Random thoughts to consider....

[Wheeler]

Just a thread to discuss whatever comes to mind.

Jesus was placed in a grave by a rich man. The Scriptures were also fulfilled in like manner.....many have profited by corrupting the Word of God. Yet, the testimony of the witnesses have kept silent....there is no deceit in their words....only man has taken their words and deceived others with their minds that are destitute of the Truth. They have led sheep astray. They have led the "poor" in spirit astray with their words. They have made the flock of God merchandise.

(Isa 53:9 KJV) 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.

Men have built religious empires...they have many "wonderful works"....glories of the earth...by corrupting the Word of God. These are leaders who think that gain is godliness. The "grave" is with the wicked and the rich who have taken the bible and twisted and distorted it into deceptive teachings. Teachings motivated by man's vain glory.

(2 Cor 2:17 KJV) 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.

(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 full, revealed Truth comes, we are to deny these things....to lose our "lives" to save them. As we see in the rich ruler who came to Jesus, some will not be able to let loose of these things. The rich ruler is a prophecy of things to come for those leaders of the church who can't give up their "lives." The religious wonderful works they have worked for are the things to give up and follow Jesus. They are works of our own hands.

(Luke 18:18 KJV) 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.

Now, the rich ruler was a religious man....who was confident in his own righteousness. He thought he was lacking in no good thing. But it was his riches that had prevented him from accepting the counsel of Jesus....the living instruction. We are to give up our "wonderful works" and follow Him.

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.
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!

Jesus loved the rich man....so he counseled him......he rebuked and chastened him. His counsel was to sell all those things and give to the poor. We are to give up the wonderful works and teach the Truth of God to those poor in spirit.

(Mark 10:21 KJV) Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

So we see this message also to the church in "Laodicea" which means "people of the judgment." They think they have need of nothing. They think they have no sin.....they think gain is godliness.....they trust in their "righteousness." 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:
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.

Just as Jesus loved the rich man, he loves the church in Laodicea. We are the church in Laodicea.... we are much increased with wealth and goods. But, oh so blind to the Truth. He counsels....He rebukes and chastens us to repent:

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

For a ransom of a man's life are his riches....the riches that were gained by dishonest preaching of the Word of God.

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

The rich man was sorrowed over the Lord's instruction.....and he departed from the Lord. He was grieved...for he had great possessions. He trusted in his own riches more than the Lord's instruction:

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

The rich who refuse the Lord's instruction will fall:

(Prov 11:28 KJV) He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

Those who have grown rich by corrupting the Word of God and refuse the instruction of the Lord, will suffer the 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.

But the rich can be saved if they heed the Lord's instruction in these last days which I believe we are in.

(Luke 18:26 KJV) And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

We have the example in Zacchaeus.....a rich man who can be saved in these last days. "Zacchaeus" means "pure".....and represents those whose hearts can be changed by the hearing of the revealed Truth. They will receive the Truth with gladness and not with sorrow. They can be purified with the belief and doing of the Truth when it comes.

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

Zacchaeus was a man of little stature. The rich have really a low place. Some can not see Jesus because of riches.....though they may seek His face to see who He really is.


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.

Jesus "came to the place"..... He will comewith the revealed Truth in these last days.

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 made haste and came down and received him joyfully. He was able to humble himself at the revelation of the Truth....he came down from the tree. He ceased from his own wisdom of the Scriptures to receive the wisdom and knowledge of the Lord.

6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

Unlike the rich ruler who was sorrowed and couldn't give up his things, Zacchaeus was a cheerful giver. He received the Truth with joy and acted accordingly. He knew he was a sinner....he could readily admit his faults....he did not trust in his own righteousness like the rich ruler. He lost his life to save it. Zacchaeus was able to STAND before the Lord.

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.
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.

Let us look a little deeper at Zacchaeus' solution. He voluntarily gave half of his goods to the poor....a cheerful giver. He was unlike the rich ruler who wanted to know "grudgingly" what the minimum requirement was for being saved.

(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.

In addition, he would restore fourfold to him what he had taken by false accusation. This is from the Law....to restore something fourfold refers to stealing, killing, or selling a sheep:

(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.

Now, looking past the literal, the sheep are people. People can be taken advantage of by the rich leaders who make merchandise of them. The rich "steal" the sheep from the Lord who is the rightful owner of the flock. They steal them with their deceptive words.....by false accusation. David also ran into this problem of taking a man's lamb:

(2 Sam 12:1 KJV) And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
4 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:

David knew the Law....to restore the lamb fourfold. there are many church leaders who have no pity for taking the sheep....selling them....making merchandise of them.


6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

And we can see the fourfold restoration to the Lord in Psalms:

(Psa 51:1 KJV) 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.

The rich leaders who accept the revealed Truth of our Lord are to restore fourfold to the Lord. #1: They are to acknowledge their transgressions....for using deception to lead others astray:

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

#2: Then they are to teach others in Truth .....to teach transgressors the true ways of God...not as they had been doing:

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

#3: Their tongues will sin aloud of His righteousness.....they can teach others His righteousness because He has forgiven them for stealing the sheep:

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

#4: Use their mouths to show forth the praise of the Lord.

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.
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.

 

[Chickapee]

Amen,

we are to be rich in faith ! and Love our Lord God almighty first




5Hearken, my beloved brethren,


Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith,

and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?


6But ye have despised the poor.

Do not rich men oppress you,

and draw you before the judgment seats?
7Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture,

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9But if ye have respect to persons,

ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10For whosoever shall keep the whole law,

and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11For he that said,

Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.

Now if thou commit no adultery,

yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12So speak ye,

and so do,

as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13For he shall have judgment without mercy,

that hath shewed no mercy;

and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
14What doth it profit,
my brethren, though a man say he hath faith,

and have not works? can faith save him?
15If a brother or sister be naked,
and destitute of daily food,
16And one of you say unto them,

Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;

notwithstanding ye give them not those things

which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith,

and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works,

and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19Thou believest that there is one God;

thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21Was not Abraham our father justified by works,

when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works,

and by works was faith made perfect?
23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith,

Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness:

and he was called the Friend of God.
24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified,

and not by faith only.
25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works,

when she had received the messengers,

and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead,

so faith without works is dead also.

without faith it is impossible to please Him

and the works are done to Glorify Him ! 1Jo 3:12Not 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. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

we percieve the love of God because He laid down His Life for us so should we lay down our lives for the brethren

we are to love in DEED AND TRUTH

peace c .

 

[Chickapee]

when looking at the moon shall turn to blood I found all these , it goes way past anything I know and somewhat cofusing , all the verses that speak of the darkness are also where the Lord is hidden ? Like Abraham

and David in 2Sam 22 ?? is this heavy judgment upon his people or part of the mystery of God ?2Sa 22:12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, [and] thick clouds of the skies.
yet some of this was awesome I could get a little of it and it makes for some good studying , Thanks to the Lord and for you Bro , that speaks of such things .



Joe 2:31The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

Act 2:20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

darkness is H2822 - choshek 1) darkness, obscurity
a) darkness
b) secret place

Rev 6:12And 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;



Isa 24:23Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

to Jerusalem And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD1: the sword to slay, and 2the dogs to tear, and 3the fowls of the heaven, and 4 the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.

Jer 15:9She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while [it was] yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.

Isa 13:10For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

Mat 13:43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mat 17:2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Rev 21:23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof.
1) sun, heat of the sun, heat

it makes sense now the moon a reflection of the Sun , the law and prophets are white and to make white , but their blood was shed and it turned the white moon to red as blood, by the shedding of the innocent sent by the Lord to help them .
1) moon (as white)
1) to be white
a) (Hiphil)
1) to make white, become white, purify
2) to show whiteness, grow white

a to go further , these garments the red and the white ones

b) (Hithpael) to become white, be purified (ethical)
2) (Qal) to make bricks

and to go further , these garments the red and the white ones
Who [is] this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this [that is] glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
Isa 63:2¶Wherefore [art thou] red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people [there was] none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance [is] in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

I can finally get this !!! Rev 19:13And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all [men, both] free and bond, both small and great. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

when reading them both together we can see a more clear WORD, I still dont understand the winepress and grapes very well , but the grapes of wrath are blood shed ? is the vine of the earth sodom ?
learning lots but lots to learn :o
I know Jesus is the True Vine and His are the branches
the new wine

the Lord is avenging His innocent saints by Isaiah 63 and Rev 19

in babylon is all the wrath of God complete , come out of her my people
Deu 32:32For their vine [is] of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes [are] grapes of gall, their clusters [are] bitter:

Rev 14:18And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
Rev 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
in the 7 bowls and 3 woes Babylon is done


Peace C

 

[Wheeler]

Chickapee,

I will get to your post a little later. I just read it after I typed the next long post. I agree....we have much to learn. I learn something new every day...just by typing these posts I learn more. I thank God!

Wheeler

 

[Wheeler]

There are many similarities between when Moses went into the mountain to receive the writings of God and Jesus going into heaven. Moses was the pattern for the heavenly reality. Moses told all the words of the Lord (the words of the book of the covenant which is found in Exodus 21-23, )....and all the judgments before he went back up into the mountain to receive the writings of God.

(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.

Just as Moses spoke all the words that God spoke to him, Jesus also spoke the words that the Father commanded him to us. His commandments are to love God and each other.....which fulfills the Law. He has let us know the judgments also:

(John 12:47 KJV) And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

Moses dedicated the law (the book of the covenant) with blood.

(Exo 24:6 KJV) And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.
8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. We have the new covenant.

(Heb 9:28 KJV) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Moses told the elders to wait there for them....until they come again to them. Aaron and Hur are with them.

(Exo 24:14 KJV) And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.

Jesus tells the disciples to not depart from Jerusalem....but wait for the promise of the Father.....the Holy Spirit.

(Acts 1:4 KJV) And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Moses went up into the mount and a cloud covered it:

(Exo 24:15 KJV) And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.
16 And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

Jesus was taken up into heaven......and a cloud received him out of their sight:

(Acts 1:9 KJV) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

As Aaron and Hur were with the elders while Moses went up the mount, "two men" stood by the disciples in white while they gazed up into heaven.

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
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.

The people grew impatient....they saw Moses delayed to come down out of the mount:

(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.

There are many in the church who have thought in their hearts that the Lord 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;

And again, "where is the promise of his coming?" They say these things while they pursue their wonderful works.

(2 Pet 3:3 KJV) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Aaron said to the people to break off the golden earrings in their ears:

Exodus 32: 2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.
3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.

A gold earring is symbolic of a "wise reprover" upon an obedient ear.

(Prov 25:12 KJV) As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

So in other words, they spiritually stopped their ears from hearing wisdom.....they became disobedient by not listening. Likewise, many in the church have stopped enduring "sound doctrine" (wise reprovers) and have gone after their own selfish desires of vain glory. They have turned away their ears from the Truth to pursue earthly things.....the "wonderful works" of man done in God's name.

(2 Tim 4:3 KJV) 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.

Notice that the people went only to Aaron. Aaron and HUR were in charge. What happened to Hur....where was he in all this? "Hur" means "white linen"....and white linen is symbolic of righteousness. All these things were done without righteousness.

Exodus 32:4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Today, we have those who profess they know God but deny Him with the works of their own hands....their ministries, their grand church buildings, their often touted wonderful works, etc. All things which are motivated by man's love for vain glory which works envy and strife.....they have turned their ears from sound doctrine.

(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.
2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

The children of Israel had the a feast to the Lord at the gold calf:

5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.
6 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.
7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:

Likewise, many in the church have behaved in similar fashion. They come together like the children of Israel but not for the better but for the worse:

(1 Cor 11:17 KJV) Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Just as the children of Israel thought that they were having a feast to the Lord, many today think that their religious activities are for the Lord. They have formed doctrines and commandments of men (the gold calf) by taking the Scriptures and hewing it with their own wisdom....leaning upon our own wisdom. These things they do for vain glory. This produces envy and strife....divisions among the members of the church. That is why we see so many denominations today....men have relied upon their own wisdom...they have fallen into temptation as the woman in the garden did. They have desired to be wise. We are to partake of His body....to eat and drink....worthily. We were not to take the Scriptures and become drunk with our own wisdom and strike the fellowservants with our deceptions in order to gain wealth, fame....a name for ourselves under heaven.

20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

The Lord will come again from heaven....just as Moses came down from the mount. Will we be prepared for Him? Are we watching for His presence? Or have we eaten and drank and rose up to play as the children of Israel did.

26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

Many of the church are spiritually weak and sickly.....many are spiritually asleep.

30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Moses descended from the mountain with the writing of God....with the work of God.

(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.

Joshua hears the shouting....like a noise of war.

17 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.

But Moses hears the voice of singing.....pleasure in unrighteousness. They did not shout for "mastery"...for strength. Neither did they cry for being overcome. They had been overcome with corruption....they gave into the weakness of the fleshly mind....and had pleasure in it. They did dance. There was a noise of war.....violence in their ways.

18 And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.

Jesus will descend from heaven with a "shout"......one of strength, power and mastery.

(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:

 

[Wheeler]

Continued....

There were many who did not expect Moses and were not watching for him. Likewise, there are many in the church who are not watching for the Lord....for He will return in a hour unexpectedly. They are busy building, planting, eating, drinking, dancing. They are so busy in their church activities (which are the works of their own imaginations) that they will not know the time the flood will come. But woe to them that make themselves rich by misusing the Scriptures....by making the gold calf.


(Luke 6:24 KJV) But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

Woe to those who are full now....woe to those who laugh now like the children of Israel did before Moses returned.

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.

But blessed are those who prepare themselves for the Lord.....who hunger for righteousness...who weep now because of condition of the church. Them enemies have taken over and we are powerless.

(Luke 6:20 KJV) And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
22 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.

Moses burned the molten calf in the fire:

(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 of religious man will be burned up also.....dissolved into powder like the gold calf:

(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.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Will be found unclothed as the children of Israel were found......in our works of shame?

(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

We are counseled to buy of Him gold tried in the fire.....His wisdom will not burn and pass away. Earthly wisdom and all its works that are built with it will burn and pass away. The heavens will pass away with a great noise....the great noise of their singing....the great noise of war that the leaders enjoy. They are the heavens who will pass away. We are to receive the love of the Truth and do the Truth so that we may be clothed and not have our shame appear.

(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.

Are we watching for the Lord to return from heaven? Do we think he has delayed? Are we preparing for Him?

 

[Chickapee]

Moses burned the molten calf in the fire:

(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 of religious man will be burned up also.....dissolved into powder like the gold calf:

(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.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Will be found unclothed as the children of Israel were found......in our works of shame?

(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

We are counseled to buy of Him gold tried in the fire.....His wisdom will not burn and pass away. Earthly wisdom and all its works that are built with it will burn and pass away. The heavens will pass away with a great noise....the great noise of their singing....the great noise of war that the leaders enjoy. They are the heavens who will pass away. We are to receive the love of the Truth and do the Truth so that we may be clothed and not have our shame appear.

(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.

Are we watching for the Lord to return from heaven? Do we think he has delayed? Are we preparing for Him?

Amen ! loved the post Wheeler!
I looked in the gold earrings before
but just now got the part of the golden calf and the form of idol worship here we see plainly Pauls explains this in Romans 1
21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts[golden calf ] , and creeping things. [brazen serpent ]
24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
This imaginary /image of the golden calf caused them to become
vain in the serving of the Lord they seeked tangilbe things and made all the works of thier hands vile before the Lord God Almighty ..

there is more but have to go now peace C .

 

[Wheeler]

Thank you Chickapee for those verses....they are very pertinent!

Just as Moses went to make an atonement for the sin of the children of Israel, our Lord Jesus Christ makes the atonement for us.....the church ....who have gone astray. We have made "gods of gold" also.....religion that is fashioned after corruptible man...religion that is formed with man's own wisdom and desires.

(Exo 32:30 KJV) And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.
31 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.

As written by Paul in Romans, we will receive the atonement. "Romans" means "strength." Instead of reading the books of the New Testament as letters written to churches 2000 years ago, we are to read them with special relevance to an "awakening" church....TODAY! The church in "strength" (Romans) will have received the atonement. That is what will make us strong in the Lord....no longer are we to be children tossed about by the doctrines of men.....which are deceptions.

(Rom 5:9 KJV) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

We will not be redeemed by those things we have previously fashioned in our earthly, religious minds....the corruptible things we have made for ourselves.....we have received doctrines and commandments of men from our church fathers whose desires were for earthly things...."vain conversation received by tradition from your 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;

We will be cleansed from these things by the precious blood of Christ.....the church will be without blemish and spot...without sin...without divisions. We will be of one mind and one mouth in Christ.

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

He will "manifest" to us His knowledge so that we may see our sins and correct them....we are to be forgiven if we hear the Truth and do the Truth.

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

We are to overcome the "world." The "world" is the current "orderly arrangement" of religious men. The organizations of religion we see today are the "world" that we are to overcome. The "world" listens to its own.....they will hear what they want to hear.

(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.

(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 not love the "world"....its ways and thoughts.....its lust of earthly things...its divisions....its pride of life....its ministries...its works....its grand buildings...its riches...its fame...its power. These things are motivated by man's vain glory. It is not of the Father.

(1 John 2:15 KJV) 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.

The "world" will pass away and the lusts it indulged in...the works will be burned and dissolved just as the gold calf.


17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The "world" will be cast down....but our Lord has chosen us in Him before the "foundation" of the world. The word "foundation" in Ephesians is "katabole" which means "to cast down, to throw down, descend." In other words, He has chosen us in Him before the world is thrown down to be holy and without blame in love. We are to come out of Babylon so as not to share in its sins and plagues....to suffer the wrath of God.

(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:

Because Babylon (the current orderly arrangement of men) will be thrown down as a stone:

(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.

For the things of the earthly-minded religious man will be thrown down......the "goodly stones and gifts" that adorn the "temple."

(Luke 21:5 KJV) And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

As the children of Israel rejoiced at the gold calf while Moses was away, many in the church have rejoiced and "sent gifts to one another" while Christ is in heaven. They have rejoiced over the bodies of the two prophets......the Scriptures which have suffered at the hands of sinful men.....who have corrupted the Word of God for unjust gain.

(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.

But we are to come out of Babylon (the world) at the appointed time.

(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.

It is through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord that we will know grace and peace. The Greek word for "knowledge" in 2nd Peter is "epignosis." Epignosis means FULL discernment....to know of something fully. Not a partial understanding as we have all had these last 2000 years.

(2 Pet 1:1 KJV) Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

the "knowledge" = "epignosis"

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:

We are to escape the corruption that is in the "world" through lust....we are to escape from the current religious world that teaches and builds itself with earthly things as its motivation.....for vain glory.

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.

Who is to overcome the "world"? Those in the church are to overcome....the religious themselves are the targets for this message......as it says in Revelation. The churches in "Asia" are us. "Asia" means "sunrise, resurrection, east"......we, the awakening churches in the revelation of the Truth, are to overcome. We are to overcome all those things we did and thought in His name....our own religion...our own "righteous" works. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. Hear what the Spirit says to the churches:

(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.

(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.

(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.

(Rev 2:26 KJV) And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

(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.

(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.

(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.

How will we receive the full, revealed knowledge of God when it comes? If we humbly accept the Truth and DO the Truth, it will come to us humbly and lowly as Jesus did when he went into Jerusalem on a donkey:

(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.

We are to lay down our "garments"......lay down our thoughts and ways for His thoughts and ways. To humbly accept the Truth.....to lose our lives to save them.

(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 if we continue to corrupt the Word of God for unjust gain after receiving the Truth, then the Truth comes and casts out all those who sell and buy in the temple. All those that sell "doves".....all those who say "peace, peace" when there is no peace. He will cast out all those who make merchandise of the Scriptures and us.

(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,
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.

Again....he wil cut off all the works of "war" from the church.....all the doctrines and commandments of men that pit one against another.....all those things that make merchandise of us.

(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.

 

[Chickapee]

(Luke 21:5 KJV) And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

As the children of Israel rejoiced at the gold calf while Moses was away, many in the church have rejoiced and "sent gifts to one another" while Christ is in heaven. They have rejoiced over the bodies of the two prophets......the Scriptures which have suffered at the hands of sinful men.....who have corrupted the Word of God for unjust gain.

Going to start with the scripture you gave here Wheeler


This is so true and the thing that is shocking to me right now is the gift exchanges ''in knowledge '' of the blasphemies that is going on right now , shocking what some are saying without fear of God these days
its mocking voices are brutally beating the Body of Christ that has been Lifted Up into Life already .
Peter 3

1This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2That 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:
3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4And 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.
5For 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:
6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7But 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.

For me this seems to say we are to compare the scriptures with Scriptures and ask for the Holy Spirits leading on these things , that we may know the Truth and prepare as Noah did when the great watery grave came upon all flesh so shall the consuming Fire which the Lord God Almighty is .......

Peter says the Fire is what we all shall now face will be burning up all the works of wickness of flesh in union dissolving , this word dissolved means those stones shall thown down

and see this word used as a good thing in some ways and a bad thing in other ways depending on what we build our faith upon , because the Lords Truth says it is so the saints will be overcome , yet the Lord will come and conquer and give the new kingdom to his saints in the end

Strong's G3089 - lyō 1) to loose any person (or thing) tied or fastened
a) bandages of the feet, the shoes,
b) of a husband and wife joined together by the bond of matrimony
c) of a single man, whether he has already had a wife or has not yet married
2) to loose one bound, i.e. to unbind, release from bonds, set free
a) of one bound up (swathed in bandages)
b) bound with chains (a prisoner), discharge from prison, let go
3) to loosen, undo, dissolve, anything bound, tied, or compacted together
a) an assembly, i.e. to dismiss, break up
b) laws, as having a binding force, are likened to bonds
c) to annul, subvert
d) to do away with, to deprive of authority, whether by precept or act
e) to declare unlawful
f) to loose what is compacted or built together, to break up, demolish, destroy
g) to dissolve something coherent into parts, to destroy
h) metaph., to overthrow, to do away with



Finding this all very amazing

8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9The 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.
10But 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.
11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
the Lord will keep His sheep , they follow Him and hear His Voice ,
the poor and innocent are in His Hand / power and none can be plucked out of His Fathers hand ..
Jhn 10:29My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.
plucked Strong's G726 - harpazō
1) to seize, carry off by force
2) to seize on, claim for one's self eagerly
3) to snatch out or away

Have considered this a blessing of Gods mercy to discuss these things again

peace C

 

[Chickapee]

This imaginary /image of the golden calf caused them to become
vain in the serving of the Lord they seeked tangilbe things and made all the works of thier hands vile before the Lord God Almighty ..

there is more but have to go now peace C .

will finish this out ,

the same of the brazen serpent
Nehushtan = "a thing of brass"
1) name by which the brazen serpent made by Moses in the wilderness was worshipped in the time of king Hezekiah of Judah before he destroyed it

God commanded Israel to destroy the brazen serpent because they idolised it.


They looked upon the literal / carnal physicality of it and had lost the spiritual intent and serving the Lord in Faith and trust

Jesus said the Father seeks those now to worship in Spirit and Truth , the Holy Spirit not the spirit in man it has to change


Numbers 21:7-9 (KJV)
7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.


8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent,

and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten,

when he looketh upon it, shall live.

9 And Moses made a SERPENT OF BRASS, and put it upon a pole,

and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man,

when he beheld the serpent of brass, HE LIVED.

2 Kings 18:4 (KJV)
4 He removed the high places, and BRAKE THE IMAGES,

and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the BRASEN SERPENT that Moses had made:

for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it:

and he called it Nehushtan ("a THING of brass").

studied Brass to mean judgment thoughout the scriptures in one form or another

the hour is now to serve the Lord how blessed are we to have the Lord open the seals of the Book and heaven open for us to be able to worship the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY , in this hour Jhn 4:23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.



the heavens water of the Word of LifeRev 14:2And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

 

[Chickapee]

2 Kings 18:4 (KJV)
4 He removed the high places, and BRAKE THE IMAGES,

and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the BRASEN SERPENT that Moses had made:

for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it:

and he called it Nehushtan ("a THING of brass").

This just dawned on me while sweeping the floor
God is so good that way!

King Hezekiah is a good example of obedience here !
His faith in God and the works was to destroy spiritual wickedness in High places !
when the Lord quicked this I was amazed!


Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jam 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.


this King was blessed in the end because he obeyed and tore down those things that was idolized for worship! seeking the Lord and His face this example was

good to see the power of God working in this man and God blessed him accordingly ......
Eph 6:12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].

peace C

 

[Wheeler]

Chickapee, I'm glad you highlighted Hezekiah....his works of faith.



There seems to be some connection with the church in "Sardis" and Hezekiah. Sardis' works were not perfect. Hezekiah was known for his perfect works.....and probably is the example/instruction for the church in general.....an example to follow.

(Rev 3:1 KJV) And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

First connection is in the name "Sardis"....which means "prince of joy." Hezekiah's reign was known for its immense joy:.....he was the only king other than during Solomon's reign that brought such joy to Jerusalem:

(2 Chr 30:26 KJV) So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.

The second connection.....the church in Sardis is told to strengthen the things which remain for it was ready to die. The name "Hezekiah" means "strengthened by God."

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Hezekiah was "sick unto death" and was told by Isaiah to "set thine house in order" for you shall die and not live.

(2 Ki 20:1 KJV) In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

The church is told to "remember...."

3 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.

Hezekiah, when praying to God about dying, remembered and asked God to remember how he walked in Truth and with a perfect heart.

(2 Ki 20:3 KJV) I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 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.

Hezekiah's works are the works the church needs to focus on....and not on its imperfect works. The church needs to walk in the Truth and have a perfect heart....to be clothed in "white raiment." As we see, Hezekiah removed the high places and broke the images, cut down the groves, and broke in pieces the brass serpent......all these things are the examples for the church to follow. We need to remove all the highly esteemed things away from our worship of God so that we may worship Him in Spirit and Truth.

(2 Ki 18:3 KJV) And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.
4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

We are to trust in the Lord.....and not in riches or our works of "righteousness"....which are really works of iniquity.....the "wonderful works."

5 He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.

We are to cleave to the Lord and not depart from following Him....to keep His commandments. Many sheep have gone astray.

6 For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.

We are to renew ourselves to God (as Hezekiah)....to give our hearts to Him....we need to overcome so that we are saved from the day of wrath:

(2 Chr 29:10 KJV) Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.

We are to cleanse ourselves in the blood of the Lamb who forgives us for our sins.....we have all gone astray and need to corrected. Hezekiah corrected Israel from its idolatry....the church needs corrected also from its idolatry. We need to carry the "filthiness out of the holy place"....just as Hezekiah instructed the Levites:

(2 Chr 29:5 KJV) And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.

Hezekiah did all the works that was good and right and truth before the Lord.....so should the church work that which is good right and truth in the presence of God.


(2 Chr 31:20 KJV) And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.

We need to seek God first and not all the things we have ran after....all of the church activities that are motivated by man's desire for vain glory.

21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

The only thing Hezekiah stumbled at was pride....but as he demonstrated, we are to humble ourselves...to humble the pride of our hearts. ...the pride of life......the pride of the mind of flesh......the pride of our works.

(2 Chr 32:25 KJV) But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

The church in Sardis had a "name" that it was living ....a source of pride. But, it was dead and was ready to die. Will those of the church overcome as Hezekiah did his pride? Hezekiah was exalted in the sight of all nations for his good works....yet Sardis, seems to enjoy having a "name" for themselves among others for its imperfect works....for all the wrong reasons.


(2 Chr 32:23 KJV) And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.

[FONT=&quot] Will the church break down the high places it has so enjoyed? Will it give its whole heart to God[/FONT]

 

[Chickapee]

I just love how you can search these things out !
the Word is all about the Lord and His body [church]
but I never saw this clear before now , I could never have seen the Church of sardis and King Hezakiah connected , as you have shared with us here !

I have a strongs dictionary that calls Sardis ''red ones'' and I see the ''prince of Joy '' now as you have connected them so clearly , though I have never seen that before this day .

Sardis (Hitchcock's Bible Names) :: Bible Tools
Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon Sardis



, these stones are dark redish brown
for me seeing this as dead but Have a name that Lives this being the Lord God in His name only perhaps ? some stones are mixed red and white

Sardis = "red ones"
1) a luxurious city in Asia Minor, the capital of Lydia

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

this is what I am now able to learn from your post

Pride is the BIG problem being lifted up exaulted in pride as well as not finishing the race as Paul put it , those who
go into rest /sleep , because Jesus does warn them to be watchful and strengthen what remains ... to bear Fruit to God

those figs for healing the Kings boil /leprosy remined me of Jeremiah 24 the very good figs and the very bad figs that can and cannot be eaten

2Ki 19:3 And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day [is] a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and [there is] not strength to bring forth.

the King Hezakiah was sick and needed a palaister of figs on a boil this being leprosy , it is the latter sign in the law of moses I searched for the latter sign one day through the bible in the Law of Moses

when the Lord was making believers out of His word being sent by prophets
Exd 4:8And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
the boil was on King Hezekiah the first sign is the rod/ staff into a serpent [ symbolic of wisdom]

The sickness unto death, but my the mouth of the Prophet Isaiah he was given healing

the dial going back ten degrees or life to praise God and declare Gods glory in the earth .


2Ki 20:11And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.

there is much in this one verse !
found in Isaiah 38 and 39 wow!
the sun dial of ahaz


and Isaiah

Isa 38:21¶For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay [it] for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover. Mar 16:18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

I just randomly thought of not being hurt by drinking the deadly dragons flood , the earth helped the woman by swallowing up the dragons flood Jam 3:8But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
the doctrines of devils /tormenters



Rev 14:11And 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.
the serpent of old the cunning widsom of the world being earthly , sensual and devilish
Jam 3:15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish.


3 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.
Rev 3:4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

Jesus warns we are to be careful How we hear

Luk 8:18Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

Just amazing could this be made red with sin/ have not kept themselves from the world or is this red ones be made white by the Blood of the LAMB ?
the filthy garments are pride holier than thou attitude the change of garments being made righteous by the Lord Himself as we become humbled and thankful obedient to His Spirit of holiness and purity

defiled here is Strong's G3435 - molynō it is similiar to filthy rags own righteousness
1) to pollute, stain, contaminate, defile
a) used in NT of those who have not kept themselves pure from the defilements of sin, who have soiled themselves by fornication and adultery

thanks for the posts I know it takes alot of time and thank the Good Lord for your sharing heart Wheeler
much blessing in the Lord God Almighty

 

[Chickapee]

21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

The only thing Hezekiah stumbled at was pride....but as he demonstrated, we are to humble ourselves...to humble the pride of our hearts. ...the pride of life......the pride of the mind of flesh......the pride of our works.

(2 Chr 32:25 KJV) But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

The church in Sardis had a "name" that it was living ....a source of pride. But, it was dead and was ready to die. Will those of the church overcome as Hezekiah did his pride? Hezekiah was exalted in the sight of all nations for his good works....yet Sardis, seems to enjoy having a "name" for themselves among others for its imperfect works....for all the wrong reasons.


(2 Chr 32:23 KJV) And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.

[FONT=&quot]Will the church break down the high places it has so enjoyed? Will it give its whole heart to God[/FONT]

this is a great question Wheeler will the high places be broken down by the Church ?

will the Body be in subjection the the Mind of Christ in Spirit ad Truth and destroy the images unthankful hearts of vain imaginations who love darkness more than the Light of Christ
Rom 1:21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.



when one is exaulted as Paul had the messenger of satan to buffet him
King Hezekiah had the boil / leprosy this is a plague , there are more examples in the Word King nebuchadnezzer was lifted up in pride and brought low


when exaulting in pride and lifting up we can all count on being abased


I am so thankful to see the Power of God working in these things!
I have wondered for years and just now seeing things for the first time rightly

needing discernment so badly yet I will
Praise God for this help !Psa 73:6Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them [as] a garment.

Pro 8:13The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Pro 11:2[When] pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly [is] wisdom.

Mat 23:12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

we are to be thankful and love His ways and glorify His Holy Name


Psa 100:4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name. Col 3:15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Jesus is the reward !

 

[Wheeler]

Chickapee....Thank you, thank you for pointing that out! "Sardis" does mean "red ones" as well as "prince of joy." Both meanings are relevant. The "red ones" could have a meaning for the "imperfect" works of the church. The works are works of "violence." As it says in Isaiah....which is especially relevant to the church today....we are to wash ourselves and make clean.....we are to put the evil works from before the Lord's eyes....we are to cease to do evil:

(Isa 1:15 KJV) And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

The end result is to be clothed in white raiment as compared to our sins which are red....red with violence. We are to learn to do well....to seek judment...to relieve the oppressed....the sheep of our Lord who have suffered at the hands of evil men. Judge the "fatherless" and the "widow".....to show justice to those poor in spirit in the church....they wander as lost sheep without true knowledge and guidance. They have suffered at the hands of false prophets....wolves ....who do not care for those underneath them. We are to feed the sheep!

17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Though our sins be red like crimson...though they be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow....."white raiment."

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

As it says, he that overcomes shall be clothed in white raiment. We are to confess the Lord and not deny Him.

(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.

How does one deny the Lord? With our works of iniquity....our false teachings motivated by desires for wealth, fame, power. We are to get rid of our church works....which divides us with hatred.

(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.

The church has been living this way as shown in Titus 3:3....but we are to come out of these things to be holy and pure...to be blameless. Our God will forgive us for 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.

And again, we have come together as a church...but not for the better. We have lived in divisions, envy, hate....hating one another.

(1 Cor 11:18 KJV) For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

But these things were for a purpose.....the end result is to show who is truly approved for the works of God.

19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

We must cease from our own works and enter into the rest of God....into the joy of God We must cease from our works to do the True works of God. It will be the time of "refreshing"....the "regeneration" to cease from our imperfect works.....and go on toward perfection in Christ Jesus.

(Exo 23:12 KJV) Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.

Jesus showed the works of God we must do on the day of rest....the day of resting from our own works generated with the mind of the flesh....that glories in worldly things. Jesus worked on the Sabbath! He did not his own works....but the works of God. He healed:

(Mat 12:10 KJV) And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

Our Lord will heal the church as he did the woman who could not lift herself up....on the Sabbath day.....the coming time of regeneration...the time of refreshing. The Lord will lift us up and save us from the power of darkness.

(Luke 13:11 KJV) And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

And again, the works of God involves healing the diseased......as Jesus did on the Sabbath day:

(Luke 14:2 KJV) And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?
6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

Healing the lame....on the Sabbath day:

(John 5:7 KJV) The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

He taught on the Sabbath day:

(Mark 1:21 KJV) And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

To harvest....the harvest of the Truth...the harvest of men with the Truth:

(Mark 2:23 KJV) And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.
24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

It is lawful to do good....to save lives:

(Mark 3:4 KJV) And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

There is coming a time of refreshing from the Lord....a time to rest from our own works.....a time to put on white raiment....a time to heal the spiritually sick and disease ....to teach those who have no understanding (healing the "blind')....to put away the childish things we have been occupied with for the last 2000 years and become a perfect man in Christ.....to do the works of the Lord:

(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;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:


Next: a comparison study on Solomon and the church in Ephesus.

 

[Chickapee]

Next: a comparison study on Solomon and the church in Ephesus.

wow awesome! copied to read in depth your above post , will return later God willing . Blessings C
ps cannot wait to hear about Solomon and Ephesus , these things are new news to me ! I can so hear the Spirit speaking Praise God!!

 

[Chickapee]

I am so glad you brought up the Sabbath Day Wheeler ! and the good works of the Father in Jesus Christ doing the living/ Spiritual works of His Father ! without His Spirit we can do nothing '' the breath of Life '' from the dead

Which brings me back to Sardis and Jesus saying,


(Rev 3:1 KJV) And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

the dead works in Hebrews 6 seems to be where the church was not perfected yet in the knowledge in Christ Body ,of these things Paul speaks of in Hebrews verse 2 the works are what is judged and the intent of the heart towards God the heavenly Father Hbr 6:1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;

not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Of the doctrine of baptisms,

and of laying on of hands,

and of resurrection of the dead,

and of eternal judgment.

And this will we do, if God permit.



For we know now , God, is not God of the dead but the Living

those who live live to Him Luk 20:38For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.



and Jesus Come into this world , to be the LORD / Master of the dead and the living Rom 14:9For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.


and the Sabbath was made for man , not man for the Sabbath , This alos is what Jesus Come to save that which is lost... harvesting those ears to hear and healing , plucking those ears of corn , those that ears to hear let them hear what the SPIRIT is saying

Jesus is our Sabbath and rest and the Works of the Father through Jesus Christ do follow after , living works of the Spirit healing and seeking that which is lost...

Mar 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.



Mat 13:15For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

we rest in Hope and rest in Him , no longer toiling with the vain and dead works of our own hands , for the Glory to the Father is through Jesus Christ which also the Son of Man from the first man child ! born of God though the Holy Spirit conception and woman born under law .

Mat 11:28Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.
those weary with the vanity of dead works of being dead to God the Holy Father ,

that the Lord will heal and save and strengthen us and prepare us make us vessels of mercy for Himself ,for His Glory and mighty works in the earth to The praise of the Father and His First begotten Son , we shall also be raised from the dead into the Light and knowledge and Love of God, to serve Him growing in grace and truth to also becoming the sons of man and Sons of God from the Holy Seed which is Christ

His power over the clay / mortal body from the same lump


our example is from Sauls to Pauls and new name and purpose under heaven to HIS GLORY and honor


Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?


[What] if God, willing to shew [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

to the glory of the Father from corruptible to incorruptible and from vile to pure heart / mind of Christ who rules wonderously forever more .

wow ! praise God !

 

[Wheeler]

Chickapee wrote:

this is a great question Wheeler will the high places be broken down by the Church ?

will the Body be in subjection the the Mind of Christ in Spirit ad Truth and destroy the images unthankful hearts of vain imaginations who love darkness more than the Light of Christ
Rom 1:21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.



when one is exaulted as Paul had the messenger of satan to buffet him
King Hezekiah had the boil / leprosy this is a plague , there are more examples in the Word King nebuchadnezzer was lifted up in pride and brought low


when exaulting in pride and lifting up we can all count on being abased

Yes, the church....the "called out" of Babylon....will pull down strongholds with the knowledge of God...with the mind of Christ....as a perfect man in the fullness of Christ.



We are to hear the revealed Truth when it comes and obey the Truth…..no longer as children tossed about. As it says in 2 Corinthians, “when our obedience is fulfilled,” we shall have “readiness to revenge all disobedience.” Through the knowledge of God….with God…we shall cast down imaginations and every high thing (commandments and doctrines of men) that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We will, through God, pull down strong holds:

(2 Cor 10:4 KJV) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds

Every high thing will be cast down….with the full, revealed knowledge of God. Every thought made obedient to Christ.


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;

But our obedience to the revealed Truth is to be fulfilled first…we are to overcome the “world”….overcome men’s ideas of religion….his commandments and doctrines of the earthly mind. We are to receive the love of the Truth when it is revealed.


6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

There is going to be a separation of the tares from the wheat…..a division between those who hear and do the revealed Truth and those who do not….as the parable of the tares and wheat demonstrates.

(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.

The “angels” or “reapers” are the messengers of the Truth who come forth to preach the revealed Truth to the tares and the wheat. Rather than seeing the “angels” as white, shiny beings from heaven, we should see them by their function only….to preach the knowledge of God….a messenger of the Truth. The harvest comes when the tares produce their fruit to the fullest. The tares fruit is one of pride and violence.

(Ezek 7:10 KJV) Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded.
12 The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.
13 For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.
14 They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.

The “fullness of the gentiles” is a reference to the sin of those within the church…..it becomes full as a cup is filled. It buds and blossoms.


(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.

Compare this to what God told Abram in Genesis…..that “they shall come here again” when the “iniquity of the Amorites” is full…..which is a veiled prophecy to these last days. The iniquity of the Amorites = the fullness of the Gentiles. “Amorite” means “prominence, to boast oneself”……which shows us the pride that buds and blossoms.


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

For a man’s enemies are of his own household…..and when we leave these houses, brothers, sisters for the revealed Truth, there will come “persecution”…..gossips, evil speaking of those who leave for the Truth of God…..by our own “countrymen.” We receive the Word of God in Truth and not by men….many have received the Word in the wisdom of man. But, in these last days, God reveals His Truth from heaven.

(1 Th 2:13 KJV) 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:

Again, those that escape from those who live in error will suffer persecution by evil men....by those who are deceived and do not receive the love of the Truth.

(2 Tim 3:12 KJV) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

The “tares” will never be able to come to the “knowledge” of the Truth. The Greek word for “knowledge” is once again “epignosis” which indicates the FULL knowledge. They will resist the Truth and all those who receive the love of the Truth.

(2 Tim 3:7 KJV) 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 think it “strange” that we no longer run with them in their deceptions and lusts….they will speak evil of those who escape from those living in error of the Truth:

1 Peter4: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

And again, many shall follow the tares “pernicious ways”…..and will speak evil of the way of Truth….and those who go in the way of Truth.

2 Peter 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

We are to “fear them not” …..the Truth will be revealed and not stay covered….neither will men’s hearts.

(Mat 10:26 KJV) Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

The Truth will reveal what is in men’s hearts….how he will react to the revealed Truth will expose them….their “folly shall be manifest unto all men.” Those who reject the knowledge of God for their sins in the revelation do so willingly.


(Rom 2:16 KJV) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

The “man of sin” will be revealed by the revealed Truth….because he will resist the Truth when it comes. It will threaten his religious empires….his ministries….his fame…his power over the flock. The shepherds will mourn over their “ruined” pasture.

(Jer 25:36 KJV) A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.

The “tares” will be those exposed for who they are….the man of sin…who don’t care for the Truth….and they won’t care for those who receive the love of the Truth. The tares walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness….riches, power, fame….and they are not afraid to speak evil of those who speak Truth. They will despise the “government” of God.

(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.

The tares will be burned……perishing in their own corruption….in their own wickedness which burns like a fire. A reprobate mind that will fight and war against the Truth. The wicked will never understand.

(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;

 

[Chickapee]

Yes, the church....the "called out" of Babylon....will pull down strongholds with the knowledge of God...with the mind of Christ....as a perfect man in the fullness of Christ.

in Babylon is found all the abominations of the earth .Rev 17:5And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

she falls every vile and horrid thing is found in her

and she is burned with fire her flesh is torn, left naked / exposed

Rev 18:2And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Rev 17:16And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

those who are Jesus will be given the new heavens and earth as Gods promises are sure







Isa 65:17For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

Isa 66:22For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

2Pe 3:13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
those whom love God and all His righteousness

 

[Chickapee]

(Ezek 7:10 KJV) Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded.
12 The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.
13 For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.
14 They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.

The “fullness of the gentiles” is a reference to the sin of those within the church…..it becomes full as a cup is filled. It buds and blossoms.


(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.

the blasphemies and waring being spoken against the Holy City Rev 11:2But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months.
Rev 13:5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months.Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
the man of sin with the mind / heart of a beast is revealed Rev 13:1¶And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.