Dr. John MacArthur’s False Teachings

Cursed is the man that trusts in man (Jeremiah 17:5—Bible)

Jesus Christ put His trust in no man as He knew what was in man (John 2:24-25)

 

Dear readers,

I am sharing my letter regarding Dr. John MacArthur. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider.

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Dear ———

I trust you are being blessed today. In this day and age of antichrists we must be so careful of whom we listen to. The apostasy is grave!

I want you to know that I am calling John MacArthur a false teacher. I will not turn my back on Jesus Christ and not call him a heretic. If I would not stand before you regarding this, I know I would be denying my Savior. Anyone who blasphemes the blood of Christ, is a wicked, vile, false teacher. This blood disassociation fact would hurt and anger any true believer who truly has been born again and washed in the precious blood of Christ. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins!!!!

Hebrews 9:14 “ How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause, He is the mediator of the new testament”…This is what communion is all about. 1 John 1:7 states the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin.

Yes, John MacArthur is a false, wicked teacher!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._MacArthur

From Wikipedia:
…The controversy concerning the efficacy of the blood stems from MacArthur’s statement that it is not the literal liquid blood of Christ that saves, but his sacrificial death on the cross, a view that he espoused in an article titled, “Not His Bleeding, but His Dying,” published in the May 1976 issue of the Grace to You family paper that is distributed to his church.
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MacArthur says the blood of Christ “could not save” and “it was not the FLUID that saved us, it was the DEATH of Christ.”

Ten years later, in a letter to Tim Weidlich, MacArthur stated:

“Obviously, it was not the blood of Jesus that saves or He could have bled for us without dying. It was His death for sin that saves. When Romans 3:25 speaks of ‘faith in His blood’ everyone understands that to be a reference to His death — not the blood running through His body. In Romans 5:9, being ‘justified by His blood’ also refers to His death, as verse 10 makes clear in saying ‘we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son.’ In fact, the careful explanation of salvation in Romans 6 omits any reference to His blood at all. The point is that the shedding of blood was just the visible indication of His death, His life being poured out. … I admit that because of some traditional hymns there is an emotional attachment to the blood — but that should not pose a problem when one is dealing with theological or textual specificity. I can sing hymns about the blood and rejoice with them — but I understand that reference to be a metonym for His death.”

On page 237 of John MacArthur’s commentary on Hebrews, he states that it is “not Jesus’ physical blood that saves us, but His dying on our behalf.” In a letter to Mr. Tim Weidlich, dated April 4, 1986, MacArthur wrote, “Obviously, it was not the blood of Jesus that saves or He could have bled for us without dying. …Yes, the blood of Christ is precious – but as precious as it is – it could not save.”

MacArthur is clear “Nothing in his human blood saves. His shed blood represents His sacrificial death for us.” (Grace to You”, 1976)

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Regarding Paul’s Conversion:

From MacArthur’s Website:

http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/90-296

John MacArthur:

“Now this becomes very clear throughout the Scripture, not just Romans 8. So I want to do a little Bible study with you, go back to Romans 1 and I think you’re going to enjoy this, and it’s going to stretch you into a wonderful new category of understanding. Paul…Romans 1:1, “A bondservant of Christ Jesus, called as an Apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.” He’s a good one to look at for this kind of call because when the call of God came on the life of the Apostle Paul, it was a sovereign divine gracious and irresistible summons. He was slammed in to the dirt on the road to Damascus with nothing to do but respond, he is called as an Apostle. Down in verse 6 he’s talking about the obedience of faith in verse 5, obeying the gospel, among whom you also are the called. You are the called ones of Jesus Christ to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called saints, called holy ones. You are the called, the holy ones, the ones called out.

Look at 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 1, again “Paul called an Apostle.” He doesn’t mean that’s his title, he means he was called by God, by the will of God to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ. And again, it wasn’t something that he could resist. Verse 2, “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling.” So whatever this calling is, it makes you a saint. In Romans 8 it justifies you. Here it sanctifies you. And down in verse 9, “God is faithful through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” You were called into the fellowship that you enjoy with the Lord Jesus Christ, called by God. Over in verse 23, “We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are…here it is again…the called both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.” Now follow this. If you are among the called, then when Christ crucified is preached, He becomes to you the power of God and the wisdom of God. To the Jews a stumbling block, to the Gentiles it’s foolishness, but to the called whether Jew or Gentile, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God…Paul understood that he was just grabbed by the neck by God and awakened to the glory of Christ and saved and made an Apostle…”

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I, Val, have to say nowhere does the Bible say Paul was grabbed by the neck and was slammed in the dirt. This is a lie! This sounds most hateful like a newly enlisted soldier saying yes, sir, because he has no choice after being slapped around by his sergeant.

Paul saw the light and fell to the earth that is what Scripture states and it cannot be added to or subtracted from (Acts 9:3-4). God did not grab Him by the neck and slam him to the earth. This is horrendous blasphemy! To say he had no choice is wrong.

Paul, at this point wanted to chose to follow Christ and He did. He fell in love with Savior and chose to follow.

Yes, Paul was chosen, but he also chose. He had a free will. He was not a robot. God wooed him to Himself, he was not grabbed by the neck by a God who makes us bend at the knee without a choice. I have witnessed people come to Christ. They do not act like they are being grabbed by the neck and lose all their normal reasoning. It is clear that they are loved to Christ and therefore choose Him.

It is not because we have no choice because God is mean to His children. God woos us onto Himself and we choose Him. We can take no credit, positively. We are saved by His loving grace as He removes the blindness of doubt and unbelief from our heart so we see the truth and receive Him.

It seems what Mr. MacArthur stated regarding Paul contradicts a following statement by Mr MacArthur. With Paul, he presented there was no free will in his false presentation of his conversion” “And again, it wasn’t something that he could resist.”

But below is a later statement in this same sermon which appears to contradict what he presented with Paul. He says he does believe in free will and no one came to Christ because they were coerced:

“Well all of that is really needless because that’s not what Scripture says. No one was ever saved against their will. No one was ever brought into the Kingdom kicking and screaming, protesting. No one was ever saved who was dragged against the grain of having dug their heels in. That is not what Scripture teaches. No one has ever been saved against his will, no one ever will be. Everybody who is saved is saved because they will to believe the gospel. In fact, they will with all their heart and soul to believe the gospel. No one is ever saved without being willing. It is an act of the will to believe. The question is, what made them willing? Or better, who made them willing? Was it them? Was it the preacher? That’s what we would have to conclude in that kind of system. Somehow it’s them in the end and somehow though they were not willing they became willing, they found…they found somewhere they could get a hold of a boot strap and pull themselves up out of unwillingness into willingness. Or the preacher smashed their resistance and by his preaching he made them willing.”

John MacArthur’s heresy regarding Christ the Son:

John MacArthur teaches that although Jesus is eternal, He is not the eternal Son of God. He writes, “Son is an incarnational title of Christ. It is an analogy to say that God is Father and Jesus is Son…God’s way of helping us understand the essential relationship between the first and second persons of the Trinity…Christ was not Son until His incarnation”. (Commentary to the Hebrews, pp. 27, 28)

MacArthur is a false teacher. We wrote to Mr. Weidlich:

“Regarding the Sonship of Jesus. I am only concerned to explain the meaning of Hebrews 1:5. If there was a time when the second member of the Trinity became a son, was begotten; and if the use of the future shall be to me a Son;’ then there must have been a time when He was not.”

Psalm 2:7 refers to Christ being begotten at the time of His millennial rule. He has always been the Son and is referred to “the Son” in the Old Testament as well.

Son of God is referred to in Daniel 3:25 when Christ appeared in the furnace. Psalm 2 refers to God the Son twice “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled. The Old Testament refers to God the Son throughout.

“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection of the dead” (Romans 1:4).

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I have to ask, why does John MacArthur speak for Israel on the one hand, and on the other hand he participates in Bible Conferences with false teacher, R. C. Sproul, and other false Reformed men? These men despise dispensationalism and refuse to believe in Christ’s millennial rule on the earth, when He will reign in Jerusalem and all of Israel will be saved. Reformed men strongly teach that Israel has no future at all, there will be no millennial kingdom, most prophecies were fulfilled in 70 A.D. and that we should approach the prophetic Scriptures in a non-literal way.

Like most hidden Calvinists today, these men will say Israel has a some future and will leave it at that. They often want to sneak in their teaching so they place a little bit of error in a large amount truth to slowly deceive.

Why does John MacAthur hate the world dispensationalist if he is truly Jewish-friendly? I know Calvinists lie and are deceitful, just as their god Calvin lied and deceived.

This is all crazy to me. You can’t speak out of both sides of your mouth. All is needed if for the Scripture to be read word by word, verse by verse. God made it simple. Everything in the Word explains God’s Word. No complicated, forked tongue theologian is needed. People like John MacArthur like to complicate the Word of God so they sound deeply intelligent or so it seems. What they do is change the Word and this is not allowed! His commentaries remind me of Calvin who always complicated and changed God’s Word. MacArthur is different than Calvin in some of his teaching, but his style very much resembles Calvin.

The Bible makes it clear we are to have no association with false teachers.

Thanks for taking your precious time to listen to me!

In Christ who never lied in His Holy Word and shed His precious blood that men might be saved,

Val Lee

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*Gathered info from various web sources

Revelation Chapters 1-10 Explained

 

 

 

 

The Throne of God is countless years

beyond our little earth

 

 “The heavens and highest heavens cannot contain Him,” 2 Chronicles 6:18. And the earth is His footstool; Isaiah 66:1

 

Revelation’s Seven Churches

 

Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

 

John, the loving apostle of Christ, scribed Revelation.  He also penned the book of John, and 1-3 letters of John. He was our Lord’s appointed secretary; recording future events in exactness as they frightfully unfolded before him.

 

At the time of the vision, he was on the island of Patmos for his witness of Christ; Rev. 1:9.  Obviously, outrage at the Gospel message provoked the godless to seek his silence.  The unsaved also sought the silence of his blood brother, James, for his witness whereby he was killed by a sword; Acts 12:2.  In the Gospels, John and James were called the sons of thunder.  Their father was Zebedee (I assume he was not the quiet man). Their mother made herself famous by making a request of Jesus. She selfishly asked that her sons have the right to sit on each side of Him on His throne in His coming kingdom; Matthew 20:20-23.  

 

Satan assigned Roman Emperor Domitian in 95 AD to the task of ending John’s witness proclamation.  Not fearing what man could do kept John proclaiming his Savior everywhere. John kept preaching until that fateful day when Domition imprisoned him on the rocky side of the island of Patmos. God’s Word was still unveiled as His omnipotent will prevails even in isolated seclusion.  The chains of silence held no victory as Christ reigns over all hindering circumstances implemented by vile mankind.

 

Such victory grandeur can even be witnessed today as I read of a pastor who was placed in a dungeon chamber 30 feet below the earth and who was repeatedly tortured for his Gospel message.  He saw his witness now in defeat. However, he would preach to himself loudly and daily in that isolated cell. Unbenounced to him, prisoners and staff were listening. He gained a reputation as the “Hallelujah Pastor” in all the penitentiaries in Romania. Not until later, did he learn that his voice had been pulsating to so many. You see, God’s will prevails.       

 

Patmos

Revelation 1:9

Patmos, a horseshoe shaped island, holds magnificent scenery and bears white crags (steep sharp rocks) of the shoreline and beauty of the open ocean. The island is about 8 miles long and 5 miles wide, and has 40 miles of shoreline. It is a rock or petra which seems to be floating on the surface of the sea and at the same time appears massive and impressive! The west coast is very rocky and windy and has only a few accessible beaches. The most beautiful beaches of Patmos are scattered on its eastern coast.

Patmos is 140 miles from Athens, which takes about 10 hours by ferry.  It holds 3000 inhabitants, with 3 schools for about 300 children.  It is 163 miles from Piraeus.  It is volcanic and rocky with little rainfall. It is very barren producing very little grain, but abounding in partridges, quails, turtles, pigeons, snipes, and rabbits.

From the 6th to the 9th century, Patmos was raided by pirates.  Then was under Turkish dominion from 1523-1912, then Italian, later a part of Greece in 1948.

Patmos is in the route between Rome and Ephesus.  Christians were persecuted in Ephesus by the Roman emperor Domitian.  Domitian’s prisoners were compelled to work in the mines of Patmos.  John was exiled to Patmos during this time of  persecution—95 A.D. The new emperor Neva gave John permission to return to Ephesus and allowed the continuation of his ministry.  John died in 104 A.D. at the age of 99 and was buried in Ephesus. 

John was released when Emperor Neva replaced Domitian. Neva believed in religious freedom and withdrew John from the island of Patmos.

John continued in ministry until he departed to be with his most glorious and holy Savior in 99 AD.

                                                                                             

I personally believe John had been the overseer, head elder, of these seven churches addressed. Five of the seven churches were compromising and this was possibly due to John’s lost influence.  Perhaps he had been the glue that made them secure in their faith; his powerful preaching keeping these believers on task until his arrest.

 

The seven churches were in close proximity but all were differing in personality. John was not far from these churches to which his seven letters were delivered. Patmos is 40 miles from Ephesus, which received the first letter. God provided an unafraid messenger to do His bidding in delivery of the correspondence though how performed in this prison setting would all be speculation. Perhaps John was allowed visitors.

 

God does care about all His churches, which has resulted in us still owning the seven letters today for our edification and warning. 

 

From the study of Revelation chapters 2-3, and all scriptures concerning the church and its calling, we recognize apostasy is very present today as it was back then.  The same actions that Christ reproved through these letters appear in various forms in the contemporary church. 

 

Many books are available and there have been movies produced to interpret the settings in Revelation.  I personally would not want to be in the shoes of those who have written fantasy tales in the name of explaining Revelation.  Some of the books hold a Hollywood heroism type mentality.  I have been sickened by the godless and carnal presentations of God’s children who are out to kill the antichrist and who portray a Star Wars mentality. 

 

These entertaining books are far different from the words of our Lord and what He has ordained for this vile sinful earth filled with vile rebellious people. God states in the end of Revelation, 22:18-20, that if anyone adds to the book or subtracts he will receive the plagues written in the book.  God will also take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city.  A friend told me yesterday that her friend knows one of the authors of these so-called Christian Revelation revealing books and his life is very sinful and wicked. His life is a mess and she wouldn’t want to be in his shoes for anything.

 

There are also apostate in-vogue analyses of Revelation that attempt to discredit the book.  One main prominent philosophy is the Preterist view.  R. C. Sproll is a Partial Preterist and his son, a total Preterist. We need to be aware of this heresy as it is prominent in Christianity today.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preterism

 

Heresy Pretertistim in the Church:

 

At a previous church I was shocked to find our pastor believed in the Preterist view of Revelation that proclaims all prophecies have already unfolded.  Preterists believe that the holocaustic prophecies of Revelation and elsewhere uncovered, occurred in 70 AD when Titus of Rome destroyed Jerusalem.

 

Most preterists believe the following:

1. Nero was the Antichrist.  There will be no future individual Antichrist.

2. The Tribulation Period is already over.  It occurred when the Roman army under Titus besieged Jerusalem in AD 66-70.

3. Christ “returned” in the clouds in AD 70 to witness the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman army.

4. God replaced Old Testament Israel with the Church.  Therefore, all the biblical promises to Israel belong to the Church.  

5. Armageddon already happened in AD 70.  The fall of “Babylon” refers to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans.

6. Satan is already bound in the abyss and cannot hinder the spread of the Gospel.  Revelation 20 has already been fulfilled.

7. We are already in the Millennium, but it is not literal.  Some preterists equate the entire Church Age as the Millennium.  The 1,000 years are not literal but figurative, even though they are mentioned six times in Revelation 19-20.

   

Revelation reveals God’s wrath is to fall upon the whole earth, not just on a certain local.    Many Calvinists are Preterists as they believe the church has replaced Israel and the apocalypse concerning them has been deleted from the prophetical picture. 

 

People have to be blind to believe this nonsense.  I did discuss this with this pastor and he may have changed his mind a bit, as I quoted many verses that totally reveal the folly of such a view.  However, because God has delayed the forecast of the future, many are turning to this heretical teaching.

 

Eschatology facts to refute the Preterist view:

 

70 AD is the key date of the Preterists. This is when they believe all future events transpired.  This is when Titus of Rome came and destroyed Jerusalem.  This view is totally out of sync with the scriptures.

 

The Tribulation is going to devastate the whole earth, not just Jerusalem.  Whenever you read scripture concerning the tribulation, it says the whole earth! Please Read Revelation chapters 6-9 and 16. A third of the earth will be destroyed holding mankind, animal life and vegetation.  100 pound hailstones will fall from heaven. Tremendous hail fell during the time of Joshua as recorded in Joshua 10:11; but this will be shockingly worse.  God is a literalist. Nothing witnessed in the past compares to what is to unravel.

 

When it comes to the Jerusalem temple, it will be present during eschatological times. Various scriptures reveal that there will be an earthly and heavenly temple. In Acts it states the earthly temple will be rebuilt from its foundation; 5:16f.  Ezekiel speaks of the future Jerusalem temple before the Millennium as well. We know Ezekiel could not be speaking of the heavenly temple as the priests can only marry virgins or widows of priests.  There is no marriage in heaven as Christ proclaimed; Mark 12:18-25.  Ezekiel also makes it clear that everyone in Jerusalem will be murdered except for the 144,000 male virgin Jews taken from each tribe (the 144,000 are expanded upon in Revelation chapters 7 & 14).  Everyone dies except those with the mark or seal—the 144,000. The 144,000 are secured because they “sigh and groan over all the abominations” which are in Jerusalem.  They will hate all the sin and mourn over it resulting in the protective sealing by God.  All those without The Mark die in Jerusalem in the tribulation; see Ezekiel chapter 9. This includes men, women, children and the elderly.

 

I have also read of the Great Tribulation in Jeremiah and various other places in scripture; nothing in history resembles what is to come. 

 

There will be earthquakes upon the whole earth as never before and incomprehensible acts of our furious God.  It is God’s judgment on the whole earth, just read Revelation!!  It affects all the kingdoms of the earth!

 

Search for the truth dear friends!

 

Revelation chapter 1 overview

 

These are things that will “soon take place;” this is according to God’s timetable not men’s.  We see in verse 1, all that is revealed in Revelation was communicated to John, an apostle of Christ, who viewed himself as sustaining no elevated position. He was simply a slave who had personally, under no taskmaster compulsion, chosen to serve his master—Jesus Christ. He held no divided interests; his eyes were only set on his Master.

 

The time is near, verse 3, so all believers must sit up and take heed to all the teachings presented in this book.

 

Verse 5 is the Gospel message in short summary.  Christ is revealed here as God and ruler of the kings of the earth.  It is He who “loves us and released us from our sins by His blood.”

 

Verse 7 is prophecy from Acts 1:11 and Zechariah 12:10-14.  This concerns Christ’s millennial return as well as the mourning of those who pierced him. All the people who have ever lived will cry in anguish because they rejected the Messiah. Zechariah penned the Old Testament prophecy concerning Christ’s piercing and the Revelation tribulation mourning around 500 years before He was actually pierced with the sword that confirmed His death passing.  You must read this passage in Zechariah as it enlightens our eyes more to how great the sadness will be for those who rejected Christ; though Zechariah just deals with the Jews in this regard.  God’s Word is perfectly woven together by its Author, who is the perfector of our faith. A good deal of the New Testament is composed of Old Testament quotations.

 

We recognize from chapter one that there is no way one cannot see that Jesus is God. He is the Alpha and Omega; verse 8. He is the one clothed in a modest kingly robe reaching to His feet. He has white hair and His eyes are like the flame of fire, and a sharp two edged sword extends from his mouth; verses 13-17.  He is the ancient of days as also seen in Daniel 7:9-10. I cannot say too much concerning these verses that are bursting with the omnipotence of our God and Savior.  It is all about Him!

 

Traveling a bit further, we witness John falling like a dead man before Christ and no wonder especially after seeing the slicing sword stretching from His mouth—which holds the voice of many waters.  

 

This is not a modern contemporary Christ who will be everybody’s buddy. This is the Christ that one falls before in a dead-like state of fear. We are all called to tremble and fear before Him as we work out our salvation; Philippians 2:12. Revelation provides the true photo of Him who is to be feared above all else.

 

The heaven of Revelation is not a contemporary heaven filled with rock music playing everywhere being performed by all the top Christian rock groups.  It will not be filled with Christian comedians whereby everyone is going about laughing at all the fun jokes.  You cannot help but see as you read Revelation and all of Scripture that trendy American Christianity holds no place before our holy, wise and undefiled reigning LORD.

 

Verse 20 is one key in understanding the book.  It must be marked in reference as it exposes the mystery of veiled events so they can be puzzled together. We learn here that the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven golden lampstands are the seven churches. When Christ states He will remove the lampstand, He means the church for its lack of compliance to His Word.  I have seen two churches removed when pastors fell into sin.  I have witnessed church lamps diminish through transgression until faithful overseers revived them again.

 

It is believed that there were Jewish Christians set amongst these seven churches who had fled Israel following its devastation by Titus of Rome in 70 AD. Revelation was penned in 95. It wasn’t until the end of WWII that Jews began to reinhabit Israel.

 

 

Revelation chapter 2 overview

Letter to the believers in Ephesus:

 

In verse 1, we see John is assigned to write the good and the bad of this church so it can be uplifted and reproved through this letter.  It is the hope of God that it repent and remain.

 

Christ lets it be known that He finds some favorable things in this church. First, that it does not tolerate false teachers who come in sheep’s clothing, feigning to be of the true faith, calling themselves apostles.  The Ephesus believers tested those who tried to enter in the door of the church and if they were found to hold any beliefs contrary to scripture, they were shut out. How churches could learn from this example when everyone today is welcome to come and participate.  The heresy teaching prevails “As long as they are in church that is all that matters.”  This is all-contrary to the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 5:9-12 tells us not to associate with immoral people who call themselves believers.  We do not associate with any Christian who is covetous, an idolater, reviler, drunkard or swindler—we don’t even eat with such ones!

 

2 John 2:6-11 teaches us we are not even to greet those who are not abiding in the commandments of Christ who come to church; we are not to let them in the door.    2 Thessalonians teaches we are not to associate with those who are not abiding in the apostles taught traditions and commands.

 

The Ephesus church was walking correctly in many avenues, but Christ was going to bring judgment.  We all can ask ourselves “why.” This church seems superior to most churches today. 

Christ was going to remove this church because it had lost its first love.  This church did not love Christ with all its heart, soul and might as commanded from the beginning.  This is the greatest commandment as stated by Christ and it was first delivered in Deuteronomy 6:5. 

 

Christ called for the Ephesians to repent and we certainly trust they did as their witness was significantly needed within this pagan Roman Empire.

 

 

Letter to believers in Smyrna:

 

This church is the persecuted church.  We do not grasp such a concept easily, as we live in a free country.  The persecuted believers in oppressed nations can easily relate to the Smyrna church.  We must always be consistently praying for our brothers and sisters in nations of oppression, as they are often times beaten, raped, imprisoned, and murdered for their faith. 

 

This was an exceptional church due to its impoverishment and persecution.   It had to rely on Christ and Christ alone for its sustenance and encouragement.  It is a good thing when we have only Christ to run to, as He becomes our all and all.  If we live in a styling society full of worldly entertainment and amusements, it is easy to put Christ second and the ways and things of culture first.  However, we are commanded not to become entangled with those things adored by the unsaved population nor imitate them. Yes, satan makes everything fleshly-appealing but we are called to separate from them.  If we do not, Christ will discipline as witnessed all so clearly in Revelation.   

 

The believers of Smyrna had not lost their first love; they loved Christ unto death. Christ tells them in this letter that they will be tested and persecuted for ten days and that they were to be faithful until death so they would reap the crown of life.  If these believers stayed faithful, they would not be hurt by the second death, which is eternal fire, as we know from Scripture: Revelation 20:11-15; especial verse 14.

 

 

Letter to the believers in Pergamum:

 

Christ is revealed with His two edged sword in verse 12; this vivifies His wrath and anger over sin in the believer’s life.  This is to cause us to fear and tremble before Him; Philippians 2:12 and 1 Chronicles 16:30.

 

Pergamaum was a great city—a styling city of commerce, entertainment, religion, advanced medicine, sexual promiscuity…you just name it.  If you wanted anything, it was here. This was a vacation spot of the world adjacent to the Aegean Sea. There was no better place to rock and roll…It was grooving.  It was like a New York City.  That is why it states in 2:13, that this is “where satan’s throne is.”  The saints who resided here were under tremendous continuous temptation.  Sound familiar? 

 

In the Pergamum church there had been only one believer who had been faithful unto death—Antipas.  He was Christ’s martyr. He was dedicated to Christ as His witness.  Christ states only good concerning Antipas.  We certainly desire that Christ view us in every positive way. Antipas is a Greek name meaning “against all.”  He certainly was true to his name as he stood for Christ against a satanic culture.

 

Christ had certain things “against” this church. They held to the teachings of Balaam and Balak.  You can read of these characters in Numbers chapters 22-25.  You may remember Balaam’s donkey spoke and rebuked him in his folly.  Balaam was a false prophet for hire and Balak was the king of Moab, an idolatrous nation that wanted to annihilate the nation of Israel.  Balak tried to hire Balaam to bring about an end to the Jews, but God would not allow it.

 

Balaam loved money and would do just about anything to get it as a religious man.  He even attempted to curse the children of God.

 

Balaam and his clones:

 

Balaam held the scent of greed wherever he trod.  He can represent many today who use gimmickry so people will give to their cause in the name of false Christianity. Balaams are everywhere present in Christianity and they seem to be growing in number.  Many televangelists are Balaams. 

                                                    

Balaams are people who serve God expecting substantial financial rewards.  These types of pastors love large collection plates filled to the brim and thousands in their congregation to adore them because they have put their church on the map of success. There are pastors who will refuse to oversee a church unless the price is right and the price has to be significantly right.  Balaams are in Christianity for what they can get not what they can give. These preachers will not engage in visitation as it is no longer in style in the pastorate role as it is a humbling chore.

 

Balaam and Balak (the king of Moab) were both immoral in intent. They coveted the Jews destruction.  When this proved unobtainable, they desired to own the Jews so they would follow after false religious teachings and engage in sexual promiscuity of pagan kind.

 

Balak was not being successful in getting the Hebrews, God’s children, to stumble so he determined if they couldn’t beat them then they should get them to join them. Balaam and Balak instigated a plan whereby they would introduce the men of God to the lovely Moabite women, whereby they would intermarry with the pagan Moabites. 

 

Balaam and Balak succeeded to a degree because many desired to follow their immoral religion of fleshly delights.  In Numbers chapter 25, the sexually immoral daughters of Moab became triumphant in their persuasions of idol worship and sex, whereby the Jews followed and God’s judgment fell. 

 

Balaam sounded very godly and even prophesied in the name of God.  He was a powerful preacher who knew about God and His Word.  Judas knew about God and performed miracles and preached with the other disciples, but he was a Balaam, following Christ for fortune. Judas, do doubt, reveled in everyone looking up to him as a miracle-performing preacher. He, though very religious in appearance, wanted everyone putting money in the collection box for the poor so he could steal its contents when no one was looking. He desired to be its greatest benefactor. He spoke flowery words that sounded so sincere when making a plea for the poor, but it all held ulterior motives.  None of the disciples even suspected his heart of black wool as his sheep’s clothing costume of white wool was so sincere.

 

Beware of the Balaam dogs in religion—see Jude verses 11-16 and 2 Peter chapter 2, especially verse 12.  

On top of following the immoral ways of Balaam and Balak, the Pergamum church also held to the false teachings of the Nicolaitans, which the Ephesians refused to follow.   No one knows what these teachings were, but looking at verses 14-15, it probably combined Christianity with some sort of idol worship and immorality.  It was a religion that most likely permitted license to some degree so they could blend in with culture. This church, though close to Smyrna, did not seem to be suffering the same arriving deadly fate…perhaps due to their compromising worldly compliance.

 

They were faithful in not denying Christ’s name even though they were under a tyrant Roman dictator who hated the Savior; verse 13. It does appear there was some suffering for not denying Christ but no death bell seems to be tolling nor closing of cell doors.

 

God’s judgment is going to fall on Pergamum believers if they don’t turn from their wicked ways of sinful sporting delights.

 

For those who refused to follow the false ways in this church, Christ had reserved a white stone (white represents purity in scripture) with a new name written on it.  

 

 

Letter to believers in Thyatira:

 

This letter also commences with Christ positioned as a revengeful God as He is displayed having eyes like a flame of fire. His feet proclaim supremacy being of burnished bronze which spells fiery refining.  This is a frightful way to start a piece of correspondence!

 

Christ is always swift to reveal a church’s good deeds before launching into their shortcomings.  This church seems all on-fire for Christ as it is engaging in good deeds of love and faith.  It is persevering and even increasing in these areas.

 

It is hard to understand since sexual impurity is present in this church; verses 20-23.  How can they coexist? Well, it appears from verse 24 that there are innocent parties present who are faithful and pure—blameless in the ways of evil.  They, without a doubt, hated those things indecently performed and let it be known. Ephesians 5:11-12 commands us to expose the evil ways of darkness as we are not even to speak of the intimate details of vile activity.  We are to hate it. Jude verse 23 states, we are even to hate the garment polluted by the flesh.  We are to hate every immoral way and never enjoy it.  We must never deliberately place anything but innocence before our eyes and ears.

 

Despite what society proclaims, the Bible does not justify sinful tolerance.  Christ condemns this church as it is being tolerant of a woman who is called Jezebel.  Not her actual name, but that which represents her character.  She is a replica to a degree of Jezebel revealed in 1 and 2 Kings, who was a false teacher and murdered true believers.

 

The Jezebel of Thyatira was an immoral sexy woman who allured the saints into acts of impurity and false religious beliefs.  She, like the Jezebel of the Old Testament, set religious heresies before God’s people.  She too was following the paths imbedded by idolatrous Balaam.

 

Death by disease was the fate of Jezebel’s children if she did not repent.  Jezebel herself was destined for a bed of tribulation sickness where she would languish in excruciating pain.

 

The death fate was pronounced upon Jezebel of the Old Testament for her unrepentant sins—2 Kings 9:30-37 and on her sons—2 Kings 10:7. She tried to avoid what God had preordained for her. When God’s henchmen arrived, she tried to set before them a beautiful alluring woman. She caked on the eye make-up to divert them away from their calling. But no glittering Hollywood-like woman was going to stop them from fulfilling what the LORD had preordained. They threw her out a window, God’s fateful doom—“the dogs will eat Jezebel’s flesh.”

 

We do hope Christ’s painful wrath did not descend upon this alluring Jezebel of Thyatira. Christ was providing the time for her to repent and we trust she took the opportunity and all who followed her fleshly exciting behavior that always leads to the path of death; Proverbs chapters 6 & 7—especially 6:32 and 7:22-23.  We hope and imagine that she became a woman of bashful behavior and modest dress.

 

Many believers today need to repent as they put Jezebels before their eyes continually. They indulge in the productions of sensual Hollywood filled with women who employ the most skilled make-up artists to paint them and seamstresses who create the most fancy-fitted seductive clothing to sell sexual pleasantries on the screen.  Partaking in Jezebel’s mentality in any way is an abomination to Christ.  Our minds and eyes are to be centered on the righteous ways of our holy, innocent, undefiled Lord.

 

Christ hates all sin in the church.  He made this clear when he murdered Ananias and Sapphira for lying and deception.  This same God still is overseeing the church and bringing judgment for compromise.  We recognize through these churches that the slightest deviancy from His Word induces His sword of wrath. Verse 23 informs us that Christ disciplines the church and those within according to their deeds.  We all reap what we sow and Christ makes sure this is so.

 

Lofty promises are provided to those in Thyatira who stay true to their Savior. He will grant them exalted rule over the nations in the millennial period. They will enforce Christ’s iron rod for obedience.

 

Verse 29 tells us we need to take great heed to all that is being stated in warning to these churches.

 

 

Letter to believers in Sardis:

 

All the letters to the churches were addressed to an overseeing angel that was set above each fellowship through God’s orchestration. This is declared in the first verse of each letter.  We are commanded to respect angelic authority as we see in Jude, 2 Peter, and many other sections in scripture. 

 

John is the secretary that is scripting physically the words of Christ. Each letter also came from the angels that were over each fellowship and from Christ, Himself; Revelation 1:5.  We also know a male human messenger delivered the letters. He took them from John’s hand as John was imprisoned on the island of Patmos for his forthright fearless preaching of the Gospel.

 

Another text that reveals the importance of respecting angels who oversee the churches is 1 Corinthians chapter 11. This passage commands women who are praying or prophesying (telling forth God’s Word) to don a covering on their heads for the angels who observe the assembling of believers.  By researching the Greek, you can accurately decipher the word “angels” found in this passage, is referring to God’s angelic army in heaven. 

 

Women are also charged to have long hair in this Corinthian passage. God has devised distinctions between the sexes and one is through men wearing their hair short and women wearing it long.  A woman’s locks are her crowning glory and a modest covering.  Having a covering on the head marks her out more in her feminine portrayal that angels are attentive to. It also symbolizes her submissive heart to her husband.

 

Revelation 3:2 refers to Christ’s authority, as He possesses the seven spirits and seven stars.  We know from 1:20 that the seven stars are the seven spirits who are the overseeing angels of the seven churches.

 

We also note in 3:2 that other fellowships believe this church is alive in the faith; however, Christ, who is the true discerner of hearts, announces, this church is dead.  He knows their deeds and actions and He is the one who determines which churches are truly obeying Him in all Scriptural matters. It is not a determination by man’s assessment in any way, shape or form.

 

This is a warning letter to tell these Sardis believers to get about the business of their church, which is dying.  It is almost time to pick out their tombstone; their living light is almost extinguished. 

 

Most likely, unbiblical agendas had entered the doors of the church; perhaps the agendas of local society, which had deviated folk from commanded scripture. They set those things they were to be about on a back burner and the essentials had been left and forgotten. 

 

Christ sees all and knows all; including what we have forsaken in the way of obedience.  He is omniscient and nothing is hidden from His all-seeing eyes.

 

The church is responsible to be performing all that is commanded for it, which includes the work of the ministry. All the saints are to be equipped by the church for Christian service and Ephesians chapter 4 speaks to that fact. Christians are to be engaging in the work of ministry—discipleship, evangelism, teaching, etc.  They are to be exercising their Biblical gifts in love; and are to be growing in the knowledge of God through comprehensive Bible teaching and the example set by leadership—in every scriptural designated area.

 

The books of Timothy and Titus instruct concerning the qualifications for church leadership and its functioning calling.  (Alan and I enjoy supporting Thru the Bible ministries as Dr. J. Vernon McGee taught comprehensively through the Bible. Though he has gone to be with the Lord, his programs are still aired.  All TTB producers meet the godly requirements of leadership listed in Timothy and Titus. My husband and I rejoice in such obedience.) 

 

Every New Testament epistle is presented so every church develops into all that is commanded by the Savior. Christ calls for the Sardis church to repent and this would include all churches that fall short today as well.  Christ warns He is coming like a thief to judge and no one will have an idea as to His arrival time.

 

One of Christ’s attributes is that of a thief, who arrives unawares.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, we read that Christ is coming like a thief to judge the earth when its fun-loving inhabitants are totally unsuspecting. Those who ignore Christ and His holy inerrant Word will not escape from His fiery judging hand. Such a warning is also located in Matthew 24:36-51 and many other texts in the Old and New Testament. We must not neglect giving out the Gospel so people are delivered from this wicked evil age of fleshly fun activities and the consequential lake of fire.

 

In verse 4, Christ makes it known that there are some believers in Sardis who have kept themselves clean and pure and will walk with Him in white apparel.  We also read of the purity of the 144,000 male virgin Jews who tell no lies in chapter 14, verses 1-5.

 

The importance of holy purity is stressed in this Revelation section of letters to the churches.  Nowhere do we find Christ commanding the churches to be grooving with secular, sensual and immodest society. God knows if believers are holding to all chaste and holy behavior—not being entangled by the world in its fruitless and sensual thinking—they will be a glowing light in this dark world. 

 

We also note the true dedicated purified believers will not have their names erased from the book of life; 3:5.

 

 

Letters to the believers in Philadelphia:

 

This church is made up of good guys who wear white hats—well…to be honest…white clothing in heaven. It is interesting that white was what symbolized goodness in America several decades ago and black represented evil.  General society knew that the Bible stressed a clean white garment type lifestyle.

 

Emphasized in verse 7 of Revelation chapter 3, is Christ possessing the key of David or key of Israel—God’s chosen people.  He opens what no being can close and closes what no being can open.  He is the ultimate omnipotent authority over all.

 

The converted Jews of this church were being harassed by godless Jews who attended synagogues. The synagogues did not acknowledge Christ as God and therefore were of satan.  Everyone who is not saved is an obedient child of satan; 2 Corinthians 6:14f.

 

The Jews who attended synagogues despised the Jews of the Philadelphia church who had been reborn by Christ’s atoning blood; Revelation 1:5.  We read throughout the New Testament of Jews who tried to place the requirements of the law on new converts.  These deceived Jews insisted that new believers hold to the festivals and regulations that God delivered to the Old Testament Jews. Christ fulfilled the Law Himself—the law that sinful man could never fully achieve nor reach salvation, “By the works of the law shall no man be justified.” It is through the law that man learns he is a sinner; Romans 3:20.  Man can never be saved by the works of the law or perfected; only by faith in the Savior, can a person be saved and regenerated. Only by the Holy Spirit’s controlling, can a person live righteously. Various religions teach salvation by works, but good works can never deliver from sin and its consequences. Good works and intentions can never purify a heart. We must believe John 3:16 and ask God the Father to forgive us of our sins through his Son, Jesus Christ who died on the cross on our behalf and arose from the grave. We also yield our lives to God; asking Him to take control. We also ask Him to forgive us when we sin after we are saved.

 

The Apostles were Jews who stood apposed to those Jews (Judaizers) who held to the Old Testament laws. The Judaizers persecuted believers who acknowledged Christ. The apostles led the New Testament church into truth and godliness and away from attempting to accomplish good through the carnal flesh. They made it clear that apart from God, men can do nothing good.

Obedience to the Bible can only be accomplished through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit—yielding one’s life to God in humility.  One receives the Holy Spirit when they surrender their life to Christ through faith.

 

Getting back to Revelation chapter 3, we note from verses 9-10 that Christ only considers born again Jews as forming the true Jewish race.  Someday every living Jew will come to Christ as Romans 11:26-27 and Jeremiah 3:-31-36 acknowledge, but that is far from the case today. We read of the future elevation of the Jews in Revelation 21:14. Here the names of the 12 Jewish apostles will be written on the walls of New Jerusalem that descends out of heaven. Included in the names will be John the Apostle who wrote Revelation and was an example to the churches of living godly in Christ Jesus.  The names of the 12 Jewish tribes will be inscribed on the gates of the New Jerusalem as Revelation 21:12 discloses. God’s chosen race will be elevated in the Millennial kingdom and throughout eternity. John and the other apostles will have a superior place in God’s kingdom; so will 12 of the Old Testament faithful Jews.

 

Peering at verse 9, back in Revelation chapter 3, we witness Christ graciously informing these persecuted Christian Jews that He is going to make sure their Jewish enemies—those who did not pick up their cross to follow Christ— will bow down before them someday. We do need to recognize, Christ does loves all true believers—Jews and Gentiles. His loving grace and peace are shed abroad in all believers’ hearts.  He is longsuffering toward all of us who fall so short so often.

 

Verse 10 informs us the key of being in good standing with our Savior is keeping His Word no matter the cost to our being.  His Bible is inerrant when translated accurately with no contemporary added spins, twists and turns.  We can obey it in confidence.

 

The Philadelphia church was experiencing persecution for holding tightly to Christ. They were holding to the true Christ of Scripture, who is the only true Jewish high priest. His character embodies holiness, innocence, and undefilement. He is separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; Hebrews 7:27.

 

This church was elevated as a result of their undying faithfulness.  Multitudes of countless people through the centuries know of this church of brotherly love that would not waver from its solid foundation.

    

A church in this general area survived through the ages until the Muslim faith removed religious freedom from Turkey about a decade ago.  There may be a church hidden underground somewhere close to this local that is unknown.  When Dr. J. Vernon McGee was alive, he took part in one of the church services in the Philadelphia, Turkey area that presented itself as the Philadelphia church and he was richly blessed by the surviving faith. 

 

Christ stated that this church would be kept from the great tribulation that will fall upon the whole earth someday; verse 10.  Warnings of this tribulation can be traced back to Enoch as we read in Jude 14-15.  Tribulation warnings are placed throughout scripture. Nothing in time present or in time past can compare to what is to come when Christ rains His avenging wrath upon sinful mankind.  This great tribulation period is the main theme of Revelation. It is to be preached in warning to mankind.  These factual threats are what consume the majority of this book’s account.

 

The Philadelphia church body addressed is in heaven today and it did not endure the great tribulation that is to arrive on schedule—that has been predetermined by God’s time clock. This church was factual and the true dedicated church today can still reap the same blessings that Christ bestowed upon this faithful early assembly.  Christ keeps true to His promises as the unchanging God of antiquity and time present.  Obedience to His Word always produces blessings in any economy.  

 

Even though Christ still has not arrived on the earth, it must be remembered, His time clock does not run on the same principal as ours.  When Enoch preached the great tribulation in time beginning, it was as if it could arrive tomorrow. 

 

2 Peter 3:3-9 also deals with God’s fiery tribulation judgment. It states that one day can be like a thousand years to God or visa versa.  We cannot asses it in terms of global 24-hour time when trying to judge God’s prophetical Word.

 

Christ warns the Philadelphia believers to remain steadfast so no one robs them of their crown in Revelation 3:11.  No earthly allurements can compare to the crown offered to those who are faithful unto death.  We must always confront ourselves with the question, what eternal value does this hold?

 

Revelation 3:12 is full of promises of heavenly glories for those who overcome and do not give into any agendas divergent to the Word of God.  God will display the believer and their name in the New Jerusalem which will ascend out of heaven.  This verse is full of grandeur beyond our earthly comprehension.  All we basically know, is a cursed earth full of wicked sin.  A place full of righteousness and God’s splendid glory is a bit hard to grasp, but we know it will be genuine as God never lies or deceives. 

 

 

Letters to the believers in Laodicea:

 

This is the final correspondence to the churches.  Verse 14 is a glorious tribute to Christ our Savior, who is the only true Witness. He is the beginning of creation as the Biblical books of John, 1 John, and Colossians substantiate.  

 

This is the lukewarm church that God was all disgusted with and many a sermon has been preached concerning it.  This is the church that Christ was completely abhorred with, even to the point of vomiting it out of His mouth. Some versions do not translate the word “vomit” accurately. But the word is EMEO in the Greek and it literally means to regurgitate the stomach’s digesting contents.  This is a repugnant visual picture of Christ’s rejection of believers who are not on fire for Him.  He would rather they be cold and honest about it than lukewarm. Believers who walk in lukewarmness are completely distasteful to our LORD.  They are abominable.  Why? Because such Christians are not excited or cold to the Gospel in forthright honesty. They are those who blend in to please all; they hold no solid ground in their stances behind all the scenes. 

 

When my husband, Alan, and I were in Aruba celebrating our 25^th wedding anniversary we partook of lukewarm water, it was our tap water. It was originally ocean water that was filtered and purified in Aruba’s desalination plant—the second largest in the world.  Alan and I made faces when we first tasted it, as it was all unpleasant.  It had to have added ice or placed in the frig to make it palatable. See: http://here.alfalaval.com/zino.aspx?pageID=3&articleID=172 

 

The Laodiceans received their water lukewarm as well because their water source was a nearby hot spring. The water cooled to lukewarm before arriving to homes.  People who waver to please every palate are disgusting to our Savior like lukewarm arriving water.

 

It is God’s command for believers to be on fire for Him and His Word.  Our lifestyle is to be that which reflects Christ at all times. We are never to be ashamed to uplift Him who was rejected and is still rejected today by the majority of inhabitants of the world.  Christ never desired to be socially acceptable. He never chased after people saying, “I will act in a way that is pleasing to everyone.  I will say whatever gets a laugh and I will make my presentations fun to keep the crowds adoring me.”  Many pastors chase after crowds in such a way today, making themselves disgusting to the palate.  

 

Christ exposed the fleshly inner man that is self-centered and self-seeking.  Christ dismantles the “get all the gusto you can out of life” agendas of playful culture.   His holiness has always shamed society; therefore, it has always hated Him.

 

Laodicea was a rich indulgent society as revealed in verse 17.  They had little need and little time for Christ as culture fed their flesh to the fullest—with its entangling activities that held goodies for the wealthy. 

 

I find this astute richness in Laodicea interesting, especially when viewing a Bible map. It can be plainly seen that all seven churches were close in proximately. You would think this Laodicean church was outside of Roman rule, where religious freedom might have reigned.  It is a shock to know the Laodicean church lived next door to the persecuted church; approximately 40 miles southwest of the hurting believers in Philadelphia. 

 

Smyrna was a Mediterranean port city so you can rightly assume wealth existed there.  It is called Izmir today and it is still very wealthy as a large harbor city. However, the Smyrna church of Revelation represented the poorest of believers, being impoverished; 2:9.

 

The churches, no matter the local, that were unwavering held members who were poor, suffering and dying for the Gospel.  The persecuted churches could never fit into rich, snobbish society.  Thank goodness!

 

The Laodicean church was rich and influential. Obviously, because it was not a threat to the surrounding unsaved.  They must have kept their mouths shut when it came to religion.  They probably followed the popular motto of never bringing up touchy subjects.

 

Christ is blunt and forthright in verse 17 and lets this fellowship know they are totally depraved and deprived.  Without Christ reigning in their lives, life is not worth living.  They are thriving on that which is passing away and brings no glory to their Savior.

 

These believers may have possessed all the enviable products of the world, placed in fancy displayed homes on Main Street; but they were wretched, miserable, cold, blind and naked.  By today’s standards, their assembly might resemble a fifth Avenue New York church of enviable prestige—being the place to be on Sunday in the world’s vain religious eyes of uppity society. But not in Christ’s!  You can well bet this dignified Laodicean church rarely engaged in street preaching and door to door witnessing.

 

It is easy not be persecuted if you blend in. I was reading an insightful article today.  It stated that the apostles did not seek permission to preach Christ everywhere.  They had the ultimate permission from God Almighty. Christian evangelism is our right and mandate no matter the governing laws.  Of course, wisdom in evangelism is essential; folly is unacceptable.  Drawing a crowd to show off preaching skills is not what pleases Christ.  The sincere heart of a man who preaches Christ simply to win souls is wise.    

 

In verse 18, Christ teaches this off-the-track church that blending in with culture is vain and they need to buy from Him gold refined by fire so they can become spiritually rich.  They need to submit to His discipline, thus becoming righteous, pure, and holy so they can walk in white (purified) garments with Him.  Hebrews 12 teaches believers to submit to the discipline of God.  When this passage speaks of God’s spanking discipline it means scourging.  It is the same word that is used for when Christ was scourged with a whip before His crucifixion—PAIDEUO.  God is our heavenly father and as such disciplines us perfectly. If we submit to His fatherly corrective discipline, it will result in spiritual growth and purified perfection. Purified perfection should be our desire no matter the pain that it may involve to arrive.

 

Continuing further in verse 18, we come to the subject of ophthalmology. The people in this church were experiencing flawed vision that no optometrist-prescribed corrective lenses could resolve. They required the spiritual prescription Christ was advising, that being the truths of His Word applied. This would permit them to achieve the perfect spiritual vision of discernment.

 

Verse 20 represents Christ outstretched hand reaching out to them so they can experience the best. He loved them and wanted them to receive His love. He was knocking on this church’s door so they would let Him in.  He wanted to fellowship with every believer associated with the Laodicean church.  He had been calling out to them, but they never listened because they were having so much fun in the Mediterranean sun.  Now, He wants to be taken seriously so they dine or fellowship with Him personally.  He wants them to own all the heavenly glories awaiting by casting aside society’s allurements. 

 

The LORD calls out and reaches out to every believer for greater fellowship and commitment. Are you listening?  Am I listening?  He loves us and is beckoning to us.  As our Father, He does not want to have to spank us.

 

Verse 21 is a promise of seated kingly glory next to Christ on His throne.  However, there is an “if clause” attached to this whole letter. It can only occur if this church changes its ways and transforms itself into the church of the over-comers.   

 

Verse 22 is what has been repeated by Christ throughout the section to the churches.  Every church has now been warned, in their last notation, to take heed to all that has been revealed.

 

Every church in America needs to take heed to the warnings in the church section of Revelation. They apply to every Bible-believing assembly that is in existence today. 

 

Most fellowships are missing the mark of the calling to total dedication. Christ is watching and waiting. He is longsuffering but only to a point.  He foretold that the church would become completely apostate, as it is easier to be lukewarm and blend in with all. It is harder to be on fire for Him and His inerrant Word and stand mostly alone.  The majority of churches today do not take His Word seriously, down to every jot and tittle and many false teachers are dismantling it so believers can justify doing their own thing.  Many false teachers are proclaiming Christ will never discipline the believer so do not worry about your lifestyle. 

 

Let us always hear what Christ says to the churches.

Chapter 4 

                                           

Chapter 3, ended the church age—the church now goes off the air.  We no longer read the word “church,” until the end of Revelation, when John is to report his vision to the churches.  As in the Old Testament, the focus was on Israel, so it is throughout the rest of Revelation.  We suffer with God’s chosen nation as we travel on in Revelation, in her persecution—anti-Semitism. And we rejoice when she is delivered, exalted and glorified. 

 

Verse 1 opens this chapter with John having a heavenly experience.  He looks upward in this vision and spies an open door to paradise and a voice, like the sound of a trumpet, heralding him, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”

 

John was in the Spirit, taking part in this setting, while imprisoned on the island of Patmos for his unrelenting faith and its proclamation.  He experienced this vision through the power of the Holy Spirit, not in participation with his body—he never departed from his prison confinement to witness what is to come.  

 

John entered that opened door to stand in heaven where God is enthroned in all glory and majesty.  John is brought face to face with God upon His summoning.  He sees his LORD in all glorious splendor, appearing as a jasper stone (opaque, crypto crystalline variety of quartz, usually red) and a sardius stone (ruby). God is all radiant in beauty and His breathtaking appearance is pronounced more with a “rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.” 

 

What an awe-inspiring happening that takes one’s breathe away.  No presentation before a king for queen could ever match this! Nothing on this cursed earth could ever compete with the splendor of heaven untouched by cursed sin.

 

 

In verse 4, we are introduced to twenty-four elders, who are seated around our enthroned LORD.  They are in white garments, representing holiness, and are capped with golden crowns to divulge their station of exaltation.

 

You may inquire who are these godly elders who have the privilege of being seated around God.

 

Well, I will tell you what I believe.  If you turn to Matthew chapter 19, verse 27, you will read that Peter wanted to know what was being offered to him and the other Jewish disciples who had left everything to follow Christ. The LORD educates the disciples to their assigned roles in heaven as we read in the following verse. They will be provided with their own thrones on which they will judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Because Judas was removed from his position as one of the twelve, the Apostle Paul resumed his post.

 

If you turn to Revelation 21:14, you will read of a another prestigious recognition of the Jewish apostles as their names will be on the twelve foundation stones of the New Jerusalem that will descend from heaven in the brilliance of precious gems.  Due to these verses, I believe twelve of the twenty-four elders will be the twelve apostles.  The Jewish apostles are the only men who are exalted on the heavenly Jerusalem walls by name that we see in Scripture.

 

You may ask, “Did not John see himself seated with the twelve apostles?”  I would have to say, “Yes.”  Of course, he may not have recognized himself in his future condition, being in his incorruptible glorification.  Because Christ told him he would be seated on his own throne in heaven, he may have thought about it or even knew which of the twelve seated was himself.  I have to admit this part is a guessing game for us.

 

You might also raise the question, “Did he see me?”  It is possible. This is after the church age, which opens the door to the tribulation period. Our God’s transit ways of traveling through all ages is mind-boggling.  How can we even begin to comprehend?

 

I believe the other twelve will be representatives from Israel’s twelve tribes.  If you look at Revelation 21:12, two verses previous, you will read that there will be twelve gates which have the names of the twelve tribes. Therefore, I believe twelve Old Testament saints represent each tribe of Israel as elders. I believe you can locate all these outstanding men in the Old Testament and a great deal of them will be the prophets—presumably, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, etc. I believe Abraham and Moses will be amongst them too. This is simply my opinion from studying scripture.

 

The Jews are God’s first chosen, so it should not surprise us that some of them will be the loftiest souls surrounding God’s throne in heaven.  They are those who rule under Christ.

 

You may ask here, “Where does that leave us, Gentiles?” Gentiles will have a place of authority as well. I Corinthians 6:1-11 informs us, we will judge angels and the world and that is why our churches are to the courts of law for believers. I Corinthians, chapters 5-6, speak in regard to us judging believers and that we are to do so; but of course, never in an unbiblical physically-destructive manner.  We learn here that we are to exercise our Biblical wisdom so we do not associate with so-called believers who are immoral, covetous, idolaters, revilers, drunkards or swindlers. We are not even to eat with these people who call themselves Christians and attempt to come into our churches. Romans 16:17-18, 2 Peter, Jude, etc; also command that we have nothing to do with so-called believers who do not hold to Biblical teaching and who teach contrary to Scripture. They persuade believers not to take the Word seriously through their flattering speech.  Being on guard is part of the believers’ walk.  This is why we must study the Bible to show ourselves approved unto God so we are never seduced into falsehood.   

 

Reuniting with Revelation chapter 4, in verse 5, we see the omnipotence of God displayed in unchallengeable authority.  No one rules over the Godhead or in place of. His will is revealed throughout the whole earth.  The whole Word of God displays the fact that nothing can thwart His will and ways.  Isaiah chapter 40 is one chapter that explains that no king or authority is placed in leadership on this earth outside of God’s orchestration and He dethrones any ruler by desire.  

 

Around God’s throne are flashes of lightening, and pounding thunder!  This reveals the fact that our holy, innocent, pure Savior is to be feared, praised, honored and obeyed.  Job 38:25, teaches us that it is God who fashions lightening and determines where a thunderbolt lands.  Reading the complete chapter of Job 38 as well as 39, provides great insight into God’s total global control over His creation. Job 40:9 inquires of us who can “thunder with a voice like His?” Psalm 29:3-9 teaches us that His voice is upon the waters; the “God of glory thunders.” His voice is “powerful” and “majestic” and His voice “breaks the cedars.” His voice “hews out flames of fire” and He “shakes the wilderness.”  He makes the “deer to calve” and “strips the forests bare.”

 

In Daniel 7:9-10, we view Daniel coming face to face with the throne of God—His lofty seat “ablaze with flames.”  Here thousands upon thousands constantly attend Him and are attending Him now in heights above, billions and billions of years away in distances, beyond all galaxies.  His heaven is above all heavens and no man can comprehend or view all that exists beyond the broadest degree of countless years that stretch far beyond our minute earth.  Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Paul also had encounters with heaven’s majesty.

 

We also cannot begin to activate our mind to imagine the royal power that emerges forth from God’s hand—His scepter. Touring London, facing the history of regality and the present presence of monarchial rule, gave me insights concerning the history of the kings of Israel and what respect and fear for enthroned authority entails. 

 

This same fear of a regent is what we need to comprehend and grasp when it comes to our Sovereign King—though our subjection to God, is on a far greater and reaching scale—He is the Creator and sustainer of all.

 

What we witness here in Daniel, is the judgment throne period, which we will behold ourselves in the future.  The unsaved will come face to face with the fact that they failed completely in honoring their enthroned God, who reveals His commands in His Word. He rules over the heavens and the earth and abhors every disobedient action.  This is why we are commanded to fear and tremble before our LORD, working out our salvation; Philippians 2:12. Moreover, we must share the Gospel that the wayward might be rescued from the eternal wrath of fire to come; Jude 23.  They relentlessly dig their own graves as they live day by day apart from the Savior.  We dwell amidst a universal graveyard.

 

Verse 5 of Revelation chapter 4, is full of the truths that surround our enthroned God.  He has seven lamps burning before Him, which are actually seven spirits or angels.  We read of these angels in the previous chapters of Revelation as they were assigned to the seven churches; 1:20.  They are represented as lamps as they are full of the brightness of God’s holiness that five of the seven churches fell short of and were to be judged accordingly if they did not repent. 

 

Someday, us true believers will be like Christ in holy purity, as we will shed these bodies of sin; Romans 6:5-6.  We will never be tempted to disobey our holy LORD again.

 

You may recall that we witnessed Christ exalted in all fearful glory in chapter 1, verses 12-16, whereby a sharp two-edged sword extended from His mouth and His voice was like the sound of many waters.  John fell like a dead man before this awesome scene.  God’s throne area is gorgeous and fearful beyond comprehension. 

 

We view in verse 6, returning to chapter 4, something resembling a sea of glass in the center and surrounding the seat of all omnipotence.  This adds to the luminosity of our King of majesty, reigning above every subjected and formed thing. 

 

The book of Esther provides insight into the respected area of a king, though all minuscule in comparison to God’s hallowed dwelling.  We read in Esther chapter 4 that she, even as queen, could lose her life by coming near the imperial area of the king without permission.  We read in chapter 1 of Esther of the riches and brilliance of the king’s citadel—the gold, silver, mosaic pavement of precious stones, artistic hangings, etc.  We see throughout Esther that the palace area was exquisite, reaching far beyond the normal splendor that represented wealth in that period. Who can even phantom the glorious splendor of holy heaven when we all have been subjected to a sin-filled cursed earth?  

 

We see also in verses 6-7 of Revelation chapter 4, creatures full of eyes in front and behind.  These eyes can certainly be representative of the fact that God sees and hears all, that nothing escapes His notice—Proverbs 15:3 and 2 Chronicles 16:9.  He writes every action and thought of every person down in His book.  That is why Christ stated, “that every careless word people speak, they will give an accounting of in the day of judgment.”  Certainly, this statement should place obedient fear in my heart and yours so we strive to bring Him constant glory through our thoughts, words, and actions.

 

The first of these creatures is like a lion, the second a calf, and the third like a man, and the forth like a flying eagle—a flying eagle in Revelation 8:13, will verbally speak of the woes falling on dwellers of the earth that will arise by the hand of Christ as he soars through the atmosphere.

 

These creatures are all representative of the attributes of Christ, He being a devouring and fearless “lion” of judgment and condemnation.  He too is like a “calf,” who moved meek and lowly upon the earth as a “man” to serve others. As an “eagle” Christ’s eyes of omniscience roam and monitor all. Moreover, He is tenacious in His dealings and strong and resourceful in fulfilling His will.  All the attributes displayed in these creatures are disclosed throughout God’s Word concerning His multifaceted character.

 

These six-winged beings, full of eyes, never stop repeating this praise to God, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”  Christ is coming again onto the earth just as He left—this time, to rule as King of all; Acts 1:9-11, Revelation 19:11-20:6, etc.

 

God lives forever and ever and these creatures never stop acknowledging His glory and honor in eternal thanksgiving.

 

These beings are also exposed in Ezekiel chapter 1, providing additional insight into their complexity and appearance. Ezekiel too had an encounter with Christ and His heavenly frightening presence. His penned account is very similar to John’s, and Ezekiel also fell on his face before the omnipotent appearance of God-man. 

 

We have been peering through our imagination’s eye as we have traveled through this chapter trying to grasp the displayed, and we close it viewing the 24 elders falling down before our LORD. They too, add to the worship of the creatures by lauding the Godhead with glory, honor and power for the fact He created all things and by Him they existed. Colossians 1, verses 15-18, magnifies God the Son as the Creator of all.  This reveals to us that there is no question concerning Christ being God, part of the Trinity Godhead.  Revelation makes it totally apparent as well that Christ is magnified God.     

 

 

Revelation Chapter 5

 

Photo clip by photo clip is how we continue to tread into Revelation. John is relaying his astonishing heavenly vision systematically, which commenced with the previous chapter.  We enter this section, chapter 5, with John telling us he saw a book written inside and on the back—interesting, don’t you think?  It was in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.  I believe this to be God the Father. We know following Christ’s ascension that He sat to His Father’s right; Mark 16:19.

 

You may inquire, what is this book he wants me to know about?  Well, I will tell you what I think.  If you turn back in your Bible to Daniel 12:4, you will read Daniel was commanded by God to seal up the book that held the concluding prophesies that the LORD set before him in visions—visions similar to John’s. I believe this is that book.  It was to be sealed and to be unsealed when the time of last day fulfillment was to arrive—the days previous to the unleashing of the tribulation period.

 

We also see in this verse in Daniel that one of the signs regarding the last days will be the abundance of travel.  My…hasn’t that come to pass?

 

In verse 2, back in Revelation chapter 5, we observe a strong angel (we know from the Word that angles are all male, have differing appearances, assignments, and obviously strengths) seeking to locate, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?”  He is asking in a very loud, very intense voice, so all will hear.  It is a very concerning thing that we are beholding here in this segment of this flight into the future.

 

As we attempt to grasp exactly all John is viewing in this heavenly scene, we notice no one is found worthy to open the book.  Though the angel’s resounding voice penetrated throughout heaven, no one is stepping forward.

 

Now, we need turn and look toward John.  To our dismay, we see this appointed apostle is weeping greatly.  He obviously knows the importance of having the book unsealed.  He may have known this to be Daniel’s writings (my assessment) that needed to come to pass. (Placing the prophesies of Daniel beside Revelation gives us a clearer photo of all that will unfold in the ghastly final days.)

 

Encouragement arrives on the scene for us in verse 5 as we witness John being told that he need no longer lament as Christ, the Lion of Judah, the root of David, is the One appointed to open the book of revealed prophesies. 

 

The words here are entirely significant as this reveals that Jesus, born of the tribe of Judah, is the root of David.  This fulfills all the prophecies concerning the line of David ruling on the throne in Jerusalem over the Jews.  The Messiah is the ultimate King in this line.  Matthew 1:1-17 displays Joseph’s genealogy, Christ’s adoptive ancestral right to the Davidic throne.  Mary’s line is provided in Luke chapter 3, which traces her ancestry back to Nathan, David’s son.  Nathan was not of the line of Solomon.  Solomon’s line eventually begot King Jeconiah. God revealed in Jeremiah 22:30 and 36:30 that none of Jeconiah’s (AKA Coniah and Jehoiachin) descendants would successfully reign on the throne of David.

 

Zerubbabel was Jeconiah’s grandson (Mathew 1:12), but he never sat on the throne as king when the Jews returned to Israel from the chastening captivities placed on them by God when they desired to be styling with surrounding culture and society.  Zerubbabel did rule as governor and oversaw the rebuilding of the temple as recorded in Ezra and Zechariah 4:6f. Nevertheless, God being gracious, did state of Zerubbabel in Haggai 2:21-23, that during the millennial period Zerubbabel would be like a signet ring, for God had chosen him.  Kings wore signet rings for legalizing documents.  The ring’s insignia was set in a small mound of soft wax or clay, which solidified. The document’s addressee could only break this royal embossment.  This teaches us Zerubbabel will have exalted rexis power on the earth during the millennial reign of Christ.

 

Christ has right to Jerusalem’s throne through David, and of course, as God Almighty!  He being of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, will rule as God over the world from His throne. Much of the nativity story deals with Christ’s legal prophetic right to the throne. When the angel appeared to Mary in Luke 1:30-33, the angel spoke in millennial terms, never referencing the church age.  Of course, Mary was a Jew, therefore the angel Gabriel spoke of all the millennial promises that would be fulfilled by her Seed.  In Luke 1:32, she was told God, who would be formed within, would someday reign as Messiah on His throne of David, as a Jew and as LORD.  This pre-info, powerfully proclaimed, procured He will reign over her people, the Jews (Jacob’s line), forever and His kingdom will have no end.  Every believing Jew awaited the Messiah’s reign—prophesied throughout the Old Testament.  Mary anticipated as a Jewess, the promises of the reigning Messiah. She was told this would come to pass through her.  She was God’s chosen, pure (but not sinless) instrument. God speaks in timeless ways as a thousand years are as one day to Him. None of the millennial prophesies set before Mary would come to pass till centuries following her entering into paradise.  Christ’s perfection of supremacy rule on the earth is what believers still await. 

 

A Few References:

(Revelation 2:26  And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27: And He shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.Israel) brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron…

Revelation 12:5  And she (

Revelation 19:15  And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16: And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

 

Micah 4:1  But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 2: And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3: And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more…7: And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever..Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. 12: And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth…16: And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17: And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18: And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19: This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

Zechariah 14:9  And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name one…11: And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but

 

Psalms 47:2  For the LORD most high is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth. 3: He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.)

 

________________

 

In Revelation 5:6, we see Christ the lamb standing as if slain.  This sad truth, in heavenly vision form, is to remind us that Christ died for our sins as the only one worthy—as the sinless Lamb of God. 

 

We are to take communion often in remembrance of this.  1 Corinthians 11:26 speaks of communion being consumed often (“As often as you eat”) and, of course, the apostles exampled this. We observe in Acts 2:46 that believers partook in the breaking of bread— doing so as they went from house to house. 

 

1 Corinthians 11:20 speaks in regard to the church engaging in a pre-communion meal, addressed as the “Lord’s Supper.” It is also designated as a “love feast” in Jude 12.

 

In warning of communion, if we take it unworthily, our lives can be snuffed out as 1 Corinthians 11:28-31 renders.  This is a form of church discipline performed by God Almighty. Whereby, He allows believers to become ill and eventually die if they do not repent of undisclosed, scripturally disobedient undertakings.  The church too is to discipline Biblically, but leadership is not always aware of all the sin present in a congregation and this implements a safeguard.  Our mighty God knows all the facts and can judge without any misguidance. 

 

We read also in Revelation 5:6; of the seven spirits.  Remember, they oversaw the churches and pronounced judgment upon those fellowships that allowed in its doors acts of Biblical disrespect. Christ was going to discipline those churches that fell short of submission in various areas of scriptural nonconformance.  Here, we witness these angels being sent into all the earth.

 

In verses 7-8, one of the elders (I believe the 24 elders are the Jewish chosen ones of God. They are made up of twelve Old Testament saints secured from the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles, including John, who are elevated in heaven; Revelation 21:12-14.) is taking the book out of the Father’s hand and is handing it to the Son of God.

 

Subsequently, the four living creatures and twenty-four elders fall before the Lamb…what a holy sight to behold.  Each is holding a harp. This is the only played instrument implemented for singing that we witness in heaven—it being a medium that transmits pure and lovely tones.  We are commanded to dwell an all that is lovely, pure, honorable…all that is above reproach—Philippians 4:8.  This includes compositions listened to and sung. 

 

These elders and angels are also holding bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  It is interesting that believers’ intercessions are represented by sweet smelling incense.  Praying according to scriptural truths is entreating in the will of the Lord and we see these supplications are very precious and delightfully fragrant to God.

 

Next in presentation in this moving scene, are the elders singing praise to Christ the Lamb, the only One worthy to break the seals of the book.  It was only He who shed His blood for the sins of mankind, so that mankind everywhere in the world might be saved who call upon Him.

 

The other Sunday we sung this hymn for communion which is so apropos for this time and for this lesson:

 

The tune can be heard here:   http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/t/btcjesus.htm

 

Beneath the Cross of Jesus

 

Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day.

O safe and happy shelter, O refuge tried and sweet,
O trysting place where Heaven’s love and Heaven’s justice meet!
As to the holy patriarch that wondrous dream was given,
So seems my Savior’s cross to me, a ladder up to heaven.

There lies beneath its shadow but on the further side
The darkness of an awful grave that gapes both deep and wide
And there between us stands the cross two arms outstretched to save
A watchman set to guard the way from that eternal grave.

Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me;
And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess;
The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.

I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by to know no gain or loss,
My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.

We behold, as we glimpse more intently into this heavenly panorama, that every person from every tribe and tongue will be represented as benefactors of Christ’s shed blood. Therefore, He is worthy to bring judgment upon all who have rejected him.  When the actual seals are broken in time future, His judgment will be cast and all evil will receive His avenging anger and wrath unleashed in incomprehensible omnipotence never eye has witnessed before on this sinful cursed earth.

 

Examining verse 10, we grasp hold of the fact that God’s promises are to us, true believers, who will be a kingdom of priests to God and we will reign on the earth with Christ during the blessed millennial period.

 

Verse 11 ensues us to casts our eyes upon countless angels before the throne of God who are giving praise to Christ with their voices. They sing that familiar hymn, Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain, with delightful, magnified voices untarnished by sin.  (I hope your church sings this hymn of awarding praise for God’s sacrificial death.)

 

Every created thing in the heaven, earth, and under the earth, and on the sea and all things in them repeat the same; verse 13.  Job 12:7-9 teaches us that animals do not question God and His mighty works.  This creature-praise should not surprise us.

 

The total worship scene here is completely awesome—the glorification of Christ—our slain Lamb.  This is one example set before us of bowing down before God in all reverential fear and adoration.  We must understand our humbled state before Almighty God.  There is no room for pride and self-elevation, only knees collapsing. 

 

Revelation Chapter 6 

 

In chapter 5, we witnessed a need arise. A sealed book had to be opened and no one seemed qualified for the task. This penned eschatological work, when opened, would unleash holocaustic terrors upon the whole earth, never witnessed before.  We know at the end of the book of Daniel, that Daniel was commanded to seal up his recorded account of the last days, which I believe to be this sealed book. 

 

We finally witnessed, the only qualified person coming forth—Christ, our slain Lamb.  We concluded chapter 5 with the angels and elders awarding praise to Christ who died that men might be saved.  What tremendous accolades to the One deserving! 

 

In verse 1 of chapter 6, we witness our slain Lamb breaking one of the seals. At this juncture, the first of the angels (of four living creatures) says, “Come.”  This thunderous angel is commanding a white horse (representing purity) with rider holding a bow, to come forward; verse 2. This angelic mount is presented with a crown, which proclaims exalted authority—his authority to conquer in Christ’s pure righteousness.

 

In verse 3, we observe our omnipotent Christ, the worthy One, breaking the second seal. Whereby, the second living angel commands “Come.” A red horse looms forward, representing avenging blood. One of the Biblical names for our God is terror and this name is apropos to Revelation.  This riding angel will take peace from the earth with his great sword, the peace we presently experience.  Our world still grasps some peace, even in its depraved state.  We do not see masses of people killing one another.  I do not look out my window and witness by neighbors shooting one another. My neighborhood is most always peaceful.  We still have some law and order that prevents continuous mass murdering. Yes, we have murders and other crimes that plague our globe, but nothing at all similar to when all peace is completely abolished.  We are grateful that we can now relish some peace on earth.

 

We do know in the last days evil will increase as satan’s power will increase and we do witness the criminal aspect unchecked as never before.  Good is definitely called evil and visa versa, which was not the case in previous centuries. Murder ensued the death penalty without question in most cases.  The majority of people were imprisoned for unlawfully transgressing others.

 

We witness in this apocalyptic setting, men slaying one another, as permitted by God.  Without God’s constant intervening omnipotence, this globe would be a far cry from its current state of affairs. As we view this approaching horrific prophetic episode, we see how much we have to be appreciative for even amidst a very sinful generation. Christ addressed mankind, as being an adulterous and sinful generation; Mark 3:38.  His judgment must finally fall on the earth as things have not changed; they are continually worsening.  This world’s fallen state will result in a murderous sword encompassing it, held within the hand of Christ the Judge.

 

Yes, we still have more seals of judgment to witness— remember, there are seven seals.  The third seal is broken my Christ in verse 5.  Another angel commands another horse and rider to “Come.”  This horse is black and its horseman is holding a pair of scales—scales to weigh.  There will be little food to weigh during this time of famine when men experience the justice of God’s frightful hand—a frightful hand that does not encompass tolerance. 

 

In verse 6, we see a denarius used as money accounting, which = a day’s wages. A denarius could buy a quart of wheat or three quarts of barley…not much to feed, house and clothe a family.  The prices are outrageous, we would appallingly state.  We see the angel, out of God’s grace, not being allowed to damage the oil or wine.  These preserved supplies will be protected out of God’s kind love.

 

A fourth seal is unleashed in verse 7 as the command to “Come” arises once again.  Here we have an ashen (pale) horse bearing a rider whose name is “Death and Hades.”  This is the last of the four living creatures to cast woes upon the earth.

 

Hades is a holding tank for the condemned dead who will someday be placed in the Lake of Fire. Not until the white throne judgment, Revelation chapter 20, will anyone be cast to this fate.  We do know Hades is a very hot place, as is hell, through the story of the rich man and Lazarus; Luke chapter 16. This “Death and Hades” rider will be provided with authority to kill a fourth of the earth with sword, famine, sickness and wild beasts in time advancing.  When these wild beasts strike, they will extinguish all animal rights groups.  Everyone will be walking in trepidation, watching for wild beasts out of the corner of their eye.

 

This will be a trying time for the human race when these four plaguing woes beset a fourth of our globe.  It will be a sad time for the rebellious who have rejected Christ, when the death bell tolls these grievous judgments.

 

There will be little or no food to nourish, and sickness resulting in death will be present everywhere.  The call of the wild will be knocking at the door—animals and those who want to mass murder.  This section of Scripture reminds me of the dreadful perils that were present on the Oregon Trail. However, this arriving revelational period will surpass those road hazards in untold unimaginable levels.

 

We now arrive at the fifth seal which presents a different photo of what we have previously witnessed.  We see no horse and rider beckoning.  What we do witness in this portrayed footage is souls—the embodiment of the persecuted church. This is an interlude period that refrains from earthly woes; verse 10. 

 

These believers who held the faith unto death, lie beneath the alter.  They have been sacrificed for their faith in Christ.  In the Old Testament, alters were erected for blood sacrifices for sin atonement. There is also an alter placed in heaven to remind us of Christ’s crucifixion.

 

We do not know how many sacrificed individuals are represented, but it would not surprise me if a million souls rest beneath the alter.  These faithful believers desire revenge and are awaiting judgment on the unsaved.  They want blood revenge as we see in verse 10. In 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8 we read of God’s promises of affliction—repayment placed upon those who persecute believers. This will be fulfilled in the last days as verse 7 states “when Christ is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,” he will deal out retribution on the unsaved.  Of course, we know many persecutors have come to Christ and are still coming to Him, out of His charity.  We must witness to those who hate us, remembering we are were simply saved by grace.

 

Verse 10 addresses Christ refraining from judgment even though the martyrs are begging for it.  God is longsuffering that all might be saved. We see there is a certain number of destined martyrs, and that accounting must be fulfilled before judgment. In Romans 11:25-26, we read of the “fullness of the Gentiles.”  Here also there is a number set before God, this dealing with Gentile salvation. During this church dispensation, God has predestined a number of Gentiles to be saved.  Subsequently, when this number is completed, then the focus will return to the Jewish nation and their complete salvation. 

  

Returning to Revelation, we see God loves these faithful tortured ones who never compromised to save their own hides.  As a result, He presents each of them with a white robe for their faith of obedience that led to their frightful deaths.

 

It is now time for the sixth seal unveiling, which arrives in a quake, an earthquake; verse 12.  No horse and rider arrive for this sealed judgment as there were only four assigned to the seven seal breakings.  The earthquake is accompanied by darkness that covers the sun like a thick black feed sack—called sackcloth. Sackcloth was a rough material used in sacking goods. It was made from goat or camel hair.  A burlap sack serves the same purpose today. 

 

We also witness the moon becoming like blood and the stars falling from the sky to the earth. A rhythmic picture is presented, ending verse 13—“as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.” It is set before us to reveal that the whole earth will suffer shaking deadly turmoil at this time.

It is hard to imagine planets falling and landing on the earth and the bloodshed which will ensue from their crushing, burning destruction.  In 8:10, we see a great star falling from heaven and it was burning like a torch. I assume these stars in 6:13 will begin to burn also when they enter earth’s upper atmosphere as do meteors.  

Meteors become heated by friction and are set afire by the Earth’s oxygen mantel. There is such an onslaught to the earth’s atmosphere that the available oxygen in places is completely consumed. Heated gas in the comet’s tail form petrol chemicals, which when falling through the atmosphere burst into flame, a sheet of flame falling to Earth.

Christ quoted the same catastrophes that are listed here in Matthew 24:29 when he preached on the tribulation. 

 

Picturing the heavens splitting “like a scroll, when it is rolled up,” seems to defy my intellect.  It appears the clouds and blue sky will simply disappear before men’s eyes; verse 14.

 

Joel 2:31-32 also describes this and we know it is this period as it states “the great and awesome day of the LORD” which always refers to end time prophesies. Joel refers to the wonders of the sky and earth, blood, fire and columns of smoke; the sun turning to darkness, and the moon into blood.  This text teaches us that there will be those who escape who live in Jerusalem, “the survivors whom the LORD calls.”

 

As we read further we see every mountain and island, not just some, will be moved out of their places.  Wow, this far surpasses any earthquake or tsunami.

 

The result appears in verse 15, where kings, great men, commanders, rich and strong, slaves and freemen will hide themselves in caves and rocks.  All of mankind will be living in terror of God! Yes, they all know this is the wrath of Christ as they command the mountain and rocks to fall on them so they can be hid from the presence of Christ the Lamb; verse 16. There will be no professing atheists during this time!!

 

Now, man makes a great statement, “the great day of their wrath has come, who is able to stand;” verse 17. When I read these words, I could not help but think of the lyrics to Handel’s Messiah, which covers a great deal of the apocalypse. This musical masterpiece comprises only Scripture.  Alan and I enjoy listening to Messiah throughout the year as it encompasses Christ’s outlined life, including what is to come.

 

From Handel’s Messiah: “But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner’s fire. And He shall Purify;” Malachi 3:2.

 

What powerful words to end this chapter.  Christ will purify the earth like a refiner’s fire.  How we look forward to the time when all evil will cease—every unrighteous, unholy and unchaste way. 

 

This chapter instructs us to be about the Gospel that men might be saved from the wrath to come!

 

 

Revelation Chapter 7

 

The power of angels is difficult to comprehend.  Revelation and other Bible references make it clear that they are not sweet, little ladies with wings, appearing similar to fairies. As I have stated previously, there are no female angels listed in Scripture and they were created countless years before Eve, who was created by taking a rib from Adam—which I don’t believe he missed. I don’t know any man who misses this rib. ☺

 

Sinful humankind has always desired to worship women as history and present day religions example.  Female angels appeal to depraved humanity.

 

We view in verse 1, four angels and they are standing at each corner of the earth, holding back the four winds of our globe as extremely powerful beings.  Obviously, the four corners of the earth would be the rudimental points of the four winds, where their force looms forth.  Our earth has four prevailing winds and these winds will be held back through God’s selected celestial beings:

 

4 Prevailing winds — the general circulation of the atmosphere

“Prevailing winds are winds which come about as a consequence of global circulation patterns. These include the Trade Winds, the Westerlies, the Polar Easterlies, and the jet streams.

The Trade Winds are the most familiar consistent and reliable winds on the planet, exceeded in constancy only by the katabatic winds of the major ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland. It was these winds that early mariners relied upon to propel their ships from Europe to North and South America. Their name derives from the Middle High German trade, akin to Old English trod meaning “path” or “track”, and thus the phrase “the wind blows trade”, that is to say, on track.

Along the east coast of North America, friction twists the flow of the Trades even further clockwise. The result is that the Trades feed into the Westerlies, and thus provide a continuous zone of wind for ships travelling between Europe and the Americas.

The Westerlies, which can be found at the mid-latitudes beneath the Ferrel circulation cell, likewise arise from the tendency of winds to move in a curved path on a rotating planet. Together with the airflow in the Ferrel cell, poleward at ground level and tending to equatorward aloft (though not clearly defined, particularly in the winter), this predisposes the formation of eddy currents which maintain a more-or-less continuous flow of westerly air. The upper-level polar jet stream assists by providing a path of least resistance under which low pressure areas may travel.

The Polar Easterlies result from the outflow of the Polar high, a permanent body of descending cold air which makes up the poleward end of the Polar circulation cell. These winds, though persistent, are not deep. However, they are cool and strong, and can combine with warm, moist Gulf Stream air transported northward by weather systems to produce violent thunderstorms and tornadoes as far as 60°N on the North American continent.

The jet streams are rapidly moving upper-level currents. Travelling generally eastward in the tropopause, the polar jets reside at the juncture of the Ferrel cell and the Polar cell and mark the location of the polar cold front. During winter, a second jet stream forms at about the 30th parallel, at the interface of the Hadley and Ferrel cells, as a result of the contrast in temperature between tropical air and continental polar air.

The jet streams are not continuous, and fade in and out along their paths as they speed up and slow down. Though they move generally eastward, they may range significantly north and south. The polar jet stream also marks the presence of Rossby waves, long-scale (4000 – 6000 km in wavelength) harmonic waves which perpetuate around the globe.”

Our Miraculous LORD is certainly past finding out!!

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These angels, under God’s direction, must see to it that no winds blow on the earth, on the sea and not on any tree.  And we know these angels will not fail God, as God’s holy angels never question—only trust and obey.  We too are simply to trust and obey.  Now this does not mean we never ask questions, as we are very limited in our knowledge to comprehend all things.  I, on occasion, ask the Father to assist me in understanding a passage of Scripture in the name of Christ.  The Holy Spirit is always faithful to assist and inform as the One who grants enlightenment within. 

 

Another angel appears in verse 2, ascending from the rising sun.  It does not seem fire, ice or other elements effect angels.  We could never ascend from the rising sun, not being able to soar in these bodies that are earthbound. These dusty shells also hate extremely hot temperatures, and would suffer destruction if exposed to the sun’s flames.  Someday, the born again will have perfect bodies that will not be frail or subject to harm. We will no longer consist of dust.  However, God is graciously mindful that we are simply made of dust; Psalm 103:13-14.

 

This sun-ascending angel holds the seal of the living God.  It must be placed on the 144,000 male, virgin Jews by God’s decree. They are sealed as God’s chosen, righteous ones. Their numbers are 12,000 X 12,000—12,000 from every tribe of Israel which = 144,000.  Even though the Jews have intermarried with other Jewish tribes (every tribe descended from one of Jacob’s twelve sons; Genesis chapter 49) and Gentile peoples throughout the centuries, God is making sure there will be those who can be distinguished by their tribe. Remember also, Revelation 21:12-14 teaches that the twelve gates of the new city of Jerusalem will display the names of all twelve Jewish tribes. The twelve foundation stones of this unsurpassed, magnificent, suspended city will have the names of the twelve Jewish apostles.  

 

We see the names of the twelve tribes listed in verses 5-8; though, for some reason, Dan is not listed. Perhaps it is included with another tribe.

It is clear, by verse 4, that they will encompass all twelve tribes.

 

This special unit of God’s army of righteousness is also spoken of in Ezekiel chapter 9.  Here, Ezekiel makes it clear that everyone in Jerusalem will be murdered except for the 144,000 male virgin Jews taken from each tribe. Everyone dies excluding those with the mark or seal—the 144,000. The 144,000 are secured because they “sigh and groan over all the abominations” which are in the city of Jerusalem.  They will hate all the sin displayed in the holy city and will mourn over it, resulting in the protective sealing by God—which is the name of the Lamb and His Father; Revelation 14:1.  They will not compromise in any way, shape or form.  (I recently saw an ad for the Marines, which stated they do not compromise.)  This is something the church should be able to proclaim also; but unfortunately, never can.

 

All those without “The Mark” die in Jerusalem in the tribulation. This includes men, women, children and the elderly. Though the Ezekiel text does not specifically state 144,000; we know it refers to them as no other Jewish male group in Scripture is so distinguished with this godly mark on their foreheads; Ezekiel 9:4 and Revelation 7:3.

 

These holy Jews are also spoken of in chapter 14 of Revelation, as these men will stand with Christ on Mount Zion, which is Jerusalem, AKA the temple area.  This will be where the new temple will be built and where Solomon’s temple stood and Zerubbabel’s.  King Herod’s temple, that we view in the New Testament, is Zerubbabel’s Temple holding all the glorification Herod erected in an attempt to bring Zerubbabel’s Temple to the standard of Solomon’s Temple.  However, it never achieved Solomon’s total grandeur. Still, it was very impressive, as we note by the disciples acclaim in Luke 21:5-6.  We note here that Christ was totally unimpressed.  God is never impressed by the work of man’s hands, which will someday all be dismantled when this earth is destroyed.

Herod’s Temple:

“Solomon’s Temple was an artistic structure of the highest conception. In its commanding position on the mount, in the pleasing effect of its white stone ornamented with cedar-wood, and in its symmetrical proportions it surpassed Herod’s Temple, though the latter exceeded the former in mere magnificence. Herod’s Temple was the most beautiful building in the world designed by one of the most infamous men in the world.

It was constructed entirely of polished granite interspersed with dark-colored marble, with beveled edges, set in plaster. Herod even proposed to fill up the edges with gold; but the Rabbis advised him to abstain from doing so, as the white plaster combined with the granite and marble gave the Temple the appearance of waves of the sea” (Suk. 57b). Thus it is evident that Herod was somewhat gaudy in his taste and that his Temple was less artistic in design and coloring than that of Solomon.”

The Two Temples Compared.

The sacredness of Solomon’s Temple was greater than that of Herod’s, as the latter lacked five important accessories: (1) the Ark and the “kapporet” (mercy-seat, cherubim), (2) the divine fire, (3) the Shekinah, (4) the Holy Spirit, and (5) Urim and Thummim (Yoma 21b). It lacked also the pot of manna and Aaron’s staff alongside the Ark, the jar of holy oil, and the coffer with jewels of gold presented by the Philistines as a trespass-offering on returning the Ark (I Sam. vi. 8). King Josiah, anticipating the fall of the Temple, concealed these sacred objects (Yer. Sheḳ. vi. 1). Evidently they were hidden in the subterranean passage under the Temple, where, it is claimed, were buried also, as soon as the Temple was finished, all the parts of the Tabernacle (Soṭah 9a). In the Second Temple two curtains, instead of the cedar-wood partition of the First Temple, separated the Hekal from the Holy of Holies. The First Temple was destroyed on account of three sins, namely, bloodshed, immorality, and idolatry. Wicked Herod beautified Zerubbabel’s (the second temple) and it was destroyed.  He attempted to kill the LORD , following his birth—Herod being defiled with all vileness. 

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Christ preached in this Luke passage to warn the disciples that many will come in His name and deceive in the last days. 

 

We certainly see this today in the church where the holy Christ of the Bible has been removed and replaced with a rock and rolling christ, who loves to rock out and relishes references to television and movies. The Biblical Christ, who hates this world and the things of this world, has mostly been abolished—not to be found in most Christian circles. The church apostasy is not being extinguished and will not until Christ rules on the earth with a rod of iron.

 

The very popular Message Bible has totally changed Christ’s identity to form a false christ who is trendy and culturally acceptable.  It also removes the fact that Christ is the only begotten Son (only born) of the Father, as does the NIV version, which is heretical too. These Bibles and others delete much of the original texts to please all men. Publishers change the original penned texts in the current translations for sale purposes, not fearing God. They present a christ for Hollywood—one who doesn’t step on anyone’s toes too hard or harms anyone’s sensual agendas. You will not find the word “homosexual” in the Message translation.  Only cheap sex, abusive sex and sex without love seem to be condemned.  It is not surprising that homosexuals applaud this Message translation as being “nicely done.”

 

God states adulterers and those who engage in premarital sex will be judged. God only approves of virgins coming together in holy wedlock for a lifetime; Hebrews 13:4. Of course, we understand Christ’s gracious forgiveness and restoration (the woman at the well being a perfect example). But we cannot change God’s holy declarations that set forth His innocent heart desire that produces the greatest blessing. This is what must be taught—abstinence till marriage.

 

This Message christ is also environmentally concerned:  Romans 15:13: “Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!”

The “green hope” Hindu mantra is a popular rallying cry in the new age Mother-Earth demonic environmental movement. In NAM (New Age Movement) “green” signifies Oneness with the Earth, hence the title of William Anderson’s book, Green Man: The Archetype of Our Oneness with the Earth.

The Christ of the Bible speaks of this sinful earth passing away. He commands us to keep our mind on things above not on the things of this vile earth.  The Bible makes it clear, satan is the god of this earth.

 

This false Message translation speaks in sterile, matter of fact tones. It is void of the Spirit. The author, Eugene Peterson, is of a liberal, sin-accepting, denomination.  He takes abusive liberties with the Greek and Hebrew texts, manufacturing continuous false renderings. Changing the Scriptures, adding and subtracting, is forbidden by God; Matthew 5:18-19, Deuteronomy 4:2, Revelation 22:19.

 

This blasphemous translation is now widely used in churches as it presents a non-threatening environment and a non-threatening christ.  The church apostasy is not being extinguished, but is growing in unbelievable rates. We witness in our fellowships many church attendees who appear unwashed, not cleansed in the blood of Christ. They engulf themselves in filth during the week; walking in it as one. They walk down the road of eternal destruction, parading a religious facade.

 

Other Message examples:

 

1 Tim 1:9-10. “…realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching.

The Message: “It’s obvious, isn’t it, that the law code isn’t primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever!”

 

John 3:5. “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

The Message: “Unless a person submits to this original creation—the ‘wind hovering over the water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom.”

 

 

1 Corinthians 6:9-11:  “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived:  Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders [sodomites] nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  And that is what some of you were.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified…”

The Message:  “Unjust people who don’t care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it don’t qualify as citizens in God’s kingdom. A number of you know from experience what I’m talking about, for not so long ago you were on that list. Since then, you’ve been cleaned up and given a fresh start….”   [Emphasis added]

 

Romans 8:35-37:  “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”	The Message:  “Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:”
Romans 9:27-28. And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved. For the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.	The Message: Isaiah maintained this same emphasis: If each grain of sand on the seashore were numbered and the sum labeled “Chosen of God,” they’de be numbers still, not names; salvation comes by personal selection. God doesn’t count us; he calls us by name. Arithmetic is not his focus.

You notice in the Romans 9 passage, God’s chosen nation Israel, is completely removed from the Message translation. Peterson lies and rewrites the Word of God according to his own theology passions.

 

The 144,000 Jews of Israel will not stand with the rewriting of God’s Word—changing the original language, which waters it down and erases its convicting power. These godly males will not compromise the truths of Christ in any manner! They will not follow a contemporary christ—who only exists in the mind of those who cannot accept the Biblical, separated, innocent, holy Christ.

 

Verse 9, of chapter 7, moves us to a hallowed scene, a remarkable scene, as it reveals the power of God to save to the uttermost. We observe here, the saved of the world, being of every nation, tribe, people and language. There are so many of these believers, no one can count them! My, what a mighty God we serve! Christ announced if He be lifted up, He will draw all men unto Himself; John 12:32.

 

These blessed redeemed ones, cry out with a loud voice, while holding palm branches in their hands, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb;” verse 10.  On Palm Sunday, before Easter Sunday, we remember how Christ was uplifted and adored. The inhabitants of Jerusalem proclaimed, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD, even the King of Israel,” with palm branches; John 12:12-13.

 

What occurred on Palm Sunday, a week previous to the crucifixion, was the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 being partially fulfilled.  Christ will again come into Jerusalem riding on a donkey when He is made King over the entire earth. It will be the entire globe that rejoices at this time.  It will be completely fulfilled beyond our comprehension. Praise God!

 

Returning to Revelation, we see all the angles taking part in continued worship as they surround the twenty-four elders and four living creatures; verses 11-12. They reverently fall on their faces before God, seated on His throne, and worship, saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

 

We can all fall on our knees right now and proclaim the same praise to our God and King—the only One deserving of praise and adoration. We can pray multitudes of verses as we read through His Word. Whenever we entreat with His Word, we pray His perfect will.

 

In verse 13, our attention turns to John as one of the elders approaches and speaks to him. Remember John, in this future time, will be one of these elders, as presented in a previous lesson. We locate this truth in Matthew 19:27-28. Due to this passage, I believe the apostles will represent twelve of the twenty-four elders.  In light of  Revelation 21:12, I believe the other twelve will be twelve godly Jews who lived in the Old Testament period—possibly Elijah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Moses, etc. Yes, I know I have gone over all this; but repetition can help cement the Word in our minds.   

 

We do not know the name of the godly elder who is conversing with John. (Though someday, all things will be disclosed to believers.) This elder is asking John, who are the ones who are clothed in white robes? John respectfully replies to this elevated one, “You know.” 

 

This elder is answering John’s inquiring mind—they are the ones who came out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb—Jesus Christ.  We know blood makes things red, but Christ’s cleansing blood makes believers whiter than snow; verse 14.

 

These future tribulation martyrs will never deny Christ and will never stop preaching Him (Acts 5:40-42, Acts 4:20, 1 Corinthians 9:16; etc), no matter the opposition and they will be slain.  It will be contrary to the laws of men to be a Christian at this time, but these will sacrificially die for breaking the laws of men to spread the salvation message of Christ.  Today, many believers are perishing because they refuse to obey the laws of silence. 

 

Yes, we are to obey the laws of the land, but not when these laws forbid the spreading of the Gospel.  We cannot place our stamp of approval on any person or government that forbids the spreading of the Gospel; Acts 5:28-31. We can never say it is fine for a government to enact anti-Christian laws. Satan is the author and legislator of all such laws.

 

These godly persecuted ones will be completely worthy to walk in white as those who would not compromise.  They will serve Jesus Christ day and night in His temple and He will spread His tabernacle over them.  His holiness will engulf them. 

 

We see from Revelation that if we do not walk in compromise to God’s Word, we will be significantly blessed in heaven.  Being willing to be persecuted, produces eternal blessings overflowing.  Why walk in compromise on this earth to please sinful man and to feed your fleshly desires? This earth is passing away and also its lusts.  Is it worth it? No person can love you like God.  No person will be as faithful to you.

 

These uncompromising righteous ones who feared only God, will find total contentment and deliverance from their earthly persecuted trials that led to their termination.  They will no longer suffer from hunger, thirst or having to work under the hot sun and its heat.  Many of the persecuted today suffer as governments withhold from those who bear Christ’s name. Many suffer grave hardships, as they slave away as prisoners.

 

There is no better reward than being before the Lamb who sits in the center of the throne.  He will be their Shepherd and will guide them to springs of the water of life.  And God will wipe away their every tear. 

 

What a spectacular vibrato note to end our study on.  It will be a glory for us when we never have to shed another tear of sadness. 

 

What a grand day when we can see our slain Lamb who suffered and died for every sin we ever committed…He is holy, pure, innocent and separated from the influence of sinners.

 

 

 

I have compiled a list of the seven seals with chapters and verses to assist you: 

 

The Seven Seals, chapters 6 & 8:

 

First Seal: Conquering angel on white horse, 6:1-2.

 

Second Seal: War—men slaying one another, 6:3-4.

 

Third Seal: Inflation and famine; but oil and wine preserved, 6:5-6.

 

Fourth Seal: Death—famine, pestilence and wild beasts, 6:7-8.

 

Fifth Seal: Christ’s martyrs, 6:9-11.

 

Sixth Seal: Terror—unsaved call for the rocks to fall on them to protect them from the LAMB, 6:12-16.

 

Seventh Seal:  Silence about ½ hour and 7 trumpets are given to 7 angels; 8:1-5.

   

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Revelation chapters 1-3  http://vallee7.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/49/

Revelation Chapter 8

The book of Revelation is our personal premier of ecological phenomenons.

We were provided with great optimism as we departed from chapter 7. We learned those faithful believers who had been persecuted unto death during the tribulation, would never again suffer harm. Christ the Lamb “will be their Shepherd and will guide them to springs of the water of life and God will wipe every tear from their eyes;” Revelation 7:17.

This is also the eternal hope of believers who have been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. Heaven is our delivery destination—here we will find freedom from all earthly turmoil and testing.

In this new chapter, the seventh seal of the seven seals is now broken. This event leaves heaven silent for a space of a half hour. This reveals the solemness set toward the destructive dramatics that will now appear before our eyes in predicted display.

Seven trumpets given to

seven angels to sound—

chapters 8,9 and 11

First Trumpet: Hail, fire, blood and 1/3 of the earth is burned, 1/3 of trees and 1/3 of grass; 8:7.

Second Trumpet: Great mountain burning with fire and thrown into sea…results in 1/3 of it becoming blood. 1/3 of the sea creatures die and 1/3 of the ships are destroyed; 8:8-9.

Third Trumpet: Star falls on 1/3 of the rivers and on springs. The star is called wormwood and many men will die from the poisonous, bitter water; 8:10-11.

Fourth Trumpet: 1/3 of the sun, moon and stars are struck and the earth is completely darkened for 4 hours during the day and 4 hours during the night; 8:12-13.

Fifth Trumpet: The angel who is the “star” (1:20 informs us that stars represent angels) is given a key by Christ to open the bottomless pit; 9:1-12. (We know the key came from Christ as 1:18 tells us as He holds the keys of death and of Hades).

Sixth Trumpet: Four angels are unbound from Euphrates River and the army from the east arrives. This military force consists of 2 hundred million horses and riders. The horses’ heads resemble ferocious lions. Fire, smoke and brimstone proceed forth from their mouths. Their serpent-like tails also bring harm. 1/3 of mankind is killed by this out-breathed fire, smoke and brimstone; 9:13-19 and Joel 2:30-31.

Seventh Trumpet: Christ’s kingdom revealed, with His eternal judgment and heaven’s temple glory; 11:15-19.

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Following the quiet interlude, seven angels receive seven trumpets. Another angel appears and is given a golden censer as he stands at the altar.

Censer: “A small portable vessel of metal fitted to receive burning coals from the altar, and on which the incense for burning was sprinkled. (2 Chronicles 26:19; Luke 1:9) The only distinct precepts regarding the use of the censer are found in (Leviticus 16:12) and in (Numbers 4:14) Solomon prepared “censers of pure gold” as part of the temple furniture. (1 Kings 7:50; 2 Chronicles 4:22)

Much incense was provided so this angel could add it to the prayers of the saints on the altar which is before the throne of God.

We can truly recognize, as we peer into heaven, how significant the tabernacle and temple were as they represented heavenly activities of service.

A censer filled with live coals was used in temple worship. A beautiful picture is set before us in verse 4, back in Revelation, as we witness this incense—representing the prayers of saints flowing up to God, issuing from the angel’s hand. See also Exodus 30:7-9, Psalm 141:2, Revelation 5:8, Luke 1:9-10.

The altar is very symbolic in Scripture as well. We know the continuous blood from animals that flowed from the Jerusalem temple altar represented the blood the Messiah would shed for the whole world in prophesied future. All this was fulfilled two thousand years ago. From this time forward, the world has reaped the benefits of the Lamb’s chosen death. His sacrificed cleansing blood is offered today to all, that all might be saved (whosoever believes—John 3:16). However, the road is narrow that leads to heaven, as few choose to be washed clean from all filth and vileness.

In Revelation 6:9-11, the Christian martyrs were crying for revenge; wanting God’s punishment placed upon those who had slain them for their powerful, convicting testimony.

Returning to chapter 8, we survey more of the revenge of God spilling on the earth. Joel and other prophets spoke to this occasion. Joel 2:30-31 discloses tribulation facts by addressing the wonders that will come to pass—blood, fire and columns of smoke. Moreover, the sun being turned to darkness and the moon to blood. Joel and other prophets, through inspiration, rightly referred to the tribulation as “The great and awesome day of the LORD.” God’s promises of judgment will be fulfilled.

In verse 5, back in chapter 8 of Revelation, one of the angels takes the censer and fills it with the fire from the altar and throws it to the earth. Earth’s inhabitants continue to reject Christ and they are paying the consequences once again. We witness that our world will be filled with fire, thunder, and lightening.

When it appears things cannot worsen, an earthquake rattles the earth. In chapter 6, we had the unleashing of all the tribulation seals…all except the seventh. The six seal also held an earthquake of unimaginable magnitude. Every mountain and island were moved out of their places. The sun was blackened and the moon became like blood. The stars of the sky fell to the earth.

This planet will reap what it has sown throughout the multiplied centuries of its existence. God is very gracious and longsuffering, but only to a point. Today is the day of salvation—salvation from the wrath to come, which holds eternal fire.

These befalling episodes compare to nothing you and I have ever witnessed. Devastating consequences will be observed that we cannot even begin to fathom. This is the wrath of God unleashed—predicted throughout the Old and New Testament. We have not been shut out and left unawares.

We know earthly disasters will increase as we journey closer to closing times. We do seem to be witnessing catastrophes on a larger scale. They are all leading toward this epoch. We are commanded to warn the unsaved of what is to arrive. We do not want our unsaved friends and neighbors suffering the wrath of God. Knowing the fear of the LORD, we persuade men; 2 Corinthians 5:11.

We now move on, toward the time when the sounding of the seven trumpets is going to take place. We have thus ended the seven seal judgments and now the judgment of the seven trumpets arrives. In verse 7, the first angel trumpets the first war cry. This produces hail and fire mixed with blood. This explosive conglomerate is thrown on the earth. This will hit our planet, descending from above, and it will suffer this destruction for its Biblical disobedience.

The consequences of this highest court judicial verdict thrust upon evil mankind will affect a third of the earth—trees and green grass burned to oblivion.

The Bible says judgment arrives because man does not give thanks to God for His many blessings. Many unsaved people we personally know would not think of offering praise to the Creator for the green grass and the lush tress. They could not reflect on the importance of giving thanks for the sun-enhanced blue sky and fluffy passing clouds.

Verse 8 brings us to the sounding of the second trumpet by the second angel. John, our recorder, describes this by scribing “something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood.”

Overall, the world has rejected the shed blood of Christ. It will one day witness the apocalyptic judgments, which will unleash immeasurable avenging hemal.

We have noted that God’s punishment is being dished out in thirds. He is not destroying the whole earth, as He still desires that men repent. Even in all His revenge, God still desires salvation for all. The judgments keep falling, however, because man is very hardened and he would rather curse God than praise Him—the One from whom all blessings flow.

Along with the second trumpeting, we see a third of aquatic life brought to stinging death and a third of all ocean vessels destroyed—human carnage floating in the seas.

By this time, there will be few places to run. Who can escape the One who rules the heavens and the earth?

In verse 10, we are brought to the third sounding angel. Following his musical charge, a great star falls from heaven; possibly one of the known planets. It will be “burning like a torch” and of course, we know that when meteors enter our atmosphere, they burn like a torch.

There are 70,000 million million million stars—sextillion, in the God’s heaven!

That’s the total number of stars in the known universe, according to a study by Australian astronomers. There are about 10 times as many stars as grains of sand on all the world’s beaches and deserts.

The figure — 7 followed by 22 zeros or, more accurately, 70 sextillion — was calculated by a team of stargazers based at the Australian National University.

(A third more stars arrayed the heavens before Christ’s birth—this disclosed to us in Revelation 12:3-4. Satan wanted Christ eliminated the moment He departed the womb. Satan angrily threw the heavenly beams to the earth as he witnessed the fulfilled prophecy concerning the Messiah. He implemented King Herod to try to destroy the King of the Jews! God held a great hedge of protection around His Son. Today, satan works around the clock to get people to question God’s holy Word. He is angry with its total inerrant truth. He is irate with Revelation and he wants its truths discarded. Many so-called believers comply and say it is not relevant for today and its events have already unfolded. They believe satan was bound in 70 AD and no longer roams the earth.)

Meteors, ranging in size from that of a pinhead, to many tons, are visible to the naked eye at night, when the friction between the surfaces of the meteors and of the air, produces heat as the meteors enter the earth’s atmosphere. The intense heat incinerates the meteors, which leave a blazing trail of light in their wake.Most meteors do burn up when they enter the earth’s atmosphere, with the exception of the large meteors, which are dragged through the earth’s atmosphere by the earth’s gravitational pull. After successful landings upon the earth, these huge bodies are renamed meteorites. Some scientists theorize that thousands of meteors fall to the earth during the daytime and the nighttime, but this theory is impossible to prove or to disprove, as most would necessarily land in water, which covers most of the earth’s surface.Generally speaking, meteors and meteor particles travel together in swarms like bees, with the exception of the loners, and travel in any direction they choose. God’s spectacular fireworks will show a “meteor shower.” It comes into view when the swarms encounter the upper layer of the earth’s atmosphere during the earth’s perpetual revolution around the sun. The friction produced when the meteors and the meteor particles rub against the atmospheric air incinerates the swarms, and they fall towards the earth in a brilliant display of light.

We know this blazing planet will not burn to nothing before it reaches the earth; it will be massive when it hammers a third of our planet. It will induce momentous catastrophes. It will fall on a third of the rivers and springs of water.

God names this star wormwood:

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)

The wormwood shrub grows wild in Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. It is now cultivated in North America as well. The leaves and flowers, and the oil obtained from them, are used as medicine.

Historical or traditional use: Wormwood is perhaps best known because of the use of its oil to prepare certain alcoholic beverages, most notably vermouth and absinthe. Absinthe, popular in the nineteenth century in Europe, caused several cases of brain damage and even death and was banned in most places in the early twentieth century.1Wormwood oil continues to be used as a flavoring agent for foods, although in much smaller amounts than were found in absinthe. As a medicine, wormwood was traditionally used as a bitter to improve digestion, to fight worm infestations, and to stimulate menstruation.2 It was regarded as a useful remedy for problems involving the liver and gallbladder.

Are there any side effects or interactions? Long-term intake of the thujone-containing oil or alcoholic beverages (absinthe) made with the oil is strictly contraindicated—it is addictive and causes brain damage, seizures, and even death. Short-term use of the wormwood tea or tincture has not resulted in any reports of significant side effects. Longer-term use can cause nausea, vomiting, insomnia, restlessness, vertigo, tremors, and seizures.

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Wormwood is a deadly and bitter herb that cannot be consumed in significant quantities. This star is referred to as wormwood in verse 11, as it will be ghastly destructive and will leave countless people in bitter pain. Many men will die from the infested bitter waters that this star pollutes. People will not be able to locate fresh unpolluted water in this sphere.

In verse 12, a fourth angel blows his trumpet in perfect montage sequence. It is time now for a third of the sun, moon and stars to be “struck.” A third of the day and night will be total darkness—eight hours. This will be a very scary total blackout.

We conclude this chapter by being introduced to a remarkable eagle—a loud speaking eagle; verse 13. Now, we cannot be too surprised as God allowed Balaam’ s donkey to speak to him in reproof.

It is possible that animals could speak before the fall. Eve was not surprised by the speaking serpent or so it appears. Of course, Balaam wasn’t surprised by his verbal donkey who told him off. Stupid Balaam just argued back. Our omnipotent God can make anything speak. Christ revealed in Luke 19:37-40 that the stones would cry out if the God-praising crowd became silent.

This eagle is a prophesying bird of prey (very apropos). He soars the sky telling the earth’s inhabitants “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!” Yes, four angels have now trumpeted the perils of God, but three are still left.

God throughout history has warned of His wrath to come. He desires repentance not judgment. Silly man just shakes his fist toward God.

Please remember there are no atheists at this time. We learned this from chapter 6 as the residents of the earth were crying for the rocks to fall on them so they would be hidden from the omnipotent, avenging catastrophes of the Lamb of God and the Father; 6:16-17.

If you want to read something similar to what we are reading in Revelation, you can study the nine plagues found in Exodus, chapters 7-10. Here you observe horrific plagues placed on Egyptians due to their hard hearts. Of course, these are very minute when scaled in comparison to the world calamities of revealed times.

This ends this lesson, but the trumpets will continue in chapter 9.

Revelation Chapter 9

In this chapter, we arrive at the fifth trumpet of tribulation judgment brought upon the entire earth by the sounding of the fifth angel. If you review my chapter 8 commentary, you will note I listed all the trumpets and consequences. God’s placement of plagues imposed on sinful unrepentant beings arrives in His perfect timing.

We can take note of some slight similarities regarding the plagues of Revelation and those found in the book of Exodus. The Exodus afflictions can be viewed as an extremely light pre-shadowing of apocalyptic tragedies. God is very longsuffering that men might repent, but there comes a day of accountable comeuppance. One of curses the LORD placed on the rebellious Egyptians was swarming locusts; this same type of scenario will someday afflict the entire globe. As the locust plague in Egypt involved darkness due to the locust numbers (Exodus 10:15) so will the arriving locust epidemic of Revelation. However, the locusts of the forecasted encounter will be immeasurably fiercer.

Viewing verse 1, we witness a star falling from heaven, which obviously is an angel. We get to glimpse the power of angels through the book of Revelation. We have noted that all elements, including fire and gravity, pose no harm or threat to them. We witnessed an angel that ascended from the sun in 7:2. They can soar at incompressible speed, rocketing through the galaxies that are trillions of years away, in the simplicity of a moment. Their abilities reach far beyond our comprehension. God’s holy angels are rightly to be respected as Scripture exhorts.

The key of the bottomless pit is handed to this star (angel) of verse 1. Remember, Revelation 1:20 holds a key for us when it comes to understanding the fact stars represent angels (though not in all cases). There were seven angels (stars) that were assigned to the seven churches that we read of in chapters 1-3.

The earth-landing angel of chapter 9 uses a key to open the demonized hot bottomless pit; whereby smoke arises like that of a great furnace; verse 2. On this future day, the sun and air will be darkened via the smoke of the dreadful pit. We know from 20:11-15 that anyone whose name is not penned in the book of life will be cast into this bottomless infernos crater one day. Hell is the destination for the unredeemed (those who have not been washed in the blood of the Savior, being made clean in God’s sight through rebirth) who have perished. Currently, Hades (a very hot temporary holding place) contains the unsaved who have expired. We know it is very hot from the story of the rich man and Lazarus; Luke chapter 16. “Hades” is the correct Greek word translation for this Lazarus account exposure.

In Revelation 9:3, we witness bizarre locusts arising out of the fiery pit. They are very fierce and remarkable in appearance. We do not know their size as this is not revealed. Movies and books like to portray them in giant structure, but we do not know if they will be larger than the common locust. We do they will plague men to a degree that we cannot fully process in our minds.

God created over 9,000 of these uniquely modeled species:

“Locusts are migratory members of the short-horned grasshopper family; the name applied to almost 9,000 different species of singing, jumping insects in two families of the order Orthoptera. Grasshoppers are long, slender, winged insects with powerful hind legs and strong mandibles, or mouthparts, adapted for chewing.”

The Old Testament prophetical book of Joel addresses a portion of what is described in this Revelation chapter. God directed Joel to write on the tribulation period in general. This exposing little book also divulges the sins that Israel partook of during his era, approximately 835-796 BC. We can relate to this disclosure as humanity’s sensual sinful nature does not transform except by rebirth.

Joel foretold of the locusts that will arrive upon the earth in the tribulation. One fearsome manifestation will be their mighty teeth—teeth of a lion; Joel 1:6. Revelation 9:8 also bears this fact. Chapter 2 of Joel deals with the great horrors that will arrive within the tribulation period, including these unfathomable locusts. We know Joel is addressing this period as he refers to it as the day of the LORD’s coming. He speaks of these locusts arriving in a day of darkness and gloom—so true to Revelation’s forecast. No one in ages past has experienced anything like what is to come! The appearance of these creatures will be that of horses; 2:4. This is also verified in Revelation 9:7. They will run like mighty men—climbing, marching, and coming into homes; 2:8-9. Revelation 9:9 further testified to these facts. Joel also addressed present time foreclosure of God’s judgment of locust that was soon arriving to plague Israel; this being somewhere in the 700 BC time period. God’s nation was going to experience common locusts, possibly the “Pink” species, which is known to that region. Israel was to experience grasshopper devastation due to sin.

In 2004 Israel’s crops were once again greatly plagued by these little critters: http://forumgarden.com/forums/current-events/1599-israel-hit-worst-locust-plague-since-1950s.html

Israel today is far from Christ and in rebellion and the terrain still suffers in multitudes of ways. One day, the whole land of Israel will serve Christ in total willingness. Then the soil will again be blessed with agricultural abundance and beauty.

These Revelation locusts will also own characteristics of the scorpion, being painfully powerful. Like the scorpion, they will sting; whereby men will suffer for five months as if they had been stung by a scorpion. Scorpions are potent in their harm to men, yet minute in mass. It is interesting to contemplate on the tiny creatures God has created and their unique abilities and appearances.

One distinctive of the Revelation locust is their lack of harm when it comes to crops and foliage; verse 4. They will not eat any green thing, acting oppositely of known locust. We also learn from this verse that the 144,000 male virgin Jews will not be touched by these dreadful creatures. They will not pose harm to those who own the seal on their foreheads. We learned from chapter 7 that the 144,000 will have a seal on their foreheads. Chapter 14 of Revelation teaches us that they will be completely pure and holy, not being defiled with women, as blameless male, virgin Jews.

These locusts will harm every person who does not have the mark of God on their foreheads. However, they will not kill any person with their sting. People will want to die because their inflicted, painful agony will be so gnawing. However, they will not be allowed to extinguish their own lives. They will not be permitted to commit hara-kiri.

We perceive from this portion of Scripture that these locusts are battle-like in appearance and action, as they will display breastplates, like shields of iron. They will have wings and their sound will be like that of chariots, of many horses running into battle.

They will be kings in that they will exhibit what appears to be crowns of gold on their heads. Their faces will be like the faces of men—how very odd indeed. They will be dreadful in every aspect of the word! They will also have hair, like the flowing hair of women. I Corinthians chapter 11 informs us that God made women’s hair beautiful and it is her glory. It is to be long. Women are to be feminine and distinct from men. God hates unisex and homosexuality. Women’s long hair provides a sexual differing as men are to wear their hair short. It is also a modest covering as we read in this Corinthian passage.

Even though these locusts are of Satan, they are governed by God. The locust invading army cannot harm the 144,000 or kill mankind as I stated previously. Satan would love to destroy all mankind as man is made in the image of God, whom Satan hates. He will take every opportunity God allows to thrust his sword at him. Job chapters 1 and 2 informs us that Satan cannot harm without God’s permission. He must appear before God on occasion and give an accounting of his activities Satan was allowed to harm Job in tremendous ways, but he could not snuff out Job’s life. All of Job’s trials, though completely destructive, worked together for good and God was glorified.

Someday Satan will have all his wicked power withdrawn and will be cast into the lake of fire. I look toward this marvelous day.

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Locusts were the main staple entree for John the baptizing prophet; Matthew 3:4. John lived a lowly life, minus all worldly hindrances, as he desired to be all about the Messiah. A simple locust and honey diet represented this simple-living godly man.

You can locate locust recipes. Some people find them to be quite pleasant to the taste as they taste like shrimp. I guess this is the way to go when they destroy everyone’s crops. “Locust swarms, which can range in size from one square kilometer to 100 square kilometers, are spread by the wind. With up to 3,000 locusts per cubic meter, swarms can comprise tens of millions of insects which consume vast amounts of food. Each locust can eat two grams of food per day, and experts reckon that every million locusts gobble as much food as 5,000 people in one day. They are known to eat their own weight each day, consuming just about anything that grows—anything green. They are known to strip every shred of vegetation from areas where they invade.”

You can obtain an itsybitsy amount of produce from their stomachs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/07/africa_desert_shrimps/html/1.stm

Barbecue (grilled): prepare the embers or charcoal. Place about one dozen locusts on a skewer, stabbing each through the centre of the abdomen. If you only want to eat the abdomen, then you may want to take off the legs or wings either before or after cooking. Several skewers of locusts may be required for each person. Place the skewers above the hot embers and grill while turning continuously to avoid burning the locusts until they are done.

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We learn in verse 11 one of the names of Lucifer and that is Apollyon, which is the same as Apollo. We know this verse refers to Satan as he is the angel of the abyss. Ancient civilizations worshipped Apollo as the Greek god of the sun who owned curly golden hair and was the son of Zeus. Satan arrives in many names in the realm of idolatry. He even appears as female goddesses. Mary of the Catholic Church is portrayed as a female goddess and countless idols have been imaged in wicked honor. Lucifer has held other goddess names such as Diana or Artemis of the Ephesians; her temple being one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Many of her attributes were transferred to Mary and an idol of the multi-breasted Diana is stationed in the Vatican Museum. In Ayasalouk (formerly Ephesus) there are two main idol shrines that are visited; one to Mary and the other to Diana/Artemis. In the book of Jeremiah, the Jews were commanded not to worship the “queen of heaven” which was one of the titles of the female goddess, Ashtoreth. Mary holds this same “queen of heaven” title and so did Diana and Venus.

God declares image worshippers are kept out of heaven and we must be warned as idolatrous religions are viewed as a good ecumenical thing. Yoga, which is part of the idolatrous Hindu religion, and other New Age pursuits are on the rise in America. Satan is behind all idol worship. When people worship a graven image, they worship him and they are held accountable for worshipping Satan in his multitude of forms. Satan is the head of our present ecumenical movement and will be the head of the apocalypse ecumenical movement when countless idols will be worshipped to please all tastes. Idol worship will be all the rage in the tribulation. Multitudes of idols will be adored; verse 20 and 9:20. I would not be surprised if Apollo is once again upheld.

The antichrist will have his own speaking image that the world will worship; 13:15. If people refuse to partake in its worship, their lives will be extinguished. Perilless times await those who come to Christ during the great and horrific tribulation.

Bouncing back to chapter 9 verse 13, we observe a heavenly temple scene as the four horns of the golden alter are mentioned. It is very interesting that the temple in heaven resembles the tabernacle as well as the temple structure (built during the time of Solomon) that was designed by God for Jewish worship. There was a brazen alter with four horns created for sacrifice (Exodus 27:1-2). One will be formed again when the millennial temple (Ezekiel chapters 40-44) is build in Jerusalem on the original temple mount, where Abraham was called to sacrifice Isaac. It is from this heavenly temple that the sixth angel blows his trumpet, upon which four angels who have been bound in the great River Euphrates are released. The River Euphrates is in present day Iraq and seems to be the central local of Revelational happenings. Of course, Jerusalem is the foremost staging area. This should not surprise us as there will be a new Babylon and it will most likely be near ancient Babylon as it is called Babylon. Though, of course, we do not know what its actual name will be. God declared ancient Babylon would not be rebuilt, so it cannot be in the exact same local. Baghdad is not far from the remains of Babylon. New Babylon will acquire all the sinful attributes of ancient Babylon and it is natural to believe it will be near the same local. The River Euphrates is also referred to in 16:12, so we recognize what area of the world will be key in end times. Of course, all the world will be taking its cues from this region.

In verse 15, we see the four angels of God are assigned to kill a third of mankind. If you will recall, we observed God destroying by thirds in chapter 8, verses 9-12. I think it is safe to assume the 144,000 virgin men will not be harmed at this time as well. This holocaustic mass killing will be accomplished by armies of horsemen of two million. The apostle John is still present, observing and recording and he states “I heard the number of them.” He noted the riders had breastplates the color of fire and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions and “out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone.” These are not the kind of horses I would want to be around. They certainly will resemble the mythical dragon. A third of humanity will be executed “by the fire and the smoke and brimstone that proceeds out of their mouths;” verse 18. We also learn from verse 19 that their tails will be like serpents and they will have heads from which they do harm.

One would assume this punishment for sin would cause the living two thirds of the inhabitants of the world to repent. Unfortunately, they will not; verse 20. They will not turn away from a Harry Potter mentality of sorcery. They will not turn away from their murders, thievery, and sexual deviances (they will not hold to sex in marriage alone). These pagans will continual to worship false gods of idolatry in this future era. It is amazing that people will worship idols made by the hands of wicked man that cannot hear or talk. They can easily be hit right off a table in one swing. How absolutely ridiculous to adore things manufactured by the hands of sinful folk.

Yes, we end this chapter on a sad note as the world’s population in general is not repenting. They still are refusing to adhere to Jesus Christ, the only Savior. Their hearts are totally hardened, being in bondage to sin. We witness this same hardness of heart today, even in the church. Many do not take God seriously and His words of warning placed in Revelation. It is very foolish not to fear and tremble before God; Philippians 2:12 and 1 Peter 1:17.

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Revelation Chapter 10

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28689311#28689311

Plane crashes in Hudson River. People prayed, people were saved. No doubt, Christians were on the plane and prayed. Everyone refers to it as a miracle.

America, as a whole, is very thankful for everyone’s survival.

One day, men will not seek after God and He will no longer be gracious to mankind.

 

We ended chapter 9 on a sad note. It speaks to the time when God will bring painful and deadly nightmare horrors upon the earth during the tribulation. He will use locusts who have the faces of men and wear the hair of women to sting mankind. These locusts will plague earth’s inhabitants with torment for five months. People will want to die but God will not permit suicide. Civilization will suffer to the full extent He predetermined. In this same chapter, God reveals a third of rebellious mankind will perish. God will implement armies of two hundred million horsemen. There is no greater military strategist than God. These horses will pour forth fire, smoke and brimstone like dragons, whereby a third of mankind will perish. The chapter went on to explain to us that the horses’ tails will be like serpents, also creating harm as they will have heads. What a very frightful thing to contemplate on.

Chapter 10 opens with a strong angel arriving from heaven, clothed with a cloud and with a rainbow upon this head and his face is like the sun and his feet appear as pillars of fire. How poetically stated and what a powerful backdrop to introduce us to this chapter and future earth happenings. So much of Scripture comes to us in poetry. A great deal of the Old Testament was penned in Hebrew poetry. It is nice to own a translation of the Bible that does not remove God’s poetic and lofty nature.

This impressive angel who came from above has something in his hand. It is a little book which is open. I like little books and I have antique little books with which I decorate. They sit very nicely in the palm of one’s hand. These books are nice to pick up once in awhile as they are ancient and do not speak forth worldly degrading agendas. They are simplistic, expelling bright innocent writings that were a significant part of generations past…when modesty and decency had a large foothold, holding our society more firmly in place.

This angel, with the open book in hand, places his right foot on the sea and his left on the land. He is a expansive angel of magnitude impressiveness. Maintaining his stance, he cries out with a loud voice. We do not know what he cried out but it was like “when a lion roars.” This certainly must have placed great fear in John the Apostle. John is currently stationed on the earth in this future display. John was one who feared and trembled before God and who, no doubt, trembled before His frightful angelic creation as well.

When this angel cried, the seven peals (meaning a prolonged sound) of thunder also uttered their voices. We have eight loud angels at work in unison here. The Bible teaches us in Job that thunder is the voice of God; Job 37:2-5 and 40:9. God does thunder from heaven and His power over Creation should cause us to stand in awe.

The seven angels speak and we note John is about to write their words in obedience; verse 4. God had told him to communicate what would be set before him. He had to pen it for you and for me; 1:1-3.

John is suddenly stopped. A voice from paradise commands him “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoke and do not write them.” This is a secret and John is to seal his lips and never tell a soul. To this very day, we do not know what was spoken. Daniel too was told to seal up things in a book (Daniel 12:4) and I believe this to be the book we read of in Revelation 5:1-2. When it was unsealed, it detonated the devastating Tribulation plagues as prescribed by God.

In verse 5 we return to the gigantic angle that is standing on the sea and on land. This angel lifts his right hand to heaven. Remember, there are no female angels in Scripture. Angles were created countless years before Eve ever appeared on the earth. She was created to be a helpmeet for Adam. She was formed to be his loving assistant and wife.

This angel swears by Him who lives forever and ever, “WHO CREATED HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE EARTH AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE SEA AND THE THINGS IN IT, that there will be delay no longer.” This verse reminds us that evolution is a lie that everything was uniquely and wonderful manufactured by God. Not even man who has a brain and mobility can recreate what has been made. He cannot reconstruct to perfection one single strand of hair. Unfortunately, many silly arrogant men and women believe everything came from absolutely nothing. Someday they will bow before Christ, the Creator of all (Colossians chapter 1, John chapter 1, etc.), and will suffer unfathomable incinerating eternal pain if they do not repent.

Verse 7 refers to the seventh angel and to the days of this angel who has no name. No angel in Revelation holds a stated name. This angel is the one assigned to blow the final trumpet. Six trumpets have sounded. (I did send an account of all trumpets and their woes earlier as well as the previous seven seals.) This verse addresses the time when he is about to sound. This will be the time when the mystery of God is finished. The seventh angel will sound at the appropriate time. This occurs in the next chapter subsequent to the powerful judgment revelation of the two witnesses and their death and resurrection. This all transpires in Zion—Jerusalem. It is at this time the seventh angel blasts the trumpet and proclaims Christ will reign over everything forever and ever; 11:15. Eternal life for the true believer is forever and ever. What a blessed thing to dwell upon in this evil age.

Returning to 10:7, God sets our sights on the prophets to whom He preached His truths. In 2 Peter 3:2 we are commanded to remember the words spoken by the holy prophets and the apostles. We are to be diligent studiers of the Word of God so we are never made ashamed of our lack of knowledge. We note here that the “mystery” is mentioned. We know the mystery surrounds Christ. Even though the prophets wrote of His first coming and the suffering surrounding it, the Jews never picked up on these truths. The Jews understood the Messiah would arrive and reign as king. They could not comprehend a humble, dying Messiah. Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 are key locations that speak to a suffering Messiah. We do know there is no place in the Old Testament that directly addresses the church age. Ephesians 3:9-21 refers to the “mystery” of Christ, which was hidden from mankind for many generations. This consisting of Christ’s first appearance on the earth and the church age. Numerous truths have been unleashed through the church age Scripture writers and aren’t we glad?

When studying the Word, it is important to pray for understanding. The Holy Spirit does teach and enlighten. It is key for us to ask for guidance. We should pray continually to understand the Bible and the mind of God. Sometimes we lack because we do not ask.

In verse 8, John recognizes the voice from heaven speaking to him; this being the same voice as in verse 4. He is told to go and take the book that is held open in the angle’s hand—the divine messenger of verse 2 who stands on the land and sea. John approaches this angel and tells him to give him the book. Remember John is in the spirit (Revelation 4:2) and can travel in miraculous ways. He was able to travel to heaven and back to earth, where he is now. If we contemplate the heavenlies, and orbiting planets trillions of years beyond and farther, we can recognize this was a remarkable transitioning act of God. How brilliant the day when in heaven we land.

John removes the book from the angel’s hand and the angel commands him to eat it and relates the consequences of its consumption which will cause bitterness in his stomach, but will be sweet as honey in his mouth. You might ask what kind of book was it and what did John scribe these events on. Was it a scroll? I would say yes. The Greek word is “Biblos” which means book, and of course, “Bible” means book. Most books were constructed using papyrus. We get our word “paper” from papyrus. It came to denote paper made from the bark grown in Egypt; later it expanded into a common word used for any type of paper.

Video on papermaking: http://www.revver.com/video/154633/how-papyrus-is-made/

Ancient Egyptian Papyrus
Papyrus was very important to the ancient Egyptians. It helped transform Egyptian society in many ways. Once the technology of papyrus making was developed, its method of production was kept secret allowing the Egyptians to have a monopoly on it. The first use of papyrus paper is believed to have been 4000 BC.

The raw material of papyrus paper comes from the plant Cyperus papyrus. This plant grew along the banks of the Nile and provided the Egyptians with the necessary raw materials. This plant was quite versatile and was not only used in the production of paper but it was also used in the manufacture of boats, rope and baskets. However, the singularly most important and valuable product was the papyrus paper. Not only was this ancient Egypt’s greatest export but it revolutionized the way people kept valuable information. No substitution for papyrus paper could be found that was as durable and lightweight until the development of pulped paper by the Arabs. The way of making pulp paper was far easier to produce but not as durable. This not only led to a decline in papyrus paper making, but also to a decline in the papyrus plant cultivation. Eventually, the papyrus plant disappeared from the area of the Nile, where it was once the lifeblood for ancient Egypt.

Papyrus making was not revived until around 1969. An Egyptian scientist named Dr. Hassan Ragab reintroduced the papyrus plant to Egypt and started a papyrus plantation near Cairo. He also had to research the method of production. Because the exact methods for making papyrus paper was such a secret, the ancient Egyptians left no written records as to the manufacturing process. Dr. Ragab finally figured out how it was done, and now papyrus making is back in Egypt after a very long absence.

The Method of Papyrus Paper Production

- The stalks of the papyrus plant are harvested.

- Next the green skin of the stalk is removed and the inner pith is taken out and cut into long strips. The strips are then pounded and soaked in water for 3 days until pliable.

-The strips are cut to the length desired and laid horizontally on a cotton sheet overlapping about 1 millimeter. Other strips are laid vertically over the horizontal strips resulting in the criss-cross pattern in papyrus paper. Another cotton sheet is placed on top.

- The sheet is put in a press and squeezed together, with the cotton sheets being replaced until all the moisture is removed.

- Finally, all the strips are pressed together forming a single sheet of papyrus paper.

The earliest account of how to make the paper is given by Pliny the Elder, a Roman citizen from the first century B.C. Even though the Egyptians did not leave a record of how they made papyrus it is probably similar to the Roman method of the first century A.D., since the Romans learned how to make papyrus from the Egyptians.

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In verse 10, we see John obeys the heavenly voice and takes the book and eats it. It was sweet as honey in John’s mouth, just as explained. And it also left a bitter taste in his stomach as predicted. The forthcoming judgments on the earth will be a bitter pill to swallow as were the previous. John is told he must prophecy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings. God’s judgment will continue to encompass the entire earth as set before John’s eyes.

Ezekiel was an Old Testament prophet. He also had a vision, whereby he was told to eat a scroll; Ezekiel 2:8-3:3. It was sweet to his taste like honey though he was to deliver a bitter message. His vision involved the judgment of God on his disobedient children, the Jews, because they rebelled and not heeded the truths of Scripture even during their discipline of Babylonian captivity. They did what was right in their owns eyes and they were going to continue to pay for their disobedience as reveled to Ezekiel. They believed their captivity might be short lived, but God made sure what He spoke was fulfilled and they were going to suffer the complete 70 years as prophesied. See also Jeremiah chapter 29.

John’s scroll consumption concludes chapter 10 and chapter 11 will take us into more amazing acts of God. These acts will someday take place on the earth. It takes the faith of a true born again believer to accept these apocalyptic occurrences. It is the Holy Spirit within that confirms these happenings. Many today, even pastors in Bible churches, deny Revelation as actually coming to pass. Some pastors deny it behind closed doors. Catholics have always discounted Revelation, but its denunciation is becoming more and more prominent in so-called Bible churches. The apostasy is grave.

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Revelation chapters 11-14  http://vallee7.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/revelation-chapter-11-mouths-of-fire/

The Emerging Church—What it is

 

The Emerging Church Facts

 

Please watch these videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGSQjtWTpaw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkhq0R0TIyM

 
The hippie-like emerging church is moving in power and its philosophies are being slyly introduced into so-called Biblical Christianity. It actually has been reaching in and taking hold for many years. This is a demonic movement that has loomed out of hell. It has no problems with satansim, New Age, Catholicism, Episcopalism, etc. It also covets diversity and affirming mandates. It seems anything goes.

As I write my Revelation commentaries, I can see the church slowly entering the religious realm that will someday fight against the Christ of the Bible—who is completely chaste, pure, undefiled, harmless, separated from sinners and made higher than the heavens; Hebrews 7:26. This emergent, ecumenical religious body, foreseen in Revelation, will be he heathenistic, worshipping countless false gods as Israel did in her apostasy being documented in the books of Jeremiah, Isaiah, etc. Israel was condemned for displaying more false gods than the pagan nations that surrounded her. The church seems headed in that same direction.

The church today wants to mirror a Hollywood mentality. It is the avenue that unveils every new contemporary way. Even Christians will turn to it to see how they should be acting, what they should be wearing and what new lingo should be flowing from their lips.

It is no wonder the church wants all people coming in its doors to see a new look—a Christianity that implements the best of productions…videos that entertain more than they preach convicting truth if any truth is presented.

The church of today relishes explaining Christ to an audience that loves the satanic sensual realm, people who love mystical (demonic) books and movies with “sexy” included. Today’s contemporary church presents an apostate Jesus for all to enjoy. The true Jesus Christ hates Hollywood’s worldly productions. He hates the fact the church desires to imitate this state-of-the-art fanfare. He hates the fact pastors want to refer to the entrainment business in their sermons in a positive way. These so-called men of God want to use television programs and movies to get a point across while attempting to entertain at the same time. They want to be one with their entertaining-loving congregation. They do not want to be different. They do not truly fear and tremble before God.

The LORD hates all sin and He hates this realm that does not uplift His holy name with His holy, innocent and pure ways.

The church does not present a Christ who was despised and hated of men. A Christ who was the song of drunkards and the object of gossip because He taught holy righteousness and separation; Psalm 69:12f. Jesus Christ was not a Hollywood star nor was He a rock star nor did He desire to be. He walked the hated road of separation. He was totally separated from man’s desires for fame and popularity. His kingdom was not of this nasty world.

Many believers are into pornography and movies that show skin. Today’s church attendees relish the thought that everyone can come to church as they are. Many men (including pastors and teachers) of the church like women dressing provocatively. They like a bit of cleavage showing and it shows in most every church today. It wasn’t that long ago that such a thing was viewed as disgraceful.

Our churches need Biblical change not emergent change. Fellowships need to throw out the false Jesus of sensuality, and move in the true Christ of holy righteousness. The Christ of innocent chastity.

For churches to make a positive change, pastors and leaders need to follow all the instructions for the church structure, exhibited in the books of Timothy, Titus, 2 Peter, Jude, Ephesians, etc. They must focus on the true Jesus Christ who never lies nor does His holy, inerrant provided Word.

They must throw off the emergent social mandates. Socials have replaced Biblical callings. He calls it to preach, teach the Word, evangelize, pray, perform communion, minister and to humbly sing hymns and spiritual songs. God made the church simple. He does not call for community incentives to raise money through silly fundraisers. All church monies are simply to be collected from those who give cheerfully on the first day of the week.

Adding to the church mandates is pharisaical. Christ condemned the religious leaders as they added their own traditions to Scripture. Pastors feel they have to add program upon program. When one program fizzes out, they add another. And every silly program has to have a theme to catch the attention of a floating congregation. Getting back to the simple commands is the only answer no matter the dwindling congregation. Actually, it would probably become most blessed if everyway was followed.

It is not about numbers; however, it is about evangelism and the harvest is plentiful. But it is not man who gives the increase it is God. Remember Christ did not need any rock group and fun comedians. It is totally blasphemous to imagine such a thing. He never implemented music as he spoke nor did the apostles. He left no example to entertain and leave an audience in awe. We are to follow His example totally, not man’s, not Hollywood, and not the emerging church exampled.

The church is a complicated socialized structure of the emergent mindset. It is in trendy “conversation” with the world, when it is to be alienated from the world. We are strangers and aliens on this earth. The church is not to mingle in the social stream of a community church. The church is not of the community of men, it is of the realm of God alone. We are to be separate from satan’s children. We are the called out ones. We are not one flowing river of social reform. We are not a “village” of one-mindedness with the globe. We do not engage in “peer to peer” dialog with those who have not been born again. We have nothing in common with the unsaved outside of normal life behaviors. Our true family is of the true saints, not those who curse our Savior. Satan is the father of blasphemes and the nations that blaspheme Christ, being made clear in Revelation chapter 13. The emerging church is a blasphemous church that will manufacture more strength when satan moves to center stage on a gigantic scale when the apocalypse reaches nearer.

We should not want to partake of the contemporary experience. We are called to the ambassador role in total humility. We are not to conform to the culture that surrounds as if we were one in the same. Our calling is not humanitarianism, it is evangelism.

May the apostate emerging church wake-up and reach upward for truth.

 

In Him who warns of every wayward way taught in the church today,

Val Lee (It is my heart to follow the apostles’ example.  For many walk according to what they think or have experienced or what others think or have experienced. This hurts my heart and such actions made Paul and the other apostles weep. We are to walk according to their example and teachings without questioning; 1 Corinthians 11:1, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 2 Peter 3:2 and Jude 17. Those who do not are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is their destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is their shame, who set their minds on earth things; Philippians 3:17-19)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerging_church

Wickipedia edited:

The emerging church (sometimes referred to as the emergent movement) is a Christian movement of the late 20th and early 21st century that crosses a number of theological boundaries: participants can be described as evangelical, post-evangelical, liberal, post-liberal, charismatic, neocharismatic (both Pentecostal and charismatic) and post-charismatic. Participants seek to live their faith in what they believe to be a “postmodern” (meaning after the modernist movement. A style and concept in the arts characterized by distrust of theories and ideologies and by the drawing of attention to conventions) society—a new cultural society. Proponents of this movement call it a “conversation” to emphasize its developing and decentralized nature, its vast range of standpoints and its commitment to dialogue.

The emerging church favors the use of simple story and narrative not strong Scriptural charging. Members of the movement often place a high value on good works or social activism, sometimes including missional living or new monasticism (commune or monastery). Many emergents emphasize the here and now.

Some have noted a difference between the terms “emerging” and “Emergent.” Whilst emerging is a wider, informal, church-based, global movement, Emergent refers to an official organization, the Emergent Village, associated with Brian McLaren, and has also been called the “Emergent stream.”

Emerging churches can be found throughout the globe, predominantly in North America, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa. Some attend local independent churches or house church labeled “emerging” while others worship in traditional Christian denominations.

Dr. Stuart Murray states:
It will bring together the most helpful of the old and best of the new, blending the dynamic of a personal Gospel with the compassion of social concern. It will find its ministry being expressed by a whole people, wherein the distinction between clergy and laity will be that of function, not of status or hierarchical division. In the emerging Church, due emphasis will be placed on both theological rootage and contemporary experience, on celebration in worship and involvement in social concerns, on faith and feeling, reason and prayer, conversion and continuity, the personal and the conceptual.

The emerging church seeks a post-Christendom approach to being church and mission through: renouncing imperialistic approaches to language and cultural imposition; making ‘truth claims’ with humility and respect; overcoming the public/private dichotomy; moving church from the center to the margins; moving from a place of privilege in society to one voice amongst many; a transition from control to witness, maintenance to mission and institution to movement.

In the face of criticism, some in the emerging church respond that this it is important to attempt a “both and” approach to redemptive and incarnational theologies. Some Evangelicals and Fundamentalists are perceived as “overly redemptive” and therefore in danger of condemning people by communicating the Good News in aggressive and angry ways. A more loving and affirming approach is proposed in the context of post-modernity where distrust may occur in response to power claims. It is suggested that this can form the basis of a constructive engagement with twenty-first century post-industrial western cultures. According to Ian Mobsby, the suggestion that the emerging church is mainly focused on deconstruction and the rejection of current forms of church should itself be rejected.

The emerging church is a response to the perceived influence of modernism in Western Christianity. As some sociologists commented on a cultural shift that they believed to correspond to postmodern ways of perceiving reality in the late 20th century, some Christians began to advocate changes within the church in response. These Christians saw the contemporary church as being culturally bound to modernism. They changed their practices to relate to the new cultural situation. Emerging Christians began to challenge the modern church on issues such as: institutional structures, systematic theology, propositional teaching methods, a perceived preoccupation with buildings, an attractional understanding of mission, professional clergy, and a perceived preoccupation with the political process and unhelpful jargon (“Christian-ese”).

As a result, some in the emerging church believe it is necessary to deconstruct modern Christian dogma. One way this happens is by engaging in dialogue, rather than proclaiming a predigested message, believing that this leads people to Jesus through the Holy Spirit on their own terms. Many in the movement embrace the missiology that drives the movement in an effort to be like Christ and make disciples by being a good example. The emerging church movement contains a great diversity in beliefs and practices, although some have adopted a preoccupation with sacred rituals, good works, and political and social activism. Much of the Emerging Church movement have also adopted the approach to evangelism which stressed peer-to-peer dialogue rather than dogmatic proclamation and proselytizing.

A plurality of Scriptural interpretations is acknowledged in the emerging church movement. Participants in the movement exhibit a particular concern for the effect of the modern reader’s cultural context on the act of interpretation echoing the ideas of postmodern thinkers such as Jacques Derrida and Stanley Fish.

Therefore a narrative approach to Scripture, and history are emphasized in some emerging churches over exegetical and dogmatic approaches (such as that found in systematic theology and systematic exegesis), which are often viewed as reductionist. Others embrace a multiplicity of approaches.

Some leaders in the movement publicly welcome open discussion with other religions regarding the definition of Christian faith. Others in the movement label the practice differently, calling the interfaith dialog a means to share their narratives as they learn from the narratives of others. Some Emerging Church Christians believe there are radically diverse perspectives within Christianity that are valuable for humanity to progress toward truth and a better resulting relationship with God, and that these different perspectives deserve Christian charity rather than condemnation.

The movement appropriates set theory as a means of understanding a basic change in the way the Christian church thinks about itself as a group. Set theory is a concept in mathematics that allows an understanding of what numbers belong to a group, or set. A bounded set would describe a group with clear “in” and “out” definitions of membership. The Christian church has largely organized itself as a bounded set, those who share the same beliefs and values are in the set and those who disagree are outside.

The centered set does not limit membership to pre-conceived boundaries. Instead a centered set is conditioned on a centered point. Membership is contingent on those who are moving toward that point. Elements moving toward a particular point are part of the set, but elements moving away from that point are not. As a centered-set Christian membership would be dependent on moving toward the central point of Jesus. A Christian is then defined by their focus and movement toward Christ rather than a limited set of shared beliefs and values. John Wimber utilized the centered set understanding of membership in his Vineyard Churches. The centered set theory of Christian Churches came largely from missional anthropologist Paul Hiebert. The centered set understanding of membership allows for a clear vision of the focal point, the ability to move toward that point without being tied down to smaller diversions, a sense of total egalitarianism with respect for differing opinions, and an authority moved from individual members to the existing center.

Authenticity and Conversation

The movement favors the sharing of experiences via testimonies, prayer, group recitation, sharing meals and other communal practices, which they believe are more personal and sincere than propositional presentations of the Gospel. Teachers in the Emerging Church tend to view the Bible and its stories through a lens which they believe finds significance and meaning for their community’s social and personal stories rather than for the purpose of finding cross-cultural, propositional absolutes regarding salvation and conduct.

The emerging church claims they are creating a safe environment for those with opinions ordinarily rejected within modern conservative evangelicalism and fundamentalism. Non-critical, interfaith dialog is preferred over dogmatically-driven evangelism in the movement. Story and narrative replaces the dogmatic:
The relationship between words and images has changed in contemporary culture. In a post-foundational world, it is the power of the image that takes us to the text. The bible is no longer a principal source of morality, functioning as a rulebook. The gradualism of postmodernity has transformed the text into a guide, a source of spirituality, in which the power of the story as but on potential moral reference point has superseded the didactic. Thus the meaning of the Good Samaritan is more important than the Ten Commandments – even assuming that the latter could be remembered in any detail by anyone. Into this mileau the image speaks with power.

Those in the movement do not engage in aggressive apologetics or confrontational evangelism in the traditional sense, preferring to encourage the freedom to discover truth through conversation and relationships with the Christian community.

Missional living

Participants in this movement assert that the incarnation of Christ informs their theology, believing that as God entered the world in human form, adherents enter (individually and communally) into the context around them, aiming to transform that culture through local involvement in it. This holistic involvement may take many forms, including social activism, hospitality, and acts of kindness. This beneficent involvement in culture is part of what is called “missional living.

This approach leads to their focus on temporal and social issues, as opposed to a perceived Evangelical overemphasis on eternal salvation. Drawing on research and models of contextual theology, Mobsby asserts that the Emerging Church is using different models of contextual theology to Conservative Evangelicals. Conservative Evangelical Churches tend to use a ‘translation’ model of contextual theology, (which has been criticized for being colonialist and having a very low opinion of culture and humanity), where the Emerging Church tends to use a ’synthetic’ or ‘transcendent’ model of contextual theology. The Emerging Church has charged many Conservative Evangelical Churches of withdrawal from involvement from contextual mission and seeking contextualisation of the gospel.

Calvary Chapel and Emerging Spirituality

Church News

Edited Article

On May 5th Paul Smith, brother of Chuck Smith (the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement), was fired from his position in the Calvary Chapel (CCOF) organization during an unscheduled meeting that day. The motion to fire Paul Smith was made by board member Roger Wing and seconded by Chuck Smith’s son-in-law, Brian Broderson. Other board members affirmed the motion and Paul Smith was dismissed.

For some time now Paul Smith, who has been in full-time ministry since 1951, has been putting forth tireless efforts to help keep contemplative and emerging spirituality out of the Calvary Chapel movement. At times, this caused conflict with other Calvary Chapel figures who did not resonate with these efforts.

Calvary Chapel released a Position Paper denouncing mystical practices (i.e. contemplative prayer) and the emerging church. This weekend a position paper addressed to pastors was posted on the Calvary Chapel website. The paper indicates that Calvary Chapel is taking a stand against contemplative spirituality and the emerging church and decrees that the title Calvary Chapel not be attached to such movements.

In the Position Paper, Calvary Chapel pastors were told not to use the Calvary Chapel title on their church name if they were going to go in the contemplative/emerging direction.

Calvary Chapel is at a critical point in the history of the movement. If nothing more happens than a written statement, and pastors and churches are permitted to carry the name Calvary Chapel but embrace contemplative purpose driven seeker friendly market driven ideas, the movement will break into various segments. There are many Calvary Chapel pastors who are asking for this kind of clear cut direction and want Calvary Chapel to remain what it once was.

If Calvary Chapel stands firm on defending the gospel message and rejecting heretical demonic doctrines, it may be setting a precedent for other Christian ministries to do likewise. With organizations such as Purpose Driven, Zondervan,

(Zondervan Publishes the NIV Bible that omits hundreds of words and phrases from the Word of God by NIV translators. The “Godhead” in the NIV was completely removed from the Word of God. All the following words have been omitted from the NIV: Propitiation, regeneration, mercyseat, remission, Jehovah, immutable, omnipotent, Comforter, Messiah, infallible, et cetera. The word “sodomite” is completely gone, as are the words: fornication, carnal, effeminate, vanity, devils, Lucifer, damnation, brimstone, and the bottomless pit. Zondervan Publishers does not reveal they are OWNED by Harper Collins, which also publishes The Satanic Bible and The Joy of Gay Sex. Http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Zondervan-Corporation-Company-History.HTML Dr. Marten Woudstra, chairman on the NIV committee, was involved in sex perversion. He is quoted as saying that loving monogamous relationships between gay men or women were acceptable to God and that there was nothing in the Old Testament that spoke against the perversion. (Lies) Dr. Virginia Mollenkott, a literary critic on the NIV translation, was a sodomite. In Episcopal, Witness (June 1991, PP. 20-23), she comes out of the closet by saying, “My lesbianism has ALWAYS been a part of me. . .” This could explain why, “sodomite” is never found in the NIV. (Deut. 23:17, I Kings 14:24, 15:12 , 22:46 , II Kings 23:7) Not only that, but all other references to sodomy are perverted to say something else: 1Cor. 6:9, “. . . Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, . . .” is replaced with the “. . . Nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders. . .” According to Wikipedia.org, the New International Bible (NIV) printed by Zondervan is the most popular Bible version today. Zondervan Publishers does not reveal they are OWNED by Harper Collins, who also publishes The Satanic Bible and The Joy of Gay Sex. Http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Zondervan-Corporation-Company-History.HTML)

Nav Press publishers (Publishers of the heretical Message Bible),  Willow Creek and Renovare, all promoting contemplative spirituality, and with many other ministries appearing to head that way; it is becoming less and less popular to do what Calvary Chapel has done. But it is a time in history when compromising the integrity of the Gospel could actually help to unfold the greatest spiritual deception Christianity has ever seen.

Calvary Distribution (the resource arm of Calvary Chapel) removed all Purpose Driven materials from their resource database. The pressures on young pastors today to conform to the current trends for the sake of having a successful big church are ever increasing. The financial backing that is behind the birth of the current emerging church movement reveals the movement is not simply a “discontent grumblings of young people looking for answers” but entails a far more structured effort to bring about a new mystical spirituality that would ultimately reject the very core of the Bible’s main tenets and its inerrancy.

But as with most denominations and Christian organizations, there are indications that contemplative/emergent/Purpose Driven is continuing to influence the Calvary Chapel movement contrary to the efforts and statements of Chuck Smith in 2006. For instance, Calvary Chapel speaker Gayle Erwin has come out strong in support of the New Age sympathizing book, The Shack. Erwin’s endorsement for William Paul Young’s New York Times best-seller sits on The Shack website and says: Riveting with twists that defy your expectations while teaching powerful theological lessons without patronizing. I was crying by page 100. You cannot read it without your heart becoming involved.

Unfortunately, an event is scheduled between Rock Harbor and Calvary Chapel at the end of May. The conference will take place at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and will feature Rock Harbor’s teaching pastor Mike Erre and worship team. Mike Erre is the author of a new book, Death by Church: Rescuing Jesus from His Followers, Recapturing God’s Hope for His People. The book is filled with kingdom-now theology—anti-Revelation, rapture and millennial, including dismissing the countless promises to the Jews found throughout the Word of God. Also numerous favorable references to and quotes by people like Brian McLaren, Dallas Willard, and other contemplative emerging figures. Based on this book alone, it is accurate to say that Erre has all the earmarks of a heretic, as an emerging church pastor. In Erre’s 2008 book, Why Guys Need God, he quotes and references a number of contemplative mystic-proponents: Richard Rohr, Larry Crabb, Pete Scazzero, Rob Belland others. It is very clear by Erre’s remarks about Richard Rohr (whom he references over a half a dozen times in the book) that he esteems him highly. And yet Rohr’s spirituality would be in the same camp as someone like Matthew Fox (author of The Coming of the Cosmic Christ) who believes in pantheism (god in trees, rocks, etc. A denial of Biblical God). Rohr wrote the foreword to a 2007 book called How Big is Your God? by Jesuit priest (from India) Paul Coutinho. In Coutinho’s book, he describes an interspiritual community where people of all religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity) worship the same God. How ironic that Paul Smith’s firing is sandwiched between two Rock Harbor events at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Members at that church should be very, very concerned.

At a Calvary Chapel’s Costa Mesa’s high school, a teacher asked his class to read, review, and study How to Stay Christian in College written by Protestant-turned-Catholic J. Budziszewski. The book has references in the back of some editions to mystic emergent Tony Jones and Budziszewski himself is a proponent of contemplative prayer practices. Many families in today’s churches are trying to protect their children and teens from spiritual deception. Christian parents must realize that the souls of their youth are at stake. Satan is in churches trying to obtain them through the false demonic movement of contemporary Christianity.

Isaiah 11:1-5: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.”

This situation with Calvary Chapel is not isolated. Nearly every evangelical denomination and organization of any size in North America is going in this same direction to one degree or another. One key factor in why this is happening so rapidly is that Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries are heavily saturated with contemplative/emerging spirituality. Biola University, for instance, where many Calvary Chapel pastors have attended and graduated is deeply involved in this “new spirituality.” Satan is certainly increasing in power in these later days as the Bible predicted. Christ revealed, He would not find any faith on the earth when He returns. Faith in the inerrant Bible is dwindling every day from our churches.

The spirituality of the desert fathers has gotten a grip on the current theological thought and practice like no one could have predicted just a few years ago, thanks largely in part to the emerging church and the work of Rick Warren and Bill Hybels. Remember, mysticism is what gives the emerging church its momentum. Holistic doctor and author Dr. Rick Levy revealed that in 2008, 17 million Americans were practicing meditation (eastern-style). That number is up from 10 million in 2003. At that rate, in another five years it will probably be somewhere between 20 and 25 million. There is no doubt that this surge of mysticism will have a profound effect on virtually every North American family. This statistic is sobering when you consider what Richard Kirby observed: The meditation of advanced occultists is identical with the prayer of advanced mystics, it is no accident that both traditions use the same word for the highest reaches of their respective activities: contemplation. (Mission of Mystic) Mysticism (i.e. the satanic controlled occult) is overtaking all segments of society, and this means that the world is falling under the spell of sorceries (magical arts). This fact represents the book of Revelation and the belief system that will arise in the later days (Revelation 18:23). The acceptance of Harry Potter in the church has certainly been the springboard to what we now observe in our apostate fellowships.

________________

Contemplative prayer or Spirituality defined:

Below is a simple definition and Wikipedia’s take:

Definition of Contemplative Spirituality: “A belief system that uses ancient mystical practices to induce altered states of consciousness (the silence) and is often wrapped in Christian terminology; the premise of contemplative spirituality is pantheistic (God is all) and panentheistic (God is in all). The purpose of contemplative prayer is to enter an altered state of consciousness in order to find one’s true self, thus finding God. This true self relates to the belief that man is basically good. Proponents of contemplative prayer teach that all human beings have a divine center and that all, not just born again believers, should practice contemplative prayer.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemplative_prayer

In Christian mysticism, Contemplative prayer can refer to:
• Repetitive chanting, breathing in a controlled manner or silent concentration to quiet the thoughts and feelings and commune with God.
• Infused contemplation, for many writers, including St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila (both demonic Catholic mystics), the sole sense of the term;
• Acquired contemplation, also known as “Prayer of Simplicity”; or
• Centering prayer, which is sometimes called contemplative prayer, although “It is not contemplation in the strict sense, which in Catholic tradition has always been regarded as a pure gift of the Spirit, but rather it is a preparation for contemplation.”[1]
“Contemplative consciousness,” says [Thomas] Merton, is “a Trans-cultural, Trans-religious, Trans-formed consciousness … it can shine through this or that system, religious or irreligious”[2]
One question that has surfaced at various times in history is whether contemplative prayer is given only to select people or whether everyone is called towards it. Generally, the latter view has prevailed. In the 17th century, however, several writers, most notably John Baptist Scaramelli, taught, in reaction to Quietism, that ascetism and mysticism are two distinct paths to perfection; the former was the normal, ordinary end of the Christian life, and the latter, to which contemplative prayer belongs, is something extraordinary. The controversy was more or less resolved in the early 20th century with Arintero and Garrigou-Lagrange exonerating the view that infused contemplation is a normal development of the spiritual life. This is now the generally accepted position.[4]

*Some info gathered and quoted from Lighthouse Trails Publishing  (This is a conservative publisher, but I do not agree wtih everything stated by their authors)

Jeremiah – The Message and Messenger

 

 2 Peter 3:2:
You should remember the words spoken by the holy prophets
and the commandments of the Lord and Savior spoken by
the apostles.

Chapters 1-9

Jeremiah holds a special place in my husband Alan’s heart and mine. He was one who was willing to stand alone for God as the rest of God’s people went after the world and the things of the world. Jeremiah gave a message that no one would heed; yet, God told him to declare it. Why? Because of God’s unconditional love for all. His message still had to be proclaimed even when none chose to listen. The people of God still worshipped at the temple and had an appearance of godliness, but also followed after the surrounding cultures choosing not to be a peculiar, different people. They wanted to be styling with the surrounding nations.

God raised Jeremiah to this calling because he truly loved and cared for his fellow Jews, God’s chosen race. Jeremiah is referred to as the weeping prophet, because his heart held the love that God held for His people who had gone their own way. He wept because God’s beloved had caved into the glorification of the sensual. I behold in Jeremiah and throughout God’s Word that the LORD’S people become half-hearted when they cave into the gratification of the senses.

Background:

Jeremiah was written as a book of warning of God’s approaching doom on a sinful and rebellious nation that preferred to do what was right in its own eyes.

The northern kingdom of Israel, consisting of the ten tribes, had previously been removed as captives of Assyria, 136 years prior. The Benjamin area, where the temple is, and the area of Judah are all that remains of Israel during Jeremiah’s time, this being the southern kingdom of Israel. If you turn to your map area at the back of a study Bible, you will see how the land was divided amongst the 12 tribes. The land was divided according to these tribes when the people entered the land under Joshua.

None of the kings of the northern kingdom where of the line of King David, only the southern kingdom held to his genealogy. The kingdom split after Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, took the throne in 930 B.C. Rehoboam was very wicked and the Jews rebelled resulting in the northern tribes choosing Jeroboam for their king. He had served under Solomon over the forced labor. He too was extremely evil.

Jeremiah’s ministry was approximately from 627-586 B.C. during the periods of Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah who reigned as kings. Josiah reigned 33 years, doing right in the sight of the Lord. Josiah was exceptionally godly, yet his sons were ungodly and three of them ruled as kings over Judah. Jehoahaz, the first of Josiah’s sons to rule was evil and reigned only three months and was taken captive by Pharaoh Necco of Egypt and he expired in Egypt. Jehoiakim, his eldest son was evil and reigned 11 years. During his reign, Judah began to be confronted by the kingdom of Babylon and Egypt also caused them distress. Jehoachin, son of Jehoiakin was the last king to reign within the direct line of Christ, before captivity. The next king to rule in the Davidic line will be Christ! It was during Jehoachin’s reign that the southern kingdom was taken captive.

Zedekiah, Jehoachin’s uncle, and youngest son of Josiah, was a puppet king of King Nebuchadnezzar. He rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar and was also taken captive with the last of the captives. There were actually three captivities under King Nebuchadnezzar. The first one took place when Daniel and others were removed to Babylon; Daniel chapter 1. The main one was under King Jehoachin and the last one was under King Zedekiah with the remaining Jews. This last captivity ensued the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem.

The prophet Zephaniah proceeded Jeremiah and Habakkuk was Jeremiah’s contemporary.

Chapter One:

Jeremiah was destined to be a priest as his father held this office, as we see in verse one. God called him from this entitlement to be His prophet just as He did John the baptizer in the New Testament. This all took place under King Josiah, who was a king who brought revival to the land.

As we move into verse 4, we recognize God’s special calling of Jeremiah, being called before he was born as God’s prophet to the nations, not just Judah, though Judah was the main nation he addressed. Those who have given their lives to Christ have also been called to His adoption as His spokespeople, before the foundation of the world as we see in Ephesians 4:4-5, which God performed through the kind intention of His will. Many other portions of scripture speak of our unique position in Christ through His calling and choosing us by His loving grace.

Jeremiah responds to God’s calling as Moses did, declaring he cannot speak. Jeremiah also replies to God out of concern for his young age. As God reassured Moses so He does Jeremiah as His deliverer or savior, or his yasha in Hebrew.

God informs Jeremiah in verse 8, that he is not to fear those who do not want to hear the truth of God’s Holy Word, much of which the Jews felt they could ignore. They were going to be cruel to Jeremiah for his unbending stances that would never compromise with society.

Verse 9 is a personal prayer of mine, for God to put His words in my mouth as Val Lee’s words are meaningless unless they are in line with the Word of God. Moreover I pray for His thoughts to be my thoughts as Jeremiah certainly walked in the mindset that stood in line with God’s Holy Scriptures.

Jeremiah in verse 10 was to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and overthrow, that would be all false teachings contrary to God’s Word as the Jews were compromising with the surrounding societies. Also to build and to plant and Jeremiah still does this today in our beings as he bears the truth of God that plants good seed in our hearts and minds.

As we move into verse 11, we come to where God moves into judgment concerning Judah or the southern kingdom. Jeremiah refers to a rod from an almond tree and a boiling pot, both represent the negative. A rod is to be applied as discipline to strike with and the boiling pot to consume in great and terrifying wrath as God was to discipline His rebellious children. When God refers to the north, He is referring to Babylon and them moving downward toward Judah in fighting array and force. This will engulf all the inhabitants of the land, not just some, verse 14.

Pious Judah, will be judged by the godless Gentiles as we see in verse 15. This would be very humiliating for self-righteous Judah who views the other nations as consisting of godless dogs. We see this is the judgment for worshipping false gods, the work of their own hands.

Here are a few of the false god’s that Israel worshipped:

Baal was the most noted false god of this time. Baal means master or lord. He was also designated as “the son of Dagon.” (Dagon was the god of the early Philistines. If you remember in 1 Samuel chapter five, the Philistines stole the ark of God. They placed the ark next to their god Dagon; subsequently this false god fell on its face before the ark of God which brings a big smile to our faces. The Philistines were avenged with tumors as God hand was set against them. They were so plagued that they did all in their power to return the ark to the land of Israel. They truly experienced the chastening hand of God for their disrespect of the Creator of all.)

Baal was the storm god and when people heard thunder they believed they were hearing Baal. They believed Baal determined the fate of their crops. They worshipped him in temples and outdoors in fields and on the hilltops referred to as “high places” as we see in scripture. These high places held chambers for male and female prostitution.

To quote Unger “Baal worship always had a subtle attraction for the austere Hebrews bound to serve a holy God under a rigorous moral code.” Of course, there is nothing new under the sun and today many believers go the way of the world to escape the righteous Word that commands holy living and not license. Baal-ism was attractive to the Jews as it presented a life of licentiousness or license.

Molech represents the essence of evil and he is mentioned in Jeremiah 32:35. Molech accepts the sacrifice of children and Jeremiah says the Jews were offering their daughters to Molech by passing them through the fire. Palestinian excavations have uncovered evidences of infant skeletons in burial places. Apparently, one of the rituals in the Middle East involved babies being placed in the hands of an outstretched Molech which were heated and the infants were burned to death when positioned in these hands. I do not know if this was practiced by the Jews but they did offer children by fire to Molech. Today in the name of the god of promiscuous sex, babies are burned to death with a saline solution while in their mother’s womb.

Solomon himself worshipped this most wretched god and built an alter to him, 1 Kings 11:7 and 2 Kings 23:13. Solomon loved the world and compromised to please sinful man. His wives worshipped false gods so to appease them; he did also in his old age. He was very lukewarm in his faith as a compromiser with the ways of society and culture.

The “Queen of Heaven” is a goddess of fertility whom Jeremiah exposes. She was a goddess for the ladies whom they brought raisin cakes to. My husband had blood drawn at Mercy Medical Hospital in Nampa, Idaho awhile back. As we were leaving, I noted the statue of Mary with a crown on her head. She is often depicted this way in Catholicism as one of her titles is the “Queen of Heaven.” God, in Jeremiah, strictly admonishes His people not to worship the “Queen of Heaven.” (Jeremiah 44:17 & 25)

Ashtoreth is another prominent goddess of fertility, but not mentioned in Jeremiah.
Solomon worshiped this goddess too as several are mentioned in scripture that he went after in disobedience to God who chastised him.

There are many false gods mentioned in scripture but these are the main ones repeated.
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Returning to verse 16 of Jeremiah chapter 1, we see the works of man’s hands are exalted and not the ways and works of God. Man often times ignores who gave him the abilities he possesses, though nothing of what he fashions will pass on into eternity as we brought nothing into this world nor will be take anything out of it; 1 Timothy 6:7. The earth is passing away and all of its lusts, but the one who does the will of God abides forever. We are not to put stock in that which is material or made by man.

Verse 17 is a warning to Jeremiah to be obedient to God or God will bring judgment upon him for not holding and proclaiming His words. Jeremiah was called of God, but he could still refuse as we all have our will that can conform to God’s or can choose not to.

Encouragement is lavished upon Jeremiah in verse 18 as God reassures him of His great shelter placed about him illustrated by a fortified city, pillar of iron and walls of bronze. This was his protective invisible gear against opposition. It was unseen but it was there, and we will perceive it as we study through this book. Jeremiah always continued on no matter what befell. We have similar gear which is the armor of God which encases us when we walk in obedience. We read of this special protection provided for us that safeguards us against satan in Ephesians chapter 6.

Further encouragement is delivered to Jeremiah’s ears as God lets it be known that He will always deliver him from his adversaries. This also discloses to Jeremiah that it will not be an easy road as these disobedient Hebrews will always be attempting to stop the message of God’s Word.

Jeremiah Chapter 2

As we delve into verse 1 of chapter 2, the Lord reminds us that the Word of God came to Jeremiah, not the words of mere man. Remember in chapter 1, verse 7, God was going to tell Jeremiah what to say. What a prayer for us to intercede with, for God to put His Words in our mouths!! As His children we want to be His ambassadors declaring His Words not the words of today’s society which involves speaking forth its methodologies, terminologies, philosophies; the beat of man-contrived self-elevation. There will come a day when God alone will be exalted. Men will no longer exalt themselves, for they will be abased. The pride of men will vanquish; Isaiah 2:11,12, & 17.

As we venture onto verse 2, God tells Jeremiah further what to speak to His disobedient children. In chapter 1, verse 5, we learned Jeremiah was consecrated for this calling as he was set aside while in the womb. We too are set aside as believers to proclaim God’s Word as we also were chosen before the foundation of the world as we witness in Ephesians 1:4-6. We hold the same unique position as Jeremiah did, but under the New Testament economy of grace.

God becomes romantically poetic in this verse reminiscing of the Jews former devotion as one who has given their life-long marriage vows in the covenant of marriage. He takes pleasure in remembering their faithfulness to Him as He led them from Egypt to the wilderness march for the land of plenty or The Promised Land.

He proclaims they were holy to the Lord in verse 3! They were His chosen ones, yet they fell away and the guilt came upon them as they compromised and did what was right in their own eyes, forsaking His commands of loving obedience. They forsook their first love! He refers to the Jews as the first of His harvest. In James 1:18, we see as New Testament believers, we were brought forth by the Word of Truth, so we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

We hold a spectacular position, so did Israel, but it is easy for Christians to take their chosen called election and throw this gift back in the face of God through not being totally dedicated to Him and His Word. We basically say we don’t want Your love and blessings that follow obedience, submission and lifetime dedication.

Verse 3 also warns us that evil came upon them for their disobedience. In Hebrews chapter 12 verse 5-6, which is quoting Proverbs 3:11, we see God is a God of discipline who deals with His disobedient ones. In the church at Corinth, some believers were sick and some had died as they partook in communion in an unworthy manner; 1 Corinthians 11:30. God is very serious concerning obedience and bringing Him glory in a righteous manner.

In verse 5, we witness more of the unconditional love of their Savior, who saved them out of Egypt. God reveals the compassion of His heart for His people by inquiring of them why they have forsaken Him after He has met all their needs. He led them through the desert land that even had “pits,” verse 6, to deliverer them from Pharaoh’s hand. I know no where else in scripture where it reveals how God led the departing Hebrews around these pits on their wilderness march. He led them even in deep darkness. Exodus 13:21 reveals He did this by a pillar of fire by night and they were protected by a pillar of cloud by day that no doubt shielded them from the bright sun of the desert. We serve a very gracious and mindful God.

Verse 7 goes on to state this unconditional sustaining love brought God’s people to the land of milk and honey. It is so easy for me to forget all God has done for me; thus, to reflect over the previous years of His great and daily abundance which He bestowed upon me, is a productive exercise so I remember to engage in thanksgiving. God guides and directs us and in many ways. I believe, we are unaware of many things or we take them for granted such as the air we breathe moment by moment that sustains our lives.

The failure of worship, adoration and praise extended even to the priests who where to be examples of faithfulness; verse 8. They who handled the precious Word did not even take the time to know the God of the Word. And those who were to be God’s prophets, went after the false god, Baal.

A key statement here is they walked after those things that did not profit. I have to ask myself, how many things do I follow after that have no eternal value nor bring glory to the Savior? If I am Christ’s child, I need to be constantly seeking those things that bring glory to my righteous, glorious, holy, pure, innocent, modest, decent, etc…etc Lord. I must use my time on earth for things that represent the things above where my mind is to be set. I hear it said, you are not to be so heavenly minded you are of no earthly good. You know, I have never met such a person, one who is too heavenly minded. The majority of believers I meet are too earthly minded for any heavenly good as they are so involved in the passing pleasures and entertainment of this earth that is passing away. If you read Christ’s letters to the seven churches in Revelation, not once does He reprimand them for being too heavenly minded, just the opposite.

Hosea had been a prophet to the northern kingdom, Israel. The sins of Israel eventually consumed Judah as well that is why both the northern and southern kingdoms were taken into captivity. The north, taken by Assyria, 136 years before Judah was removed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, which is on the horizon as Jeremiah proclaims throughout this book.

In Hosea 4:2, some of the sins of the land are exposed . . . swearing, deception, murder, stealing, adultery, violence and bloodshed. Verse 3 provides us with an observation as to how far reaching and consuming disobedience to the Word can be as it causes all people to languish along with the animals, including the birds and fish of the sea—they all disappear.

Now isn’t that interesting, it is sin that causes wildlife and aquatic life to be removed when transgression consumes the land, not air and land pollution, but sin pollution!

As we move down into the next paragraph, God recites the silliness of forsaking Him as the Jews removed themselves from the Lord’s righteous glory and followed after the unprofitable as we read earlier. God wants us walking in wisdom and common sense but these attributes can be easily withdrawn when we turn to the temporary and selfish desires of the flesh and culture.

The sad cry of God’s heart is felt when we move to verses 12f. He is always hurt by our sin and disrespect for His Word. He, the fountain of living waters, has been cast aside for vanity and temporary pleasure,

Verse 13 is a visual photo to us as we can visualize wells hewn out in stone that hold no rain water as there is a crack in the rock where the water leaks. These people no longer possess the pure living water but wasted polluted water.

The following verses go on to explain how they are consumed by lions; those who have no compassion and just want the smell of death. This passage speaks of the coming destruction. Here, Cairo Egypt is mentioned, which was Memphis at that time and Tahpanhes was in NE Egypt. Judah was horrifically plagued by Egypt at this time. Egypt was eventually consumed by Babylon as well following Judah’s captivity.

Having shaved the crown of their heads represents slavery as that would be their forthcoming appearance. Being shaved was not in line with the law and represented the humility of their disobedience.

Verse 17 places all the blame on Israel! They couldn’t say, “Well, the surrounding nations had so many appealing ways that we just couldn’t say no. We wanted to be styling with everyone else. We didn’t want to be seen as weird, different and out of style.”

God continues to ask them how could they not be totally devoted to Him when He led them personally in the way? He led them through the wilderness and up to the present time. This truth is viewed in Psalm 121:4; behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

God becomes sarcastic in verse 18 as He deals with their stupidity as He delivered them from Egypt and now they’ve enslaved themselves again to Egypt and other nations through their lusting after their cultural ways. God removed His children from Egypt, but He could never remove the Egyptian heart that desired all the world had to offer. Egypt was the styling vacation spot and place of residence…with the lavish on display…gold, silver, costly garments, flashy home décor, exotic food, education, medical advancements and on and on. Not forgetting their arid climate.

The Jews disloyalty will cause God to use their own wickedness to correct them, verse 19. We all reap what we sow! If we sow iniquity, we will reap the consequences! This is basically what this verse is teaching.

The last phrase is so key…the dread of God is not in you! We are to fear God as He is a God of judgment; plus, we know the fear of God is the beginning of understanding. If we don’t truly dread our wrathful God (Philippians 2:12) we end up down a road that is all destructive! We truly see God’s wrath unleashed upon the godless when we focus in on the eschatological times of Revelation.

The following verses deal with Israel and the false gods she deceitfully chases as she believes God doesn’t see her hidden sins that are performed on the hills, where the idols were placed though they held no loftiness as lifeless images.

God tore off Israel’s Egyptian bonds; yet, she re-chose the sin of bondage. Sin always produces bondage that allies itself to satan. We are only free when we exercise His moral and upright ways in our lives which arises out of our deep love for our Savior.

God planted Israel as His chosen, a most precious and prevailing position, but they threw this celebrated stance back in God’s face to His heartache. They were at one time faithful and glorified Him, but now all has been discarded.

In Luke 8:8 & 11, we see a good planting in productive soil brings glory to God. Verse 11 tells us the seed is the Word of God. When God’s teachings are not received seriously, it becomes foul and unfruitful in our hearts.

As we traverse on, we see once one is intertwined with sin, verse 21, it brings a true cheapness, like overdone make-up. The depth and insightfulness that comes only from God’s Word is replaced with the worldly cheap sensual beat that has no deep refined instrumentation.

Judah is to the point of lying to God, pretending she is loyal and true just as an unfaithful wife might attempt to convince her husband she has always been the devoted mate to avoid the scalding water of his wrath.

Judah is stained with an irremovable stain that cannot be hid from her God who is omniscient, knowing all things. She can go to worship, sing the songs, hear the Word and appear holy, but God knows what is hidden within. She is walking in defilement though she lies and says “I am not defiled.” The world and its ways are vile, but she enjoys it too much to confess it. God reveals the inner person in verses 22f.

To note a New Testament contrast, turn in your Bibles to Matthew 23:27. You will note Jesus Christ here is pointing the finger to the religious hypocrites who possess an external righteous appearance, but He being God knows their wicked sinful hearts. Reality reveals that these heads of faith, actually held within them that which resembled dead man’s bones and all uncleanness. These Jews were compromisers too!

Verse 25 reveals fact as Judah states; she will follow after the strangers and not her faithful heavenly Father.

Verse 26 of chapter 2 reveals a heart attitude of Judah as she is only ashamed when she is caught in her sin, not when in the practice of it. Also there is not a place of true repentance. We’ve seen politicians, athletes, etc, who would never admit they were wrong until they are caught and often times their confession is half-hearted and not always on the mark of true revelation and exposure. David, himself, did not repent of his sin with Bath Sheba till Nathan brought the matter up to him in the tale of the little pet ewe lamb.

God calls for His people to be ashamed of their sin before Him; He who is all righteousness and purity. He is our standard never men! Even Israel’s godly leaders had turned to evil, their priests and prophets. They were the religious leaders of the time and they had all chosen a wrong road.

False prophets and teachers who infiltrate the church are exposed throughout scripture including 2 Peter and Jude. Even Christ warned us of their presence in our churches. Judas was the first false tare who we recognize in New Testament scripture. No one even suspected him as he was among the others who performed so many miracles, stayed faithful to Christ, etc.

Many of the false ones know how to walk the walk and talk the talk; yet, whenever they get a chance, they will state a false teaching here and there, a teaching of culture or society that is not scriptural or of a separated stance.

These teachers become more prominent in the church in the last times as believers will no longer long for the deep and convicting teaching of verse by verse study. They will desire teachers who present very little Bible and only that which makes them feel good, not that which causes them to fall on their knees in deep repentance. They are not desirous of gaining continuous higher ground as the hymn writer put it. “I’m pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every day, still praying as I’m onward bound, ‘Lord plant my feet on higher ground.’’’

I don’t believe in worldly advertising for churches; but nevertheless, I have never read a billboard for a church that states “Come and learn how to suffer for Christ.” Gaining friends and having fun seems to be the fancy by which churches want to advertise and present themselves in these last days.

In verse 27, God addresses the new age movement of the time as they were worshipping the earth and the things of the earth such as trees and stones. I was told of a man who decided to become a Native American though he was not by nationality. He would go up to the mountains to commune with his father-god of nature. People of this false faith truly believe the spirits are in the trees, rocks, etc. and these must be left undisturbed. We witness how this movement has grown as wilderness American soil is now not to be cultivated for man-made purposes to the extreme.

Romans chapter one speaks of people worshipping the creation rather than the creator, suppressing the truth as God has made Himself evident to them through His attributes. After a society turns to creation for answers rather than the creator, it then begins to approve of homosexuality which results in a culture’s demise. God gives its inhabitants over to their wickedness. The great kingdom of Rome is no longer as it fell deep into these lustful, indecent and immodest ways. They diverted from all chaste prudishness!!

There is an interesting twist to all this as these chosen children of God have turned their backs on Him but not their face. They will present a form of godliness such as going to the temple, presenting sacrifices, etc, as we will see further when we arrive at Jeremiah 6:20. This could be akin to believers coming to church on Sunday, speaking all the right talk and maybe even teaching Sunday school; however, during the week they do what is right in their own eyes in many areas.

When it settles down to reality and God’s discipline, these Jews will all of a sudden call on God to save them. They won’t call on their false idols to save them as those gods have no mouths to speak nor ears that hear, etc (see Psalm 135:15-18). The end result is in verse 18, they become like their idols; obviously lacking all common sense and decency. However, reality doesn’t strike untill terror is on their heels.

Verse 28 portrays God in His sarcastic humor as He challenges His people to let idols arise and save them if they can when His wrath strikes. This is similar to Elijah, 1 Kings 18, who told the false prophets to yell to get Baal, the storm god, to respond to them. He too mocked the stupidity of man-made religion.

Many people today worship the television in the sense that this is where they acquire their humanistic cultural philosophies; yet, it wasn’t the television people ran to on 9-11 for hope; it was God. People picked up Gospel tracts as if they were worth a million dollars. At the Columbine school massacre, people ran to the churches not the physiatrists sent by the state.

As we travel further into Jeremiah chapter two, we see in verse 30 that God attempted to chastise His children but with no results. God is longsuffering, but only for a season. Judgment on disobedience is for New Testament believers too as we know from Hebrews 12, Revelation chapters 2-3, and other portions of scripture.

Back in Jeremiah, we see in verse 30, that these people killed the true prophets. This is powerfully exposed in Hebrews 11:36-38.

Verse 31 reveals how faithful God has been to His children, always present for them. He has not been in the wilderness nor hidden in darkness. This truth proclaims God’s unconditional love for His people through his omnipresence. He has never failed them nor forsaken them even when they have chosen the wrong paths.

We move away from God, He doesn’t move from us! The second we repent, we know He is there and always has been, just waiting for that call of re-communion.

The deep heart hurt and cry is felt as we read verse 32 of God’s spoken words, as Judah has forgotten God whom He loves with all His heart. This nation as a whole hasn’t even thought of Him for days without number! We too break God’s heart when we follow after the ways of society and not His holy, inerrant Word. Believers can also break God’s heart when they only think of Him on Sunday and never fellowship with Him through His Word and prayer during the week.

Judah’s personal wickedness is addressed in verses 33-35. She is so evil she even teaches the surrounding nations how to fall further into sin.

This nation doesn’t even care for its innocent poor population. James 2:5 and 5:1-6 disclose how detestable this is in the eyes of our Lord. God chose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of His kingdom. Partiality is a devious sin when we love the socially acceptable in men’s eyes above the ones who do not fit into worldly uppity society.

God confronts Judah and says you did not find the poor breaking into your home whereby you believe you can justly ill-treat them. There is no reason for this, as it is just spiteful prejudice. They truly believe they are better than others. The Jews reveal how they are walking in denial in verse 34 stating they are innocent. They turn their back on all sin including how they treat the undesirables.

They believe they are under grace alone and no judgment or wrath would arise from their God who is all love. Warning believers that there are consequences to disobeying the Holy Word was just as deplorable to the people back then as it is today!!

Verse 36 speaks of them changing their ways; always walking in instability to go with the flow. This is certainly exposed in James 1 as people are tossed here and there by the instability of their ways not holding fast to Christ alone. They love to explore the newest trendy ways that change from year to year. Malachi 3:6-7 discloses God does not change that is why we are not to accept new philosophies and methodologies that do. When we accept worldly ways and compromise, we are seen as unstable souls and our witness can become a matter of mockery.

The coming judgment of these actions appears in verse 37 as they leave their land in humiliation with their hands on their heads. Many were killed and many were taken captive by Babylon. Judah trusted in the surrounding culture, but it would be that society that would bring forth their demise and captivity. When we trust in society, loving its fun, entertainment, materialism, etc, not seeing those unsaved people who bring it to us as enemies of the cross of righteousness; we can be brought into its bondage by its outward deception of counterfeit presentation.

Jeremiah Chapter 3

The sanctity of the marriage vowels and this serious covenant made with God is addressed in the first verse. We know in this day and age that this covenant is not witnessed in the serious and grave manner it was a century ago when divorce was not a simple legal option.

Verse one is basically quoting Deut. 24:1- 4. This is a situation of divorce allowed by the law where a woman if found to be impure by her husband thus separation is allowed. She was not the chaste virgin he believed her to be. She lied. Even though virginity holds a place of mockery today, we know that women and men are to come together as chaste virgins through the marriage vowels stated before our holy Lord.

Of course, many believers have turned to a pure mindset after being saved from a lustful past, as God forgives, restores and renews as we see with the woman at the well. I believe God sees a couple as pure when they marry, if they pursued purity after coming to Christ.

Scripture also admonishes us to be chaste virgins before our Lord in the sense of walking in purity and not being stained by this moral-less world where chastity, modesty, and decency are hated.

I was so hurt when the movie Titanic was released as all of God’s calling for purity was cast aside in this drama that even Christians praised. Believers are to walk in all purity hating the sins that sent Christ to the cross including nudity, pre-marital sex, swearing, and all the vileness of the world that was portrayed in this production.

Why did many observe nothing awry in this movie? I have no idea. I also do not know why believing parents let their young children view it. Why Christians even expect godless vile Hollywood to produce decent programs is beyond me. They are not God’s called out and separated ones. We are not called to reform the unregenerate. This can only be accomplished by the new birth. Believers think if they complain enough Hollywood will acquire a Christian mindset when producers have no spiritual discernment to begin with. Yes, once in awhile a movie with a good moral is produced, but Christ’s name is not uplifted and glorified unless some Christian influence penetrates by chance and that is more than rare.

Why Christians believe they have to be entertained by the world is beyond me. May all of us who are believers think this through in light of our separated calling. Our calling is to go and save souls everywhere without a spirit of partiality.

In 1 Peter 3:2, we see a woman of chastity being able to win her erring husband back to the Lord (acting chaste toward other men). This type of woman today would be respectful in her behavior. She would not be flirtatious nor dress to attract the opposite sex. She would not be a woman who would set her mind on alluring movie stars, Christian entertainers, or the neighbor next door. Her mind and heart would be set on her husband alone.

We are to possess pure minds. What we set before our eyes can pollute a godly mindset. We can turn to what is improper by what we seat ourselves before. I know personally, I have a far better thought life when I’m away from worldly entertainment. I was formerly addicted to the television, but God released me when I cried for deliverance as a young person.

In verse 1, God is speaking of pollution, sin pollution that can occur when a man divorces his wife. Because she is not wanted, she goes to a man who desires her. Then, out of the blue, her previous husband decides to pursue her, even though she has been with another man. She then decides to return to her original husband. (Believe it or not I have heard of such things.) Why is this wrong? Because we know God ordained one woman for one man. It bears the appearance of harlotry not purity. God’s children are not to go from mate to mate; this being abhorrent. If one divorces and remarries, then they must stay with that person. A woman may feel guilty because she broke her marriage vowels, but she must receive God’s forgiveness and stay with her current husband for life. Of course, a woman may want to return for other reasons as well. Maybe this new husband is not an adequate provider or doesn’t pay her as much attention. Whatever the situation, she is not to pollute the land and return to her first husband.

Today, we hear about pollution to the extreme, yet God says what curses the land is sin. We see in Hosea 4:2-3 that sin causes the land to languish along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky. Plus the fish of the sea disappear. God’s curse on the land for sin-pollution is the depreciation of its wildlife.

Verse 2 moves into the idolatry of these Hebrews. They are pursuing many gods like an Arab in the desert who is a thief just waiting for his next victim. It’s as if Judah just can’t get enough gods to be in bondage to. The Arab thief is never satisfied either, no matter how much wealth he pockets by the edge of a sword.

In verse 3, we witness more of God’s curse on creation as He is withholding the rain, specifically the spring rain. How can crops grow without spring rains? No rain . . . no food. Today Israel is a desert land where once she was a land of milk and honey. Obedience brings blessings; disobedience, great hardship.

We see an interesting phrase in three, that of Judah possessing a harlot’s forehead. A godly chaste woman covered herself with a veil, a promiscuous woman did not or she wore a very little one that did not cover her forehead.

In 2 Samuel 13:18, we see the dress of a virgin as we view David’s daughter, Tamar. She is dressed in a virgin garment for the king’s daughters. It is long sleeved and consists of modest robes. Because her sinful brother, Amnon, raped her, she tares her virgin garments in shame; no doubt, feeling unworthy to now don them.

How many women today would consider it an honor to wear modest virgin garments? In today’s society, girls want to wear the garments of a harlot, very immodest and revealing. Modest virgin garments that cover the body would certainly be mocked today; but God, who calls women to dress modestly, endorses them; 1 Timothy 2:9.

In verse 3, back in Jeremiah, we see Judah is unashamed in serving the other gods. On the flipside, we witness she likes to pretend she loves God; verse 4. Judah calls God her Father and feigns being God’s friend. This would be similar to people attending church on Sunday, listening to the message, singing the hymns, praying, taking communion; yet, doing as they choose during the week without asking themselves if this is pleasing to my holy and righteous Lord.

Judah recognizes God is angry with her; verse 5; yet, with no desire to turn away. She truly does not fear God. Fearing God is the beginning of understanding.

God speaks to Jeremiah in verse 6 in disgust concerning Judah as He asks him if he saw the wicked idolatrous ways of Israel? God is asking Jeremiah this question during the rule of Josiah, the righteous king of Judah. Israel was taken captive by Assyria many years previous; however, Judah never learned from Israel’s sins and consequences.

God desired that Israel repent, but she did not. God cannot understand why Judah never learned a lesson in this. Today, society can witness people being haled off to prison for drug abuse; however, it never prevents others from following suit. The total wisdom of God is rarely desired in any society.

Verse 8 speaks of God divorcing Israel. We can’t have a better picture of this than with Hosea who was a prophet to Israel, the northern kingdom, and was told to marry a harlot to portray God’s heart toward Israel.

In the book of Hosea, we witness Hosea remaining faithful for Gomer even though she had many lovers and children by them, as well as by Hosea. Gomer finally leaves Hosea, because of her obvious desire to be with many other men. However, Hosea did not give up on desiring her return and eventually bought her, as she had become a slave to be auctioned. This illustrated the fact, God would eventually bring Israel back from captivity to the Promised Land. He would bestow His love on these Jews once again. The prodigal son is also a picture of God’s desire to forgive and restore the repentant person.

In counseling women who have wayward husbands, I request they pray the prayer of Hosea. He asked for Gomer to be hedged up with thorns, for a wall to be built against her, whereby she could not find her paths. Also that she would not overtake any lovers so she would return to him; Hosea 2:6-7.

The new age movement is addressed in verse 9 again. I spoke to this earlier in 2:27 when it first surfaced in Jeremiah. Israel looks earthward instead of heavenward for answers.

God desires we follow Him wholeheartedly, never halfheartedly. He reprimands Judah for not turning to Him with all of her heart. Deuteronomy 6:5 commands us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our might. Judah disobeyed this command and God was going to bring frightful judgment. As followers of Christ we are not to love Him with just 10% of our being, or 50% nor 90%, but with all our heart!

God is very disappointed in Judah as she is now even more wicked than Israel (the northern kingdom) that has been carried away by Assyria into captivity. Here, God pleads with Israel, not Judah, to repent and return to Him; verse 12.

Also in verse 12, God declares He is a gracious forgiving God. He simply asks Israel to repent. It is always so simple, but few follow this road. Psalm 103:13-14 explains God’s heart of loving His children, as He has compassion on His children who fear Him, just as any father does. He knows our frame and that we are but dust. This puts us in our rightful place. We have no reason to walk in any pride as those made of dust and who are simply dumb sheep. What would we do without our Shepherd?

Verse 15 speaks of a future time when the Jews will be led by shepherds, those who will feed them on the knowledge and understanding of God’s Word. We know this is referring to the millennial period as the next verse speaks of having no need for the Ark of the Covenant as there will be no need to even remember it.

Isaiah 65:17 speaks of the future when God creates a new heavens and earth when former things will not be remembered nor come to mind. Heaven will be so wonderful and fulfilling we will not have a desire to remember this sin-filled earth nor will we think upon it in time.

We so look forward to the time mentioned in verse 17 of Jeremiah, when all will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord. All the nations will be gathered to it and no one will walk again after the stubbornness of their heart.

We know after the Babylonian captivity both Israel and Judah became one nation again and this will be true during the millennium as well; verse 18. This however, will be a total union in love without disputes.

As we return to verse 19, God reveals the pain and hurt of having Israel turn from Him. We too grieve God’s heart whenever we turn from Him. God views this as treachery, when we put other things before Him.

Verse 23 refers to the hills being a deception. Why? Because that was where the idols were always placed. David in Psalm 121 reveals his help came from the Lord not the hills where he looked. The idols were positioned on the hills.

Sin can be all-consuming as we perceive in verse 24. It devours the labor of fathers, and the flocks, herds, sons and daughters. Sin affects the land as we saw earlier. In Jonah 3:8, when Nineveh repented, the beasts had to be covered in sackcloth and ashes, as well as the people. And in Jonah 4:11, God spoke of saving the animals and the people.

Verse 25 is a great prayer of repentance that God desired His people pray. He requested that they simply state that they had sinned against the Lord their God from their youth till this day. A prayer of salvation can be very simple too if it comes from the heart of repentance. One simply asks Christ to save and cleanse them from their sins and take control of their life. God makes it simple for us simple folk.

Jeremiah Chapter 4

God is speaking to Israel, the northern captured kingdom, in verses 1 and 2 of chapter 4. He desires that this chosen nation would reach the nations for Him through Israel turning from detestable things. God wanted the Gentiles saved in Old Testament times as well as in the church age. He desired that the other kingdoms glory in Him just as Israel was called to do. God loves all men and desires all be saved; that’s why we are called to present the Gospel throughout the world and to our neighbors beside us.

James 4:4 addresses God’s disobedient ones. Israel had become a friend of the world and was paying her indebtedness to it through God’s discipline. Israel and Judah had become God’s enemies through their compromising ways. This is hostility toward God as James discloses. Whenever we seek the world for answers and not God’s holy ordinances, we become God’s enemies. Society, which is ruled by satan, will justify most all evil and the Bible is not the standard, as holiness is a foreign word to this world. Years ago, I was filmed for a response to an editorial concerning sex education in the public schools here in Boise for Channel 6. The manager informed me, she had never seen the word righteous before reading my counter reply for airing.

Here are a couple verses from the hymn More Holiness Give Me: “More holiness give me, more striving within; more patience in suffering, more sorrow for sin; more faith in my Savior, more sense of His care; more joy in His service, more purpose in prayer.” Third stanza: “More purity give me; more strength to overcome; more freedom from earth stains, more longings for home; more fit for the kingdom, more used would I be; more blessed and holy, more Savior like Thee.” This hymn reveals what God desires for all His people and what I feel is the heart-cry of these verses in Jeremiah.

Verse three of Jeremiah turns our attention back to Judah, consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. To review again, if you turn to the maps in the back of your Bible, you will see the tribal area of Benjamin. This was the land God allotted to the tribe of Benjamin who descended from Jacob’s son Benjamin. The people living in the area of Judah, below Benjamin, descended from Jacob’s son Judah. Judah is mentioned in verse 5 of chapter 4; this is referring to the entire southern kingdom consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Jacob had twelve sons. The northern captured kingdom, removed by Assyria, consisted of the other ten tribes.

Verse 5 and following speak further of the future Babylonian attack on Judah when many will be killed and made captives. When verse 6 speaks of Zion, it means Jerusalem, the holy city, which is in the area of Benjamin, which you may have noticed on your map. Verse 7 speaks of a lion; this would represent King Nebuchadnezzar who destroyed kingdoms to enlarge his ruler-ship in his thirst for power. We do know by God’s grace that he eventually became a believer through Daniel’s witness and God’s discipline.

In 1 Peter 5:8 satan is described as a lion, because through his craftiness he desires to destroy all of mankind. That is why we are never to waver and turn to the philosophies and teachings that come from his kingdom—the earth. Those teachings that contradict God’s Word eventually bring destruction to the hearer. This is satan’s plan to lead us down the path of destruction through cultural philosophies that sound reasonable and are flesh-fulfilling, but produce God’s discipline. Satan despises all mankind because man is made in God’s image.

God, in verse 7, is straightforward about the consequences of disobediences; if they don’t repent their land will become a waste without inhabitant. This is a result of the fierce anger of the Lord; verse 8; who hates all sin!! We will see this anger of our righteous LORD powerfully unleashed again when judgment falls on the entire world as witnessed in Revelation. Pastors formerly taught on God’s fierce anger, but today it is avoided as not politically correct for the contemporary church. How sad as such preaching brought many to the foot of the cross in centuries past.

Verse 9 speaks of the differing responses of suffering people. “The prophets will be astounded.” This would be the false prophets who truly thought the people were righteous in God’s eyes, as they held a form of godliness. They believed this form of religiosity overshadowed the fact that they were not obeying all of God’s commands for holy living. This verse also states, “hearts will fail” and “priests will be appalled.”

Jeremiah pours out his heart in verse 10 as he feels the justice coming to his fellow Jews is not justifiable. He even boldly exclaims, “God has deceived this people.” However, Deuteronomy 28:15 declares God will bring many curses on the Hebrews if they don’t observe all His commandments and statutes. Verse 32 of Deuteronomy 28 and following state how they will become enslaved to other nations if they disobey their holy God.

Verses 11 and 12, back in Jeremiah, foretell how God is going to bring judgment and there will be no reason to winnow and cleanse the grain that was grown. The people will be ruined and so will the land.

We become redirected to the power of King Nebuchadnezzar in verse 13 as his chariots cannot be halted and the swiftness of his horses will prevail. Job 39, verses 19-25, speak of God’s omnipotence in forming the stately horse. God declares the inner workings of the horse that craves battle. The horse exalts in his strength and power; therefore he inwardly laughs at fear, being not dismayed; Job 39:22. In verse 25 when the trumpet sounds, the eager horse exclaims Aha!!

Moving further into Chapter 4 of Jeremiah, God exhorts them to wash their hearts from evil for their salvation, verse 14. We desire to be washed whiter than snow and we are in the eyes of God, thanks to Christ’s shed blood, which cleanses us from all sin. We must, consequently, continue to choose to walk in the path of moral uprightness.

We additionally witness that God desires that they practice a pure thought life as He desires that no wicked thoughts lodge in them. 2 Corinthians 10:5 commands us to take every thought captive in obedience of Christ. We are not to harbor any thoughts that are contrary to His holy ways. We do this by not allowing the speculations and lofty teachings of culture to have any place in our minds. Anything that contradicts God’s holy and inerrant Word should not be dwelt on as it forfeits our knowledge of God. Ephesians 4:17 warns us not to walk in the futility of our minds. We are not to dwell on those things that don’t bring us closer to our Lord and King nor those things that produce anger, pride, and the sensual and so forth.

We are to think on those things that are lovely, pure, honorable, right and worthy of praise, etc; Phil. 4:8. The music that we regard should cause us to dwell on all those things that are lovely, pure, and honorable like listening to a lovely symphony piece that puts our mind on quiet waters and green pastures, such as Psalm 23 proclaims. Of course, setting our mind on the Lord is of utmost importance! Those things that encompass our being should be representative of a gentle spirit, Philippians 4:5; and that which encompasses humility and lowliness of mind.

This is opposite of what the world teaches as it desires celebrities to applaud and to exalt as stars. It is so wrong when churches possess an entertainment mentality to please the world which exalts the talented. There was a time when the choir sung from the back of the churche as the congregation faced the front, thus forsaking the uplifting of human talent and applauding, etc. Those things that brought haughtiness of mind were to be shunned in times past.

Telling jokes seems to be of all importance in the contemporary church and in entertaining Christendom which often sets the mind on fleshly enjoyment; yet, not one joke is recorded in all of scripture. Yes, God certainly has a sense of humor as we see in Job in creation, yet this humor is to exalt the greatness of our Lord and King alone. The teaching of God’s Word is to be witnessed in all seriousness of mind when we gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing on our fellowship. A David Letterman mentality for worship does not arise from God’s Holy Word. Glitter and lights of showmanship do not cause our holy Lord to rejoice in man’s prideful self-exaltation.

God lets it be known in the following verses that inflicted pain is on the way as Judah has rebelled against God; verse 17. Rebelling is not conforming ourselves to God’s ways but to the ways we desire. These ways lead to a bitter end; verse. 18.

Verse 19 turns our attention to a speech expressing the anguished heart of Jeremiah as God reveals the coming tragedy to the land. Jeremiah does not desire that his people suffer and so his heart aches for them. He says, “My heart is pounding in me.” God has allowed him to hear the battle cry and the sound of the trumpet. In Revelation 9:14 there will be the sound of the trumpet which will result in the third of the earth being destroyed, a far greater catastrophe than what Jeremiah was to experience. John, in Revelation, witnessed this devastation, that of God’s coming judgment upon the whole earth which certainly would have been frightening to say the least. This too will come because people will not humble themselves and turn to God.

As we move on in Jeremiah we see him witnessing the devastation of the land. He even sees, by the will of God, his own tents being destroyed and his curtains, verse 20. God, no doubt, is giving him factual visions that disturb him.

We can understand more of the “heart” of Jeremiah by studying Lamentations which was also penned by him. Lamentations was written after the destruction of Judah. Lamentations follows Jeremiah in the Bible. If you turn to Lamentations 3:15-18, you view Jeremiah’s sorrowful heart as he says God has broken his teeth and has made him cower in the dust. He speaks of forgetting happiness and having no hope from the Lord. Of course, Jeremiah rose up to praise God again, but the devastation was a frightening thing to live through, similar to experiencing an atom bomb or a 9-ll catastrophe. God’s judgment and discipline are never fun that is why we have His Word to exhort us to holy living. He does not desire our sorrow.

God speaks in verse 22 in response as he lets Jeremiah know that His people are foolish and do not know Him, that is, His character of righteousness. They have “no understanding.” Why? They don’t study His ordinances. We are commanded to study God’s Word in the New Testament so we are approved unto God. They did not desire to be approved unto God, learning and practicing His truths. God is saying they are without excuse as they have access to everything. Also, Jeremiah by God’s grace was sent to warn them, but they consistently refuse to listen to him.

Psalm 50:21 is a very revealing verse, as it aptly discloses the people thought God was just like them! We make a huge mistake when we think God enjoys the things we do or thinks the way we think. I believe we are living in the time of the apostasy because believers think God is like them enjoying today’s culture and ways, like they do. They are sadly mistaken! He is not impressed with the arts or any other thing that brings them entertaining joy from this vile world. Isaiah 55:8 proclaims, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord.” God is not impressed by anything man does or accomplishes.

This is why we have to make sure we are worshipping the Christ of the Bible, not an entertaining Christ contrived by man’s prideful mindset. There are many false Christ’s. We have to come to grips with which one we are following. Is the Christ you’re following the Holy Christ of scripture who says come out from among them and be separate?

Jeremiah speaks again in verse 23 quoting Genesis 1:2. He sees that the area of Judah will be “formless and void.” Jeremiah witnesses the result of the fierce anger of the Lord being accomplished probably through a vision. I believe this is referring to the total destruction of the area. Jeremiah continues to express what he sees, as even the hills move “to and fro;” verse 24. There is no man left; this is because the people were either killed or enslaved. Even the birds have disappeared. Nothing remains for the birds of prey to consume; every dead human has been devoured.

In verse 27, God begins speaking again, as He will not execute a complete destruction. This is by His grace. God always preserves a remnant. In Isaiah 11:11-12 God reveals He will gather the banished Jews from Israel and Judah. This foretells their preservation and return to the land after the captivity. The following verses continue to relay the ruin, as God will not change His mind.

Verse 30 states how the women will attempt to make themselves beautiful in a worldly manner in hopes of winning the hearts of the Babylonians, but it will all be in vain as these fierce warriors only care about enlarging their borders for world domination. They are there to kill and destroy not to engage in romance.

Reality strikes in verse 32 as a woman in labor, bearing her first child, is pleading for her life in vain. Her murderers have no compassion even on a woman birthing.

Jeremiah 5 prelude:

My cat Cassidy, who loves only me, hating all other persons and animals, enjoys curling up in a black and white ball on my lap. She also covets snuggling. (She is peering at me right now through the window, saying, “Let me in;” in her own way, of course.) If Alan, my husband, enters the room, she sits up and gives him the evil eye. He will look down at her and say “Yes, I know you want to be alone with Mama.” The moment he leaves, she encircles my lap and coils in simulation, relishing the gratifying contentment of owning only me.

Being alone with Christ in fellowship as I study, pray, and sing hymns is a fountain of living blessing. Holding a private session with my Savior minus any interruptions is my greatest joy. I do not appreciate it if one enters the room and interrupts my precious moments. God’s truths are powerful, persistently timely and daily enlightening and I don’t desire to miss any of their delights.

Jeremiah Chapter 5

As we enter the scene in chapter 5, verse 1, God is pleading for just one, just man to be found in the land. We hear this calling-plea today in America. It is a saddening thing when a court judge is removed for upholding the Biblical truths our nation was founded upon, especially in light of the fact that our original laws came forth from these holy writings. On February 29, 1892, our US Supreme Court declared, “Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind.”

Of course, we just can’t blame our government completely knowing that many churches prefer not to teach doctrines that are offensive for a contemporary society. Unfortunately, the church frequently serves no better example. It is not strange that our society, which also views itself as contemporary, would see no need to embrace that which is often viewed as old-fashioned. When there is similar rhetoric descending from our pulpits, how can we expect this government to govern differently? The Ten Commandments exhorts us not to commit adultery and so does the New Testament; yet, how many pastors overlook divorce and remarriage in their assemblies? How many preach against it? Many commandments that are reemphasized in the NT are cast aside, in order to tickle the ears of those in an assembly. Preaching against coveting—desiring that which has not been allotted to us—is not cool for a materialistic society. Of course, one could go on and on.

Looking further into verse 1, part of seeking justice in the land is desiring truth. Of course, the Ten Commandments are truth and certainly basic for a righteous rulership, as the only truth for living we possess is God’s Word. It is our “how to” book on living purely before our Lord and King. Israel failed her God, who should have been her only king, because she forsook those teachings in the scriptures that she didn’t like; those she didn’t view as contemporary. What is different from today?

God made it clear, if He could find just one who sought truth, He would pardon Judah and she would not suffer the consequences of compromise. However, that never became her desire.

In verse 2, we witness the Jews wearing an external appearance of righteousness as they would say “as the Lord lives.” This statement makes it appear that they held a personal, close relationship to God; but it was only a façade—not lived out through their hearts. Through James 4:15, we interpret that we are still to refer to God’s will if we desire to pursue an endeavor, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” It is Biblical to state as the Lord lives, we will do this or that; but it has to be applied through a heart of righteousness, which the Hebrews did not possess as their being was filled with religious deception.

In verse 3, Jeremiah cries to God inquiring, “Do God’s eyes look for truth?” Jeremiah thinks God is unjustly smiting His people even though he acknowledges they refuse to repent. In this verse, the LORD lets it be known that He attempted correction, but there is no change. They make “their faces harder than rock” which certainly displays a heart that speaks I don’t want to be different from the crowd and I will not change for You, God.

In verse 4, Jeremiah makes excuses for his people by saying they are poor and foolish. Here Jeremiah sets forth his own solution; he’ll just go to the great and speak the Words of God. They know the Word of God. He believes this will result in everyone getting right with the LORD. However, he discovers they have already hardened their hearts and they won’t break them in repentance. They had let go of God’s guiding hands, meaning His “yoke” and “bonds.” Jeremiah spent a great deal of his life attempting to bring truth to the people; yet, all in vain due to their set-in-stone sins.

In verse 6, Jeremiah acknowledges that they don’t seek the values of God; therefore, they must be destroyed by beasts as their transgressions are many and their religious facades are numerous.

God takes the place of speaker and inquires in verses 7-8 “Why should I pardon Judah when her sons have forsaken Me.” The Lord reveals these men have followed false gods. God warns in Psalm 135:15-18 that those who make and trust false gods become like them. We do become like the people and things we spend our time with. If one is consistently seated before the television and movies, they are going to spend their time speaking those things that surround the entertainment realm. If one spends time with one who enjoys telling dirty jokes, they will start retelling those jokes. I knew a pastor who engaged in such behavior. He lived a short life. I must restate, what we spend time with consumes our being through its outpouring. If we spend time in scripture, we will be sharing positive fruitful Biblical truth with others.

This verse states as well, they have committed adultery—sexual unfaithfulness—when they were to hold to one’s mate for life. They were lusting after other women and harlots. They were not holding their thoughts and actions in check. In Matthew 5:27-28 Christ plainly warns that no one should commit adultery, quoting Deuteronomy 5:18. The Lord adds more substance by stating a man can also commit the sin of adultery by lusting after another woman. Of course, women can lust wrongfully after men as well.

In verse 9, we see God’s attribute of vengeance which is also revealed in the NT. Vengeance is to be performed by the Lord; Hebrews 10:30 and Deut. 32:35. God is a consuming fire when it comes to dealing with the sinful and unrepentant. This conflagration of judgment will fully be revealed when the unsaved will stand before him. God is saying because they are not true to their wives for life that He has the right to punish and bring judgment upon the land of Judah! God certainly has the right to avenge America when we see infidelity so rampant in society and in the church.

Undeserved grace is seen in verse 10, as God states “He will not execute a complete destruction,” but He will strip away the false branches. We read in John 15:2-6 of branches being removed, branches that don’t bear fruit. Those who don’t abide in Christ, will be cast into the fire and burned. This is illustrating apostates I believe.

Treachery is seen in verse 12. God says both the northern and southern kingdoms have been treacherous against Him, as they made Him to be someone He was not. They presented Him as one who overlooks their sin believing that no misfortune; sword or famine would ever arise due to their disobedience. Verse 13 reveals it was the false prophets who declared this. They taught grace, and God simply turns the other way when they cast aside Scriptures.

The New Testament teaches us about false prophets in many portions including 2 Corinthians 11:13f. This passage discloses they disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. They know how to enter our churches and play the Christian act, at least on Sunday. These vile dudes are revealed clearly in Jude. They modernize the Bible to their mind-set. They aren’t ones who love inductive Bible teaching and application. 2 Peter, chapter 2, discloses how they will move among us introducing the heretical ways and practices of the world, bringing swift destruction upon themselves, which we witness in John 15. They use false words, not holding to Scripture alone! As we move farther into chapter 2 of 2 Peter, we witness God’s anger is against them as He will cast them into hell. Trekking further, we see Old Testament examples being cited to reveal how God’s wrath is placed upon sinners.

God directly speaks in a personal form to Jeremiah in verse 14, as we turn back to this book. He blesses Jeremiah by stating because he has not compromised the message; God’s words would now be fire in Jeremiah’s mouth. These words would be the convicting fire of the truth of God’s inerrant and holy Word in judgment against sinners. Hebrews 4:12 reveals God’s Word is living and active! None of God’s Word has died. It is still wholly relevant for today. It is living and true just as it was centuries ago. Contemporary-ism does not murder any of its live content. This verse further reveals that it is sharper than any two-edged sword, “piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit.” A pastor may speak dully the living words from Scripture; yet, the words can still convict the one who is not practicing its truth.

The spoken words of Jeremiah were never dull as he was a fiery preacher not speaking words of his own. He spoke through the powerful convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit. Yes, God is a God of love and grace, but His wrath, anger and vengeance cannot be cast aside. The fear of God is the beginning of knowledge! It can bring a hell-destined sinner to his knees. A friend wrote telling me of a man who saw the movie “The Passion of the Christ” resulting in him confessing to murder before authorities. Though there are many inaccuracies with this movie, the Word is still presented and holding enough truth to bring this murderer to confession of sin.

We also learn as we read the next phrase that the words spoken by Jeremiah would “consume them” as fire. God is a consuming fire as we see in Hebrews 12:29. Unfortunately, such messages on this attribute of God are rarely and seldom heard. Of course, these sermons are most needed to be spoken from arenas where the multitudes of lost ones gather. Those in strong churches are usually snatched out of the fire: therefore, they mainly require the meat of God’s Word for uniform growth. Yes, a powerful Gospel still should be presented to one who is searching as they slip in amongst believers; however, a church is to be careful of those who are false teachers who attempt to slip in as well.

When it comes to speaking forth the judgment of God, pastors should not neglect educating their congregations on the wrathful attributes of God. Whereby, believers desire to reach the lost, knowing hell’s fire is not a figment of one’s imagination or a playground for partiers.

In Jeremiah 5:15, our attention is turned to Babylon, which is bringing into play God’s judgment. We read this nation of power is enduring and ancient. It has been in existence since 1830 BC, at least. We first read of this area in Genesis 10:10, when Babel is spoken of. God removed everyone from this compressed area for world migration.

This verse also speaks how they will be unlearned in the language of these people. Babylon spoke Aramaic and Jews spoke Hebrew. Aramaic naturally became the world’s prose that Jews had to adopt. Even Christ spoke Galilean Aramaic on earth when He quoted portions of the O.T.

Verse 16 is a fierce verse as the Babylonian army was not to be reckoned with, as they were mighty and their quiver was an open grave. This obviously revealed their mastery of striking the human mark without fail. David and his men were described as mighty men also in 1 Chronicles 12:8. They had faces like lions and they were swift as gazelles on the mountains. These warriors were also feared in their day, long before the great Babylonian Empire surfaced.

God further informs Jeremiah in verse 17, returning to the passage, that these people will devour all their food, children, herds, vines, and trees. They will also demolish with the sword their fortified cities in which they trust. We see throughout the Word of God, we are not to trust in the things made by men’s hands or hold great admiration for them.

We as believers in this wicked world should never trust in the city or country in which we dwell, believing it will shield us. David in Psalm 20:7 states “some trust in chariots and horses, but we trust in the Lord our God!” Isaiah 40 teaches God elevates as well as destroys kingdoms at will; therefore, we learn we should never anchor hope in them, only in our Lord. God is condemning the people in verse 17, back in Jeremiah, for trusting in Jerusalem’s might when they should only trust in Him.

Verse 20 refers to a people who are not inductively listening to God’s Holy Word. They are equipped to do so with ears and eyes, but they use them not. God in verse 22 reveals they are not fearing or trembling before their all-consuming God. Philippians 2:12 warns us that we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. These two verses, one in the Old and one in the New Testament, should educate us on how we must reverence God who is not to be taken for granted!

As we travel further into the passage, we see the omnipotence of God displayed. He has made sure that the sea has boundaries even during a storm. If one desires to buy an ocean-side home, they should investigate where God’s established boundaries have proven to be steadfast. He controls all and nothing lies outside His declared limits. When my husband and I were in Aruba on our 25th wedding anniversary, Hurricane Ivan struck fiercely removing the stretching man-made beaches, which reestablished the shoreline to its original God-created boundaries.

In verse 23, God further explains His omnipotence in creation. He gives rain in its season, both autumn and spring rains for our harvest time. That is why we observe Thanksgiving, thanking Him for the abundance of food He allows men to reap in the fall; as well as remembering the Pilgrims and His blessings of provision bestowed upon them.

God does not always bless people with harvest. We hear often of drought in other nations. Here God is saying He is withholding these good things from them due to their sin; verse 25. Obedience produces blessings of harvest, sin eliminates many blessings.

Verses 26 and 27 reveal there were wicked men among them, those who take advantage of others and therefore have become great and rich. Sounds like many politicians today who support godless lobbies for their contributions. Yes! Often these lobbies are orchestrated to remove the privileges of the righteous by eradicating moral laws of uprightness. Some lobbyist agendas include allowing evil to reign through the murder of unborn babies. These same people will also lobby for homosexual rights and for promiscuity to be displayed legally. The ACLU fights to allow pornography to be put before children. Many of these groups lobby angrily also in hopes of removing Christ and the Bible from all government domains.

We observe these wicked ones in Jeremiah’s time also did not care for the lowly such as orphans who need special love and attention. They do not defend the rights of the poor. This resembles politics also as the rich often gain the greatest tax breaks not the average working person. Married people have been penalized for not living in sin. If they had chosen this sinful lifestyle, they would have received a greater levy break. People being overtaxed by politicians pay increases for government programs that leave no advantageous mark. This is an unremitting complaint.

God states again in verse 29 that He has a right to avenge as He has listed many sins that are reigning in this kingdom.

Verse 30 concludes this chapter as God exposes that the priests were ruling on their own authority, not God’s. They obviously were not using the scriptures for exhorting, or they bent and twisted them to justify their personal doctrines. These Jews loved hearing priests and prophets who refused to dig deep into the true ways of God.

This is also a warning to us to be cautious of whom we sit under for doctrinal exhortation. 1 John 4:1 implores us to test the spirits to see if they are from God as there are many false teachers or prophets. A true teacher will present a totally Biblical Christ without changing Him to conform to an unrighteous society.

Jeremiah Chapter 6

Chapter 6 is directed to the tribe of Benjamin, whose God-bequeathed area included the prominent city of Jerusalem. Other close cities are also cited as Babylonian targets of war. The Lord is revealing to them that destruction is coming even to the Holy City of Jerusalem.

As we travel further into the passage we see God will not be partial in this judgment as even the loveliest and dainty lady will not escape His wrath. This dainty lady represents Jerusalem and she will be cut throughout by Babylonian annihilation.

Babylon’s intelligent military strategy is reveled in verses 3-6, coming dressed as shepherds, or so it appears, to scout out the land. Who will suspect these disguised ones with their sheep? They determine to attack at noon and night for best advantage. At noon, people would possibly be eating, therefore not alert. In the evening, the enemy can hide in the thickness of the black night. It will be at night that they attack the palaces, which would most likely have posted sentries who can be caught off-guard by stealthy maneuvering.

God has declared that Jerusalem must be punished for its oppression! She is wicked, verse 7, as “violence and destruction are heard in her.”

God has attempted other methods of discipline as parents might try with disobedient children. Sickness and wounds did not cause the Jews to repent as Jeremiah 2:20 reveals. God was striking their sons but to no avail. The verse discloses they accepted no chastening.

In the Corinthian church, members were sick and dieing due to sin and it seemed Christ’s chastening brought no repentance, as death was amongst them; 1 Corinthians 11:30. It is good to perform spiritual checks to see if our lives are lining up with the Word and not the world. God is a God who disciplines His children out of love and concern for corrective purposes; Hebrews 12:5-11. He dislikes stretching forth His hand that inflicts severe pain, but will if necessarily.

God warns the Jews in Jeremiah that He will alienate Himself from them and will make their land without inhabitant; verse 8. It is not a pleasant thing when God deserts His people. And it will not be a fun time when they are removed from their homes and land to dwell with the heathen who have little or no knowledge of the Holy One.

God will not leave any person in the land. He will remove all, as one who moves their hand over a vine to insure all fruit is gathered for harvest; verse 9.

Even though Jeremiah persistently warns these Jews from a loving heart that reveals God’s love and concern, they refuse to listen, as their ears are closed; verse 10.

The last phrase of verse 10 is quite insightful as the Word of the Lord has become a reproach to them; they have no delight in it!

How many believers today do not delight in the Word of God and even dislike much of its poignant teachings? How many Christians actually cherish having time to study and rejoice in the Holy Scriptures? If they do not, this type of attitude is very distasteful in the mouth of our righteous Christ.

Amongst the persecuted church, the Word of God is very precious like sought after diamonds! In a magazine that tells of persecution, I saw a photo of women secretly huddled in a crawl space for Bible study. They praise and learn of God in the darkness. They know they can be imprisoned or murdered for their faith. Yet, they are very hungry for the Word and are willing to take the chance for Bible study and fellowship. Would you meet in a crawl space to hear God’s Word without all the worldly allurement that American churches entice people with today?

The government churches are safe places to worship for the Chinese, but they are not the on-fire churches that meet in a crawl space, in an attic or out in the forest. Yet, these are the churches that thrive in number without a fancy stage and sensual rock music with special lighting. These faithful Orientals simply sing to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in their hearts to the Lord; Ephesians 5:13. Most often, it must be done quietly so no one turns them in.

America’s churches have a very different flavor as most pastors tell many jokes to add to an atmosphere that says, “we are worldly, come and join us” just to keep the people coming back for more entertainment that resembles their favorite television show. It seems churches desire people feel right at home, just as if they never left their television sets of entertainment. Pastors seem to believe this moves their churches to a prominent known-spot in the community of success with numbers of lukewarm believers, or even unsaved filling the pews. The church means the called-out ones, true believers, but pastors don’t care as long as numbers are high on the charts like the latest released Christian music CD.

Those who are truly on-fire for the Word need no worldly externals just the deep preaching of the Scripture. If our churches were revived and set apart from all worldliness, with only on-fire members, what a difference these churches would make in America. In Revelation chapter 3, Christ proclaims that He is going to vomit the Laodicean believers out of His mouth as they were not on-fire, simply lukewarm. We read in Revelation 1:20 that the seven churches disclosed in this book are represented by seven lampstands that can be removed as we witness with the Ephesus church; Revelation 2:5. Christ further states of the Laodiceans, that they required the refining fire to enable them to walk in white garments; white being the symbol of purity and holiness. The whiteness denotes the opposite of following after cultural sensual allurements that leave stains of unrighteousness. However, numbers are too important for today’s secular-minded churches as more numbers reveal importance and prominence just like corporate success.

Does not God have a right to judge us, as He did Israel that no longer took the Word seriously when it came to separating from society’s influence and sensual allurements for personal gain and fame? Israel also saw no reason to absorb the whole Word of God in all seriousness, reverent respect, honor and obedience.

Most churches desire activities advertised such as game, video or dance nights; these appeal to the world or so they falsely believe. I believe the persecuted church reveals truth that sincere dedicated believers just desire the Word taught and a chance to participate in sacrificial service. It is through being victimized that these fellowships are growing in very large numbers not cultural fun! The church is to be equipping the saints for Christian service not social fun in the sun. No where can you locate a silly command for social activities in the Word.

Churches are so silly and if you don’t think the world sees how silly they are then think again. I believe they do and this keeps people from wanting to hear the true Gospel message when it is brought to them.

Today’s pastors don’t desire to be obedient, going out to preach the Word on street corners and in public places, so they turn their churches into social entertainment recreational centers. They think this will somehow appease our most holy and righteous Christ. Do pastors really think God is so stupid to approve when He reigns in all holiness and decency with no compromise of evil!

The persecuted Hmong people of the Orient run from village to village with the Gospel though it often times means death or imprisonment. They aren’t afraid of what people think! They are the despised slave race of China brutally abused by those who see them as socially unacceptable. The women wear modest clothing, a head covering in worship and the services are humble and lowly; very pleasing to our humble and lowly Christ! The lust and delight of the eyes is not important for their services that often meet in the forest’s seclusion.

J. Vernon McGee, who has gone to be with the Lord, shared on his recorded broadcast this week, how desperate churches have become for numbers. He spoke of a pastor who dressed as a clown in the pulpit every Sunday and told jokes to attract people to his fellowship. He also told of a church that brought in a strip-teaser to perform, to entice outsiders. Does God not have the right to judge America as He did Israel?

Verse 11 reveals Jeremiah’s disappointment over Israel’s lack of love for God’s Word as he says he is full of the wrath of the Lord and he is weary of holding it in. Jeremiah formerly was concerned for the fate of his people; now he sees the reality of their sin and wants judgment. He states their many sins, including being greedy for gain. The church leaders even partook; verse 13.

Are not pastors greedy for gain, as they want the greatest numbers in attendance in church no matter the compromise with culture? This also provides a large comfortable salary for all pastors. Though our pastors should be paid for working diligently in the ministry, some pastors today are paid way beyond what they perform. Many pastors will not evangelize outside the church, engage in congregational visitation, or hold other services outside of one Sunday sermon. Having a long rock concert with shallow non-convicting Christian lyrics, and a short please-all sermon is basically the extent of many a pastor’s service in the church. Oh, and yes, with a bit of counseling thrown in for good measure.

Of course, members participate in this mind-set as well, wanting to be in a large church which they can brag about. How many of us, when we hear of a church, ask how many people are attending in order to know how sizeable it is, so we can judge its worldly success? We are silly and sinful too!

How many people parade their business in church for greedy gain or attend church only for trade-success? Does God not have a right to judge us too!

Verse 15, truly lays it on the line as punishment is due, as the Jews no longer even know how to blush! Blushing is prudish and seen in America as something to be made fun of; yet, very commendable in God’s economy. A person can lose their ability to blush in today’s society by just watching a couple hours of television with its immodest and immoral ways. Christian videos don’t always promote modesty as well. Modesty in the Greek means “dressing in bashfulness towards men and in the fear of God” according to Strong’s Concordance of old. Women are commanded to dress so in the New Testament. If people aren’t acting modest, dressing modest and walking in all moral uprightness, they should not be set before our eyes in the name of entertainment. We are to set no evil thing before our eyes!

Immoral people are not to be allowed in church either. Believers are not permitted to associate with those who say they believe, but are living immoral lives; 1 Corinthians 5:9-12 and 6:9-11.

In verse 16, we perceive staying with the ancient paths is most important. This may sound very old fashioned for those who want the new and exciting roads. But new and exciting roads are ever changing and never bring lasting satisfaction. New roads are always sought, as the old ones become classified as out-of-date. God reveals, however, people will find rest for their souls if they follow His ancient path. NO path of this world gives rest to the soul!

Holding to the ancient paths would be the ones the great patriarchs, prophets and apostles followed. Jeremiah was certainly one who held to the ancient path and reaped spiritual blessings despite the rejection and hatred cast upon him by God’s lukewarm people.

God’s Words are never old fashioned in His economy of truth. Christians may reject those passages they consider not for a hip and styling generation, but all were given in wisdom and are enduring in the eyes of our most holy and separated God who never changes. God views the ancient paths of wise pursuit as “the good way,” or we might say the good street. If we walk this road, we grasp in Psalm 101:3 that He pardons our iniquities and heals all our diseases. We have noticed throughout the book of Jeremiah that this is the yearning of God as He desires to remove His chastening hand. Blessing and healing arise from obeying this “good way.”

We also perceive in James 5:16 that we can be healed of disease if we confess our sins, seeing sin in light of the ancient paths. Of course, God can say no if the disease will bring Him glory or it is our time to leave this world, which is passing away with its lusts.

We notice at the end of this verse that God’s children are not interested in the ancient proven ways of God’s holy truth. They want to emulate the styling society of their time, a society who sees God as old-fashioned, not fun and entertaining.

Walking further into this section, the consequences of facing the invading Babylonian army reappear. The Lord proclaims in verse 19 that this disaster is the fruit of their plans. Not plans ordained by the Lord. We can note an example of reaping harmful fruit if we turn to Luke 12:16-21. Here a rich man had reaped an immense substance of crops that he stored in great barns, but he did not even begin to imagine that he could fall dead that night with no eternal hope, as he invested naught in the eternal fruits of God; but only in the fruits of materialistic earthly accumulation.

In Jeremiah verse 20, we see that the offerings of the people to God are meaningless. Why? They did not give because they loved the Lord with all their hearts, souls and minds and His Word. It speaks of them offering to God even costly goods such as frankincense that came all the way from Sheba, which was in SW Arabia and sugarcane which was shipped in from the tropics. We know fragrant frankincense is a significant gift of kings as it was presented to Christ after his birth, which we read in Luke 2:1-12. Even though these gifts cited in Jeremiah were considered elaborate, they were rejected by God as He knew the hearts of His people were not pure and holy and given solely over to Him.

God makes it be known again, in verse 21 of Jeremiah, that His people will perish without any partiality as fathers, sons, neighbors and friends will all die. More verses follow that elaborate on this catastrophe, as Babylon comes in with great fierceness. Terror will be on every side and their lamentations will be most bitter. If you will turn to Lamentations, the following book and also penned by Jeremiah, you will read how Jeremiah felt following the reality of this aftermath when it actually arrived.

In Lamentations 1:1-2 we witness Jeremiah pouring out his heart as Jerusalem is now desolate, a city that once was great is no more. This is no longer prophecy into the future but living reality of sadness and gloom for Jeremiah; lamenting over the land and people of God. We also witness Jeremiah is broken in spirit over the fact that his people are now forced laborers under King Nebuchadnezzar.

Returning to Jeremiah, verses 27-30, God has given Jeremiah the task of assayer. He is to judge the purity of the Jews in their allegiance to the Lord. We see in these verses that they have no valuable qualities. They possess rebellious hearts and they gossip. They tell tales on each other, probably most not even true. It’s interesting how we can make people look bad by adding or subtracting from facts. Many people like to tell tales so they will be liked for the negative knowledge they hold on others or supposedly do. Some people relish sitting with the office worker who enjoys making fun of the boss.

I remember being so discouraged when I had recently began attending a church, years ago and was invited to a gathering of members. It ended up not being a place I desired to be as they had roast-pastor’s-wife for lunch. Everything was stated in spite; yet, nothing of major consequence was spoken. They just wanted to make her look bad without the ingredients. As a new attendee, sitting out in an attached room not knowing the people well, I was taken back and hurt that respected people in the church where engaging in this.

I knew a lady in upstate New York who had been delivered from gossip after a speaker spoke at her church in the power of conviction. She was the church gossip until she repented that night. I knew her after this happening and she was most sweet and kind. I would have never guessed her previous occupation, gossiper. God certainly washes us whiter than snow when we allow Him to.

Verse 28 speaks of the Israelites being bronze and iron, not costly gold. They held corruptible sins within. Purity of substance could not be ascertained in these people. God is attempting to discipline them as we saw in Jeremiah 5:3 and elsewhere, but they will not submit no matter the pain of spankings. We note in the New Testament also that discipline should bring forth gold, that is, a more righteous lifestyle.

In verse 29 of this section, we set our eyes on the fact that no matter the refining God is performing, the wicked are not separated. God desires a holy separated people; that is why He called out His chosen ones from Egypt. He calls Christians today from the unsaved population.

Christ refines believers today as well, but some do not respond no matter the consequences. They do not desire to separate their actions from unbiblical ways. Separation is crucial in refinery purification as we witness in the NT. In 2 John 9-11, God desired a separated church. The members of the church were told not to let anyone in the door who did not hold to and abide in the teachings of Christ. This insured separation from false teachers, those who did not take the Word of God seriously.

Jeremiah Chapter 7

I would like to quote J. Vernon McGee from the March 2004 news letter of Thru the Bible:

“We are living in a day when men think they can rush into the presence of God and treat the Lord Jesus as if He is just a buddy. May I say to you that He is high and holy and lifted up. If He should appear in your church next Sunday morning, nobody would rush up to Him; nobody would become familiar with Him! Everybody would go down on their faces before Him. That is the picture the Word of God gives.

No one was as close to Him on earth as was His disciple, John. John would come to Him and make suggestions. The Lord Jesus never asked for advice, nor did He follow man’s advice, but John was there to give it. Then in the Upper Room, John even reclined on His bosom. He was familiar with Him. But, my friend, when he saw the glorified Christ on the Isle of Patmos, he fell at his feet as dead (Revelation 1:17), He did not rush into His presence.”

As we have been studying Jeremiah, we have noticed Judah has become too familiar with God; no longer fearing His wrath that falls upon the ungodly. They believe God is all grace and since they are His chosen people, no judgment will arise from their disobedience. They believe they have eternal life as His children and therefore how they behave is of no relevance. It is easy believe-ism not reality.

Today, salvation is very much emphasized in Christianity, but making Jesus lord or master often is not. Romans 10:9 proclaims that if we confess Jesus as Lord, and believe in our heart God raised Him from the dead, then we will be saved.

In many churches today a godly reverential atmosphere is not found. The fact that we are coming to worship a holy, righteous and elevated God is not emphasized. Making no one feel uncomfortable is often today’s goal; presenting a “non-threatening atmosphere” is all the rage in today’s Christianity. Well, in this Jewish area of the Southern Kingdom, it appears the only one who truly understood God’s holy ways was Jeremiah who refused to follow the crowd and suffered by their evil hands. He chose to be peculiar and separate no matter the cost of not being trendy and the only one who pursued in a holy manner.

As we enter verse one, we leave the Hebrew poetry of the last few chapters and return to the narrative. In this verse God has commanded Jeremiah to go to the gate of the Lord’s house AKA the temple to proclaim His truths.

God tells His disobedient people who are coming to the temple to worship Him; to amend their ways and deeds so they can continue to live in the land; verses 1-3.

Today, I feel we need some Jeremiahs to stand outside of today’s houses of worship to implore believers to turn from lukewarmness and worldly ways, exhorting them to be on-fire for Christ and His holy ways of living according to the Bible alone.

In verse 4, Jeremiah proclaims that they should not rest in the fact that the temple is there in Jerusalem, believing it to be a fetish of protection. The false teachers were telling the people that God would not destroy Solomon’s Temple as that is where God dwelt, but God does not dwell in things made by man’s hands, as nothing can contain God’s greatness and immenseness; 1 Kings 8:27. The highest heaven cannot hold the person of God. Even though the heavens contain planets that are trillions of years away, this massive expanse is not impressive to God who cannot be contained in all the heavens. We simply can’t even begin to imagine how big God is. We know from Isaiah 66:1 that the heaven is God’s throne and the earth is His footstool. In the scheme of things, we know the earth does not even show up as a dot in comparison to the large planets in the distant universe.

Believers today may believe God will not bring judgment on America due to the fact we are covered in churches, but we cannot rest on that which God has not stated. God sees the hearts of those who frequent the church buildings. He is not interested in the structures, no matter their beheld beauty, set within state-of-the-art design and staging. He knows if the hearts of those who are attending are wholly obedient to His inerrant Word or not.

In verse 5, God gives the provision for their lasting protection, as it rests solely on their obedience to Him. If they are to stay within His hedge of protection, they must repent or amend their ways and follow His statutes.

The edicts of God from verses 5-6:

1. They must practice justice between a man and his neighbor.

2. They must not oppress the alien, the orphan or widow.

3. They must not shed innocent blood.

4. They must not take on the beliefs of false religions or false gods.

These certainly resemble the Ten Commandments of Deuteronomy chapter 5. Roman 13:9 reemphasizes God’s Laws that represent the ancient and true paths. Deuteronomy 5 states the whole of the commandments. They are to be taken seriously. The only New Testament change is there is no longer a mention of holding to the Sabbath as we note in Romans 13:9, as we now worship on Sunday apart from Jewish requirements. We worship in recognition of the fact Christ arose on the first day of the week.

Loving our neighbor as oneself would fall with injunctions 1-3, according to me, though most wouldn’t put three in this same category.

The first injunction commands us to practice true justice; we don’t take sides according to who we like the most, rather than according to facts of truth. I took part in a trial recently, being a juror for a drunk driving case where the evidence was greatly mounted against the defendant. In defense of this deadly man who came close to taking lives, a science professor from Northwest Nazarene University attempted to disprove the charges. He was introduced as one who should be respected, being on staff at a Christian university. And who could dispute the fact that he was exceptionally educated? This NNU professor attempted to get the wicked defendant off by trying to prove without success that intoxicator testing equipment is defective. Others testified showing dependability without a doubt.

I was very disturbed by this professor’s incident of defense for I do not believe dangerous people should drive on the roads, those who obviously care for no one but themselves. This accused man maneuvered down several paths in an attempt to gain our sympathy through deceptive tactics and lying. This was the man’s second arrest for driving “under the influence.” By God’s grace, he was found guilty by every juror.

Focusing in on injunction two, God’s unconditional love for others must be practiced in today’s churches. Partiality is sin! Romans 12:16 commands us to not be haughty in mind, or in other words we are not to think we are any better than others. We are to associate with the lowly or those who no one else would want to be with due to various factors such as being mentally challenged, not stylish in dress, not attractive, uneducated, so on and so on. We are not to take part in any evil behavior of elitism.

We should not desire to dwell with the most popular in our churches or the rich or the beautiful, as this all represents vanity. We are to love those who love Christ, His Word and walk obediently with no desired perks.

Injunction three would represent any hate we would have toward another. The Bible makes it clear that hatred resembles murder; Matthew 5:21-22. Christ compared murder to hatred and even stated one who says “You fool, shall be guilty enough to go into fiery hell.”

Contemplating the fourth, we know “not walking after other gods” or religions certainly pertains to us today. This would include not following after any worldly or empty philosophy—Colossians 2:8 and 1Timothy 6:20. We don’t follow any teaching we hear in the media or from society that does not represent the total truth and example set in Scripture. We don’t adhere to false religious beliefs in the name of acceptance or tolerance. This is all evil and wicked in God’s eyes. The ecumenical movement is not of Christ!

Verse 8 should speak to every one of us in warning, as they were “trusting in deceptive words.” Deceptive words have no eternal value nor do they aid the believer in becoming more conformed into the image of Christ. We must pray continually for spiritual discernment so the words and ways of man never become a part of us.

Verse 9 is the 10 commandments restated in a one verse—condensed form. Adultery and stealing are the only ones added that were not stated in verses 5-6.

Adultery, as we know from Christ, also involves desiring any woman or man one is not married to. In the marriage vowels it is stated that all others are to be forsaken. That is what Christ meant; never wondering if another will meet one’s needs to a more fulfilling degree.

The church commits adultery as much as the world. The divorce rate is even higher! Marriage until death is not adhered to seriously in the church nor was it in the time of Jeremiah. Bearing the heart of Hosea is considered old fashioned. When Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea, Hosea stayed faithful to Gomer praying for her repentance for years. Hosea represented God’s faithfulness to sinful Israel and exampling how we need to be faithful even when we are wronged in marriage.

God can always work miracles through prayer. We are bound to our mates as long as we live; 1 Corinthians 7:39. Often when one remarries, they still will speak of one or more past mates depending on the case, and often will continue a friendship with a former husband or wife. Bonding just doesn’t go away through taking a new set of marriage vowels.

Personally, if I had been born a man (what a thought!) and called to the pastorate, I could never remarry divorced people. It is impossible for any pastor to know if any person was completely not at fault in a divorce situation. Pastors do not live with their congregational members 24/7 to see if there might be another side to them. Sometimes even Christians will withhold sex for power or to get what one wants, thus leaving another to be endangered through temptation. Many tricks can be played in a marriage. I know because I have counseled various women. Only God knows if one is completely innocent and godly in all ways.

Stealing is taking possession of what never belonged to them. Returning money to a store when we realize we received too much change is a witness in honesty. Stealing can also involve a business charging way too much for items for the purpose of taking advantage of others. Putting oneself first is what invokes a person to steal. We need to trust God for our increase through honesty not using worldly methods to increase our pocketbook beyond His will.

Verse 11, is one of the verses from Jeremiah that is quoted in the New Testament. We know Christ was very disheartened by the temple or the house of prayer’s activities, as it was being misused for personal gain; Mark 11:17.

We can see many similarities between the temple and churches today. They were both to be:

1. A house of prayer

2. A house of worship

3. A house of singing

4. A house of giving money in offering

5. A house of speaking God’s Holy Words

Yes, there are many differences too. But nowhere in Scripture do we witness any commands for the church or temple to be doing that which is not given as an example to follow in the Word. We are not to add or subtract from God’s Word.

Buying things in the church, I believe is an abomination. Christ did not want merchandise items being carried through the temple (Mark 11:16) and I don’t believe He wants sold goods being carried in the church. This is not part of its called function.

The only example we have in Scripture is that of collecting money. We have no examples of raffles, selling items for the youth group, etc. We are to give to God because we love Him not because we want to win a quilt or whatever the case may be. We aren’t to use the world’s methodologies in the church. This is silly! I know Christ would not buy a raffle ticket so He could promote a church program. It is blaspheme to even think such a thing of our Savior who has nothing to do with worldly ways, which He will eventually completely destroy. We are never to add or subtract from scriptural ways!

Promoting one’s business in church does not glorify God and it brings the world into the church. The church should be a place of escape from the world’s ways and dealings. It should also only imitate Christ’s holy the wise ways of conduct never society’s. The church appears so stupid when it imitates the world.

Verse 12 represents sarcasm for this people who believe God would never allow the place of worship to be destroyed. God basically challenges them to visit Shiloh if they don’t believe. Shiloh was in the Northern Kingdom in Ephraim and was destroyed by the Assyrians. Joshua 18:1 speaks of how Shiloh was the original place of worship for the Jews when they entered the Promised Land.

This was where they set the tabernacle for the people to worship before the temple was constructed in Jerusalem. It was a sacred place to the Jews. God calls them to remember that He made His name dwell there at the first.

Verse 13 refers to God’s love and care, for He rose up early to remind them of Himself. He called to them but they paid no heed! He was diligent in His love; they were not.

Because they paid no heed, verse 14, God is going to bring judgment on the people by destroying the temple just as He did Shiloh. He is going to cast them out of His sight; verse 15. He doesn’t desire to be with His disobedient children—the compromisers.

God gets very harsh with these people in verse 16, as He commands Jeremiah not to pray for these people anymore. God will not listen as they have fallen away from the true path of moral uprightness. 1 John 5:16 tells New Testament believers not to pray for the sin leading to death. This could be deliberate disobedience to God on a continual basis, as we see here with these people who maintain a great hardness of heart to the voice of God.

In verses 17-18 God asks Jeremiah a question in regards to His command to Jeremiah to no longer pray for his brethren. God knows a question mark has been placed in this man’s mind, as he asks “How come.” The LORD wants Jeremiah to live in reality of how evil these people have become by further explaining that they worship other gods and are not faithful only to Him. Just as we want our mates to be faithful and true to us in marriage, God wants His people to only hold to His ways and not be influenced by the world. He doesn’t want us following the crowd. Parents today tell their children not to do as others do; yet, the parents themselves run after every trendy thing and philosophy that tickles yuppie ears. This is the type of thing Jeremiah had to deal with— people being blind to their own wicked ways that were silly and obvious.

In verse 18 we see the “queen of heaven” mentioned. This is satan’s disguise in the form of a woman. Venus and the goddess Diana held this title also. In New Testament times the false Mary of the Catholic Church assumed this title for worship. This is one of her names and why she so often is pictured with a crown on her head.

The Lies of Idolatry:

The Queen of Heaven is one of Mary’s titles in Catholicism. She is the Catholics’ intercessor. Their doctrine holds to the belief that she was taken up to heaven while alive. Satan disguises himself in the image of a false Mary.

You can locate many heresies in the teachings of Catholicism that worships those the church elevates as saints. They appeal to different saints according to their needs. They will lie and say they do not, but they do!

Ourladyweb.com/mary-prayer.html

On the next to last page of info at the above link, you will notice Mother Teresa signed a petition to make Mary one who redeems with Christ. God’s Word states: “There is one God and one mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5) Mother Teresa was a pagan idolatress, a heretic, whom satan used. She tried to appear Christian to persuade people into her false religion.

This is a portion of a Catholic website, two separate inner sites, with inapplicable quotes removed:

Mary is the Queen of Heaven:
The kingdom of heaven belongs to believers.
Since Mary is the first and best Christian,
we call her ‘Queen of Heaven’.

More of their heresies:

When Jesus was crucified on the cross and about to die for our sins, Jesus, himself, gave His mother to us as our mother and all of us to His mother as her children my home. “I am the Queen Of Peace. I am the Mother Of God. I am the Mother of All People On Earth”. Our Lady to the Visionaries in Medugorje

__________

This next paragraph reveals how people can be sucked into this religion as some truth is stated. A bit of the true Gospel is presented to recruit those who are not solid Christians. Remember Mary only remained a virgin up to the time of Christ’s birth and the Bible states she had other children, four sons and daughters; Matthew 13:55-56. She was not sinless and she calls God her Savior in Luke 1:47. The Bible exposes her godliness, but never places her on a pedestal above other humans. Even in Christ’s day they tried to elevate this woman saying blessed is the woman from whom Christ was born. The LORD countered this Catholic mind-set by stating on the contrary, blessed is everyone who hears God’s words and obeys (Luke 11:27-28).

False doctrines mixed in with true. (Remember it only takes one drop of poison to make a large glass of clear water poisonous.) “Because when we disrespect the Immaculate Heart Of Mary as the Immaculate Conception (Mary was sinless), Mother Of God, our Eternal Mother, etc., in doing so we in turn disrespect the Sacred Heart of her Son as well…Yes, us Catholics are Christians, are saved, and someday will be in heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know this to be true because Jesus made this promise to all of us in His word, the Bible.”

“Mary is our intercessor: To ‘intercede’ means to pray for someone. We believe that people in heaven can still pray for us, and that applies to Mary first of all.”

Here is another website quoting the Catholic beliefs of Mary:

www.cephasministry.com/virginmary.html

________________

History: Apocryphal writings fueled Mary-worship with their claims of her sinlessness and perpetual virginity. In 431 A.D., the Council of Ephesus dubbed Mary the “mother of God.” Fifth- and sixth- century veneration of Mary can be traced directly to Ephesus and the false goddess Diana. By the 13th and 14th centuries the medieval Church saw Mary as a source of grace and power, a mediator who could keep God, the vengeful judge, from striking down sinful mankind.

At the Council of Trent in 1546, the veneration of Mary became official Catholic doctrine. She was declared sinless, and in 1854 Pope Pius IX added that her conception was immaculate as well, preserving her from original sin. The Vatican Council of 1870 ratified Mary’s immaculate conception and further stated that the popes were infallible.

Newsweek Magazine, August 15, 1997. “40,383 signatures attached to a petition asking the pope to exercise the power of papal infallibility to proclaim a new dogma of Roman Catholic faith: that the Virgin Mary is “Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix of All Graces and Advocate for the People of God. In the last four years, the pope has received 4,340,429 signatures from 157 countries – an average of 100,000 a month – supporting proposed dogma. Among notable supporters are Mother Teresa of Calcutta, nearly 500 bishops and 42 cardinals, including John O’Connor of New York…If the drive succeeds, Catholics would be obliged as a matter of faith to accept three extraordinary doctrines: that Mary participates in the redemption achieved by her son, that all graces that flow from the suffering and death of Jesus Christ are granted only through Mary’s intercession with her son, and that all prayers and petitions from the faithful on earth must likewise flow through Mary, who then brings them to the attention of Jesus “This is what theologians call high Mariology, and it seems to contradict the basic New Testament belief that “there is one God and one mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5) [Interesting, the media is even taking a stand and quoting Scripture].

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The odd thing concerning Catholicism is its followers will lie and tell you they don’t pray to Mary. I was lied to by a Catholic lady who slowly tried to lead me into her religion, pretending to be a Christian. Catholics lie for recruitment purposes. They introduce people to Mary, slowly, sucking them into their idolatrous religion that appears to be filled with powerful grandeur. Many cults follow the same path; lying about their true beliefs to present a palatable religion that feeds the flesh.

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The virgin birth is completely key in Christendom, but not from the Catholic perspective. Unfortunately, the virgin birth is rarely even emphasized in today’s Christianity, even around Christmas time. This is due to the fact that chastity and modesty have become a joke within Christianity that follows Hollywood minded sexual agendas and craves New Age mysticism. A couple newer Bible translations have removed “virgin” from the texts involving Christ’s birth, and another makes the miraculous conception questionable. “Virgin” is in the ancient manuscripts and it is impossible to hold it in question. A few new version translations have “only begotten Son” omitted from John 3:16, for sales purposes. Today’s publishers want all faiths buying their Bibles. These newer changes, over several decades, have occurred because the church is apostate and bound in the ecumenical movement. Very sad indeed. Please check your Bible. KVJ, NKJV, and the older NASB (not revised) are good translations.

Verse 20 discloses God’s attributes of anger and wrath, as He is a God who hates all sin!!! We will witness these attributes in their fullest power when His wrath and anger are unleashed in the last days. This anger and wrath, being generated in Jeremiah’s time, is due to the fact, the people spite God, verse 19. There is no true reverential respect and acknowledgement.

Today, it is very rare to find reverence for God in many churches for many believe loud volume and ecstatic excitement must preside. Many who remember former days and the represented reverence when one came to worship, are saddened by the pop-cultural changes.

Loud is quite key to the culture of America—the world that we are not to love and imitate. If you speak to restaurant owners, they will tell you this is what America thrives on today, disclosing how they must have many televisions for all to view and loud rock music playing.

I believe America wants to hide in noise to blot out her increasing sins. Unsaved society and even believers don’t desire to think of a wrath to come that will be poured out on all ungodliness through a completely holy and righteous God who died for all sin. And every transgression is vile in His sight. That is why our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, had to be sacrificed for us; even to the place where men could not even look upon him; but desired to hide instead. He was so distorted by his torturers; Isaiah 53:1-6. He was even crushed!

I also believe Christ was not comely when He trod this earth as he had no appearance that men should be drawn to Him; Isaiah 53:2. Today, everything seems to rest on attractiveness and the worldly allurements attached to this, but such vanities had no value in the eyes of our humble and lowly Christ.

God’s anger explained here in Jeremiah reveals all will feel it, from man, beast, trees and fruit. Remember in Jonah 4:11 when Nineveh repented, God revealed how many animals were spared from His wrath. They too had to be covered in sackcloth to reveal repentance; Jonah 3:8.

In the concluding phrase of verse 20, it states how this anger and wrath will burn and not be quenched. Fire is certainly the way of God’s judgment as we view throughout scripture even to the end when everyone’s name that was not found in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire; Revelation 20:15. How sad that many pastors rarely preach on the anger and wrath attributes of God in this day and age of fun-seekers. The saved truly must understand the state of the lost in order for the church to go out and present the Gospel in effectiveness.

Verse 21 confronts the Jews in their heart attitude of sacrificing to God. They just performed it out of service not because they truly loved their Savior. The burnt sacrifices, unlike the thanksgiving peace sacrifices, were not be eaten; Leviticus chapters 4-9. I believe God says go ahead and eat flesh because they were not offered through sin-awareness and a love for God. These vain bestowments meant nothing to God.

We must be sure when we give to God that our sacrifices are done out of love for God and not just because we feel we have too. The New Testament makes it plain that our giving must not be done out of despairing obligation. We know also that unbelievers must not give because they do not love God; their actions are not mingled with a proper pure heart that has been washed in the blood of Christ. They have not been made white as snow.

In the book of 3rd John, we read the evangelists were above reproach; one visible reason is they took nothing from the Gentiles. Gentile giving is an abomination to God—having unsaved and unwashed people placing money in a collection device. This is why pastors, evangelists and missionaries must be careful when it comes to offerings.

Verse 22 speaks of God’s understanding and grace; this visualized when He first brought them out of Egypt. He did not lay on them immediately all the sacrifices and offerings He would require, He just asked them to obey Him. These sacrificial laws came later, as they continued to follow.

We see something similar to this in the New Testament—Acts 15:19-21 James the head elder of the church of Jerusalem, tells the believers not to trouble those turning to God, but to keep the commands simple for these new converts. He tells them, just command these new believers to stay away from things contaminated by idols, and pre-marital sex and from things strangled and from blood. These issuances mostly seem to deal with false worship. James tells new believers they need not worry about their growth as Moses is preached in the synagogues every Sabbath and they will be challenged and will mature. This obviously was before churches were established in most cities.

We also note in the following verses, back in Jeremiah, that they were unworthy to sacrifice due to the fact they were not walking in obedience. We see in verse 23 that obedience brings blessing. They were throwing away blessings through their disobedience.

Verse 24 is a revelation verse in proclaiming backsliding. We go back and not forward when we don’t obey the Lord completely. Many churches are backslidden from compromise and they lose out on the blessings of total obedience. This state occurs when leadership walks after their own counsel instead of scriptural ways. This happens when pastors look to model their churches after the world or society and not the holy Word.

We can do this as believes when we become stubborn thinking we know more than God, maybe because we watched some talk show that proclaimed much of the Bible to be old-fashioned. I love being old-fashioned personally and holding to the old, proven and true ways of God. Though, of course, I am in no way perfect; but I would love to grow more and more old-fashioned.

Verse 25 proclaims the unconditional love that we see God continually bestowing on these disobedient children of His. God out of His love and grace continually brought prophets to proclaim His ways even though they were unheeded. God made these prophets even rise early in the morning to go and preach because God loved His people so much.

God informs Jeremiah that these people will never listen to him; verse 27. Basically it would be akin to God telling a pastor he must preach every week to his people, but letting him know they will never give any heed to what he says.

The only reason Jeremiah must obey and proclaim is because God has to reveal His sacrificial love continually, whether people truly listen or not. We all must be informed on how much God loves us! Everyday God brings blessings to the unsaved, those who curse His name, just because He loves and died for all men. Most every person has a roof over his head, food and clothes to wear, simply because God wants to reveal His love for every person. Romans 2:4 reveals the kindness, patience and longsuffering of God leads us to repentance.

In verse 28, God tells Jeremiah to say that this nation did not obey God or accept correction as truth perished from them. James 5:16 commands us to confess our sins to each other so that we may be healed. We can be healed from the consequences of our sin through confessing our wrongdoings to God and each other. Proverbs 28:13 declares he who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will prosper. Israel was not willing to comply to this.

When we wonder from God, truth is cut off from our mouths because the Word of God is not being proclaimed through us. What comes out of our mouth when we disobey God is the rhetoric of the world and not the powerful Word.

Verse 29 commands, “cut off your hair and cast it away.” Cutting off their hair would reveal great mourning and sadness. Keeping their hair according to the Law was important to them and cutting it off was never a part of their Biblical culture unless it was to mourn. They were to mourn the fact that God has rejected this people and they were now the “generation of His wrath.”

Further verses declare their compromise with idols as they even seemed to be present in God’s temple. They acquired the popular religions of the world combining it with Judaism which was despicable in the eyes of God.

False religions even caused the Jews to burn their children in worship to the false gods; verse 31. We see in 2 Kings 23:10 that they sacrificed them to the false god Molech who was supposedly referred to as the protecting father. What a joke!

This is similar to Planned Parenthood who views themselves as a group needed to protect the family, also receiving government funds for massive income. Yet, they burn babies like the Jews in Jeremiah’s time. One popular method of abortion is saline solution burning and it is exercised in the name of the god of promiscuous sex, which Planned Parenthood and other liberal organizations promote.

Burning children was something so abominable to God that it never even entered His mind. Today, however, it is to be an acceptable evil that is even legalized in our nation and in many others. How incredible!

God continues to reveal that this sacred place of false worship, Topheth (west of Jerusalem, the place where they sacrificed their babies) will become a graveyard for the Jews. These false worshippers will be food for birds and beasts. In time of severe, violent war battles, taking the time to ship bodies back home is not a priority. My father-in-law, who served in WW11, speaks of the mountains of bodies of soldiers he witnessed. It took time to care for the bodies and fighting to survive and win battles was the priority.

Chapter 7 ends in sadness as the joy that is usually located within a thriving nation will come to an end, even the voice of joyful marriage.

Jesus Christ addressed end times in Matt. 24:36f, when people will be marrying, totally unaware that God’s judgment is soon falling.

Jeremiah Chapter 8 

We see in the first verse of chapter 8, not a pretty sight. It declares prophecy, when tombs will be opened and the dead drug out; kings, princes, priests, prophets and all those who once inhabited Jerusalem. In verse 2, it appears that all these deceased Judean Jews were those who worshipped the host of the heavens (stars, moon and sun). They were not faithful to holy God. They did not remain loyal to the Word of God; thus, a vile judgment upon their remains will be part of the Babylonian desecration as explained by Jeremiah.

Societies easily turn to animal-like tendencies when God is no longer desired as He is the one who convicts of sin and demands holy obedience through civilized behavior. It is easy for men to turn their attention to anything on the earth or in the heavens which does not condemn or expose; however, it is at the price of demoralization.

This all progresses into verse 3, which reveals death will be desired over life when judgment falls on Judah. Only a remnant will remain alive. Those of this remnant will have survived many atrocities that took their loved ones, neighbors, religious leaders, etc. The temple where they once worshipped will be razed to their dismay as well as their homes.

All this will result in the deepest plaguing depression. The desire for their own death will encompass their being as they are led captive to Babylon.

Verse 4 returns us to Hebrew poetry as God once again explains His reasons for His verdict. He covers the fact that they were not repenting even though they knew they were walking down a wrong path. They would not stop and turn back to return to the right road. They deliberately chose to stay lost in their wilderness of disobedience.

The “apostasy” that we witness throughout Jeremiah is restated here. God is pointing His finger at them in verse 5, as it is now a continual state of not staying true to their first love, the Lord their God.

As I have stated before, there are the apostasies of the churches which God continually exposes in the New Testament. All around us we witness it as well, as the church compromises to please sinful man adopting the ways of the world that accommodates sinful man. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 informs us the end-times-apostasy comes before the antichrist arrives on the earthly scene.

We see deceit accompanies this apostasy, as we return to Jeremiah. Their speech is not of Biblical truth. They speak what is not correct. They do not desire to speak words that are pleasing to the ears of the Lord. They obviously speak words that justify inappropriate thoughts and actions. Holiness is not their standard of conduct.

The hymn “May the Mind of Christ My Savior” reveals what the true desires should be for a believer in God. Verses one and two are poignant, “May the mind of Christ my Savior live in me from day to day, by His love and power controlling all I do and say. May the Word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour, so that all may see I triumph only through His power.” The children’s song “Be careful little eyes” what you see, ears hear, feet go and so on is a song that should be sung by adults as well as children on a regular basis as compromising apostasy engulfs so many churches.

 Continuing on to verse 6, God states everyone turned to his own course or did what was right in his own eyes. They charged into sin like a horse charges into battle. It was not an after thought, but true desired sought-after disobedience.

As we enter verse 7, we discover some of the points to God’s omnipotence that should keep all believers in check. If we would dwell on His wonders of creation, we would see disobedience to such an awesome God is truly foolish.

God tells us of His wonders of flight as we look at the stork in the sky, which is always a marvel to behold. Starks know what they are created to do. They know when they are to migrate, mate, etc. They don’t fight against their creator and His designed plan for their lives. Other added birds are the turtledove, swift and thrush, all uniquely and marvelously made. They too know their migration times.

There is nothing outside of God’s overruling control. The New Testament reveals God even knows when a sparrow falls to the earth. Matthew 6:26 and 10:29 reveal how our heavenly father feeds the birds of the air so they never want. God also lets us know we are of far more value then they. Mother Nature controls nothing, God controls everything!

God says His people don’t know the ordinances of God. But they should because even birds know their planned purpose. God’s people are to be well-versed in His Word; both the Old and New Testament emphasize this.

Alan and I had a teacher at Multnomah Bible College, Dr. John Mitchell, and he had the whole New Testament memorized and much of the Old. He knew the ordnances of God!  Unfortunately, it seems many believers know television programs and actors better than they know their Bible. How desperately foolish!

Verse 8, discloses they are deceiving themselves, but not actually. Everyone knows when they are being dishonest about their sin, even though they may deny it and act ignorant concerning it. Walking in denial does not mean they don’t recognize their sin; it is just that they refuse to deal with it and desire to appear innocent through a facade. Walking in denial has always revealed itself to be a false concept, being thus proven for me when I have counseled ladies—you get down to the nitty-gritty and truth prevails.

Many years ago, a teen came and spoke to Alan and me, as he had engaged himself in pedophilia acts. (We were involved in youth ministry for many years in the past) He acted as if he was in total denial not remembering what he had done. However, his words revealed he knew exactly what he had done. He was held accountable before God and the laws of the land even though he claimed mental-denial.

God reveals in Jeremiah how the wise men refuse to use the Word of God when they counsel. Many counselors today don’t just hold to the Bible. Most Christian counselors won’t even refer to it; how reminiscent of the wise men or counselors of Jeremiah’s day.  Today, counselors think the certified educated experts know more concerning relationships than God Himself. If counselors implemented the Bible, they would ensure far better results. Especially, if they made their clients memorize portions that pertain to their situation.

I must admit, that I am surprised how easily a Christian counselor will recommend divorce when Scripture holds the answers to the difficult situations of life. They also rarely or never state to a woman in a problem marriage, “If you leave your husband, you must remain single in accordance with Scripture or be reconciled;” 1 Cor. 7:11 and 39.

 
We see in verse 8, back in Jeremiah, that apart from God’s Word there is no true counsel, no true wisdom!! One can’t simply say “the law of the LORD is with us” and then teach contrary or implement man-made wisdom. You can not implement man-written books or manuals and expect righteousness and truth to be achieved. Only the Bible is the answer to everything.

God addresses the lying pen of the scribes in this verse. They certainly seemed to be adding and subtracting from the law when they wrote or spoke it. We see in the New Testament scribes not presenting truth as they should, coming against our Savior. Christ exposes their evil hearts in Matthew 23:27f. It appears in later Old Testament times, their nature was not any different.

The scribes acted as judges and jurors and were closely linked to the Pharisees in the New Testament. They certainly gloried in their power and loved their traditions over the Word of God.

The counselors or wise men “are put to shame” as we read here. They could not be trusted. The wise men were usually stationed at the Jerusalem gate and they performed as judges and counselors. There were some godly men who held the wise men position in times past. It was before the wise men that Boaz presented his case in order to obtain Ruth’s hand in marriage. The Proverbs 31 Man was a wise man; he sat at the gate with the elders of the land; verse 23. Job was counted as the wisest of the wise men in his time and he acted as judge, attorney, counselor, investigator and king, as we see from Job chapter 29 and 31:16-23. He was well-respected at the gates of his city.

Sentence, once again, is pronounced on these people, which involves the removal of all they hold dear, including those who surround them; verse 10.

Greed is also a plague of these people which is why God must judge. They aren’t satisfied simply to have a roof over their heads and bread on the table. Like most humans, they always want more and are even willing to use others for their own personal gain just as we see in James chapter 5.

Christian organizations and causes are sometimes formed just to fulfill a need of greed. When you give to an organization or cause, you need to thoroughly check out their reputation. Even missionaries have been known to take advantage of people as they sit in a nice location, enjoying the scenery and an easy life. I have heard it stated something to this effect, if you give to a missionary, you might want to visit them on the mission field to verify their usage of all funding.

I know of two local Christian causes that do not appear to be above reproach in their dealings and motives. They also have questionable people in authority. In this world, you always have some sly people who know how to rally people because they know Christians get mad and want to give to those organizations that expose evil agendas. But it just places money into greedy pockets which causes laughter all the way to the bank. Of course, Christians must always be concerned and discerning with validation of reputation. I learned not long ago of a person who took a church for thousands. He was a respectable member of the church, appeared totally dedicated, and promised to perform construction work for the church if he received so much money. He took the money and left the church.

“Deceit” is disclosed in the conclusion of verse 10. We saw it first mentioned in verse 5. It is certainly something that is very appalling to our Lord and He wants to make that clear. God comes against the prophets and priests, who were to teach the Word as pastors do today. These prophets ministered out of greed through deception. Unfortunately today, there are some pastors who are greedy for gain and they will not take a pastorate unless the price is right. Being called to pastor and just rely on God for one’s provision is not the way of today and the dollar amount is what determines a place of ministry not a specific calling of God or so it seems.

These prophets and priests in Jeremiah never seem to get to the sin issue. They do not produce a healing from sin by exposing the people’s compromising worldly ways. These religious leaders don’t repent and they don’t call the people to repent. They just “say peace, peace,” verse 11, or in other words “all is well” or “no worries, mate.” There is actually no peace as doom is looming upon the horizon.

Peace, peace if the catchphrase of today’s church. I just learned of a publisher that is exposing the New Age mentality that is becoming more and more prevalent in the church. This publisher is now being referred to as a “hate” organization because it exposes through the Biblical light what is evil. They refuse to shake satan’s hand and approve of the demonic world and its false spirituality now taught in the “emerging church.” This church movement does not teach that everyone reaps what they sow when they play with satan and his agendas of sensual license and worldly spiritualism.

We see as we traverse further into verse 12, that these Jews are unashamed of their sin and they do not care that they no longer “know how to blush.” This is a restated phrase from 6:15 to reemphasize the lack of innocence in these people. In Hosea 6:5, God condemns the Northern Kingdom of Samaria for being incapable of innocence. In Matthew 10:16, Christ commands us to be as shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. That is a great innocence to ponder!! When has a dove ever set something evil before its eyes or pondered a road of greed.

Doves:

Doves are clean (they love to bathe) and can be tamed. They pose no threat to humans or other animals. The Dove is the most famous bird of love. These birds have been associated with love and marriage for thousands of years. Their loyalty to each other and their joint care for their family is legendary. It is also the most hunted bird of hunters.

The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit in Scripture, wherein John the Baptist sees the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus in the form of a dove. The dove also denotes a new beginning and a promising future, as a dove located dry land for Noah and his family, thereby giving humankind a fresh start.
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Because these people don’t desire to be labeled “prudish,” they are going to fall, through God’s punishment. He says in verse 13, He will ‘snatch them away” and all the land’s produce gifts that have been amply supplied to them—the grapes, figs, etc.

God goes on, telling them in the last phrase, all He has “given them will pass away.” Deuteronomy 6:10-12 informs us of all that was provided for the Jews when they entered the Promise Land—houses full of all good things, wells of water, vineyards, olive trees and food for their satisfaction came from the LORD. However, God gave them a warning—to watch themselves and not to forget the LORD who brought them from Egypt.

Verse 14 reemphasizes their plight as they have sinned against the LORD and now they are doomed.

As we travel into verse 16, we see attackers will arise from the land of Dan, west of the tribal area of Benjamin where Jerusalem lies. A thundering of horses will be heard. You have possibly experienced a time when you heard many thundering horses on a prairie where their pounding hooves quaked the earth. Now, if you were to hear this sound, being totally aware that these horses held murderous men who were sent to terminate, you would be petrified. This is what occurred to Israel. These sin-laden Jews watched their nation’s destruction and murdering Babylonians coming after them with swords drawn.

In verse 17, The Lord uses a metaphor of venomous vipers to describe what the Babylonians will resemble as they will bite the Judeans like a snake. Adders are poisonous, so we know the illustration is of certain death for many.

Jeremiah addresses his sorrow in the beginning of verse 18. He is faint by all the evil that will come to his people whom he loves. God’s personal care and love have departed from these Hebrews; their true King has exited the scene in personal presence. At the end of verse 18, God speaks of why He has abandoned His people as they have turned to graven images.

Exodus 34:14 informs us that God’s children are not to worship any other god, for His name is Jealous, He being a jealous God.

A few weeks ago, I heard a speaker tell of his ministry work in India. One thing he stated to us was “Youth with a Mission” has compromised by telling this society that they could still worship other gods and just add Christ to them. They believed eventually they would remove their false gods. What false doctrine; as God make it clear that it is an abomination to worship any other god or gods. Revelation informs us idolaters will burn in the lake of fire; 21:8 and 22:15.

Verse 20 is an often quoted verse “Harvest is past, summer is ended, and we are still not saved.” I recall as a young person, a man consistently sitting close to the front of the church, hearing the salvation message over and over; yet never yielding to Christ. What will such a man say that stands before the judgment seat who heard the truth countless times when many had no opportunity to even hear it once?

It is important to have a sorrowful heart for those who have not come to the Savior. When the Day of the LORD comes, those who are not saved will be cast into hell. That is why we must herald the salvation message.

Jeremiah had mounting sorrow for those who had not surrendered their hearts to God and we can almost hear the pain as we read the following phrase: “I mourn; dismay has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead…?”

Jeremiah cites his woe further, explaining he recognizes there are physicians in the land but no restoration of health is occurring. Why? Because they are ill due to sin and no blessings of deliverance can come even through a doctor’s hands.

James 5:16 informs us we are to confess our sins to one another, pray for one another, so we can be healed. These people would not take part in any confession of sin, as they were righteous in their own eyes. When our standard is not the Holy Word, sin is not easily recognized, that which results in destructive pain.

Dear friends, may I present Jeremiah,

A man after God’s own heart verified through his love and sensitivity to the ways of God and love for others. He was one who was dedicatedly engaged in the service of the LORD, not being entangled by the things of this world. His fellow Jews had fallen deeply into coveting the surrounding amusements of their godless neighbors. 2 Tim. 2:4 lets us know, that one who is truly a child of God is not to become entangled with the affairs of everyday life, so he may please the true God who enlisted him as a soldier.

In a written description, Shirley Temple disclosed how she met her husband, Charles Black, in Hawaii. One item that drew her to this man was the fact he had never heard of her. He was placed in a military academy at a young age and had no access to movies as his whole life was military; thus, he did not entangle himself in the affairs of everyday life. Shirley wanted to ensure that Charles was above reproach as a one-woman-guy so she requested that J. Edgar Hoover of the FBI investigate him. He affirmed the fact that Charles, a very handsome man, was above reproach toward women in his behavior, which caused Shirley Temple to entrust herself to him in holy matrimony.

We need to follow the command of Timothy and be those who entangle themselves in God alone. Jeremiah is a quality example to us through his separation and dedication.

 Jeremiah Chapter 9

A dichotomy seems to be set forth in verses one and two. In the first verse, Jeremiah is experiencing deep grief over what is to become of his people, not desiring to see his people slain. However, we read in verse 2 that he wants to just flee from it all and forsake his people. Why? They “are adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.”

Have you ever just wanted to get away from it all like Jeremiah; capturing in your mind a simple cabin in the southern Idaho desert, in the early spring or fall? (I don’t mean in the sizzling summer or freezing winter.) Having no desire for anyone to disturb you as you long to be isolated with your righteous and holy Lord?

It’s very easy for us to want to see sinners saved; yet, to flee from all the grotesque vileness around us, at times, sounds very tempting. Often, I hope Christ will take us home soon so we can be delivered. At other times, I desire He tarries for the sake of bringing more souls into His kingdom. He is still saving in miraculous ways around our globe.

Adultery can be very depressing when it seems to enclose you all-around, so too in Jeremiah’s day. J. Vernon McGee stated that divorce and remarriage is America’s way of committing legal polygamy. I know a woman who claims to be saved (reads her Bible, attends church, sings in the choir, etc.) and has had several husbands. Sadly, she has stated something to this effect; she simply couldn’t see herself staying with the same man her entire life. She does enjoy sounding like a victim in Christian company. I believe her words represent the truth behind a great many divorces though it would never be spoken in a church.

Many believers seeking a divorce claim being victimized so they can be set free to roam with Christian sympathy. He or she may even state they tried counseling so it appears they now have no other alternative. However, God always knows the heart that can never hide from Him.

You may say, but what if a woman says she was treated cruelly? Well, in my counseling and observation, most women (not all) who claim victimization, usually know how to push the buttons to make their husbands angry. They can do it with pleasure to get back at their husbands for whatever reason. This persists in a cycle as both husband and wife engage in a tug of war for command. Women will also withhold intimacy to be sinfully vindictive and this naturally causes a man to be angered. This is willful disobedience to God on the wife’s part.
Women can detest the words—submission, respect and winning their husbands without a word, 2 Pet. 3:1-2. However, I have seen God maneuver within the heart through the truths of His Word, maturing to obedience. He can renew a steadfast love, whereby the couple begins to walk in a quiet and gentle spirit. It is not painless or something that metamorphoses overnight.

Alan and I will be the first to admit it has only been by God’s powerful grace that our marriage has survived, moving toward 30 years. We have had great battles with the world, the flesh and the enemy. However, I am thankful to say we are still in love, which comes through seeking Christ daily. Marriage is a continuous moving exertion not a shot in the dark.
Prayer for our marriages has to be a consistent ingredient mixed with affection, kindness, sacrifice, generosity and gentle-wise communication and on and on. A marriage where the couple demands their own way lacks these important components that empowers them to run smoothly like a tandem bike.

Malachi 2:13-17 also combines the words adultery and treachery as men were dealing treacherously with their wives forsaking their marriage “by covenant;” Malachi 3:14. The covenant enacted with God for life; whereby, they were to abstain from all others. God exhorts these men who are unfaithful to honor fidelity with the “wives of their youth.” God goes on to emphasize that “He hates divorce.”

It is noteworthy that God is not paying attention to these wicked men, who cry and groan as they present their unheeded offerings; Malachi 2:13. We see something comparable to this in the New Testament; God tells men their prayers will be hindered if they do not honor their wives and live with them in an understanding way. God does intervene for slighted women in marriage. He punishes men who are unkind and not honoring. No one gets away with sin that is why we never give up praying for our marriages. Prayer is exercised faith. In sinful marital situations God can convict to repentance. It cannot always guarantee the outcome desired as man exercises free will, but miracles of marriage renewal occur daily.

As we move to verse 3 of Jeremiah 9, we read “They bend their tongue like a bow,” not telling truths but falsehoods. We might say, someone is speaking with a forked tongue resulting in lies not fact spouting forth. The media certainly knows how to present lies. It covets justification and cover-up. They will tell you a woman has a right to choose, but when was the last time they televised abortions for the public to decide if it is indeed murder? They resort to slogans to conceal factual data, not revealing exactly what abortion is. They do this with every unbiblical agenda.

“Rights” is what everything evil seems to hide behind. Of course, our society in general veils everything of the liberal view through deception, using cover-up terminology.
They were growing in evil, from “evil to evil,” as verse 3 continues its declaration of why Israel is doomed. This could happen to any ungodly nation including America as Isaiah 40 proclaims.

If we were to attempt to tie all these verses in Jeremiah together in relationship to our country, we would have to admit America is in a pit of degradation as was Israel. I do think this admission is an easy one for the honest perceiver. A hundred years ago, all unbiblical behavior was illegal. I already mentioned abortion which was not legalized till 1973. No-fault divorce hit America in the 70’s as well. My 1965 revised F & W Encyclopedia, states in NY, no one can divorce except for adultery (I wonder where that came from?), pre-marital sex, homosexuality, immodesty, etc., were all forbidden in general society.

Drug abuse was inexistent outside of the opium smoked by Orientals in hidden underground dens, which were in the Boise area around a century ago. I’ve seen a portion of an underground tunnel in old Nampa.

Yes, sin was evidenced in America, but it has definitely increased from “evil to evil” in past decades, also substantiated in other cultures. In our nation, there was a time when people never thought of locking their doors; they could have never envisioned needing an alarm system for their home. However, locks do travel back to ancient civilization. The most antiquated lock was located in the palace ruins near Nineveh in Iraq; they believe it to be 4,000 years old. This lock consisted of a large wooden bolt to secure a door, which had a slot with several holes in its upper surface. The holes were filled with wooden pegs that prevented the bolt from being opened.

When it comes to crime, many former harsh laws have been rescinded so the offender is left with many rights and the good guy is often trampled upon. This includes children who have been raped by pedophiles. A prosecuting attorney needs a mountain of evidence to prosecute anyone and many key facts are often thrown out to assist the criminal.

A hurting phrase closes verse 3, “They did not know Me.” God loved them and wanted them to know Him. I am one who can feel the wounded heart of God and so did Jeremiah. God always moves to the pinnacle of things! Do we strive to know God better each day? This certainly is something I need to practice, knowing Him more and more not the practices of the world. They lacked a true knowledge of God, through a true love for Him and His Holy Word, this being observed throughout Jeremiah.

Verse 4, reminds us again of our communities being ridden with corruption as they were in Jeremiah’s day. I have dwelt in neighborhoods where I could not depend on my neighbors, and so possibly have you. In my previous neighborhood, I had to phone the police on regular occasions, keeping their number close by. Currently, we live in a caring neighborhood where we feel safe. This was a magnificent answer to prayer.

I have certainly been deceived by neighbors just as Jeremiah discloses in verse 5. Some neighbors enjoy using those they know are believers, viewing them as just do-gooders who wouldn’t know a black sheep if they saw one. I have observed loving neighbors used and I have been used trying to be kind. There are many deceptive foxes in this world that are very convincing as they seek the unsuspecting sheep.

Deceptive neighbors can include co-workers or anyone we may be in contact with. One give-away for recognition, as we see in Jeremiah, is they are slanderers. One to be trusted would not be one who thrusts hate at others through a tongue of hidden deception. Some people will refuse to be friends with those who do not go along with their accusing ways of making others appear bad. Believers too will compromise with slanderers to keep friends. If we love God above all else, this will not happen.

Jeremiah speaks how the people have taught their tongues to speak lies, midway in verse 5. Alan sees this at the penitentiary and he has to use differing techniques with both offenders and staff to reach the truth.

A man may tell his wife he loves her and is eternally faithful, but is playing around continually and doesn’t plan to stop. But all lies eventually catch up resulting in pain coming upon many. All those who trusted and now feel betrayed, including the wife, children, other family members and friends, expose the pain. God declares in Numbers 32:23, “and be sure your sin will find you out!”

One may believe it’s no big thing to deceive slightly and it doesn’t hurt anyone. It can come down to something as common as one calling in sick so they can head for a day of pleasure in the sun—like one of Alan’s officers who phoned in sick. Another one of his officers saw this man at the park, and he certainly was not ill. This truant officer claims to be saved and attends a Bible-believing church. When Alan confronted the man, he justified everything, but Alan laid it on the line especially with him professing to be saved and attending church. It was obvious that this officer had taught his tongue to lie. It did not go off on its own tangent! If people can justify one lie, they most likely rationalize many other lies as well.

God informs Jeremiah; his dwelling is in the midst of deceit and in continuance He states, it is because of this deception, they refuse to “know Him,” this being reemphasized from verse 3. God wants to underscore this as being the root-problem. Today’s believer can participate in deception by merely implying to others that some sin is not that evil. If we truly know God and His Word, through spending much time in study and prayer, justification of wickedness in any form would be absent from our lives.

Verse 7 returns us to the refining fire of God’s discipline. He speaks again of assaying them which we originally dealt with back in chapter 6.

Deceit is viewed for the forth time in verse 8. Do you think God is trying to thump on something? It is obvious that God hates it! It can even be small deceit such as getting people believing we are something we are not by playing the Sunday church game; where during the week people would never guess we are believers by our words and actions. I have a friend who knew a lady in the workplace for an extended period of time, never guessing she was a believer, but came to find out she is a Baptist pastor’s wife and formerly ministered with Campus Crusade. She couldn’t believe this liberal-mouthed lady was actually a believer.

We can be deceptive with others by being unkind to our spouse, children and even pets when at home. Believing we can let our hair down, yet putting on kindness when we meet with those outside the doors of our home. I witnessed a Christian lady speaking cruelly to her family members for no reason and when the phone rang, she answered, sounding like the most pleasant woman in the world. Such behavior is completely baffling but it reveals our natural flesh of wanting to put on a good show before others. We should be respectful to all including those we live with. If we don’t yell at people on the phone, at church, in the store, etc., we shouldn’t yell at those who dwell in our home. Of course, yelling is wrong period. Christ never left this example. However, I am guilty and have had to ask forgiveness more than once. I have had to apologize to my family members on occasion for my treatment of them; far more than with friends. We do well to treat all in honor.

I have had many people attempt to deceive me especially salesmen who put on a Christian act as soon as they sense I’m a believer. All of a sudden they happen to be a believer too. If I refuse their business, they are no longer a believer and can treat me as the dung of the earth, just for not catering to a sales-pitch clothed in deception.

Verse 8 continues, detailing neighbors speaking peace but inwardly setting an ambush. We have a man in our subdivision who some of us neighbors discovered knew how to do this well. Kindly speaking peace to us; but as soon as he got the chance, ambushed us with held-in-hate.

God goes on to disclose, as judge and jury, He has the right to bring a judgement of punishment and revenge on a nation such as this!

In verse 10, Jeremiah walks on the stage wailing and weeping for this unrepentant nation that he loves. He speaks of taking up a dirge, or a song or poem of mourning for the dead. Not only for the Jews who will die, does he cry this dirge, but also for the demise of the land and its beasts. Birds and cattle will have no desire to be present in this cursed kingdom. Birds spell life with their need for an abundance of trees and vegetation. I love to hear and observe the birds outside my window, pecking on the window, feeding and chattering at my feeders. It would be very disheartening if all of a sudden they were no more. What if there were no more cats? Now that would truly be something to wail about.

Verse 11 specifically points to the Jackal. This is one beast that does not mind living in desolation, being a scavenger dog that cleans up the leftovers. Without compassion, it says bring me your dead. Job chapters 38-41 reveal how God oversees all His creation and all are fashioned for His purpose and pleasure. Some, like the Jackal, were specifically designed to remove the stinking garbage in the land, even if it be human.

Jerusalem would be a heap of ruins, “a haunt of jackals.”

The jackal is a scavenger dog that feeds on dead carcasses holding the same characteristics as a buzzard; they both spell death and lifelessness. The jackal feeds on a variety of insects, rodents, snakes, and young antelope. It possesses coarse short fur and inhabits holes in the ground. It mates for life as a monogamous creature. Yes, one good thing can be said of it.

The jackal is a nocturnal animal, so it does most of its hunting in later hours. Occasionally, the jackal will be sighted in pairs in the late afternoon. It is a pack hunting canidae.

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In these vivid Jeremiah verses, we are witnessing a color photo of natural life beaming with multihued birds, sprinting deer, roaming cattle, and on and on that spells an occupied green cultivated civilization which will divert to a photo of black and white lifelessness. Existence is crushed into dirt, everything fragmented. Anything of the lush color of vibrancy is as if it never were.

All inhabitants will be removed as verse 11 closes. For review concerning removal, there were 3 captivities of Babylon. The first captivity was when Daniel, Meshach, Abed-nego and other knowledgeable, handsome youth, including royalty, were taken into captivity; Daniel chapter 1. Then we have the 2nd captivity which is what Jeremiah is currently predicting and the 3rd when King Zedekiah is removed with the remaining Jews.

Verses 12-14 disclose the reasons for discipline and the desolation of the land as they choose not to obey all of God’s Word, only that which was convenient for their contemporary society. Honoring the Sabbath, tithing, sacrificing, temple faithfulness, practicing circumcision, etc., was still obeyed; but their compromise, pleasing the surrounding trendy nations, brought judgment as well as their self-centered fleshly desires.

The justice for forsaking God’s Holy and inerrant Word is presented in verse 15. The LORD will give them wormwood (a bitter woody-herb that brings forth convulsions, etc.) and poisoned water to drink; all synonyms to represent the coming doom. These are things that will also be present during the tribulation period which will inflict the entire world.

As we read verse 16 of Jeremiah 9, we notice it speaks of God scattering His people among the nations. This is certainly made visible in the book of Esther as we view King Ahasuerus ruling over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia within the Persian sector of Babylon; Esther 1:1. We witness in Esther that the Jews had become scattered throughout these provinces as the proclamation to annihilate them was proclaimed in all these regions.

Jeremiah speaks of God sending “the sword after them” (meaning when they are held captive in Babylon) and this was made very evident in Esther, but the Jews sought the Lord’s protection, and they were preserved through the godly intercession of Esther and Mordecai. Turning to God in this threatening situation presented in Esther, brought abundant blessings and security. If only Judah would have responded in such a way during the sermonizing of Jeremiah!

Verse 17-20 are presented to warn Jerusalem of the death and the mourning that will ensue. In Israel, women were hired to cry for the dead, those who would wail and those who would mourn. There were no men hired, of course. Ü The mourning for the annihilation upon arrival would be true grief, not a put on, as their voices will be great from Zion or Jerusalem. Verse 19 refers to those who will be deported from the land as well; escaping death, but wishing they had perished as we read earlier in Jeremiah.

In verse 20f, we see the dirge, or mourning song, restated from verse 10, God is trying to get His point across of the importance of turning away from their worldly behavior. Death coming up through the windows, certainly paints an inlaid memory. This demise is all consuming, entering the palaces, killing children and young men in the town squares.

Corpses of men would be as dung on the open field; verse 22. Further, we read “Like the sheaf after the reaper.” Reaper of death reminds us of the tales of a death reaper coming to a dieing mortal. The sheaves represent bunches of bodies pilled like gleaned wheat. When in war, it is difficult to locate live men to bury dead men. In Judah, the dead will be gravely visible with many falling at once and the bodies everywhere cast; “no one will gather them.”

This is not the only devastation Jerusalem came to experience, there were other times the enemy marched in, including Rome in 70 AD. There is going to be another great extermination as we read in Ezekiel chapter 9, this will be during the Great Tribulation. In Ezekiel 9:4 a man is commanded to put a mark on men’s foreheads, those with a tender heart who sigh and moan over the sins of Jerusalem. All other lives of men, women, and little children will be extinguished by six other men…none spared!

I believe these remarkable godly Jewish men who hate all sin (who certainly are a brand of Jeremiah) are the 144,000 Jews due to the fact in Revelation 7 they are taken from every tribe of Israel. Revelation 14:1 speaks of them having the name of Christ and the Father “on their foreheads” and they are the ones who will sing a new song on beautiful harps strung by harpists.

These men are exceptionally righteous, being pure virgin males who “kept themselves chaste.” Jeremiah too was a virgin as God called him to celibacy. These 144,000 are so powerfully pure and righteous, they pursue “the Lamb wherever He goes!”

These are exceptional verses to show to Jehovah Witnesses, 7th Day Adventists, Mormons and all who believe they are the 144,000; as well as those who get caught up in books that Hollywood-ize the true makeup of these virgin righteous males who are spared in another coming epoch of Jerusalem devastation.

Committing to Memory verses 23-24 of Jeremiah 9, would be very wise for all of us. We are commanded to only boast in the Lord, never in our wisdom, strength, or riches. God is the only One deserving of true honor and praise, especially due to the fact that every ability we possess is a gift from him and due to no one else.

Verse 24 emphasizes the Lord’s attributes that are worthy of praise that He exercises; His lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness. These are the attributes He delights in and so should we. Not the materialism, methodologies, technology, architectural feats, trendy styles and beats, special tech effects, etc., of this globe that is passing away. Rejoicing in the essences that magnify our Savior is His directive to us.

Punishment is the name of the game in verses 25 & 26. These Jews obeyed God being circumcised in body but not in heart. They were not separated only onto their Maker, being truly devoted to only Him. Deuteronomy 30:6 commanded the Israelites to be circumcised of heart, loving the Lord with all their heart and soul. Unfortunately the hearts of the Jews in Jeremiah’s day clung to the manners of the other nations; not following the teaching of 2 Kings 17:15b which is repeated in various ways throughout all of scripture including the New Testament, “And they followed after vanity and became vain, and went after the nations which surrounded them, concerning which the LORD had commanded them NOT TO DO LIKE THEM.”

If I wear a covering over my long hair to church, but am not submitting to my husband, it is meaningless before Christ, just as circumcision meant nothing to God if His people we not loving and obeying Him completely.

God speaks in the last verse of all the surrounding nations who have influenced Israel revealing names. The Jews fashioned themselves to them not HIM. These nations clipped their hair at the temples; the Jews were not allowed to cut this hair; Leviticus 19:27. The Egyptians shaved their heads and bodies and the other godless nations never held to the LORD’S exterior standards.