the way.

But the wicked will not be out 'in the way' receiving the Truth of God with all humbleness. Instead, they will still be in the temple of God in their pride making merchandise of His house. Their offerings will no longer acceptable.

(Mat 21:12 KJV) And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

The 'doves' are the 'peace, peace' doctrine…..their 'peace' is not peace. Their peace offerings are no longer acceptable because they do not deny themselves for the revealed Truth. All their offerings will become an abomination.

(John 2:16 KJV) And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

They will oppose and exalt themselves against the revealed Truth….but our Lord comes to cast out all those who sell and buy in the temple:

(2 Th 2:3 KJV) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

They suppose that gain is proof of their godliness…they are 'destitute of the truth:'

(1 Tim 6:5 KJV) Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

When the Truth is revealed to us, we will receive mercy….if we 'renounce the hidden things of dishonesty'….the handling of the Word of God deceitfully….by which shepherds of the flock have done.

(2 Cor 4:1 KJV) Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

To what profit are those things that we have worked for by the handling of the Word of God without the Truth. Let those who do so now deny their wisdom and works….for whosoever will try to save the lives that have built up by doing so, will lose it. What will a man exchange for his soul? Will he exchange the revealed Truth for a lie?

(Mat 16:24 KJV) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

For not every man who says 'Lord, Lord' will enter into the kingdom of heaven….their 'wonderful works' prevent them from doing so. Their 'wonderful works' in His name are really works of iniquity….brought on by the handling of the Word of God in deceit.

(Mat 7:21 KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

But now in the end of this age, God commands us to repent of the works we have all been active in….for He will judge the world in righteousness….at the revealing of the Truth to us. He has overlooked our works of ignorance…but the time comes soon that we will all know His revealed Truth….than we will not have an excuse to continue in these things.

(Acts 17:29 KJV) Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.


We should be like the wise men when they came to our Lord….they brought 'gifts' which are the offerings of thanksgiving, peace, praise…..sacrifices that are acceptable to the Lord. We deny ourselves….we humbly accept the Truth…His knowledge, we praise Him….we teach others His knowledge, we offer our prayers up in righteousness.

(Mat 2:11 KJV) And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

We will sacrifice true sacrifices that are acceptable….we lose our lives to save them. Just like Solomon received the gold of Sheba….we teach the knowledge of God with His Spirit of Truth. 'Sheba' means 'seven'….we teach under the influence of the seven Spirits of God….the complete knowledge of God. Our prayers will be heard….and are acceptable to God….the frankincense….the oil of gladness….we rejoice and pray….a sweet smell. We praise Him….we declare His works…His Truth to others….we become preachers of the gospel of deliverance from sin.

(Psa 72:15 KJV) And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.

All those from 'Sheba' shall come (those who hear the Spirit of Truth)….they shall bring gold, incense, and show forth the praises of the Lord….they will preach the Truth of God to those who will listen:

(Isa 60:6 KJV) The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the LORD.

The 'gold' is used to rebuild the temple of God that has been destroyed by the enemies…just as Solomon who built the temple using the gold that Sheba gave him. The wisdom of God rebuilds the temple. The gold of Sheba was included in the 666 talents of gold that came to Solomon….the 'peace' of God.

(1 Ki 10:14 KJV) Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,

But the sacrifices of the wicked will no longer be acceptable…for they will turn their ears from hearing the Truth when it comes. Their 'revenue' is trouble:

(Prov 15:6 KJV) In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination:

(Prov 21:27 KJV) The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

His prayer...their incense... will be an abomination…because he will have turned his ear from hearing the revealed Truth:

(Prov 28:9 KJV) He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

Their revenue is trouble…..their revenue will not be counted in the talents of gold that came to Solomon….they will not know the peace, prosperity of God:

(1 Ki 10:14 KJV) Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,

The 'merchantmen' will wail and mourn for their loss….their goods will no longer be purchased…their sacrifices not acceptable. There works will not be counted toward the rebuilding of the temple. The kings of 'Arabia'…..meaning the kings of 'darkness.' Their revenue will not be counted toward the 666 talents of gold:

15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffic of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.

Their silver will be rejected….the works of men will not be acceptable at the revealing of the Truth…..but those who renounce these things…..who deny themselves…will save their lives.

(Mat 7:23 KJV) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

[shawn]

They shall be called rejected silver. The silversmiths of today rely upon the wisdom of man to interpret the Scriptures in order to produce gain. They teach the Word of God with gain in mind. It brings "no small gain unto the craftsmen" as we see by the account of Demetrius and fellow craftsmen. They made "silver shrines" for "Diana"......which is really the word "Artemis." "Artemis" means "safe and sound" and also "to cut"........the peace and safety message that they will be crying out in these last days in the face of the revealed Truth.

(Acts 19:24 KJV) For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

The revelation of the correct interpretation of the Scriptures will cause people to abandon their religious works....and this will cause concern among the "craftsmen" of today. They will be worried that we no longer can be made merchandise. The shepherds will worry about their pastures being destroyed by the revealed Truth. Their "craft" will be in danger of being destroyed by the Truth.

25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

Seeing how the Truth can not be overcome....they will cry :

(Acts 19:28 KJV) And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

"Artemis" = "Diana." "Artemis" meaning "sound and safe"....."peace and safety" will be the cry that goes out. They will be preaching peace and safety for things to continue as they have been....in the face of the revealed Truth....at the worst possible moment.

(1 Th 5:3 KJV) For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

To be saying "peace, peace" is to deceive ourselves in the face of the correct interpretation of the Scriptures. Those that "hear" intelligently.

(Deu 29:19 KJV) And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
20 The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.
21 And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law:

For those who add spiritual drunkenness to thirst (I shall have peace to continue in the religious works that I have found my life with)....the curses of the Law will be added to them. Those that "hear"...those that hear the correct interpretation of the Scriptures....

(Rev 22:18 KJV) For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

And if any man shall "take away".....which means "to cut".....which "Artemis" also means in addition to "sound and safe".....the words of the book of this prophecy (the revelation of the Truth and the rewards of either accepting or rejecting it,) God will cut off off his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city.....

19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Demetrius and the craftsmen would not listen ...they cut off the hearing of the Truth by crying for 2 hours "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians"....."peace and safety".....they stubbornly cling to their wisdom and works.

(Acts 19:34 KJV) But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

Like Saul, they will be stubborn....and will rebel against the revealed Truth:

(1 Sam 15:23 KJV) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

They will be rejected as kings over the flock of God.....rejected silver. For their works will not be acceptable as offerings to the Lord. For our Lord will roar from Zion.....as a lion..... and the shepherds shall mourn.....and the top of "Carmel" shall wither. "Carmel" meaning "fruitful field"....all their wealth and belongings will be corrupted and testify against them. The shepherds being those leaders in the churches who rely on their own knowledge to continue in their ways of gathering gain....int the face of the revealed Truth....they shall mourn:

(Amos 1:2 KJV) And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.

And again....our Lord is like a roaring lion....who will not be afraid of the shepherds who oppose and exalt themselves over the revealed Truth:

(Isa 31:4 KJV) For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.

They can not understand the Truth.....they will hear but not understand.....they will never acknowledge the Truth when it comes:

(Isa 56:11 KJV) Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

They have the "form of godliness" but deny the power.......they deny the revealed Truth....they will deny the Lord.

(2 Tim 3:5 KJV) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

They will learn somewhat but will never be able to come to the "knowledge"....the "epignosis".....the full, complete Truth:

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

They will oppose and exalt themselves against the Truth......they are rejected....rejected silver:

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

They are the "Antichrist"....they will be in opposition to the Spirit of Truth. They will ascend up the six steps of "Solomon's" throne...they will sit in the temple as God....they will be crying "peace, peace"....."Solomon." But they forget there are lions around the throne and on the steps....our Lord is as a roaring lion.

(1 Ki 10:19 KJV) The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.
20 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.

The Lord will strike through kings in the day of His wrath:

(Psa 110:5 KJV) The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.

Our Lord will be against the shepherds....and will rescue the flock from their mouth.....we will no longer be made merchandise of:

(Ezek 34:10 KJV) Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.

The shepherds are those goats who have not fed the flock of God the Truth...they have not taken care of the flock....and will continue to do so after the revelation of the Truth:

(Mat 25:41 KJV) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

[shawn]

As we see in Cain and Abel, one offering was acceptable but another was not.

(Gen 4:1 KJV) And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.

Abel was a keeper of sheep….but Cain was a 'tiller of the ground:'

2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Abel represents those who love their brothers….they keep the Law and the prophets….they love God will all one’s heart and love each other….which sums up the Law and the prophets. They are their brothers’ keeper. To love each other is often taught in the new testament….a recurring commandment. Like Abel, those who love one another are 'keepers of sheep.' They teach and do the will of God and their offering is acceptable to the Lord….they keep the sheep (the brothers) as they should. But Cain is a 'tiller of the ground'….he represents those who with the earthly understanding of the Scriptures produce works of men’s doctrines and men’s commandments….fruit of the ground. These religious works do not promote love for one another….they divide people….they cause envy and strife in the church. And most of the Christian church has been involved in producing the fruit of the ground. At the time of the revelation of the Truth of God….these fruits will no longer have 'respect' to God….just as Cain’s offering did not have respect. 'In the process of time'…..the phrase represents the time at the end of the age:

3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

And here is the message that applies to us especially today….if we do well in the time of the revealed Truth, our offerings will be acceptable. If we get rid of these religious works of the ground and love one another, what we do will be acceptable to God. But if we continue to sin willfully at the door of the revelation of the Truth (doing not well,) sin will be our downfall. Sin 'lieth at the door'…..sin will seek to destroy us if we do not repent and turn back to God from our erroneous religious works. 'Sin' is 'chatta'ah' which refers to habitual sinfulness and its penalty. It lies at the 'door' which means at the time of the revelation of the complete Truth. When we have the complete, revealed Truth, we can overcome those sins that we have committed in ignorance….we can overcome….we shall rule over the sins.

7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

As it says in Ezekiel, if the wicked man (Cain) turn from his wickedness (religious works of the ground,) and do what is lawful and right…to love one another…he shall save his soul:

(Ezek 18:27 KJV) Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

'Because he considereth…' What is he considering? The revealed Truth of God.

28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Our ways have not been equal with one another:

29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?

If we repent and turn from our religious works of darkness, we shall be saved from the wrath to come. We are to 'consider' the revealed Truth and make a choice. If we choose to disbelieve, our sins will be our ruin:

30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

For God does not take pleasure in the death of those who rebel….He offers the opportunity for the wicked religious man to turn from his ways….to turn from transgression….just as He offered Cain who was in the presence of God…a brother to righteous Abel. These is a message to the house of Israel….to His people….not to those on the outside.

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

As it says in Ephesians, if we have heard him and have been taught by him….taught the revealed, complete Truth from heaven….let us CONSIDERETH what He says:

(Eph 4:21 KJV) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Let us 'put off' the former behavior of the old man….the old RELIGIOUS man….the old dead, religious works, doctrines and commandments of men which are corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

This is a message especially for us today….the good news of deliverance from our religious lives of bondage. Let us be 'renewed' in the spirits of our minds:

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

The new religious man is created in TRUE holiness….in God’s righteousness and not on what man says is righteous and holy. For His thoughts and ways are higher than ours.

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

When we hear and understand the revealed Truth from heaven, we should put away lying (men’s doctrines) and speak the Truth with our brothers….there are no artificial barriers of church divisions….we are all one.

25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Let us not be angry as Cain was….let us rule over sin:

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.

The devil has been stealing from us….through our religious works which divide one another and cause envy and strife among the brothers. Let us work rather that which is good….to put aside these things and love one another….in Truth and Spirit. Let us do well as Abel and not as Cain whose works were evil.

28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

We should get rid of the works of Cain…the fruits of the earthly mind….and love one another in Truth and Spirit…and not hate those who do depart from sin (the dead works of the old religious man.)


(1 John 3:11 KJV) For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

God offers to forgive us of our works….just as He did Cain….and we can overcome the 'world'….the religious order of things present. We can be purged from dead works to serve the living God:

Heb 9:14 KJV) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Let us not be a 'friend of the world.' The 'world' is the 'orderly arrangement' that we presently see. The exterior divisions of the church which are the result of man’s earthly understanding of the Scriptures. The wisdom that is not from above but is earthly, devilish….and promotes strife and envy among us. But the gospel is aimed to the awakening church at the end of this age…it is especially relevant TODAY.

(James 4:4 KJV) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

That spirit of disobedience lusts to envy as it did in Cain….he represents those who do not overcome….and will hate their brothers who do what is right.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

God will resist the proud, religious man….who will not humble himself at the revealing of the Truth…at the door.

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Let us depart from our evil works….resist the devil and he will flee from you.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We are the 'cleanse' our hands…for they have been active in religious works of men….we need purified from these things.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Let us not speak evil of our brothers who do depart from 'religion'…the 'world' we live in. For if we vilify those who hear and understand the Truth and depart, we speak evil of the law….for we do not love those who are truly righteous…..we do not love our brothers who do the right thing as Abel did….but we behave like Cain for his own works were evil and he was envious of his brother.

11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

For those who speak evil, do not understand the spiritual things of the Scriptures…but in the earthly understanding of them they will judge others who do and will vilify them. They will have gone 'in the way of Cain:'

(Jude 1:10 KJV) But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Let us cease from sin…from our religious works which are motivated by the 'lusts of men'….for wealth, power, fame.

(1 Pet 4:1 KJV) Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

The awakening church is to no longer live to the lusts of men but to the will of God:

2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

For in the time 'past of our life'…..our old, religious man with his earthly understanding walked in spiritual lusts. Our church life was filled with things of the earthly mind….which is idolatry. We are in ignorance…but once we receive the revealed Truth we understand what Peter is talking about here.

3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Once we understand and depart from those 'church' things…..we depart from sin….and we will suffer by persecution by those in the church who do not understand why we depart. They will speak evil of us that depart from those in error.

4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

But the man who vilifies those who clean escape from those in error will be judged by his words….for he shows he does not love his brother and also refuses to listen to the revealed Truth.

5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

Let us not rise up against the revealed Truth as the prince of Tyrus in Ezekiel….let us not lift up our hearts against the Truth:

(Ezek 28:1 KJV) The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

The religious man who lifts up his heart in the face of the revealed Truth says 'I am a God, I sit in the seat of God' among the people….the seas. Yet they are men…those rulers who will seek to stop the Truth….they are not God. As it says in 2 Thessalonians, those who oppose and exalt themselves against the revealed Truth are the 'man of sin' to be revealed….the sons of perdition….to be destroyed in their own sins that will burn them. They think that they are the correct interpreters of the Scriptures in opposition to the revealed Truth....the true Word of God.

(2 Th 2:3 KJV) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

And continuing in Ezekiel, they think they are wiser than 'Daniel'….the religious leaders will think that their wisdom is greater than the true wisdom….that their Truth is the real Truth:

3 Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:

Because with their wisdom and understanding they have gotten riches….gold and silver to their treasures:

4 With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:

Their riches will lift up their hearts against the revealed Truth…they will refuse to depart from sins at the preaching of the good news of deliverance from their works of violence:

5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffic hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;

They will be revealed as the man of sin….who refuse to depart from sins at the door….they will not rule over their sins…they will not cease from sin…their riches will have deceived them. The wrath of God will be revealed upon those who have held the revealed Truth in unrighteousness:

7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.
8 They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.
9 Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.
10 Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit….fruit of the Spirit….will be 'hewn down and cast into the fire.' Their fruit is like Cain’s fruits of the ground which will not be acceptable. Their works do not promote love for each other….they are not their brothers keepers.

(Mat 7:19 KJV) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Let us strive to enter into true Life….let us give up our religious works of man:

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Let us rule over the sin…that lies at the door to devour us is we do not overcome:

25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

For our Lord will reveal His Truth from heaven….He will warn us…He will teach us His Truth…..to 'eat and drink' spiritual knowledge in His presence….He will teach the revealed Truth in our streets:

26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

Let us depart from our works of iniquity….so that we may inherit all the promises of the Lord….let us not deny Him with our works….our riches…the church of Laodicea.

27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

Let us not say 'Lord, Lord' and continue with our abominable religious works of violence….which cause strife and envy….divisions. At the revealed Truth, those who deny Him will continue in their works…though they profess they know God:

(Titus 1:16 KJV) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

For the wisdom and knowledge of God is not like our religious works….which are really works of man based on his own wisdom and knowledge. Gain…riches…are not a sign of godliness. We have ignorantly participated in these works…we have inherited the traditions of the church fathers. We are not redeemed with our works of 'righteousness'…they are vain things….vain conversation received by tradition by our church fathers.

(1 Pet 1:18 KJV) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

The wisdom and knowledge of God is not like our wisdom and knowledge….our works are not His works:

(Acts 17:29 KJV) Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

We have behaved in ignorance with these things….but the revealed Truth comes and we are to be called out of these things….commanded to repent and return to God so that we may be saved…because He will judge every man according to his works.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

[shawn]

The church as a whole has been in a spiritual prison….under the care of prison guards who do not care much for the prisoners. We have been like Peter in the darkness of the prison. Satan has taken the church to 'vex' it….to test it as he did Peter….to sift the church as wheat. 'Herod' = the enemy that has taken the church captive at his will.

(Acts 12:1 KJV) Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

Like Peter, the church has been delivered to four 'quaternions of soldiers' to keep him. Spiritually, the church has suffered the judgment….the four horses.

4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

The four quaternions of soldiers represent spiritually the confusion over the scriptures, the sword, famine and death. Many people of the church have entered through the wide gate of ruin…into the strife and envy that is prevalent throughout the churches. It causes hatred…divisions among the people….it causes strife…and envy. It keeps us babes in Christ where we do not mature….it keeps us without wisdom and knowledge. The earthly wisdom of the Scriptures produces 'death, famine, and the sword.' Without the correct interpretation of the Scriptures, those of the church are kept in the darkness of the prison where they fight among each other. But there are many who pray for the church.

5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

The church, like Peter, 'sleeps' in a type of 'death' between two soldiers….envy and strife. The two chains keep our hands….our works are the results of envy and strife. Our works are the works of our own hands….motivated by wealth, power, fame….seeking to be justified over another. The keepers of the prison are those posing as ministers of 'righteousness'….righteousness based on the earthly wisdom of man. They are 'before the door'….in other words, they are in power before the revelation comes….the 'door' is the revelation of the Truth, Way and Life…..the Christ Jesus…the Lord.

6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

The gospel is that we are to awakened by the Lord with the complete Truth by which we can correct our behavior…for our behavior as a church has been 'foolish, disobedient, deceived…..'

(Titus 3:3 KJV) For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

As we see in Acts, the messenger of the Lord will come upon us…..a light will shine in the prison and the church will 'arise up quickly.' The resurrection….where we will see the Truth and the chains will fall off our hands….for God is merciful and gracious to forgive the church for its sins…for our missing the mark of the Truth.

7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

The church is to 'gird thyself'….and not let others do as they have been. Others have 'gird' the church with doctrines and commandments of men. We, as a church, have not walked in the way of righteousness. Only when we receive the love of the Truth can we gird ourselves in white garments and walk in the righteousness of God.

8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

The 'iron gate' will open up….the gates of Hades will not prevail. The Scriptures will open up to our understanding…the Lord gives us the proper interpretation of the Scriptures so that we may be saved if we receive the love of the Truth and not oppose it.

10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

We are to 'gird' up our minds and be sober…to escape the corruption that is prevalent in the church. The revelation of the Truth enables us to become obedient children….to no longer be in disobedience. God forgives us, the church, for the error of our ways.

(1 Pet 1:13 KJV) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

For we have been in ignorance as a church….pursuing things for our own vain glory. We are no longer to fashion ourselves according to the former lusts when we receive the Truth.

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

For we will be redeemed by our Father from the works of the church…..from the corruptible things we have so long strived for…which we received by tradition from our church fathers:

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

It will be manifest in these last times….there is forgiveness….by the precious blood of Christ…that we can be washed from our church sins and be presented without blemish and without spot:

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

We are to have our souls purified in obeying the Truth through the Spirit. The Truth will be revealed by which we can truly love one another as we should….and not behave as we have done for the last 2000 years….warring among each other about who is correct:

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

For all the works of the church is for the glory of man…vain glory which will pass away:

24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

The gospel will be preached in this end time for the church to be able to cleanse itself and become as we should be…spotless. We are to lay aside all malice, guile….

25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

For we, as a church, have been 'dead in trespasses and sins:'


(Eph 2:1 KJV) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:

We, as a church, have walked according to the course of the world. The 'world' being the ways of the church…the way things are presently.

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

We are called out from among those who have their religious behaviors fashioned according to the lusts of men.

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

He will raise His people up from the dust of man’s fleshly understanding….from being 'dead in sins' and will make us alive in the Spirit….by grace we are saved and not by our works of men’s understanding of the Scriptures. No flesh will be able to boast. There are no 'wonderful works' that will save us….we must depart from these 'wonderful works' to be saved.

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

We have lived in man’s wisdom of the Scriptures. All religious works are based on man’s understanding and his lust for vain glory. It is the spirit of error…the spirit of the world. But we will receive the revelation of the Truth….we will receive the Spirit of Truth which will guide us into all knowledge and wisdom. God will give us wisdom if we ask for it…by which we can compare spiritual things with spiritual.

(1 Cor 2:12 KJV) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

We, the church, have been babes in Christ.

3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

In this end time, He will give us the Truth by which we may build up the body of Christ….to perfect us. We have been scattered as a body….sheep without a true shepherd….but the Lamb will feed us….he will lead us to fountains of living water. Our divisions, envy, strife, sins will fall by the wayside…and we can grow up in Christ and do the works of God.

(Eph 4:11 KJV) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

We are to come in unity of the faith….something that is desperately lacking today. We are to come to the knowledge of the Son of God….the 'epignosis'….the full, complete knowledge of the Son of God….this is something the church has not had yet. By which, we may be made into a perfect man….unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

We will be as a perfect man….in Christ…and no longer children being tossed to and fro…being deceived by the wisdom of man…who only wants to deceive for his own vain glory:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Once we have this understanding, we should walk no longer as we have in the church…as we did when we did not have this understanding.

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

But there will be those in the church who do not heed the gospel….because they enjoy the works of their own hands…they will have held the Truth in unrighteousness…they will not retain the knowledge of God and be saved…they will exchange the glory of God for a lie.

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Godly sorrow for our past religious works…sins….is repentance to salvation. To repent is to turn from our thoughts and ways to God….to return to Him. But the 'sorrow of the world' works death:

(2 Cor 7:10 KJV) For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

The 'world' is the current religious system of man….it is the thoughts and ways of what men think worshipping God is….yet, most thoughts and ways are motivated by man’s lust for his own vain glory. The pursuing after 'silver and gold' is thought of as godliness. Their riches to them are a sign of their godliness….they think they have no sin. But when the revelation of the Truth comes, they will grieve….for the Truth commands those activities to be ceased….to deny ourselves for the Truth. Like the rich ruler, they will depart from the Lord in grief….for their riches are great and they are unwilling to depart from them. But if we deny ourselves for the Truth, Way and Life….we are to judge that 'world' of error. We shall judge the 'world' by departing from it…by acknowledging that the ways of the religious world is filled with error. We are to overcome the 'world.'

(1 Cor 6:2 KJV) Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

We will judge the messengers of error…those preachers of the worldly wisdom of the Scriptures:

3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

To be friends of this 'world' is to be an enemy of God…..especially after receiving the full knowledge of the Truth…when we are no longer in ignorance of the Truth:

(James 4:4 KJV) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Through the full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord…..we are to be made partakers of the divine nature….once we escape the corruption that is in the 'world'….the current religious system that do things through the lusts of men for wealth, power, fame.

(2 Pet 1:2 KJV) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

We are to overcome the 'world' of religious men

(1 John 2:14 KJV) I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

We are to deny our past religious lives for the Truth….we are not to love the 'world' that we have been active in. We are to depart from the ways and thoughts of the religious 'world:'

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

For the religious world will pass away….and all those things we have thought and worked at will disappear. But those who hear the Truth and do the will of God will abide…they will be able to stand and not be moved…not be shaken.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

For our Lord comes into the 'world' to save us from our sins….from our religious works of strive and envies. Paul was very zealous of his religious works before he was saved by Christ.

(1 Tim 1:15 KJV) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

And as John says, 'marvel not' that the 'world' will hate you. For the works of the orderly, religious current world are works of strife and envy. We pass from 'death' into true life when we depart from the ways and thoughts of the 'world'…which enables us to truly love each other and not be divided as we once were.

(1 John 3:13 KJV) Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

[shawn]

As the Lord said, the "world cannot hate" their own. For Jesus' own brothers did not believe his testimony. They spoke of the world as the authority that Jesus should make himself known to.

(John 7:7 KJV) The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

The "world"...the religious organizations of men....has to be overcome. The "world's" influence needs to be conquered. The "world" will not hear the Truth when it comes....and those that love the "world" love its evil works....and reject the Truth. The "world" listens to its own wisdom and not God's.

(1 John 4:4 KJV) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

Those that love the Truth and do it will be hated by those of the "world." Men shall hate you, separate you, reproach you, cast out your name as evil for the Son of man's sake....who brings the Truth to us. But great in heaven shall your reward be:

(Luke 6:22 KJV) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Those that love the Truth will suffer reproach by those who do not love the Truth. Our own people in the church will be those who will vilify us who accept and do the Truth. But happy are you when they do. And we are not to be afraid of their "terror:"

(1 Pet 3:14 KJV) But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

They will speak evil of you....as evildoers. They shall falsely accuse our good behavior in Christ.

16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing

The "world's" wisdom is the earthly wisdom of men. Yet, it is the wisdom that is esteemed among men....for now. This wisdom is sensual....they take the Scriptures literally and make teachings based on their lusts for wealth, power and fame. The wisdom of the "world" is dust....not heavenly wisdom from God. Yet, God chose the foolish things of the world to confound....to shame the "wise"....those that are wise in their own eyes....in their own knowledge.

(1 Cor 1:27 KJV) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

No works of the flesh shall glory in his presence.....our religious, "wonderful works" based on man's understanding will not be glorified....but will counted as nothing...but evil.....even though these works are done in His name.


29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

The light that comes to the world is the revelation of the Truth, Way and Life.....yet, the religious world will love their own deeds more than the Truth.....and that is the condemnation:

(John 3:19 KJV) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Only those who hear the Truth and DO it will be saved. One can not enter the kingdom of heaven by the "wonderful works" we have done in His name:

(Mat 7:21 KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

The "wonderful works" = works of iniquity:

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Many shall follow those who will deny the Lord who had bought them. They will deny him, the Truth, for their works and by their works.

(2 Pet 2:1 KJV) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

The way of Truth shall be evil spoken of:

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 lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

(Mat 18:7 KJV) Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

We are to overcome the 'world'….to have victory:

(1 John 5:4 KJV) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

We are to overcome the 'world'….the religious order of man that we are currently apart of. As our Lord says in Revelation, if we overcome we will have the right to the tree of Life….we will inherit all things. All these things are written to the church….it is the church that needs to overcome….to overcome the system we are entwined in. Those that have an 'ear' ….to hear the revealed Truth and acknowledge it, are to overcome and inherit all things that are promised by the Lord. To the church in Ephesus and all those of the church who hear what the Spirit says:

(Rev 2:7 KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

To the church in Smyrna and especially to us today…to overcome:

(Rev 2:11 KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

To the church in Pergamos and to us especially today….to overcome:

(Rev 2:17 KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

To the church in Thyatira and to us especially today….to overcome:

(Rev 2:26 KJV) And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

To the church in Sardis and to us especially today…to overcome:

(Rev 3:5 KJV) He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

To the church in Philadelphia and especially to us today….to overcome:

(Rev 3:12 KJV) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

To the church in Laodicea and to us especially today…to overcome:

(Rev 3:21 KJV) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

We look toward His promise of a new heaven and new earth….where righteousness dwells….where there is no thief…no darkness of error. Once we have the revealed Truth, we can be diligent to be found of Him in peace….without spot and blameless. He gives us His Truth so that we may prepare ourselves….to make straight paths for the Lord. We are to cast away the works of error that the churches have been involved with.

(2 Pet 3:13 KJV) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

God makes all things new….he that overcomes the 'world' shall inherit ALL things:

(Rev 21:5 KJV) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

But those who deny the revealed Truth when it comes, will be denied the kingdom of God. Those that refuse to depart from their 'wonderful works' will be given to a reprobate mind to be filled with all unrighteousness. They will have rejected their own mercy….that is why one must be diligent to be found in peace with Him:

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

For wickedness burns as a fire:

(Isa 9:18 KJV) For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.

We must gently teach with all patience those of the church who 'oppose themselves:'

(2 Tim 2:24 KJV) And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

We are to hope that God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the revealed Truth so that they may recover themselves out of the 'snare of the devil'….who have been taken captive by him at his will. To hope that they may become 'sober again'…to leave the wine of Babylon…the confusion that results from man’s understanding. This is to the church and not those outside of the church. Those that oppose the Truth will be our own brothers and sisters…those we care about.

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

We are to keep ourselves from becoming spotted….hating even the garment defiled with the flesh….to hate the 'world’s' teachings….the doctrines and commandments of men that are the result of human, earthly reasoning….which is not pure.

(Jude 1:21 KJV) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

We are to have compassion….mercy…making a difference….we are to save others with fear, pulling them out of the fire. We are to preach the gospel in the revealed Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ to save those who have entered through the wide gate of ruin….who are involved in the 'worldly' religious system of man’s understanding…where there is envy and strife among its occupants.

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

The 'pure religion' is to 'visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction'….we are to visit our fellow brothers who are in bondage to the 'world'…who are spiritually 'fatherless' and 'widows'….who do not have the revealed Truth and are in 'affliction' to the will of men who lord their rule over them. They are helpless, lost sheep…wandering upon the mountains without the Truth to hear….the shepherds do not feed them as they should. We should feed them in Truth….in Christ.

(James 1:27 KJV) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

We have been lost sheep….the shepherds have caused us to astray….we have forgotten our restingplace:

(Jer 50:6 KJV) My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.

We have been 'fatherless' and 'widows'….we have been 'devoured' and in 'affliction:'

7 All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.

But God calls us out of the confusion….out of the affliction…out of Babylon:

8 Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.

The wisdom of religious men has been one of the earth….of the flesh….where there is confusion and every evil work….bitter envying and strife. Once the Truth is revealed, we are to acknowledge that what we have been doing is for vain glory of men….a show for others to see.

(James 3:14 KJV) But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

We are to come out of Babylon:

(Rev 18:4 KJV) And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities

He has chosen us before the "foundation" of the world....that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

(Eph 1:4 KJV) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

The word "foundation" is "katabole" which means "to throw down"....He chooses us before the casting down of the "world"....the world and its desires will pass away. Babylon is to be thrown down:

(Rev 18:21 KJV) And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

[shawn]

There is a "truth" to be received.....a revealed truth of the Scriptures by the Lord. As demonstrated in Hebrews 10:26, the Greek word for "truth" is "aletheia".....meaning "truth as not concealed." It carries a meaning such as "it is the truth that first appears when something is seen or revealed. It is to take out of hiddenness to uncover. " It is the "truth" of what the Scriptures are really saying....the Lord opens our understanding to the Scriptures.....the truth is revealed....we will understand what the stories represent in the bible. They are not just interesting stories but have deep, hidden meanings yet to be revealed. And their true witness shows us the Way of righteousness. And it says in Hebrews that if we continue to "willfully" or voluntarily sin AFTER we have received the "knowledge"....the full knowledge "epignosis"....of the "truth"....the revealed truth, there remains no sacrifice for sins. So far....for the last 2000 years, our religious sins have been ones done in ignorance. .....not knowing the revealed Truth....for it had not been revealed yet. The blood of Jesus Christ covers those who did not know better. But here in the end of the age, Christ comes with the full knowledge of the revealed Truth....and it is a time of danger....a danger of turning our ears from it when it comes....a danger of fiery indignation and wrath upon those who do.

(Heb 10:26 KJV) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

But our God is patient….not willing that any should perish….but that all should come to repentance from dead, religious works of error. The revealed Truth gives us the understanding….the knowledge that our works are in error. We can accept the revealed Truth with joy….and do the Truth or we can voluntarily (willingly) continue in the ' church business as usual' ways…..dead works.

(2 Pet 3:9 KJV) 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.

Our Lord comes with the Truth….but religious men will continue to be behaving as business as usual….spiritually eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. They will be busy teaching commandments and doctrines of men….doing 'wonderful works'….building ministries, 'planting' churches, writing books, building grand church buildings, etc, etc, etc.

(Mat 24:38 KJV) For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

They will not know….because they will have nothing to do with the Truth because it will require them to give up the lives that they have worked for….and the riches it has produced. But they will be continuing to doing these things at the presence of the Son of man….at the 'parousia' of the Son of man….at the time of the revealed Truth.

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

But our God is a God of patience….and He will grant those who understand and receive the love of the revealed Truth to be likeminded toward each other according to the Truth….to Christ Jesus:

(Rom 15:5 KJV) Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

We will be with ONE mind and ONE mouth…..we have not been this way for the last 2000 years or so. We will preach the revealed Truth as ONE…..that is to glorify God. And we are to receive one another….to put away the divisions of the churches….for the divisions are the result of the earthly wisdom of religious man…who has relied on his own understanding of the Scriptures.

6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

One must humble himself at the revelation of the Truth.....as a "little child"…and Christ...the Truth...will cleanse us of all our sins that we have committed. As Naaman shows us in 2 Kings, we need to humbly accept the Truth...to love the Truth....to follow the instructions of our Lord. At first Naaman was angry at the instruction....as some will be in the church when they first hear what they must do to be saved. Naaman at first questioned why he must go to the waters of Israel to be cleansed of leprosy...he would've rather washed in the Abana and Pharpar rivers:

(2 Ki 5:12 KJV) Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

The Abana and Pharpar rivers are symbolic of man's doctrines (teachings) and commandments....."rivers" that in no way will make one clean. "Abana" meaning "stone" refers to the "stone" of the Scriptures so to speak. The inanimate stone that does not speak by itself....where there is no life without the Spirit of Truth to guide us into the hidden knowledge. Without the Spirit of Truth, the Scriptures are open to twisting and distorting by the earthly mind of man. With this "stone" man has produced "fruit"....empty teachings that garner riches, power over the flock, fame among the people, etc. These teachings lead the sheep astray. As Jesus was tempted by the devil to command the "stone" be made bread, so also has the church fallen into the temptation of making bread out of the "stone." Only Jesus was without sin....and by his blood are we cleansed for our sins of making bread out of the stone. "Pharpar" means "that produces fruit, swift,defeat, dissolve".....hence, all the works of the "earth"....from the stone that produces fruit.....teachings and works that come out of the mind of man based on literal interpretations of the Scriptures will be dissolved....burned. "Rivers of Damascus" refers to the prosperity of the earthly works of man. As Naaman, we should accept the revealed Truth humbly and not with wrath at the message. But our God is patient with us….even though at first we turn away in a rage as Naaman did. Naaman was a 'mighty man of valor'….he was a great, wealthy man…and is symbolic of those who are in charge of the flock.

13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

After his servants spoke to him, Naaman "went down".....he humbled himself and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan. Then his flesh "came again like unto the flesh of a little child and he was clean."

14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

The "Jordan".....meaning "descender"....refers to the heavenly wisdom which descends out of heaven. The "seven times" refers to the seven spirits of God.....the complete wisdom, knowledge, revelation of God....the Anointed. 'Naaman' means 'delight, pleasure'….our God will delight in us if we receive and do the Truth….the correction of a son:

(Prov 29:17 KJV) Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

We must accept the revealed Truth as a "little child".....and we become the "little child"....we become cleansed from all past sins. We, as the little child, are to preach to those the revealed Truth….our works will be pure…done with a pure mind…our works will be then of God’s righteousness. We must become as a servant to all….to preach the revealed Truth to others….with 'ONE MIND AND ONE MOUTH' in Christ Jesus. We will preach to the 'Naamans' of the world…to reiterate the Way of righteousness…just as his servants did to him. We are to receive the kingdom of God as a 'little child'…we are to let God’s truth reign over our hearts….we are to accept His thoughts and ways in our lives and reject our thoughts and ways…to take up our cross and follow Him.


(Mark 10:15 KJV) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

And if we can give up our church lives for the kingdom of God as a little child, the Lord will take us up in His arms….and put his hands upon us and bless us….just as Jesus did with the children back then. Our Lord will put His power upon us….His Glory will be upon us:

16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

As Jesus showed us….he will call the 'little child' unto him and will set him in the 'midst of them.'

(Mat 18:1 KJV) At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

The 'little child' will come preaching the revealed Truth to the religious 'world' of man. They will be the example to follow….for they will be of Christ…with his mind and words…they will repeat the things they hear the Spirit of Truth saying. Religious man must turn away from their thoughts and ways and become as 'little children' to enter in the kingdom of heaven….to reign with Christ in his throne…to be preachers of the revealed Truth.

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Whoever will receive the 'little child' in Jesus’ name receives Christ

5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

But woe to those who disesteem the 'little ones'…those who have humbled themselves to the Truth and preach it to the 'world.'

6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

As it says in Matthew, take heed that you do not 'despise' one of these 'little ones'….for they are the preachers of the revealed Truth. When one disesteems the preacher of the revealed Truth they are disesteeming Christ.

(Mat 18:10 KJV) Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

For the 'Son of man' is come to save that which is lost….they are in Christ preaching the revealed Truth to those who have been without the Truth in their lives. They will show the Way of righteousness.

11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

As it says in 1st Timothy, let no man 'despise thy youth:'

(1 Tim 4:12 KJV) Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

For 'Timothy' ….which means 'valuable to God'…..represents those who are the 'little children' of the end of this age who come preaching the Truth…..the 'new song'….who are the 'young' in the revealed Truth of Christ. They are the examples of the way religious man should accept the revealed Truth…they are the 'young man' as Timothy was.

13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

As Jesus put his hands upon the children….also Christ will put his power upon us….as the 'little child' of the revealed Truth.

14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

The 'little child' is to preach the revealed Truth….to continue in doctrine….saving themselves and those that have ears to hear the revealed Truth when it comes:

16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

But woe unto those who will disesteem the preaching of the 'young man'….the preaching of the 'little child.' Just as Goliath despised David because of his 'youth,' there will be proud leaders of the church who will disesteem all those who preach the revealed Truth:

(1 Sam 17:42 KJV) And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

David came to Goliath in the name of the Lord…likewise, the 'young' in the Truth come with the revealed Truth in the name of the Lord. The 'staves' is the 'shoot'…..the shoot of the revealed Truth:

43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

[shawn]

The 'little children' speaks of the humbleness….the meekness that one must have to receive and do the revealed Truth. We are to gently instruct others in meekness about the Way of righteousness. We are the 'children' of God’s wisdom…. 'Jerusalem which is above'….born free from man’s earthly wisdom….which is bondage. Earthly man’s mind sees only the surface meaning of the Scriptures…and it is from there that he builds his teachings and commandments upon the sand.

(Gal 4:26 KJV) But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Wisdom from above will rejoice with her children…..she has been desolate all these years….but her children will have the wisdom and glory of God upon them.

27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

The 'young man' speaks of the strength that the 'little child' possesses….the strength that God gives those who are chosen. As it says in Proverbs…..the 'glory of young men is their strength'….. the chosen young man…. 'bachuwr'….is an explainer of the Scriptures with God’s power….the 'young man' will be a preacher of the revealed truth.

(Prov 20:29 KJV) The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.

As it says in 1st John….the 'young men' have overcome the wicked one….they are the ones who overcome the religious 'world' of man’s thoughts and ways for Gods thoughts and ways.

(1 John 2:13 KJV) I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

The 'young men' are strong….the word of God dwells in them….by which they overcome the wicked one.

14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

And continuing with the 'young man' of Christ…..we see in Luke, Jesus went to a city called 'Nain' which means 'pleasant, beautiful, home'….the revelation of the Truth of the Scriptures is the 'Nain.' The Lord comes to open the Scriptures for us and it is a thing of beauty….a pleasant pasture….a home for those who are searching for one. This historical telling of the risen young man is a prophetic picture of what happens at the end of this age.

(Luke 7:11 KJV) And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

Jesus came near to the 'gate of the city'…….the time of the Revelation of the Truth. There was a widow and her son was dead:

12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

The 'widow' is wisdom…..she weeps for her children because the enemy…the wicked one…has overpowered them. The church has been overpowered by the wicked one….and it is the church that needs to overcome the lack of knowledge and wisdom that has been prevalent in it these last 2000 years. Those who overcome are the 'young man'….our Lord will make us 'arise' to the revealed Truth by which we can preach to others the revealed Truth. The Lord saw the widow and has compassion….and said to her to 'weep not:'

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

We find this very command in Jeremiah to Rachel….who is symbolic for wisdom

(Jer 31:15 KJV) Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

Rachel was told by the Lord to 'refrain thy voice from weeping'…..just as the widow in Luke was told by Jesus:

16 Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.

The 'children' will come back to God’s wisdom after being bogged down in the dark wisdom of the earthly mind of men….where there is confusion, strife, envy and every evil work…..that is done in the name of the Lord but is really works of iniquity.

17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.

Heavenly wisdom shall shine forth from the Scriptures….our God will interpret them for us so that we may know the Way of righteousness. No longer will Jerusalem from above be termed 'forsaken'….and the land will not be termed 'desolate'….the Scriptures will no longer be left desolate of the Truth….for she shall be the mother of us and be married…as it says in Isaiah.

(Isa 62:4 KJV) Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

The 'widow' in Luke is a representation of heavenly wisdom that has been desolate of children and a husband. But she will be fruitful at the appointed time. Man will no longer be in bondage to his own wisdom but will be the 'young man'…the children of heavenly wisdom from above. The Scriptures will come alive with meaning by the Word of God….by the Spirit of Truth….who will guide us into all knowledge of what it is truly saying and not what man says it says. We see in Luke that Jesus came and 'touched the bier'……he…the TRUTH comes to 'attach' himself to the Scriptures. Without this attachment, there is no way man can fully know the Scriptures…we’ve only known in part. We have only been fed with the daily bread…..and not the supper of the Lord.

14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

The Lord comes to open up the Scriptures for us. 'They that bare' stood still…..those that have their testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ written in the Scriptures….those 'great cloud of witnesses' that we read in all of the bible shall 'stand.' They have bore the burden of the Lord. They will 'stand' in the revealed Truth showing us what their words truly mean….the Scriptures will speak the revealed Truth through all the records of those who have been written about. Moses will speak with new meaning….all the prophets will speak with new meaning…the apostles will speak with new meaning…all records of the witnesses will speak with new meaning….a new song. They will 'stand' when our Lord touches the 'bier'….the 'bier' is the Scriptures which has been lying in the street of that city…spiritually Sodom and Egypt. They shall stand on their feet. As it was said to Daniel, he shall stand at the end of days:

(Dan 12:13 KJV) But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

All the writings of the witnesses of Jesus Christ will stand at the end of this age….and they will speak the revealed Truth. And those that hear the Spirit will arise….we shall share in their inheritance…we will preach the revealed Truth of the Lord…the revealed Truth of the Scriptures. And continuing in Luke, we see the dead set up…..the young man takes the 'dead' Scriptures that are made alive…that stand…and preaches the revealed Truth of the Scriptures:

15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

Our Lord gives us….we who are the young man in Christ….the perfect young man who is in the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…to his 'mother.' The 'mother' is the wisdom of God. No longer will she weep over her children…no longer will she be called desolate, forsaken and a widow. Not only was Jesus that great prophet that was risen among us from 2000 years ago…but we shall also be as Jesus...for we are in Christ.. and will arise as the young man in the power of God. The young man will be known by his strength…in the power and wisdom of God….the 'young man' is also the great prophet in Christ that will 'arise' up at the end of this age. We, as the 'young man' that will arise, will preach the revealed Word of God…the Truth of the Scriptures.

16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

And the 'rumor' is the revealed Word of God that will go forth into all regions….into the church…to the Jews…to the entire world.

17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

The 'two witnesses' are the Scriptures that have been overcome (as we have been also)….they have been 'killed'….the Truth has been trampled by the enemy.

(Rev 11:7 KJV) And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

The 'dead bodies' are the words of those who have written the Scriptures…the witnesses….they have been taken without the Spirit of Truth and have been twisted and distorted by religious man. They have been used for man’s activities….worldliness. They lie in the spiritual city 'Sodom'….being used by man for man’s own desires. They are misused to bring men into bondage…. 'Egypt.' The Scriptures have suffered in like manner as our Lord....in Sodom and Egypt.

8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

But the Lord will attach himself to the 'bier'….the Spirit of Life from God will correctly interpret the Scriptures….and all those witnesses will stand 'upon their feet'….and we will understand them. The 'dead' shall be set up and the 'young man' will preach the revealed Truth of the Scriptures in the strength of the Lord. The cloud of witnesses will speak.

11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

Our God will give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him….He will open up the Scriptures to understanding.

(Eph 1:17 KJV) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

The 'eyes of your understanding' will be enlightened….we will be preachers of the revealed Truth.

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

We shall share in the inheritance of those who wrote the Scriptures…we will communicate to others what Moses and all the prophets and apostles are truly saying…. 'in light'…to have our eyes of our understanding to be enlightened.

(Col 1:12 KJV) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

He will deliver us from the 'power of darkness'…from the earthly understanding of man…from the strife, envy and every evil work that mankind has produced with the literal, dead understanding of the bible. The earthly man has kept us in bondage to sin. He will forgive us of sins we have done in ignorance of the Truth. We and the Scriptures will be translated into the kingdom of his Son.

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

[shawn]

The Scriptures have suffered as our Lord.....beaten, distressed, imprisoned and killed by man's earthly wisdom. They have been overpowered....they have been twisted and distorted....the meanings are marred by the fleshly wisdom of man. But our Lord comes with the correct interpretation....the Truth will come to dissolve all other wisdoms of man. The servant "shall deal prudently"......shall have intelligence. Our Lord will show us the wisdom of the Scriptures.

(Isa 52:13 KJV) Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

The Scriptures have been marred...corrupted by the fleshly wisdom of man:

14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

The Lord will come....He will open His mouth to teach the Scriptures in its intended meanings. The church leaders (kings) will shut their mouths.....for what they have been teaching was in error. They shall understand the Scriptures....and they shall consider the revealed Truth.

52:15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

Paul has written with this in mind....that his writings as well as the entire Scriptures would become prey in the "mouth of the lion." The enemy would come and twist and distort what he was saying. As Paul stated in 2nd Timothy, at his first answer no man stood with him but all forsook him....in other words, man has taken his writings and distorted them with the fleshly mind....no man has stood with him in the truth of what he is really saying to us. All men have forsook him by taking his writings and producing evil works with them:

(2 Tim 4:16 KJV) At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

Bu the Lord comes to make all of the writings of the bible to "stand"......He strengthens them....makes the alive with the Spirit of Life....with Christ. When this occurs, "the preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear." We will be given all understanding of Paul's writings.

17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

And the Lord shall deliver Paul and all of the Scriptures from every evil work of man who has taken them and distorted and teach error based on his fleshly wisdom of them.

18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Scriptures have suffered under the enemy's influence...who cast the truth down to the ground:

(Dan 8:12 KJV) And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered.

We, as the church, have suffered to underneath the enemy....who has dressed us with man's doctrines and commandments of the fleshly mind and have led us where we did not want to go. We have participated in the suffering and death of Jesus.....and the Scriptures has suffered the same. The church is likened to Paul.....the "death" that would glorify God was spelled out to us in advance:

(John 21:18 KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

But now in this end of the age, we....who hear what the Spirit says....are to feed the sheep....our brothers who have been without Truth and suffered underneath the enemy. "Simon son of Jonah"....."Simon" means "hearing"..... "Jonah" meaning "dove" which is symbolic of the Spirit. Those that hear the Spirit of Truth are to feed others....even those in times past we, as a church, have denied him by our works of darkness.

(John 21:17 KJV) He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

The Scriptures and the church have suffered trouble. As Paul says to the saints in "Achaia"....which means "trouble:"

(2 Cor 1:1 KJV) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

We are to be comforted at the appointed time of the revelation of the truth of the Scriptures. The Scriptures will be opened up to understanding....and the writers and the witnesses recorded in the Scriptures will be comforted because no longer will their words be twisted and distorted by the fleshly wisdom of man. Christ comes to raise them from the dead....he comes to correctly interpret the Scriptures....he is the Spirit of Life that enters into the Scriptures and makes them alive with meaning.

(2 Cor 1:4 KJV) Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

The body of Paul are his writings.....and all the Scriptures have suffered the sufferings of Christ:

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

"And whether we be afflicted".....meaning the Scriptures....it is for our consolation and salvation. By his stripes we are healed.

6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

"Whether we be comforted".....meaning the Scriptures will be comforted with the Spirit of Truth revealing the true meanings....which is also our consolation and salvation. We, as the church, have been partakers of the sufferings.....underneath the enemy who has gird us with doctrines of men and led us where we did not want to go. Also, the Scriptures have experienced this "death"....but all of us will be partakers in the revealed Truth which will console us of all our troubles that we have experienced over the last 2000 years.

7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

The Scriptures would become "dead"....the death sentence...they would suffer as our Lord did. The writings themselves are not the life...."we should not trust in ourselves." But it is God who interprets them for us....he raises them from the dead....the Spirit of Life will enter into them and make them alive with meaning.

9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

He will deliver the Scriptures and us from this "death" through the revealed Truth....our Lord Jesus Christ who will deliver us from the enemy:

10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

The Scriptures will be revealed and they will show that all things recorded have been said in simplicity and godly sincerity from the beginning. It is man's fleshly wisdom that has confused and complicated them.

12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

We shall understand these things in the end....when we fully comprehend the Scriptures.

13 For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;

We have only known in part.....acknowledged "us in part"....but we will fully rejoice with the saints in the day of the Lord Jesus when he comes to open up the Scriptures to us.

14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Paul knew that his writings would be revealed in the end of their Truth....and this is the "second benefit." We have only known in part his gospel....at the end of this age, we will fully know the mystery of the gospel.

15 And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

"Macedonia" is code for all the troubles the Scriptures would suffer for the last 2000 years....they are to "come again out of Macedonia unto you." To be brought on my way toward Judaea = to bring us to Christ who is the Truth, the Way, the Resurrection, the Life.

16 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

The gospel will be revealed to us by our Lord Jesus Christ....he will open the Scriptures to our understanding ....so that we may know our sins and how to correct them....to have them washed in the blood of the Lamb...to have our works pure in the righteousness of God and no longer behave as children tossed about by every doctrine and commandment of man. We are to renounce the hidden things of dishonesty....which the church has been actively involved in. Not handling the word of God deceitfully....but by the "manifestation of the Truth" we are to behave ourselves honestly...for it will be revealed in this end of the age.

(2 Cor 4:1 KJV) Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

But there will be those of the church who will not listen to the revealed Truth when it comes....they will love sleep...they will love darkness...they will love their own religious works so much that they can't give them up....they will not deny themselves and take up their cross and follow the Lord.

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

The Scriptures have been "troubled on every side, yet not distressed"....they have been perplexed, persecuted, cast down...they have bore about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus. The Scriptures have been troubled by the fleshly wisdom of man who has taken them and devised their own doctrines and ways of violence.

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

But as the bush that burned and was not consumed, the Scriptures will manifest the Life by the revelation of our Lord Jesus....who opens them up to our understanding....so that we may live the true Life with the saints.

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

The Scriptures were made "flesh".....man has taken them with his fleshly mind...but Jesus who is the Life will manifest His life through them by the correct interpretation of them.

11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

As Paul says, the Scriptures faint not....even though the "outward man perish"....the outer understanding of the Scriptures is corrupted by man's earthly wisdom:

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

The "affliction" is by the earthly understanding of man...who has taken the Scriptures and misused them for evil...but it is only "for a moment" when one considers the outcome of all this.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

The "things which are seen" are those understandings of the surface of the Scriptures...not the revealed Truth of the Scriptures....which is the building of God...not of the hands of man....not based on man's understanding of them but of God's wisdom. The Scriptures will be clothed with the Life of God. The corruption of the Scriptures will disappear and the true meanings will show forth in newness of life.

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

[shawn]

Paul shows us a mystery.....that we shall be changed. Specifically, the Scriptures will be "changed"....."different" In God's appointed time, the understanding of the Scriptures will open up for us....and we will read them in a "new light".....in the proper way that God intended. The Scriptures will be "raised incorruptible"...no longer will they lie in death...which is man's fleshly wisdom of the Scriptures. The corruption is the doctrines and commandments of men based on man's own understanding of the lifeless Scriptures. What man has done was to corrupt them....to misuse them for his own desires of wealth, power, fame.....to covet with them. That is "death." We shall be changed also...for we now can understand the Scriptures and return back to God. We will know the Way, the Truth and the Life in Christ.....the Anointed.

(1 Cor 15:51 KJV) Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

We do not know the Scriptures in full knowledge....for it takes the power of God to interpret them for us. Without His knowledge, man can not know them fully. God will raise the Scriptures from "death" with His word....His knowledge....His wisdom....His Son. Then, we will no longer err by not truly knowing the Scriptures.

(Mark 12:24 KJV) And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

The Scriptures are to be raised "incorruptible"...not to "marry" to man's wisdom.....the revealed Truth can not be corrupted by the mind of man. All of the witness recorded in the bible become as the messengers in heaven. They will speak with new meaning the true witness of the Way of righteousness. And we participate with them by preaching the revealed Truth to others.....as the "angels which are in heaven."

25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

Abraham will speak his true witness....Isaac will speak his true witness....Jacob will speak his true witness....when they arise from the "dead"....the Scriptures will shine with new meaning

26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.


In the "bush" God spoke to him....as we see in Exodus:

(Exo 3:2 KJV) And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

The "bush" is the Scriptures.....God will call us out of the midst of the bush as He did Moses. Although the bush burned with fire...it was not consumed. Although the Scriptures have been beaten, corrupted, left dead....it will not suffer any ill effects at the revelation of Jesus Christ....it has been preserved through God no matter what man's fleshly wisdom has done to it. Moses "turned aside" to see this great sight. Man also must "turn aside"....to "withdraw" from his own activities to understand the Scriptures.


3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

As Moses was instructed to "put off they shoes from off thy feet".....we must also remove our own thoughts, ways, teachings which we walk in at the revelation of the Truth. For when the Truth is revealed through the Scriptures....it is the holy ground. We must no longer walk in the imaginations of our own hearts any longer....at the great understanding of the Scriptures. We are not to marry or be given in marriage to the wisdom of man....but to be pure in the full knowledge of the Truth.

5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

God interprets the bible for us....He is the God of the living....God of the revealed Truth. And God will deliver us from the bondage we have suffered in as a church....a bondage to the earthly wisdom of man where there is confusion and every evil work....strife and envy. The good land flowing with milk and honey is the Truth of the Scriptures....that is revealed so that we may live together in true peace, love and oneness of mind and mouth....in the fullness of Christ who is the very image of God.

7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

The " Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites" are those who have taken the Scriptures with their fleshly minds and made it a place to live so to speak. They are the merchants of the Scriptures....twisting and distorting them on their own lusts for worldly things....money, power and fame. Those that have made a name for themselves.

[shawn]

The Scriptures have been overcome with the fleshly wisdom of man. As it says, their dead bodies lie in the street of the great city….spiritually called Sodom and Egypt. In Sodom….because man has taken the Scriptures and twists and distorts them for his own lust of wealth, power over the flock, fame, and making a name for himself upon the earth. In Egypt….because the doctrines and commandments of men are bondage to those who adhere to them. So the Scriptures have suffered as our Lord did…who showed us the things that were to come.

(Rev 11:8 KJV) And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

They do not put their dead bodies in graves….meaning, they do not REMEMBER….being mindful of Moses and the prophets.

9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

We are to be 'mindful of the words' which were spoken before by the holy prophets….and of the commandment of the apostles of the Lord and Savior.

(2 Pet 3:2 KJV) That ye 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 Saviour:

The commandment is to love one another during this time of tribulation by the enemy who has overcome the truth of the Scriptures….who has killed the meaning and remembrance of them. When we remember Moses and the prophets, we keep their saying….and Jesus summed it up: to love God and to love each other. But when man adds his earthly wisdom to the Scriptures….he 'garnishes' the tombs….just as the Pharisees did:

(Mat 23:29 KJV) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

Moses is also a prophet. When religious man teaches his doctrines based on the fleshly understanding of the Scriptures….he is building the tombs of the Prophets and garnishes the sepulchres….sets them in order of earthly understanding….and deceives others with their erroneous teachings. The teachings of earthly man does not promote love for each other…it promotes division, envies, strife and all evil work. Abraham realized that all the writings of the bible would suffer a 'death'….that the Truth would become absent from the writings so to speak and man would take the Scripture to twist and distort them….garnishing the tombs of the righteous. Abraham prophesied of this by buying a burying place with the sons of 'Heth.'

(Gen 23:3 KJV) And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,

Abraham and his dead would be a 'stranger and a sojourner' with the sons of Heth. 'Heth' means 'terror'….indicating that the 'dead' Scriptures would have a 'journey' with those who would take them and twist and distort them in order to 'terrorize' the flock with the teachings based on the dead understanding of man. The teachings of man have kept people living in fear….which keep those underneath them in conformity to their particular denomination.

4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
5 And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,
6 Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.
7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.
8 And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,

The 'cave of Machpelah' (the double cave…the two witnesses) is the darkness of the dead Scriptures…when there is no revealed Truth ….the light, there is darkness. And man’s activities based on the understanding of the 'dead' Scriptures keeps us in darkness…in 'death' also. All our religious works are works of the fleshly mind.

9 That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.

The 'dead' were buried with the 'sons of Heth'….the sons of terror. We have been partakers of flesh and blood….we have all behaved with the fleshly wisdom in our religious wisdom. With the works of the fleshly mind based on the dead understanding of the Scriptures, we have received money, wealth, power in return. We have kept those under us with the teachings of terror.

(Heb 2:14 KJV) Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

But our Lord will deliver us from the 'sons of Heth'…those who have kept us in fear under their control. The revealed Truth of the Scriptures will set us free from their fear-based teachings of the fleshly mind.

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

The 'tombs'….represent the Scriptures without the revealed Truth of our Lord. Our faith is to trust in Him to come and rectify all things….to reveal the Truth to us. No man has properly understood the writings of Moses….as indicated:

(Deu 34:6 KJV) And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

'No man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day' = no man with his fleshly, proud religious mind properly understands the writings of Moses until the day of revelation by our Lord Jesus Christ. The writings of Moses were buried in a 'valley in the land of Moab'….the word 'valley' comes from the root 'gevah' which means 'pride, exaltation, lifting up'…..indicating the writings were made as a stranger to those puffed up by their religious pride in their own knowledge of what they think Moses says. He was buried 'over against Bethpeor'….. 'Bethpeor' meaning 'house of the gap'….the 'gap' meaning the time of the Scriptures being 'asleep' until Christ comes with the revealed Truth. There has been a 'gap' of time. During this 'gap,' the mind of fleshly men have twisted and distorted the Scriptures. In Jude, we find 'Michael the archangel' contending with the devil over the body of Moses. The archangel represents the revealed Truth….the Spirit of Truth contends with the devil about the 'body of Moses'…..which represents the writings of Moses…not the literal body of Moses.

(Jude 1:9 KJV) Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Yet, we find those who take the dead Scriptures as the Truth…those who continue with literalizing them…corrupt themselves in their own understanding. They will speak against the revealed Truth…because the willingly do not want to see the spiritual. We are to compare spiritual things with spiritual meanings. They literalize things with the plain, surface meanings of the Scriptures….and they corrupt themselves in these things.

10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees over their unbelief of the writings of Moses. Jesus presented the Truth to them but they did not listen….because they really did not listen to Moses…who was a witness to Christ. Jesus was that angel that they were to listen to…but they contended with him over the writings of Moses. As it says in Exodus, they were to beware of the 'angel'….to obey his voice…the voice of Jesus…and to provoke him not….for he would not pardon their transgressions. The name of our God is in Jesus:

(Exo 23:20 KJV) Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
23 For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.

But the Pharisees and scribes contended with the 'angel'….they did not listen to Jesus and so were not pardoned of their transgressions. They proved themselves children of the wicked one.

(John 9:41 KJV) Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

(John 8:21 KJV) Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

Likewise, the Christian church also must listen to Jesus when he comes with the revelation of the Truth. We are not to contend with the revealed Truth with the fleshly, proud religious mind. We are not to be like the Pharisees and provoke the archangel of the Truth….the chief messenger. For our Lord comes with the voice of the archangel:

(1 Th 4:16 KJV) 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:

The 'dead in Christ shall rise first'…..those witnesses…the 'great cloud of witnesses' will come alive. The Scriptures will be revealed and Moses will stand and speak, the prophets will stand and speak, the apostles will stand and speak. As it was said to Daniel…meaning 'God is judge', he will stand in his allotted inheritance…..his book will stand and speak the mysteries of the kingdom in a great revelation to those who are listening and watching for the Lord to open up the Scriptures to us:

(Dan 12:13 KJV) But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

'Michael' shall stand up…..

(Dan 12:1 KJV) And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

The chief messenger of the revealed Truth shall stand up….the voice of all the witnesses will speak the mysteries of the kingdom. When we understand the Scriptures, we will understand our sins…our missing the mark of the Truth…and we can be delivered through His understanding. But there will be a time of trouble for those who continue to willfully sin. They continue on in their thoughts and ways….they will be 'willingly ignorant.' The 'fathers fell asleep'…those witnesses…the writings/knowledge of the Scriptures have 'fallen asleep' so to speak.

(2 Pet 3:4 KJV) 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.

We are to receive the full knowledge of the revealed Truth and do the Truth….and not continue in our religious sins of the fleshly wisdom of man.

(Heb 10:26 KJV) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

The Spirit of life shall enter into the Scriptures and make them 'stand upon their feet'…our Lord Jesus Christ is that Spirit of Life from God….he will open up the Scriptures to our understanding so that we may know the witnesses words…and they lead us to the Truth, the Way, the Life in Christ Jesus.

(Rev 11:11 KJV) And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

The Scripture will ascend up to heaven in a cloud….the 'cloud of witnesses'….all those who have their lives recorded in the bible will speak the mysteries of the kingdom…the heavenly wisdom….even the enemies will behold them…but will they listen to them…will they continue to sin willfully at the revelation of the Truth…at the standing of the archangel?

12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

[shawn]

The burying place represents the Scriptures that haven’t been properly interpreted by the Lord yet. They are as tombs…..the tombs of the prophets that men have 'garnished'….they misuse the Scriptures for their own gain. Abraham bought the burying place from 'Ephron the son of Zohar:'

(Gen 23:8 KJV) And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,

'Ephron' means 'dusty' and 'Zohar' means 'whiteness'….which is why Jesus called the Pharisees 'whitewashed' ….they were, collectively speaking, the 'Ephron the son of Zohar.'

(Mat 23:27 KJV) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

The word for 'whited' is 'koniao' which means 'dust'…..which 'Ephron' ultimately means. 'Zohar' meaning 'whiteness'…..the scribes and Pharisees were like 'whited sepulchers.' They appeared to be righteous but were within full of hypocrisy and iniquity. This also applies to those leaders of the church who do the same with the Scriptures.

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

And they build the tombs of the prophets and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous…meaning they take the Scriptures and twist and distort them for their own selfish desires. They want to build doctrines with the plain, literal surface meaning of many verses of the bible….in order to capture men and their goods and services. Their reward is in this life….the revelation of the Truth is coming to burn all those things that religious man has worked for.

29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Some religious leaders (spiritual scribes and Pharisees) are like 'hidden graves:'

(Luke 11:44 KJV) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

Men 'walk over them' unaware…..they touch graves that make them unclean. Keeping company with men like this makes people unclean…because they join in with them in their doctrines and commandments….their activities…their desires for wealth and fame. Yet, men are unaware of the sin and hypocrisy of those who are actively involved in these things.

45 Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.

Those skilled 'lawyers' lay grievous burdens upon others to bear…their doctrines and commandments are burdensome. It is the 'lawyers' that take away the key of knowledge.

46 And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
47 Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

They have taken away the witness of Moses and the prophets…they have 'killed' the knowledge of what the Scriptures were saying. They have taken the Scriptures and twisted and distorted them for their own devices…in other words, they 'build their sepulchers.'

48 Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.

And as Jesus said, they would also 'slay and persecute' the prophets and apostles….they would also take the writings of Paul and the rest of the apostles (who are also prophets) and 'slay' them….they would also twist what Paul was saying. They would twist and distort the New Testament so that others could not understand….taking away the key of knowledge.

49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

'This generation' applies to the generation who does this thing. It applied to those religious men 2000 years ago and it applies to us today…to those of the Christian church who twist and distort the bible….who corrupt the Word of God for gain.

51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

As Paul prophesied (and we had not understood what he was saying)…..God causes all those writers of the Scriptures to 'triumph in Christ.' We share in this triumph….it is Christ who reveals the meanings of the Scriptures….the 'savor of his knowledge by us in every place:'

(2 Cor 2:14 KJV) Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

What Paul is saying here is that the meanings of what the Scriptures are truly saying will be revealed 'by us'…the writers of the bible and we who preach those meanings. 'in every place'….the whole bible will be revealed to the people of God….to all who will listen and not listen. It is through Christ we will have this revelation of the Truth.

15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

'Many' have corrupted the Word of God….they do not preach with sincerity but for gain:

17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

'In the sight of God speak we in Christ'…..the Scriptures through the revelation of Christ will 'speak' their true meanings in the sight of God. Those that listen and do the revealed Truth are the savor of life unto life…they are saved. Those that turn their ears away from the revealed Truth are the savor of death unto death. They are those who will perish in their own corruption. They will reject the Truth because it will mean they will have to give up their religious lives…the lives they have built by corrupting the Word of God. They would like to keep the Scriptures in 'death'…without the revealed Truth interfering in their activities….they want to continue being whitewashed sepulchers. They will speak evil of the revealed Truth…..they shall perish in their own corruption…

(2 Pet 2:12 KJV) But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

They will behave as the Pharisees did with Jesus….resisting the Truth…they will dispute the revealed Truth. The Pharisees disputed about the 'body of Moses'….which is not the literal body of Moses but the writings of Moses. Jesus did not bring a 'railing accusation' against the Pharisees.

(Jude 1:9 KJV) Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Jesus clearly stated he was not accusing them….but that Moses own words would accuse them….because they did not believe in Moses writings. Michael the archangel disputed with the devil about the body of Moses = Jesus disputed with the Pharisees about the writings of Moses.

(John 5:44 KJV) How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established….the three witnesses were the Father, Moses and Jesus. And as Paul said….he is coming to us today with the revealed Truth in Christ….the gospel that saves us from the wrath to come…saves us from our religious sins….saves us from our 'wonderful works' done in the Lord’s name. The 'third time:'

(2 Cor 13:1 KJV) This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

The 'third time' is code for at the revelation of the Truth….the Father, Christ and Paul will speak the revealed Truth to us today. Paul warns us today being 'absent'….he warns us while his writings have been in persecution under religious man….in weakness. But, when he comes…when he is present with the revealed Truth in Christ…he 'will not spare' those who continue to willfully sin.

2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

Christ comes through Paul’s words and speaks using Paul’s writings….where there is real power. No longer will Paul’s writings suffer in weakness…in 'death' so to speak at the hands of those who twist and distort his writings. Christ uses Paul’s writings to speak to us today…not in the wisdom of man…but in the revealed knowledge of God.

3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

Jesus was crucified through weakness but he lives by the power of God. Likewise, the writings of the prophets and apostles were also made weak….by the fleshly wisdom of earthly man. The writings have been misused, abused, twisted and distorted by religious men. But they shall 'live with him by the power of God' to us. Their meanings will live…by the power of God…who will correctly interpret them for us to be saved.

4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Paul wrote these things 'being absent'….he has warned us ahead of time while his writings have suffered in weakness. But being 'present' means that his writings will become active through the power of God which will build us up….by us finally understanding them. But let us not oppose the revealed Truth when it comes….because the Word of God is quick and powerful…it will no longer suffer in weakness by the wisdom of earthly man. The Scriptures will have the mind of Christ.

(2 Cor 13:10 KJV) Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

[shawn]

The Scriptures have suffered during this "present time" in the mouth of the lion.....by the wisdom of fleshly men. They have been twisted and distorted....marred beyond the recognition of the Truth....the Truth had been cast down to the ground. But, as Paul stated in Romans, the sufferings of this present time are not comparable to the glory that shall be revealed in the Scriptures....."us." We will share with the saints the glory of preaching the revealed Truth:

(Rom 8:18 KJV) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

"The creature was made subject to vanity".....the Scriptures were made subject to vanity by the Lord....subject to the emptiness of man's understanding.

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

The Scriptures will be delivered from the bondage of man's decay...from the reasoning and preaching of man's earthly understanding of it. They will speak the hidden wisdom of God....the Truth will be revealed through the Scriptures....and we shall be free from ungodliness that has resulted from the twisting and distorting them.

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

For all of the Scriptures has been in "pain"....together until "now." The Lord will open up the Scriptures for our understanding.

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Moses and the Prophets have groaned within themselves because of the "death" of man's fleshly wisdom of them. The New Testament....the writings of the apostles also (which have the firstfruits of the Spirit) have been subjected to the same "death"......corruption by the fleshly mind of religious man. But the "redemption of our body".....the opening of the understanding of the Scriptures....is the hope...the faith of us all.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Moses and all the prophets and the apostles....all those whose lives are recorded in the Scriptures....have been waiting in hope for the Lord to open up their sayings to us upon the earth. For the Scriptures have been misused by men for acts of violence. As it says in Revelation, the souls of them under the altar (the Scriptures) cry with a loud voice:

(Rev 6:9 KJV) And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

They were "slain for the Word of God".....and the "testimony which they held".....meaning their writings and witness had been slain by the fleshly wisdom and teachings of man which has caused strife, envy and evil works. The witness which they hold has to be revealed by our Lord.....He will open up their sayings to our proper understanding of the Scriptures. The "white robes" are the hope of them, as described by Paul, for the Spirit of Life to enter in to them and properly explain their writings....so that their testimony is understood in the pure wisdom of God. They were instructed to rest yet for "a little season" while the enemy went to kill their fellow servants and brothers....the enemy has killed also the witness of the apostles...Paul's writings have been twisted and distorted in the mouth of the lion. Those writers and witnesses of the New testament are the "fellow servants" that have been "killed" along with Moses and the prophets....."that should be killed as they were"....killed in like manner. The "Christian" church has twisted and distorted the New Testament into traditions and commandments of men as the Pharisees and scribes did to Moses and the prophets.

11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

As Paul wrote to the "Romans" (which is code for the awakening church in the strength of the Lord at the end of this age,) that the "tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword" shall not separate us from the love of Christ. The Scriptures have suffered all these things by the fleshly wisdom of man.....they have been "killed all the day long." As it said in Revelation though....it is considered just a "little season"....because the glory that shall follow will make the persecution of them seem small. The glory shall be revealed in them and us who will preach the revealed Truth of the Scriptures.

(Rom 8:35 KJV) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

The "fellow servants" that were to be killed in like manner of the souls under the altar are the writings of the New Testament....they were to be killed as the rest of the Scriptures. The Truth would be cast to the ground by the enemy. As Paul stated, God had set forth the apostles last....appointed to death...they were made a spectacle to the world....to messengers and to men. Not only were they literally, physically set forth this way 2000 years ago....but their writings have been also for the last 2000 years. They have suffered at the mouth of the enemy....the lion who has taken their writings and has devoured those with his teachings based on fleshly wisdom.

(1 Cor 4:9 KJV) For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

The church has lived as kings with the fleshly wisdom of the Scriptures...we have wise in our own eyes...we have been strong with the foolishness of this world's understanding....we have lived in honor with each other...we have sought honor from each other with the fleshly understanding of the Scriptures.

10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

As Paul stated, their writings are suffering from lack of the full Truth....suffering at the teachings of man....which the writings have been "made as the filth of the world"....man has twisted and distorted them into saying things that they aren't saying.....producing works of evil with the carnal mind of man.

11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13 Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

It has been a "little season" for the writings to suffer at the hands of men. As Paul said....they have been taken from us for a "short time" in presence....but not in heart:

(1 Th 2:17 KJV) But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

Paul and all the cloud of witnesses would have come to us...."once and again but Satan hindered us"....Satan is a literalist...he uses the things that can be seen in the Scriptures...the temporary...to stop the revealed Truth from shining through. The spiritual message of the writings can not be seen because of the fleshly wisdom of man who only looks on the outside.

18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

But it is the Lord who comes to reveal the Truth and we share in His glory and with the witnesses of the Scriptures in revealing that Truth to others.

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 For ye are our glory and joy.

We are to pray for Paul's writings to open up for us....that the utterance of Jesus Christ may come through his writings...that his mouth may open boldly....so that he may speak as he should...to finally speak the proper understanding of what he has been saying all along but man has distorted him previously.

(Eph 6:18 KJV) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

He has been an "ambassador in bonds".....the Truth of what he has been saying has been bound until our Lord Jesus Christ comes to preach through his writings....the revelation of the Truth. Paul's gospel ultimately will save us from the wrath to come by showing us that our religious works have been done without the proper understanding of the Scriptures. Those works are works of darkness.

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

With the Lord's will, Paul's writings will open up to us....with POWER.....no longer through the words of the knowledge of man which puffs us up.... but with the knowledge and wisdom of God.

(1 Cor 4:18 KJV) Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

The gospel of Christ has still been preached through Paul even though his writings have been distorted. The milk of the gospel is still apparent. As he says in Galatians, the gospel was preached to us "at the first" through the "infirmity of the flesh." Christ is still preached even with the wisdom of man doing it through Paul.

(Gal 4:13 KJV) Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

It has been OUR temptation (not Paul's...check the Greek) which was in his flesh....we have been tempted to distort and twist his writings and even reject them....that have been "made flesh"....in the fleshly wisdom of man. We have been tempted to despise and reject Paul's writings because of the fleshly understanding of man...some have regarded him even as a "false apostle" and that his writings are false....because the wisdom of man can not properly see the wisdom of God in them.

14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

But now Paul will speak his intended message through the spiritual preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ....who will use Paul's writings to speak through. Even though many have accepted Paul's writing in the fleshly wisdom of man.....though we find them hard to understand, we are not to regard him has an enemy when the spiritual Truth is revealed through his writings.

16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

Paul has "purposed" to "come to us"....that his writings would finally reflect the correct interpretation of the message contained in them. He has "longed to see" us with the revealed Truth...so that through him Christ imparts the spiritual wisdom of God to us:

(Rom 1:10 KJV) Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

He has longed to come to us....but was prevented from doing so because of the mouth of the enemy that has taken his writings and all of the Scriptures and distorted them so that we couldn't understand them and prevented us from producing "fruit."

13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

It is not religious man's understanding who will reveal the gospel that Paul has been preaching....it is the Lord who will reveal it to us. His gospel is not according to man's understanding of the writings of Paul.

(Gal 1:11 KJV) But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul wanted us to know....in hindsight....why things have happened to his writings (the twisting and distorting of them.) That these things have happened in order that the gospel may advance.

(Phil 1:12 KJV) But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

When we understand the "bonds" that his writings and the rest of the Scriptures have suffered, we will be bold to speak the revealed Truth without fear of the enemy who has kept them in bonds. His "bonds" will be made "manifest" to us....to all. We will finally understand that Paul's writings have been in bonds...in misunderstanding....bound by the Lord purposely in order to show the Truth at the appointed time.

13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Man, with his fleshly wisdom, has still preached Christ even with the fleshly understanding of Paul's writings...some out of insincerity....supposing to add to the affliction to the bonds of Paul's writings.

15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

It will be the "supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" that will show what Paul's writings have been really about....the salvation of his writings from the mouth of the lion...the enemy. Christ shall be magnified in his "body"....his writings....whether by life (at the revelation of the Truth of the Scriptures)...or by "death"....which is the teachings of the fleshly mind of man of the Scriptures. Christ has been magnified no matter how preached....with the mind of man (supposing to add to affliction) or by the Lord in the Spirit of Life. Paul and all the witnesses of the Scriptures are in "earnest expectation" and hope for the revealing of their true witness of Christ.....being rescued from the wisdom of man which is emptiness.

19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

[shawn]

The great cloud of witnesses of the Scriptures have been 'killed' so to speak. Their true messages of righteousness have been overcome with the wisdom of fleshly man…who has taken their witness of the Truth and distorted and twisted it. They (the witnesses) do not speak as they should…for the mouth of the enemy has taken them and preached violence using their words without the Truth attached to them. The books of the bible are 'tombs' so to speak. The Pharisees and the scribes 'garnished' the tombs….that set their words in order according to their own understanding and according to their earthly desires of money, fame, power….making them partakers of those who had killed the prophets. All the witnesses of the Scriptures have been 'killed' so to speak by the mouth and wisdom of the enemy….the 'mouth of the lion' as Paul stated in 2nd Timothy 4:

17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

All of the witnesses words will be delivered out of the mouth of the lion….they will be delivered from every evil work that the mind of fleshly man has subjected them to:

18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The witness of the Law and the Prophets…the two witnesses…have been killed….so also have the words of the apostles….Peter, Paul, James….all of them. The Scriptures were to be 'FULFILLED:'

(Rev 6:11 KJV) And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

As Jesus suffered and died and arose from the dead, we have the prime example of what would happen to the Scriptures. Jesus did things so that the Scriptures 'MIGHT BE FULFILLED.' He showed us things that were to happen by his own works, sufferings, death and resurrection. He showed us that the Scriptures would be fulfilled in like manner. As it says in Revelation, the witnesses (the entire Scriptures) would also be overcome and killed just as our Lord was crucified:

(Rev 11:7 KJV) And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

The witnesses of Christ (the Scriptures) would be 'dead bodies' that would be meat to the 'fowls of heaven' and flesh to the 'beasts of the earth:'

(Psa 79:1 KJV) A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.

Their blood have been shed and there was 'none to bury them'….mankind has taken the words of the bible with the fleshly wisdom of man and have produced evil works with them….they have divided the people of God with their teachings of error and men’s reasoning and logic have led the sheep astray. Their works are 'dead' works that have been produced with 'dead' wisdom of the bible. Fleshly man has not remembered the words of Moses and all the prophets in a proper setting….they did not 'bury' them….in other words, not remembering….not being mindful of the words of them.

3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.

Jesus did works and suffered things so that the Scriptures 'MIGHT be fulfilled'…..the death and suffering would be made complete through the witnesses…the Scriptures would also suffer as Jesus did in order for all things to be fulfilled…Jesus was the harbinger of things to come for the Scriptures themselves…the witnesses of Christ would also suffer. They are a part of Christ….as we are also.

(Mat 2:15 KJV) And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

As Jesus was called out of Egypt….so must the witness of the Scriptures…their words must come out of the bondage of fleshly man’s mind. They will open their mouths to speak the revealed Truth of God….to reveal the glory of God. The witnesses have suffered the 'great darkness' of man’s carnal mind…. 'Egypt' is the great darkness that Abram had seen. A 'deep sleep' fell upon Abram…..all the witnesses (the seed of Abram) would go into a deep sleep….the Truth of the Scriptures would fall into darkness….their true witness into a 'deep sleep." The dead bodies lie in the street of Sodom and EGYPT.

(Gen 15:12 KJV) And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

The Scriptures would become a 'stranger in a land that is not theirs'…just as historical Israel did. The words of the witnesses have been afflicted by the enemy….by the words and acts of earthly religious man:

13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

They were to be afflicted 400 years….which just happens to be the price of the burying place that Abraham had bought to bury his 'dead.' The 'dead' is spiritually the true witness of the Scriptures….all those whose lives are recorded in the bible have been 'killed' by the wisdom of fleshly man….who does not possess the heavenly wisdom.

(Gen 23:15 KJV) My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.

The 'dead' witnesses of the Scriptures have their burying place in the presence of the children of 'Heth'….which means 'terror.' The leaders of the fleshly wisdom of religious man use the 'dead' to terrorize those underneath them. They rule with 'terror.'

17 And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure
18 Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.

But continuing in Genesis 15, we find that Abram was told by God that they would afterward come out with 'great substance'…the Scriptures will be revealed by our Lord. He will make the corruptible incorruptible.

14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

Although man has corrupted the Scriptures….the Scriptures themselves are unharmed by God’s promise to raise them incorruptible as Jesus was.

15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

In the 'fourth generation' they shall come again…..after the 'iniquity of the Amorites' is full:

16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

The 'Amorites' are the gentile Christian church who has a cup also to fill as far as sin goes…..the missing the mark of the Truth of the Scriptures. We also have participated in the death of the witnesses of the bible….we have taken the words of the apostles and persecuted them as well. The iniquity of the 'Amorites' = the fullness of the Gentiles:

(Rom 11:25 KJV) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

We have all (Jews and Gentiles) been given over to sin….to the beating and persecution of the witnesses in the bible….our throats are like 'open sepulchers.' We have spoken and taught untruths with the Scriptures.

(Rom 3:9 KJV) What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

We have used the Scriptures without understanding for sin….we have all done unrighteousness in our religious lives….without understanding.

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

The Scriptures have been collectively the 'suffering servant.' The witnesses (the historical recorded Israel) are in Christ and are a part of Christ….they had been made 'flesh'…they have suffered in the flesh of man’s wisdom. The witnesses in Christ have born the griefs and sorrows that we have afflicted them with:

(Isa 53:4 KJV) Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

The suffering servant….the witnesses of Christ…have been 'wounded' BY our transgressions….he was bruised BY our iniquities.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

We have all gone astray by the mishandling of the Scriptures that have taken the iniquity of us all. All these things that have been done in the 'flesh' of man’s mind and can be forgiven…all these things have been done in ignorance.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The Scriptures…the witnesses of Christ…have been oppressed and afflicted. They have not 'opened' their mouth….the Scriptures haven’t opened up and the Truth revealed which brings judgment and death to those who contradict it when it does. As long as the Scriptures haven’t been opened up for understanding, man is forgiven for his transgressions that are done in misunderstanding of the bible.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

The Scriptures themselves are not deceiving us….there is no deceit in their witness…there is no violence that they themselves have done. It is man who does these things…it is man who touches the 'dead body' and makes himself unclean. Religious man has taken the Scriptures without the Truth and become rich with them…they have used the 'dead' Scriptures for wickedness….. ' he made his grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death:'

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

But as our Lord was raised from the dead, so the servant…the Scriptures…will be raised. And it is with 'knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many'…..our Lord will open up the Scriptures….the revelation of the Truth. We shall have the knowledge to cleanse ourselves from all the unrighteous deeds and thoughts we had when we were yet in darkness…in ignorance. Then we can do righteous works in the True righteous Way of God….in Life.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

The Scriptures will be raised 'incorruptible.' The 'dead shall be raised incorruptible' and shall be 'changed.' 'Changed'….to make different. We will no longer see the words of the witnesses in the darkness of death...in the fleshly wisdom of man…but we will understand them in the Light….in the Spirit of Christ. We will be cleansed if we hear and do the revealed Truth. We have this hope in Christ….for he showed us this by his own resurrection from the dead. We have this faith that the Lord will come and raise us up out of the darkness of ignorance into His glorious Light with the saints of the Scriptures who will show us the Way in the revealed Truth.

(1 Cor 15:52 KJV) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

For the Spirit of Life shall enter into the witnesses….the Spirit of Christ….and raise them up….they will 'stand upon their feet:'

(Rev 11:11 KJV) And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

They will ascend up to heaven in a cloud….they are the 'cloud of witnesses' that the Lord will call up….into heavenly wisdom from the death of the fleshly wisdom and words of religious man who has kept them in the 'power of death.'

12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

The 'cloud of witnesses' have suffered and taken our iniquities for us…in Christ…they have been 'stoned, sawn asunder, tempted, slain with the sword'….literally in history and today spiritually by the fleshly wisdom of man.

(Heb 11:37 KJV) They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

But they will be made 'perfect' by the heavenly wisdom of God…they will be 'changed' into a witness incorruptible….no longer as the suffering servant….but kings and priests…and we will share in the inheritance of the saints if we believe and do the Truth.

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

The Son of man comes 'in the clouds'…not the literal clouds…but the spiritual cloud of the cloud of witnesses….in the revealed Truth of the Scriptures:

(Mark 13:26 KJV) And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

But in the face of such a great revelation, we are to hear and do the Truth. For if we continue as we have in sin….willfully….after receiving the full knowledge of the revealed Truth (no longer in ignorance,) there remains no more sacrifice for sins. The Truth will be revealed through the witnesses of the Scriptures and those who preach it...there will no longer be an excuse for our sins…for our missing of the mark of the Truth. For all the sins of the church have been done in ignorance …..without the revealed Truth of the Scriptures. But when it comes, the Scriptures will no longer take the beating and persecution of fleshly man…for it will have been raised in glory and power….and the Word of God is swift and powerful….a swift witness. Man will be without excuse if he continues willfully to choose the darkness in face of the Light of the Spirit of Christ who has entered into the witnesses and make it a living Word.

(Heb 10:26 KJV) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

[shawn]

Paul counted all things as a loss from his previous religious life so that he may attain the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Phil 3:8 KJV) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

He gave up his religious works of his own righteousness....he showed us the pattern we must also live up to in order to gain the knowledge of Christ. We must deny ourselves in order to also partake of this knowledge when it comes. When the full knowledge of the revealed Truth of the Scriptures comes, we are also to give up our own works of "righteousness" for the true works of righteousness which is of God and not of man.

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Paul gave up all in order to know the fellowship of the sufferings of Jesus. Not only did he suffer literally in the body 2000 years ago, his writings also have suffered in the "flesh"....in the fleshly mind of man who has twisted and distorted his words. By this, Paul has been made "conformable unto his death." The letters Paul has written have suffered at the hands of the enemy....as did all of the Scriptures.

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

But when the Lord comes to open up the Scriptures for understanding....it is the "resurrection"...the "standing up" of the Truth of the Scriptures. As Paul stated, when he wrote his letters, he had not attained this perfection.....the resurrection of the dead. This was something to come later...his faith is in Christ to preach through his words at the appointed time. His words had not been properly interpreted through the Lord Jesus Christ yet. It is with the Lord's knowledge that makes the Scriptures alive to us. He has to be the one to come and make the Truth stand up so that we may understand and act accordingly. The Lord uses all of the witnesses of the bible to preach to us at the end of this age.

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

For those who want to share in the prize...who want to be perfected also, we must deny our religious lives....our works of our own "righteousness" .....just as Paul did. We must "be thus minded" as Paul stated:

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

The Scriptures will be "changed" at the twinkling of an eye.....the corruptible will be made incorruptible. The "vile body" will be fashion into his glorious body.....through the preaching of his knowledge....the revealed Truth of the Scriptures. He is able to subdue all things to himself:

(Phil 3:21 KJV) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

As Paul disclosed, he petitions us to not think of the witnesses of the Scriptures as walking according to the flesh....especially at the revealing of the Truth. The surface meanings of the Scriptures are not the revealed Truth. What we have been seeing on the outside is not what is being said...but the things we have been taught previously are from the wisdom of the flesh...of man's words. Christ has to come and reveal those things to us.

(2 Cor 10:2 KJV) But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

For though the Word of God became flesh....to walk among men without the revealed Truth, the war is not fought with the earthly meanings of the bible....but with the spiritual knowledge of God.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

It is through God we have spiritual knowledge revealed to us. And it is this full, revealed, knowledge that will cast down all previous teachings of man. Teachings that have been in error...which we have all learned and attested to. Every doctrine of religious man has been in error....for His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

When we fully understand and obey the revealed Truth when it comes, we are made ready to "revenge all disobedience" against those men and teachings that exalt themselves against the Truth.

6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

If we are still looking at the exterior appearance of the Scriptures when the revealed Truth comes...when Christ reveals all things to us, we must take a hard look at ourselves:

7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

For the visible, literal things of the bible....those readily seen....are temporary and will be done away (changed) with at the revealing of the Truth.

(2 Cor 4:18 KJV) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The "earthly house" will be dissolved. All those things that religious man have built upon the outside understanding of the Scriptures will also be dissolved because the literal understanding will be replaced with a building of God.....the eternal spiritual not made with hands in the mind of the flesh.

5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

The Scriptures than will be fully clothed as it should be...and us as well that hear and do the revealed Truth.

2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

But those who continue in their earthly works of the flesh will be left with "webs" ....which they will not cover themselves as garments with their works of iniquity.

(Isa 59:6 KJV) Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.

Those that cling on to the earthly things....those temporary, surface things of the Scriptures when the revealed Truth comes are the enemies of the cross of Christ. These are people who are religious but do not want to see the spiritual Truth as revealed by our Lord. They want to continue with the way things are and have been understood for the last 2000 years. They do not want to deny their lives in order to save them. They continue to mind the earthly things. To mind earthly things is not showing love to each other....and that is the main problem. All of the works of man are not based on loving each other...but on "vain glory."

(Phil 3:18 KJV) (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

As an awakening church to the revealed Truth, we are to depart from those church activities that were done for our "vain glory." Those things that were motivated by earthly desires.


(Gal 5:26 KJV) Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

(Phil 2:3 KJV) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

[shawn]

The "cloud of witnesses" of the Scriptures have been "asleep".....or "dead" so to speak. Their testimonies recorded in the bible have not been properly understood....their mouths have been silent until the Lord comes....who will send the Spirit of Life and will preach through the witness of them. We see this prophecy in Matthew...a literal picture of a spiritual concept at the cross. Jesus "cried again with a loud voice".....a "great" voice...and "yielded up the ghost." Yielding up the ghost can be translated as "to send forth the Spirit".....it is the Spirit of Life that comes at the end of this age and opens up the Scriptures for all to understand.

(Mat 27:50 KJV) Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

The Spirit of Life enters into the witnesses.....the Scriptures' literal, surface meanings shake and remove all that is temporary so that the spiritual can be seen. The "veil" is torn in two from top to bottom....the entire spiritual knowledge of the bible will be revealed.....the Way of righteousness will be made known through a new understanding.

51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

The "earth did quake" meaning the removing of the temporary things....the literal understandings of the Scriptures and all those things man has built upon them. Then the spiritual understandings are left standing...which can't be shaken. We see this in Hebrews:

(Heb 12:26 KJV) Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

And continuing in Matthew, we see the "graves were opened"......"grave" = "a remembrance." The memories of all the Scriptures are opened.....the witnesses words are opened up for understanding. God remembers His saints. The books of the bible will be "opened." The "bodies" of the saints which slept arose......the written books of the bible by the saints will "awake" in the understanding of Christ. All the saints recorded lives will have new meanings for us....spiritual messages.

52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

The witnesses will disclose their messages of God.....with God's wisdom and not the wisdom of earthly man. They "went into the holy city".....they will be in the holy city..."New Jerusalem"....the wisdom and peace of God. The holy city is not the literal Jerusalem.....but the heavenly Jerusalem from above...the wisdom of God. The Scriptural saints will "appear unto many"....they will disclose by words the hidden knowledge of God. The Scriptures will open up to understanding. The witnesses will open their mouthes and speak the hidden truth of the bible to many people.

53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

We see the "holy city" is "New Jerusalem:"

(Rev 21:2 KJV) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

There will be great fear among those who will see these things.

54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

We find In Revelation this picture also, it is comparable to Matthew. The Spirit of Life from God will enter the witnesses (the Scriptural Saints.) The "Spirit of Life will enter them" = Jesus "yielded up the ghost." In other words, he sends forth the Spirit who enlivens the witnesses testimony. They will stand upon their feet = the graves will open and the bodies of the saints arose. There will be "great fear" on those who see them = the centurion and those with him who watched Jesus also feared.

(Rev 11:11 KJV) And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

They "heard a great voice" = Jesus "cried again with a loud voice." They "ascended up to heaven" = they went into the holy city, which is New Jerusalem.

12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

There was a "great earthquake"....there was also an earthquake at the cross.

13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

And we see this abbreviated a bit in Thessalonians.....the Lord will "shout"....with the "voice" of the archangel....the "great voice" of the Spirit of Life. The "dead in Christ" shall rise first....the Scriptural saints testimony has to be awakened first for our understanding so that we may know the Truth, Way and Life.

(1 Th 4:16 KJV) 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

The Saints must rise up....just as Jacob showed us. He "rose up early in the morning" and took the stone that he had put "for his pillows" and poured oil upon the top of it. The "stone" is the Scriptures....the saints have been "asleep"...their testimonies have been silent....the pillows are to be "set up for a pillar." The "oil" or the Spirit of Truth will be poured on top of the Scriptures so to speak. The Spirit will show us the Way through the proper interpretation of the Scriptures....which is the "stone."

(Gen 28:18 KJV) And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

God will give us spiritual bread to eat through the revealing of the Truth of the Scriptures...and will give us "raiment to put on"....true righteousness:

20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

[shawn]

"The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy".....Jesus has to actively interpret the Scriptures for us at the appointed time. He will preach through the words of the prophets.....through all of the saints of the bible. They are the "cloud of witnesses" who take part in leading us to the Truth, the Way and the Life....Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Rev 19:10 KJV) And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Paul stated that "we will be changed" in the twinkling of an eye. The "dead shall be raised incorruptible." The testimony of the cloud of witnesses will be raised up with the testimony of Jesus....with his voice that interprets them for us. This was foreshadowed by the "transfiguration"......the "change." Moses and Elijah represent the two witnesses....and the apostles represent the New Testament.....we have the whole bible represented on that high mountain.

(Mat 17:1 KJV) And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

When the "change" comes to the Scriptures....to the witnesses....they will shine with new meaning....we can then understand our sins and be cleansed and have true works of righteousness in our Lord.

2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Moses and Elijah appeared and were "talking with him" .....the witnesses words are made complete with the voice of Jesus....he interprets them for us and not the fleshly wisdom of man. We are to hear him.

3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

The "bright cloud overshadowed them"....the bright cloud is the cloud of witnesses whose testimony will be activated by the power of God. Our Lord will actively speak through the witnesses....all of them...Moses....all the prophets....and the apostles who had the bright cloud overshadow them. We are to hear our Lord when he does this....for he will speak and warn us from heaven through a new understanding of the witnesses. The Scriptures will open up to our understanding and we are to take heed....to hear him.

5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Our God will speak through the cloud of witnesses as He did in the "cloudy pillar".....the cloud of witnesses that will lead us in the Way we should all go.

(Psa 99:7 KJV) He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.

It was in a "pillar of a cloud" that led the way by day for the children of Israel....it is the Lord in His "cloud of witnesses" that will lead us in the Way in the day of revelation. The "pillar of fire" will gives us the Light in the "night".....the Light will shine in our darkness that we have been in for the last 2000 years.

(Exo 13:21 KJV) And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

We should not turn away from Him that will speak from heaven.....who speaks in the day of the revelation of the Truth of the Scriptures. Who will preach to us through the words of the cloud of witnesses...whose words will be "activated" at the appointed time. They will be made to stand up....raised from the dead.

(Heb 12:25 KJV) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

They will be "just men made perfect" in the day the Lord uses their testmony to speak to us. No longer will their testimonies languish in the mouth of earthly man. They will be the city of the living God.....heavenly Jerusalem....New Jerusalem. The saints will come into the "holy city" after they come out of their tombs.

(Heb 12:22 KJV) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Paul looked forward to the day that he would also be made "perfect"......completed by the testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of prophecy. Without that Spirit speaking through Paul, he was still not perfect...he had not attained the "resurrection" yet.

(Phil 3:12 KJV) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

As Paul stated, David is "dead and buried" and his "sepulcher is with us to this day:"

(Acts 2:29 KJV) Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

The "sepulcher" is the book of Psalms....for without the Spirit of Life, mankind can not properly know fully the book of Psalms. Paul used the sepulcher for his quotes...the book of Psalms. When man uses his own interpretation of the Scriptures for his own gain, his mouth is an "open sepulcher" speaking falsehoods. Our Lord must open his mouth and use the words of David to speak to us at the day of revelation. When this happens, David has ascended into heaven.....when our Lord actively speaks using the testimony of David. Christ would come sit on his throne....the testimony of David.

30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

David prophesied that Christ's flesh would not see corruption and his soul was not left in Hades. David would also rest in this hope that his own testimony would not be left in the "unseen"....in the lack of God's knowledge...to be left in the darkness of the fleshly wisdom of man (the corruption.) He had this hope as Christ died and arose.....his message also would arise from the death of the wisdom of earthly man into the Life of Christ....his testimony and not man's.

31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

As Paul stated, they are all witnesses....they are the cloud of witnesses that will also raise up as the Lord showed us through his death and resurrection.

32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

For "David is not ascended into the heavens"......the Lord had not entered his testimony yet with the preaching of the Spirit of Life. Only our Lord has ascended into heaven. David has been left "dead and buried" in the flesh of man's mouth.

34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

But David and all the witnesses will ascend into heaven....when our Lord will speak through them with the power of God. They will ascend up to heaven in a "cloud".....the "cloud of witnesses" will speak the revealed Truth of our God.

(Rev 11:12 KJV) And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

David's testimony will "ascend" into heaven.....as his writings attest to. David will no longer be "dead and buried." We see the "songs of ascent" (known as songs of "degrees" in the KJV) in Psalms:

(Psa 120:1 KJV) A Song of degrees. In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.
2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

The distress that the Scriptures endure are the "lying lips" and "deceitful tongue" of the fleshly wisdom of man.....who misuses the bible for his own gain. Who corrupts the Word of God for his own lusts....the witnesses have been in tribulation because of the earthy understanding of man.

A Song of ASCENTS:

(Psa 122:1 KJV) A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

The witnesses shall stand upon their feet.....within the gates of the "holy city"....they will come into New Jerusalem. The saints arose out of their tombs and went into the holy city and appeared to many.

2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

New Jerusalem is built by God.....it is put together with His wisdom....He puts the Scriptures together so that we may understand.

3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:

As we see in another Song of ASCENT....except the Lord build the house, we labor in vain. Our understandings of the Scriptures we have built for the last 2000 years are in vain. Our works based on these misunderstandings are in vain. Only God can properly interpret the bible.....mankind can not do this on his own. Man's interpretations are in error because they originate from his own private interpretation.

(Psa 127:1 KJV) A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

A song of ASCENTS....

(Psa 129:1 KJV) A Song of degrees. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:

The fleshly works of man based on his literal interpretations of the bible have "afflicted" the witnesses testimony....man has "plowed upon the back and made long furrows" upon the Scriptures. Yet the wisdom of man will not prevail for God will cut "asunder the cords of the wicked."

2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.
4 The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
5 Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

A song of ASCENTS....David will ascend into heaven at the great voice of our Lord....at the knowledge of God.

(Psa 133:1 KJV) A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

When the Lord speaks from heaven through the cloud of witnesses....all of the Scriptures, we can then dwell together in unity....all of the brothers will know peace with each other. We will be of one mind (understanding) and one mouth (speaking the same knowledge of God.) No longer will we be Jew or Gentile....Catholic or Protestant.....Baptist or Lutheran, etc, etc,etc,etc.....but we will be ONE in Christ Jesus....as one man in the full stature of Christ.

[shawn]

Of course it was Peter who stood up with the eleven and spoke about David’s sepulcher….I mistakenly said it was Paul.

(Acts 2:29 KJV) Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

The 'tombs' will open up…the silent Scriptures will open up to our understanding. There will be a 'great earthquake'….not a literal earthquake, but a spiritual earthquake. The earthquake refers to the shaking of things that can be removed…..the literal knowledge of the Scriptures (and all those works built upon it) which is temporary is to be shaken and done away with so that the spiritual knowledge of God will stand….those things that can’t be shaken. The voice of God will 'shake the earth'….He will interpret the Scriptures in such a way as to destroy all other interpretations that were based on man’s private interpretation. The 'heaven' shall shake also….our religious leaders who have relied on their own interpretations will fall from their positions (the stars falling from heaven) when it is revealed that their teachings have been in error. They will lose their power and positions over the flock of God….His heritage. They will fear greatly.

(Heb 12:26 KJV) Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

Man’s understanding of the bible will quake….the earthquake….and will be destroyed at the revealing of the Truth…..the full knowledge of God. It will be the removing of things that are shaken. The witnesses of the Scriptures will open their mouths to speak the hidden wisdom of God…..and their witness can not be shaken…but will remain.

27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

We see a spiritual concept in the literal occurrence of a 'great earthquake' in Acts when Paul and Silas were in prison. The great earthquake shook the 'foundations of the prison'…..the revealed Truth of God will shake the established doctrines of religious man. It is these doctrines and commandments of men that will be removed. It is these things that have kept us in 'prison.' It is these things that are based on literal, earthly thoughts of man and they have kept us shackled in the 'bands' of strife and envy. Man’s doctrines provoke us into not loving each other. Every thought and way of man is steeped in vain glory, strife and envy of each other…..they divide us into 'denominations' and debate. But the 'doors' will be opened and the 'bands' will be loosened.

(Acts 16:26 KJV) 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.

There was also a 'great earthquake' when the stone was rolled back from the door of the tomb of Jesus. This was signifying the future rolling away of the literal 'stone' (the literal earthly understanding) of the Scriptures from the mouths of the witnesses of the Scriptures. They have been silent….silent as a lamb led to the shearers…they have been silent as religious man has taken their sayings and distorted and twisted them. The witnesses will open their mouths when the voice of the Lord comes to speak through them. The great earthquake will remove all other private interpretations…..for the 'angel of the Lord'…the archangel will descend from heaven. The Lord will descend with a shout in the voice of the archangel…..the voice of all the witnesses who will open their mouths and reveal the hidden mysteries of God….the 'stone' will be rolled back from the door….the mouth will open and speak the revealed Truth.

(Mat 28:2 KJV) And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

The angel will sit....in judgment. The knowledge that will be spoken will be bright….pure. A Light that will shine in the darkness of man’s mind.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

And the current religious leaders….those keepers of the tomb….those keepers of the prison, will shake with fear and become as 'dead.' They will fall from their positions…they will fall from heaven to the earth as dead men when they hear and understand the knowledge of God.

4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

The 'stars of heaven fell unto the earth'…..the leaders of our churches will fall….their 'sun' will become black and their 'moon' will become as blood. No longer will their teachings of error work upon the heritage of God….no longer will they deceive and lead astray.

(Rev 6:12 KJV) And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

The fig tree will cast her untimely figs as when she is 'shaken' of a mighty wind. Those leaders will fall at the revelation of the Truth.

13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

These will be the leaders who cry 'peace and safety' in the face of such a great revelation….they will seek to keep things the way they are. They will seek to keep their lives….they will seek to keep their ways and thoughts, but they will lose their lives. They will even seek to war against the revealed Truth….to contradict…to oppose…to be antichrist. They will war against all those who receive the love of the Truth and do the Truth.

(Micah 3:5 KJV) Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

As God said through Micah, their 'sun' will go down and the day shall be dark over them. They will be confounded and ashamed….and they shall cover their lips for God will no longer answer them. They are the stars that will fall from heaven. Their positions will no longer be relevant.

6 Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.
7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.
8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

The 'great earthquake' will shake and remove all the thoughts and ways of earthly man….those who literalize the Scriptures without the revealed Truth. Who have fallen into the temptation of making the 'stone' bread. The stone is the Scriptures that hasn’t had the Truth revealed yet. Men have fell into the temptation of making the 'stone' into 'bread'….they have turned it into doctrines and commandments of men based on their own private interpretation. They have led others astray with their erroneous teachings…they have given them as 'bread' for many to eat….things sacrificed to idols. Only our Lord Jesus Christ did not sin….the only one who did not fall into the temptation of Satan. For we must live by 'every word of God'….for God will reveal to us from heaven the correct interpretation of the bible….which will lead us into true Life.

(Luke 4:3 KJV) And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

The true 'rock' that the church will be built on will be that revelation which our Father in heaven will give us. It is Word that will 'activate' the sayings of the Scriptures at the end of this age. It will not be built upon the thoughts, ways, and teachings of flesh and blood…..the earthly wisdom of religious man. We shall be gathered together in Truth by the wisdom of God and not man.

(Mat 16:17 KJV) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The keys of the kingdom of heaven….are the keys of knowledge God will reveal to us. He will reveal the hidden wisdom that has been under the veil of the literal Scriptures.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The great earthquake is the voice of the chief messenger of the Scriptures…the witnesses will open their mouths and speak to us the revealed Truth and there will be a great commotion among religious man when this happens. 'Babylon'….the confusion that man has built with his private interpretations….will be cast down. For the voice of Truth will be heard….. 'thunders' and lightning. There will be true Light and judgment.

(Rev 16:18 KJV) And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

And 'every island' will flee away and the 'mountains' will not be found….the leaders of religious error will fear and become as dead men. They will be the stars that will fall from heaven. Their fight against the revealed Truth will be in vain.

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

For we shall be visited by the Lord with the revealed Truth of the full knowledge of the witnesses’ sayings. Their words will be like the thunder of God….for He shall speak to us through them by the understanding of them. The witnesses….Moses, all the prophets and all the apostles are the 'hosts' of the Lord. They are the 'clouds of heaven' that he will come on. He doesn’t come on a literal cloud but comes through the understanding of the cloud of witnesses of the Scriptures. But woe to those who will fight against the 'activated' witness of the Scriptures….for the Word of God is quick and powerful. Let us heed the message and not fight against 'mount Zion.'

(Isa 29:6 KJV) Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.
7 And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.
8 It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.
9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

'Zion' means 'a guiding pillar' and also 'a dry place'…..the Scriptures have been 'dry' and desolate without the revealed Truth…..the coming of the revealed Truth is the water…the rain that will fall on the 'dry earth' of man’s understanding of the Scriptures and will produce fruits of true righteousness. Not the works of righteousness that fleshly religious man has worked for in the last 2000 years. 'Zion' is that guiding pillar that will show us the true Light and led us in the true way of righteousness. It is the Scriptures that when married to the Truth of God will show us the way. The 'marriage supper of the Lamb' IS the TRUE SAYINGS OF GOD. The revealed Truth of the written word that comes and 'activates' the Scriptures so that we may understand all things….for everything hidden will be revealed.

(Rev 19:9 KJV) And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

The witnesses will open their mouths and speak the hidden knowledge of God and we will know our sins and know how to correct them. We must receive the love of the revealed Truth when it comes and DO the Truth. Upon mount Zion ( the revealed Truth of the Scriptures) will be deliverance and there shall be holiness.

(Oba 1:17 KJV) But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

We will be delivered from our sins of missing the mark of the Truth which has been done in ignorance….the revealed Truth hasn’t been given yet. Our religious thoughts and ways have been in error. But the Truth is coming soon….Jesus is the Truth, the Way and the Life. The city of the living God is the 'activated'-to-the Truth Scriptures. Those citizens are the witnesses of the bible who God will use to speak through to us at the appointed time. The witnesses are the 'innumerable company of angels'….they will speak the revealed Truth of God….and those who hear the Truth and preach the Truth is a messenger with them. That is our inheritance with the saints of the bible.

(Heb 12:22 KJV) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

The 'general assembly' are Moses and all the witnesses of the Scriptures. When God uses their testimonies to speak to us, then they will become 'spirits of just men made perfect.' Their testimonies will be perfected by God’s revealing of His Truth through their words that are written in the bible (in heaven.)

23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

The witnesses have provided their message….but it is Jesus who will speak through their written words (in a new understanding….New Jerusalem) better things than what we have previously understood:

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Abel spoke to us through his written witness in Genesis….this is from the 'earth'….the written word without the testimony of Jesus speaking through him yet. But when Jesus 'activates' his testimony….it is as though he 'speaks from heaven.' The 'testimony of Jesus' is what we are to ultimately hear. The Scriptures will have a 'transfiguration'…a change over from written message to a voice that speaks through them from heaven….in the 'voice of the archangel.' We will have a new understanding of what Abel has said through the testimony of Jesus…who will actively begin to speak through the witnesses’ written words of the bible.

25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

[shawn]

The Lord comes with the "clouds of heaven"....not the literal clouds in the sky but the "clouds of witnesses"....all those witnesses whose words and experiences of faith in Christ are recorded. We must remember their words....and their lives. Their testimonies are important.....they are recorded in "paradise." The thief on the cross was "remembered" by our Lord Jesus....for his testimony was recorded for us. Jesus had granted him the special status of being one of the saints of the Lord.....one of the witnesses recorded in Scripture....to be in paradise. And to think that to have your witness recorded at the very place of the cross is an honor.

(Luke 23:42 KJV) And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Also the woman who broke the alabaster box and poured myrrh upon Jesus's head was also immortalized so to speak. Her testimony is recorded in the "garden"....in the "park"....the Scriptures.

(Mark 14:9 KJV) Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

Their testimonies will be used by Christ for teaching us....not as man taught us for the last 2000 years with his earthly mind. But the Scriptures will be opened by our Lord and we will have a new understanding of them. It is paradise to have your testimony used by the Lord. With faith, we were to wait for our Lord to come with the "clouds of heaven"....the "cloud of witnesses" to open the understanding of the Scriptures. To open the understanding is to "restore again the kingdom to Israel".....to restore the Truth to the testimony of the saints of the bible that has suffered distress under the care of man. When the revealed Truth comes, we will "come together" as one mind and one mouth in Jesus:

(Acts 1:6 KJV) When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

Not only were the disciples to receive power after the Holy Spirit came upon them to be witnesses 2000 years ago.....but also, the entire witnesses of the bible would be witnesses in Truth when the Spirit of Truth comes to open up their mouths and reveal the hidden mysteries of God at the end of this age.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Jesus literally was received up in a "cloud" 2000 years ago....and he will come with the "cloud of witnesses".....by the Spirit at the end of this age.

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

The "two men" that "stood" by them in white apparel are symbolic of the "two witnesses"....Moses and the prophets (as symbolized by Elijah.) Their "white apparel" are symbolic of the revelation of the Truth of the witnesses......and they will "stand" with the apostles....those witnesses of the New Testament. Their witness will "shine" with new meaning with the Lord interpreting the Scriptures for us.

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

Jesus is the TRUTH....and he was taken up from the testimony of the witnesses.....leaving them in the "flesh"....the Word was made flesh. But he will come back....and the Spirit of Life will enter into the witnesses and they will "stand up on their feet"....as it says in Revelation.

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

These "two men" were also at the tomb after the resurrection of Jesus. They are symbolic of the "two witnesses".....especially at the time of the revelation of the Truth because they were in "shining garments"....the revealed Truth of the two witnesses.

(Luke 24:2 KJV) And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

And their message was "why do you seek the living among the dead." When the revelation of the Truth comes, we are to stop seeking with the old earthly, dead wisdom of man....the stone tomb of the literal understanding of the Scriptures is not the living message. But the active testimony that the Lord speaks through his saints is living words.....spiritual. We are to compare spiritual with spiritual things.

5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

We are to REMEMBER:

6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

We are to remember his words....all of them....for he will speak through all of the cloud of witnesses.

8 And they remembered his words,

"Restoring the kingdom to Israel" is to restore the Truth to the Scriptures so that we may understand them and live according to God's righteousness and not our own. It is the "regeneration" that we are to look forward to . The "regeneration" is the restoring of the Truth to the Scriptures. When the Truth is restored, than the Son of Man sits in the throne of his glory and will judge his people.

(Mat 19:28 KJV) And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

When the Truth is restored, those who will understand and do the Truth will forsake all they have for that Truth....for our Lord...to follow him. We will forsake all the religious works of darkness we have participated in....for they were motivated by vain glory....by strife and envy and of hate for one another. We will deny our lives to save them.

29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

And once again, we find in Titus a statement that is a "hindsight" statement. Being said to those who have departed from all those religious activities and different denominations....for those things were being "foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures...." AFTER RECEIVING the REVEALED TRUTH....which has not happened yet. We, as a church, are still involved in these things.

(Titus 3:3 KJV) For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

"Hating one another".....the Baptist can't stand the Lutheran, the Protestant can't stand the Catholic, etc, etc. The list goes on ad nauseum. Those that say they love across denominations are usually "feigning" love.

4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The "times of refreshing" are coming...the "restitution of all things"......the "regeneration"....the "restoring of the kingdom to Israel"..... all things speaking of the revelation of the Truth of the Scriptures....by which we can have these sins blotted out:

(Acts 3:19 KJV) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

Jesus Christ has been in heaven.....he is the Truth of the Scriptures. By heaven receiving him, the witness of the bible has been silent. The Scriptures have been left in the flesh of earthly man's wisdom upon earth....without the Spirit of Truth interpreting it. It has been this way for 2000 years.....but the "restitution of all things" is coming......the Spirit of Life will enter into the witnesses and they will stand. Their mouths will open and the Lord will speak to us through all the prophets of the bible.

21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

When the Lord comes with the clouds of heaven.....he will speak to us through a new understanding of the Scriptures. The Lord will use the written words of the prophets to speak to us....he will speak to us from heaven using the "clouds of heaven." The Scriptures will become a living word... with new understanding and not the old literal understanding of man.

23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

We are to hear him when he does come with his testimony....for it is the time of "refreshing:"

(Isa 28:12 KJV) To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

But those who won't listen would rather hear and understand the old way of earthly man......the "precept upon precept, line upon line...."

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, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

To keep the Scriptures in the wisdom of fleshly man....is a "covenant with death"....especially at the time of the revelation of the testimony of Jesus that will be spoken through all the witnesses of the bible. We are to hear his testimony and turn from our own wisdom at the revelation. But some will make the "lies" their "refuge".....the falsehoods of what man has been preaching for the last 2000 years. They will not deny their religious lives to save themselves from the coming wrath and indignation of God upon those who refuse to hear.

15 Because ye 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:

We, as a church, have all been sinners....missing the Truth entirely. We have all taken the letter of the Scriptures and have been living by them. Forming doctrines of men....idols....and deceiving others with them. We, as a church, have been living a lie.....a lie that we are to depart from when the revealed Truth shows us the Way and the Life.

(Rom 3:7 KJV) For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?
8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

[shawn]

What is really a lie? Who is the liar? Those that say they love God but hate their brothers:

(1 John 4:20 KJV) If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Many of the church have hated each other. How? By judging others with our own devised doctrines and commandments of men using the earthly understanding of the Scriptures. Many in the church have used the "letter" of the Scriptures as a means to hate others. I will use an example from my own church that I grew up in but no longer a part of. We were taught from the bible repeatedly that we were not to worship with a musical instrument in our songs. The motto was "being silent where the bible is silent." We followed the "letter" of the Scriptures and not the Spirit. Not that keeping musical instruments out of worship is a bad thing if you are fully convinced in your own mind.....but what made it damning to us is that we JUDGED others for not following this doctrine.....this "truth." I was literally taught that the other churches (our own brothers) were not saved and were going to burn in hell for having musical instruments in their church services. This is ridiculous....when I think back. But many in this particular denomination are fully convinced that those who do have musical instruments are condemned......they judge others with their fleshly understanding of the Scriptures. The often used (overused) verses to support this doctrine is in Ephesians and Colossians:

(Eph 5:19 KJV) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

(Col 3:16 KJV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Since a musical instrument is not mentioned in the verse, the musical instrument must never be used in our church service.....so the thinking goes. This denomination has taken the "letter" of the Scripture to judge others with. We had gloried in the "flesh." It was a work of the flesh.....we saw ourselves the ones justified in the sight of God by following this doctrine. We said we loved God but yet hated our brothers who did not follow this particular "letter" of the Scriptures. We were not following the Spirit....to love one another. We did not follow the whole law......which is summed up by loving God AND our brothers. To love one another is to follow the Law. Our church gloried after the flesh....we took pride in that we kept musical instruments out of our worship services.....but our works were stained with the fleshly wisdom....tainted by not loving our brothers. Many denominations glory after their own doctrines which are nothing but "flesh."

(2 Cor 11:18 KJV) Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

We began in the Spirit but we thought we were made perfect by the flesh....following the "letter" of the Law....and not the Spirit.....whose fruit is love. We had no compassion to the Baptist church brothers because they had a piano in their church. We had strife and envy and debate though.

(Gal 3:3 KJV) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Our works as a church became unclean to us.....because we judged others with our works of the fleshly mind. In our particular denomination, if one wasn't fully immersed in literal water baptisim, he or she was unsaved....a sinner....going to hell. We judged our brothers who thought you only had to be sprinkled with water or just to simply believe and not be baptized at all. Our church basically hated the others who did not believe the way we did. It was full immersion in literal water or to hell you go...as though the literal water is what "saved" us. We committed "adultery, fornication, uncleanness" with our works of the flesh.....because we said we loved God but yet hated our brothers over these literal-minded things. These things put us in strife with others....wrath and "murders" because we hated those who did not follow us. Yet, all denominations are divided over similar literal things. One believes in worshiping on Saturday and condemns all others who don't. One believes that speaking in tongues is a sign of the Holy Spirit and all others who don't are not of the Spirit,etc..etc,etc. All literal-mindedness works of the flesh that provoke us into not loving each other. They are works that divide us.

(Gal 5:19 KJV) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

As a church, we desire "vain glory"...that we are the "right" church.....we provoke one another....we envy one another . We are the "right" church and the other is the "wrong" church, etc, etc,etc,etc,etc,etc.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

But the time is coming that we must cast off these "works of darkness" and put on the armor of light.....the TRUTH. We must get rid of these works that cause us to hate each other.

(Rom 13:12 KJV) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

We are to be "dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world"......those very doctrines and commandments of men that are contrived from the literal, earthly understanding of the Scriptures....the "letter" of the Law.

(Col 2:20 KJV) Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

Are we to "handle not" a musical instrument in our church service? This is a doctrine of man...puffed up in the fleshly wisdom of man.

21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

It is a "show of wisdom in will worship"....a doctrine to show others of our justification in God over our brothers. It is only to satisfy the glory of the flesh.

23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

We are to set our affection on things above....heavenly wisdom. Not on earthly wisdom.

3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

The earthly wisdom of not having a musical instrument and full immersion in literal water while judging others over these things is unclean. Getting rid of these divisive teachings and loving our brothers is to mortify our "members which are upon the earth."

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

We have lived and walked, as a church, in these divisive teachings of literal understandings of the bible. We have used the "letter" of the Scriptures as a means to hate our brothers....but now, in the revelation of the Truth, we are to put off all these things.

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

We are to put on the "new man" which is RENEWED in knowledge.....in the knowledge of God not man's so-called knowledge of what he reads in the bible. The "new man" is what we are to become....to get rid of the old man of old-time religion.

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

The "new man" will not speak evil of his brothers...he will not judge his brothers for having a musical instrument in his service.....the "new man" will not brawl with the Baptists....the "new man" will not resemble at all the "old man" of old-time religion. The "new man" will love each other.

(Titus 3:2 KJV) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.

The "old man" of religion is foolish, living in malice and envy, hateful. He gloried in the flesh. He lives in lust for fame, power, money. The "old man" of religion is deceived.

3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

But God is merciful and will forgive us for these things. With His knowledge, we will understand that the things we do are works of iniquity. We can then cleanse ourselves and become the "new man." The "new man" will not be Jew or Gentile, Baptist or Lutheran, Catholic or Protestant, etc, etc. The "new man" will be in peace with one another. For as we have been baptized into Christ, we have to PUT ON CHRIST. We have to love one another. That is the very doctrine of Christ.

(Gal 3:27 KJV) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

We shall be ONE in Christ Jesus if we PUT ON CHRIST. We have been "alienated and enemies in our mind by wicked works." Judging my brother for having a musical instrument in his worship service is a wicked work. Teaching others to judge his brother with this doctrine is a "wicked work." Writing books and selling them to do this is a wicked work. Building a church based on this doctrine is a wicked work. But the Lord will save us from these wicked works and reconcile us into Christ...in love for one another.

(Col 1:21 KJV) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

We shall be saved from our works and our denominations and will be presented as holy and unblameable in His sight.

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

This hasn't happened yet. Only a VERY FEW have found true Life in Christ in the last 2000 years ...for many have entered through the wide gates of the false prophets who have led many into ruin. They have led many into hating their brothers over literal, earthly, letter-of-the-law understandings of the Scriptures. No matter what the denomination is....it is the same "wide gate" of ruin.

[shawn]

There are two parts to the New Covenant: 1. Giving (PUT) the laws into us and 2. WRITING them in us. They haven’t happened simultaneously.

(Heb 10:16 KJV) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

The laws in our hearts NOW are to have love, have peace, gentleness, faith, meekness. The law is summed up by loving God and each other. The most important thing is love.

(Gal 5:22 KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

But there is KNOWLEDGE also…..this comes when Christ descends from heaven with the Spirit of Truth which opens the Scriptures up for us. This hasn’t happened yet….the 'spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:'

(Eph 1:17 KJV) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

When the KNOWLEDGE comes in the Spirit of Truth….there will be no more offering for sin:

18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

For the last 2000 years we have had the laws of love put into us, but our Lord Jesus Christ comes with the revelation of the full knowledge of the revealed Truth…..it will be written into our minds…..for the Writings themselves will witness to us the revealed Truth….with the opening up of the Scriptures to our understanding. This will complete the New Covenant….for lack of better words…..with the coming of the KNOWLEDGE. When the second part of the New Covenant comes, there will be no more sacrifice for sins:

(Heb 10:26 KJV) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

We have received the Spirit of Promise now….we have received the love of Christ now. But we will receive the 'knowledge of the truth' at the coming of our Lord…who will teach us. We will be without excuse for our sins then…for we will no longer be living in ignorance. The Truth will be written in us…..we have the WRITINGS with us that are waiting to be opened at the teaching of Jesus. Moses was the pattern. Moses spoke to the children of the Israel Laws for them to follow before he went up into the mountain…the Laws known as the 'covenant code' or the 'book of the covenant.'

(Exo 24:3 KJV) And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.

Our Lord did this as the pattern of Moses showed us. He told us all the words of God and the judgments.

(John 14:23 KJV) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

(John 8:47 KJV) He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

(John 5:24 KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Jesus gave us the NEW commandment to follow before he would go to heaven…..all those laws (the covenant code) Moses spoke to the children of Israel can be summed up in this:

(John 13:33 KJV) Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Moses told the children of Israel the 'covenant code' which came after God spoke the Ten Commandments ….we keep the covenant today by loving God and one another….for this was the commandment of our Lord Jesus. Moses also wrote the 'covenant code' ….all the words of the Lord in the 'book of the covenant' and built an altar at the bottom of the mountain and 'twelve pillars'….this was the pattern for the writing of the New Testament. The '12 pillars' are the 12 disciples….it was in their words that they wrote the words of Jesus down whose words are the words of God. The New testament is the 'altar' built at the bottom of the mountain (the rest of the Scriptures)….spiritually speaking.

(Exo 24:4 KJV) And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

The 'young men of the children of Israel' are the 12 disciples which offered their lives to the Lord for us to know the words of the Lord.

5 And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD.

Before the Lord ascended into heaven, he gave the apostles commandments and infallible proofs. Their witnessing of the Lord is written to us in the New Testament…the 'altar' built at the bottom of the mountain.

(Acts 1:8 KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The Lord was taken up and a 'cloud' received him out of their sight….just as Moses went up into the cloud in the mountain.

9:And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Jesus went into heaven….Moses went up into the mount. A cloud received him out of their sight….a cloud covered the mount…and Moses went into the cloud.

(Exo 24:15 KJV) And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.

(Exo 24:18 KJV) And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

We are told to wait and have faith for our Lord to come back down from heaven….for he will descend from heaven…just as Moses descended from the mountain. The children of Israel were told to wait also….the pattern shown for us…to wait for the heavenly reality of the Lord coming back. For a 'little while' he has been gone….but in a little while we will see him again.

(John 16:19 KJV) Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?

But as we are waiting, the world 'rejoiced'….the 'world' being the religious order of men who rose up to play as the children of Israel did when Moses was gone up the mountain.

20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

The children of Israel 'rose up to play:'

(Exo 32:6 KJV) And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

While Jesus is away, the bodies of witnesses (the Scriptures) have been laying in the street of bondage and falsehood, and religious man rejoices over his doctrines and commandments. They have produced riches for him. Religious man has corrupted himself without the Truth of the revealed knowledge of the Scriptures. Religious man has built himself a gold calf….he has made himself an image by which he thinks he truly worships God.

(Rev 11:10 KJV) And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

The people took advantage of the 'delay' of Moses….not having patience:

(Exo 32:1 KJV) And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

Many in the church also have said that Jesus delays his coming:

(Mat 24:48 KJV) But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Religious man has turned aside 'quickly out of the way'….he has made up doctrines and commandments based on his own imagination….based on his earthly wisdom of the Scriptures. He has not loved God as he should and not loved each other as evident by the many denominations. It is a 'molten calf' that religious man has made and has worshiped and sacrificed to.

(Exo 32:8 KJV) They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

But as Moses interceded for the people, our Lord also intercedes for us:

(Exo 32:11 KJV) And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?
12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.
14 And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.


But Jesus will come back from heaven….he will descend like Moses descended from the mountain...who was the "pattern" of things to come.

(Exo 32:15 KJV) And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.
16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

The 'tables' were the writing of God…written with His finger. Our God will WRITE the Laws upon us……the revealed Truth of the full knowledge of God….the opening up of the WRITINGS….the Scriptures. The writing of God that Moses brought down from the mountain pertained to the construction of the tabernacle…..this is the revealing of the Truth of the Scriptures which builds us up into a temple that God will live in. A building not built with hands ( with man’s understanding) but with God’s knowledge. Then God will live among us. His tabernacle will be with men. New Jerusalem descends down from God out of heaven just as Moses descended from the mountain from God with the instructions of Life…..with the revealed Truth….with the knowledge of God.

(Rev 21:2 KJV) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

The 'construction' we see today in the religious world is the 'molten calf' and not the building of God that He intends to live in. The Lord will descend from heaven as Moses descended from the mountain. He will come in the voice of the archangel….the complete revealed Truth of the Scriptures by which we can be cleansed of our sins that we have participated in while he was away. Then we can be the building that God will build with the Truth...we may worship in Truth and Spirit as was intended.

[shawn]

The covenant is in 2 parts.....the giving of the Law in our inward parts and WRITING it there. "Writing" it is the knowledge that comes at the revelation of Jesus Christ our Lord. He will teach us what the Scriptures are saying with the mind of God and not the way it has been for the last 2000 years.....which has been with the earthly mind of man. God has given (PUT) unto us the deposit of the Spirit of love, peace and joy. This is a guarantee for a future event.....the WRITING of the knowledge of God upon our minds. This knowledge comes with the opening up of the Scriptures for understanding. The knowledge leads us to forgiveness of our sins which were done in ignorance during the time we have waited for the Lord to come from heaven....just as the children of Israel were to wait for Moses to come down from the mountain of God.

2 Cor 5: 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

For He puts the law in our inward parts and He shall WRITE them in us:

(Jer 31:33 KJV) But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

For we shall all know the Lord.....we shall NO MORE teach "every man his neighbor" and his brother. We have been busy teaching others to know the Lord...without the full, revealed Truth. One denomination teaches one thing and another teaches another thing.

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD:

We haven't been living in the time of revelation of the Truth....we have not been living in the "New Jerusalem." Just by human logic, we can see this. We have 1001 different denominations teaching every man his brother 1001 different things. There is no consistency....we are not of one mind and one mouth....not of one knowledge of God. We have been in a time of confusion...."Babylon." The earth "shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord." We are not living in this time....we are living in the time of confusion....lacking the knowledge. Jews do not agree with Christians.....Protestants do not agree with Catholics....Baptists do not agree with Lutherans,etc,etc....and there are many within the same denomination that do not agree even with each other when it comes to the Scriptures and the knowledge of God. But we shall have the full knowledge of God be given to us.....written on our hearts and minds by the revelation of the our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Isa 11:9 KJV) They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

(Hab 2:14 KJV) For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

It is with KNOWLEDGE that the righteous servant shall justify many:

(Isa 53:11 KJV) He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

"Justify" meaning "turn to righteousness, cleanse".....we have not been doing works of righteousness but the works of men for the last 2000 years....collectively speaking. It is by the KNOWLEDGE of God that we will perceive our sins and correct them....cleansing them in the blood of the Lamb. ....washing our robes. Our Lord is a God of knowledge.....and by Him "actions are weighed:"

(1 Sam 2:3 KJV) Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

The actions will be on our part....how will religious man handle the revealed Truth when it comes? For those in their religious pride....the "mighty men".....will have their "bows" broken. Those who have stumbled will be gird in strength....at the receiving and doing of the Truth of God.....His knowledge not man's...."the mighty men."

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

The "barren hath born seven"....the "barren" is the Wisdom of God who is personified as a mother....the "seven" is the seven Spirits of God. We shall know the full knowledge of God (the seven spirits) when it is revealed through the opening of the Scriptures. Then we are born from above.....the New Jerusalem who is the mother of us all. The other with many children....those who have many doctrines and commandments of men....will be "waxed feeble:"

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

The witnesses testimony had been "killed"....their bodies have been lying in the street of man's fleshly wisdom...in bondage (spiritually Sodom and Egypt.) But He will raise them up on their feet.....and they will divulge the hidden mysteries of God. Mysteries we haven't even began to understand. Mysteries that have not been revealed until the appointed time....in the time of "regeneration"....in the "resurrection."

6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

But how will religious man respond to the revealing of the Truth? For when it comes, he has a choice to accept it or deny it. By our actions toward the Truth will we be judged. If we deny it for our old religious works of iniquity...willingly sin, there will no longer be any sacrifice for sin. We will have rejected our own mercy that He offers us.

(Heb 10:26 KJV) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

For when Christ comes....who is the Truth, we will be at the judgment seat. What will our actions be towards the very words of Christ.....the Living Word of God who interprets and speaks through his witnesses....those witnesses of the Scriptures?

(2 Cor 5:10 KJV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

The coming of our Lord from heaven is the opening up of the Scriptures....he comes with the "clouds of witnesses." How we respond to the revealed Truth of the Scriptures determines our "resurrection" so to speak. We "awaken" to the revealed Truth. We will awake from our "sleep in the dust of the earth." Not the literal raising up from the dead, but the awakening to the revealed Truth out of the dust of the literal, earthly understanding of the Scriptures. If we reject it, it is a awakening of shame and contempt:

(Dan 12:2 KJV) And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

For the Lord will come near to us in judgment and will be a swift witness against those who reject the revealed Truth A swift witness against those who turn away from such a great revelation to continue in their church works of iniquity.....to continue in "business as usual." To continue building and planting (church activities based on man's understanding.)

(Mal 3:5 KJV) And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

The works and understanding of religious man (the gold calf) will be burned up in the fire just as the "molten calf:"

(Exo 32:20 KJV) And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strowed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

The works shall be burned up:

(2 Pet 3:10 KJV) 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.

This is why our Lord counsels us to buy from him "gold tried in fire." It is his wisdom that will not pass away. But, all of the works of men will pass away. We have been blind and naked without knowing our condition. It is his knowledge that will open up our eyes to this condition so that we may be clothed:

(Rev 3:18 KJV) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

We have been without clothes.....without knowledge and understanding....without true works of righteousness. We have been just as the children of Israel were when Moses descended from the mountain of God:

(Exo 32:25 KJV) And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)

But, there will be those in our churches who will not receive the love of the revealed Truth that they might be saved:

(2 Th 2:10 KJV) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

For Moses's writings will stand in the revelation of the Truth (in the GATE of the camp)....all the writings will "stand upon their feet" upon the command of our Lord and will ask "who is on the Lord's side?"

(Exo 32:26 KJV) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

When our obedience is fulfilled in believing and doing the revealed Truth when it comes, we will be ready to "revenge all disobedience:"

(2 Cor 10:6 KJV) And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

We are to receive the love of the Truth....to do the Truth. We are to deny our lives to save them....to deny our works for the Truth....for the true works of righteousness. We are to leave the confusion...."Babylon"....so as not to share in her plagues and sins.