Podcasts about judaea

A Sermon for Ascension Sunday Acts 1:1-11 by William Klock The King came to Canada this week and I can help but reflect on how providential this event has been—the King of Canada coming to take his throne in the Senate chamber in Ottawa—in the same week that we remember and celebrate the ascension of Jesus.  I might be tempted to title my sermon: A Tale of Two Kings. So a new Parliament needed to be opened.  A throne speech had to be read.  That's normally done by the Governor General, but these are not normal times.  The new President next door, in what has always been Canada's best friend and ally, is now making economic war and daily challenging the country's sovereignty.  It was time for the Sovereign to come and save the day.  And so the King came, and he ascended to his throne in Parliament, and he read a speech.  The last time the Sovereign did this was almost fifty years ago, so this is no small thing.  And yet the King was here for all of about twenty-four hours.  The speech he read was written by government speech-writers, not by the King.  And even then, it's vitally important in our constitutional monarchy that the King avoid any openly political speech—and so the big concern of the day, the big thing that threatens the nation's economic well-being and sovereignty—was only hinted at obliquely.  And everyone applauded.  And then the King got back into his jet and flew home.  And maybe it's just because I'm an American, but it doesn't seem to me that all the pomp and circumstance and expense really accomplished anything.  The King didn't go to Washington to negotiate peace with the belligerent bully or to rough him up a bit or even to give him a good talking to.  Instead, he came here, he sat in the Senate chamber, and recited back to the government the talking points it gave him.  Again, I mean no disrespect to the King or to Canada's constitutional monarchy, but watching and listening to this week's events as an American—although I suspect even the staunches of Christian monarchists can't help but notice it too—that there's a big—an enormous—difference between the ascension of King Charles III in Ottawa this week and the ascension of Jesus that we read about today in both our Epistle and Gospel. I listened to the throne speech and even though I know that the King can't actually do anything, when it was over I still felt like: What now?  The King flies all this way, he ascends to his throne with great pomp and circumstance, he reads a speech intended to stir patriotic feelings—and even as an American, watching and listening I felt pride for Canada—but then he got back into his airplane and went home.  He didn't do anything about the current crisis.  The enemy is still there.  In fact, the King's talk of Canadian sovereignty just seemed to provoke a new round of fifty-first state talk.  It's kind of a let down.  I don't know what I expect the King should do, but he's a king after all and I sort of have a mental image of him taking off his pinstripe jacket, putting on a shining suit of armour, going to Washington, and popping the President in the nose.  In real life that probably wouldn't solve anything.  It's just that kings are supposed to deliver their subjects in times of trouble and cast down their enemies.  Right?  That's what kings are for. This is why the disciples were so discouraged when Jesus was crucified.  They thought he was the Messiah, the anointed king, and then he got himself killed—and that's not what was supposed to happen to the king.  He was supposed to defeat his enemies and take his throne.  And then Jesus rose from death and he met them and they were so excited to go declare the good news to Jerusalem that Jesus actually had to calm them down and tell them to wait.  Enthusiasm isn't enough.  They also needed the power of God's Spirit—but that's for next week.  But for forty days Jesus has been teaching them.  He's been walking them through the scriptures and showing them how it was there along: the Messiah had to die in order to defeat his enemies and take his throne.  Like I said a couple of weeks ago, those forty days must have been the most thrilling days in all of history as Jesus taught them and as it all came together.  And yet, even then, the disciples were still stuck on the wrong things.  But now I'm getting ahead of myself for today.  Keep this all in mind and let's look at our Epistle again.  The first chapter of Acts.  Luke writes: Dear Theophilus, the previous book which I wrote had to do with everything Jesus began to do and teach.  I took the story as far as the day when he was taken up, once he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to his apostles.   Luke is talking about his Gospel.  He goes on in verse 3: He showed himself to them alive, after his suffering, by many proofs.  He was seen by them for forty days, during which he spoke about God's kingdom.  As they were having a meal together, he told them not to go away from Jerusalem, but to wait, as he put it, “for the Father's promise, which I was telling you about earlier.  John baptised with water, you see, but in a few days from now you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”   So good so far.  Forty days of Bible teaching with Jesus.  All about the kingdom.  He thinks they're ready to do the proclamation part of their new ministry, they just need to wait a minute so he can ascend to this throne and send the Spirit who will empower that proclamation.  Jesus thinks their ready to be set loose on the world.  But have you ever taught something to someone, explaining it to them, and they're nodding and you think they understand.  You're ready to turn them loose.  And then they ask you a question and you realise that they still don't understand the central point of what you've been trying to teach them? I took calculus as a freshman in college.  Twice.  The only class I ever failed.  I understood the instructions.  But no matter how hard I tried and no matter how long the professor explained it to me—I had the benefit of sitting next to him in the church choir—I never understood what it was all about.  I didn't get it.  I thought that at least I could just follow the instructions to solve the equations.  I found that usually worked pretty well with math.  But it didn't with calculus.  So he—or my friends who understood calculus—would explain it to me and I'd say, “Right.  I do this, then this, then this, and so on.”  And they'd smile and say, “Yes!”  Like it was finally sinking in for me.  And then I'd do what I thought were the steps and it wouldn't work and they'd ask me to explain it, and I couldn't, because I never could wrap my head around the concept at the heart of it all. Brothers and Sisters, the kingdom was the heart of everything Jesus was teaching and doing.  And the disciples knew this.  That's, again, why they were so discouraged when he died.  Dead kings don't establish kingdoms.  But now Jesus is alive again and they're excited and especially so because for forty days Jesus has been teaching them even more about the kingdom.  And then they ask, “Master, is this the time when you are going to restore the kingdom to Israel.”   I remember the look on my calculus professor's face when he through I'd finally got it through my thick skull and how his smile faded away when he realised I didn't get it at all and I can picture the same look on Jesus' face.  Disappointment and exasperation.  I don't know.  Maybe Jesus knew that no amount of talk would get them straight on this and that it would only fall into place once they saw him ascend and once they'd received the Spirit.  But it's clear: despite all the teaching, the disciples still didn't get it. See, this idea of the “kingdom of God”, for the Jews it had become shorthand for the idea that one day the Lord would fulfil his promises, come back to Israel, take up his throne.  He'd defeat Isreal's enemies and he'd set Israel to rights—and then they'd all live happily ever after with God as their king and the pagans under their feet.  They sang songs, like Psalm 2, about the nations raging and the kings of the earth getting together to plot against the Lord and his people.  And in the middle of the song the Lord bursts out in laughter, mocking the nations and their feeble kings.  And then the Lord lets loose his wrath and announces, “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”  And then the king speaks: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have begotten you.  Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.  You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”  And then the Psalmist can announce to the nations: “Now, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.  Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the son, lest he be angry and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled.”  It's the king in shining armour come to crush his enemies and set his people to rights. They sang songs like the one in Isaiah 52 about the beautiful feet of the one who brings good news and who announces to Zion, “Your God reigns.”  “The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God.”  This was the same song in which they sang about the suffering servant who would be exalted only after he had borne their griefs and sorrows, only after he'd been stricken and afflicted.”  This was the hope of Israel and this is why the disciples had followed Jesus.  They believed he was the Messiah, the king who would rescue his people and defeat their enemies.  Again, for those three days he was in the tomb it looked like they'd been wrong, but now Jesus was alive again.  They knew with absolute certainty that he really is the Messiah.  And so now they're asking him: “Your resurrection put the story back on track, Jesus.  So when are you going to fulfil those old promises, defeat the nations and their kings, and set Isreal on the top of the heap?” And Jesus says to them in verse 7: “It's not your business to know about times and dates.  The Father has placed all that under his own direct authority.  What will happen, though, is that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.  Then you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the very ends of the earth.”   I've noticed a lot of people read this and think that Jesus is saying something like, “No.  It's not time to restore the kingdom.  I'll do that sometime in the future and only the Father knows the date.”  But that's not what Jesus is saying at all.  Think of the pair Jesus met on the road to Emmaus.  They were saying that they'd hoped Jesus was the one who would redeem Israel, but well, he'd been crucified so scratch that idea.  And that's the point when Jesus explains to them that it was actually through his crucifixion that he would accomplish God's long-promised redemption.  Even though it was there all along in songs like Isaiah 52, it doesn't seem to have occurred to anyone that the Messiah would usher in God's kingdom by his suffering and death.  And yet when Jesus says this, suddenly a lot of other things he said and did finally make sense.  Think of the stories—the parables—he told.  Over and over: The kingdom is coming—yes!—but it's not coming like you think.  Instead, the kingdom is coming like seed planted in the ground.  The kingdom is coming like leaven in a lump of dough.  The kingdom is like a man who had two sons.  Or when Jesus and the disciples were approaching Jerusalem and they asked this same question: Is the kingdom finally coming now?  And Jesus said that the kingdom is like a nobleman coming back to see if his servants have been faithful with their stewardship.  Over and over Jesus has been saying, “Yes, the kingdom is coming right now, but you keep missing it because it doesn't look like what you expected. At that last Passover meal Jesus ate with his friends, he told them that he would not drink with them again until the kingdom had arrived. And here they are, these forty days after the resurrection eating and drinking with Jesus as he teaches them.  The kingdom has come, Brothers and Sisters.  Too many Christians live as if the mission of the church is to prepare for Jesus to become king, when the church's mission is, in fact, really all about announcing and living out the reality that Jesus is the king even if his kingdom isn't quite what a lot of people expected. And then, just to make all of this absolutely clear, Luke says in verse 9: As Jesus said this, he was lifted up while they were watching and a cloud took him out of their sight.   We're prone to missing the significance of this image because we're not steeped in the Old Testament the way they were.  The disciples, however, understood exactly what was happening: Jesus was acting out the prophecy of Daniel 7.  That's the chapter were Daniel has this nightmare full of beasts coming up out of the ocean.  It's a vision of the nations and their kings raging against God's people.  But then “one like a son of man” is taken up and exalted on the clouds to sit beside the Ancient of Days.  He's given a kingdom, power, and authority so that all people, nations, and languages should serve and obey him.  It's a vision of the kingdom being restored to Israel.  And now, all through Jesus' ministry, we've heard him talking about himself as this son of man, as Israel's representative, and now—in answer to the disciples' question about the coming of the kingdom—Jesus literally acts out Daniel's vision.  He fulfils it.  In fact, in Matthew's telling of the ascension, Jesus even says—echoing the words of the Ancient of Days in Daniel—“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  So you must go and make all the nations into disciples.” The ascension proclaims: Jesus is king and his kingdom is here.  One day Jesus will return to finish what he's begun, but never forget that it has begun.  As Paul says in Romans 15, “He has to go on ruling until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” So the disciples were thinking that Jesus was going to lead a revolution—like Judas Maccabeus or Simon bar Kochba—except this time it wouldn't fizzle out.  This time it would be successful and it would be forever.  And Jesus is saying (and acting out) that no, the kingdom has been inaugurated and it's going to take shape and grow—the nations will be put under Jesus' feet—not as the disciples take up arms, but as they go out into the world as witnesses of Jesus: as they go out and proclaim the good news that Jesus crucified and risen, is the world's true Lord and as they live out the reality of his kingdom.  Like Jesus did, the disciples would work miracles—miracles that underscored that in the kingdom all the sad thing are beginning to become untrue; and they would live lives transformed by the Spirit's fruit, but maybe more than anything else, they would confront the kings of the present evil age with the reality of Jesus' lordship.  And through their witness, the world would begin to change. It's not a linear, always progressing, always upward change.  That was the idea of theological liberalism a century ago, but two world wars and nuclear bombs and fascism and Communism blew that idea up.  But through the witness of the church, the world is changing.  I've mentioned before Tom Holland's remarkable book Dominion and how, in that book, he writes about the profound changes that the gospel brought to Western Civilisation.  Each generation lives in its own brief age and so, if we don't know anything about history, we're prone to not even noticing the changes that have happened, but happen they have.  Christians began taking in the unwanted girl babies of the Greeks and Romans, left to die of exposure, and we taught the world the value of life.  The influence of the gospel put an end to gladiatorial games and slavery.  The gospel has taught the world mercy and grace, the value of life, the dignity of each person.  And on and on.  The church, when we are faithful witnesses of Jesus and living the new creation life the Spirit gives, builds and spreads the kingdom and someday, when the work is done, Jesus will return—not to take us away, but to restore heaven and earth, God and human beings, and to put an end to death and sin once and for all.  To consummate his new creation. But there's work to do in the meantime.  He created us in the beginning to be his stewards—to cultivate his garden.  That's why, when it came time to set us back on that track, God called and created a special people for himself: to be his representative, to be his stewards, to be his living kingdom in the midst of the old.  And so Luke says, They were gazing into heaven as he disappeared.  Then, lo and behold, two men appeared, dressed in white, standing beside them.  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven?  This Jesus, who has been taken away from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”   Brothers and Sisters, there's work to do.  Like Jesus said, they needed to wait a few days before going out, so that when they did go out, they would go out in the power of the Spirit.  The kingdom doesn't happen in our power.  But it does happen as we go out to faithfully fulfil the mission we've been given to witness Jesus.  Our task is to go out in faith, to till the soil, to steward the garden.  It's an overwhelming task.  That's why it takes faith to go out and do it.  But we go out in faith knowing that God has given us his Spirit who infuses what we do with divine power.  We go out in faith knowing that in Jesus—at the cross and in the resurrection—God has already done the impossible part.  Now, as Paul wrote, all he has to do is go on ruling until all his enemies have been put under his feet.  There's no “if”.  It's just “until”.  It's a sure thing.  And so is the witness of his church. It doesn't always seem that way.  Sometimes it seems like we're going backwards and things are getting worse.  People won't listen or won't take us seriously.  Sometimes we're tempted to give up.  Sometimes we act like all Jesus did was come to earth to give us a rousing pep talk, then he went back home to heaven.  But read the Gospels and that's not it at all.  He hasn't just gone back to heaven and left us alone.  He's ascended to his throne, where he rules and reigns over his kingdom, which—remember—is like seed planted in the soil and like leaven in a lump of dough and like a man who had two sons.  And one day, through his people—through us—the work of his word and the work of his Spirit will be done.  The world will know his death and resurrection, it will know the forgiveness of sins, it will know the end of death, it will know mercy and grace.  The knowledge of his glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea and every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.  Because Jesus died and rose again, because the Lord's word does not return void, and because he does not give his Spirit in vain. Let's pray: O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus the Messiah with great triumph to your right hand in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us for the task you have given, and that we might look forward in hope to the day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.  Amen.

88 : Gospel of Mark 10 1. And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again. 2. And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. 3. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? 4. And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. 5. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. ; AB church Lausanne

A Sermon for Rogation Sunday St. James 1:22-27 by William Klock I was out on my gravel bike this week, riding the trails through Merville and Black Creek and down to Williams Beach.  At one point I had to stop to take a picture.  I was riding down this narrow corridor with walls of little yellow flowers on both sides.  It was really beautiful.  But just a short way down the trail I ran into a big group of people cutting it all down.  I had a stop and wait for a minute so they could get their cart off the trail.  One of the women asked how my ride was going.  I said I was having a great ride.  It was a beautiful day.  I pulled out my phone and showed her the picture I'd just taken of the trail.  I thought it was beautiful, but she scowled at it.  “We'll get there tomorrow morning,” she said, “Ugh!  Vile stuff, but we'll get it!”  (And, sure enough, when I rode through again a few days later the walls of scotch broom were gone.)  I was kind of disappointed, but I'm sure the “broom busters” were happy, because they really, really, really hate scotch broom. The funny thing is—I notice this most places they cut it down—is that when they're done, there's usually still scotch broom as far as the eye can see—on the other side of a fence.  It's like that where I was riding my bike.  They cut it all down on Regional District property, but they can't touch the private property on the other side of the fence.  And later in the summer, I'll be riding my bike down the trail and in the heat of the day I'll hear the seed pods popping open and scattering their seed on both sides of the fence.  And next year the scotch broom will be back.  To me the whole thing seems pointless, but these folks envision an island scoured clean of scotch broom and so they come back year after year after year to cut it down wherever they can get to it.  Even though that island scoured clean of broom will never be. As I rode later in the week and saw the trailsides devoid of broom, but acres and acres of yellow flowers on the other side of the fence it got me thinking about the theme of our Eastertide scripture readings.  (I know, you think I'm just out there riding my bike, but I'm out there praying and meditating on scripture and putting sermons together in my head.)  We began Easter with the theme of hope.  Jesus' resurrection meant something to the disciples.  It wasn't just a miracle.  It was the evidence, the proof that God's new creation had begun and that Jesus is king.  That's what lit a fire under them to go out and announce the good news to Jerusalem, to Judaea, Samaria, and to the whole world—even though it eventually got them all killed.  This theme of resurrection life carries all through Eastertide and we meet it here again today.  We could run with either the Gospel or the Epistle, but I'm going to go with the Epistle—this lesson from St. James that begins with those familiar words: Be people who do the word, not merely people who heart it and deceive themselves.   Brothers and Sisters, the good news of Jesus' resurrection from the dead ought to give us a vision of the world set to rights—of sin and death defeated and cast forever into hell, of no more trials and no more tears, and of new life with nothing to separate us from the presence of God.  When we look at the mess and the darkness around us that hope might sound crazy—like an island scoured clean of scotch broom—but the fact is that God has done the hard part already.  He gave his son to take up our flesh, to die, and to rise to life again.  The rest is just his people—us—going out to preach and to do that good news and to let his word and his Spirit spread and grow his new creation.  So don't just hear the word.  Go out and do it.  Don't just long for God's kingdom, go out and be it. It also helps to understand that for the Jews, speaking Hebrew, to hear and to obey were inextricably linked together.  The Hebrew word for “hear” is a call not just to the ears, but to the heart, and to hear is to respond, whether it's for the Lord to hear the cries of his people in their bondage and to come to their deliverance or for Israel to hear the word of the Lord and to take it to heart and do it.  When Moses and the Prophets announced, “Hear the word of the Lord!” it wasn't just a call to listen, but to obey—to do.  We have a word in English that we don't use anymore that is very similar: hearken.  Don't just hear, but take note, take what you hear to heart.  Do it. Brothers and Sisters, words are important—and the word of God especially so.  As I've said so many times, God's word brings life.  By his word he created life in the beginning and when we were mired in sin and in slavery to death, he heard our cries for deliverance and sent his word again, this time in human flesh, in Jesus, to die and to rise from death so that we might know life again.  This is at the core of Easter and so, these last two Sundays of Eastertide we read from St. James' epistle about the power of God's word to bring us life and to transform us.  But first he contrasts God's word with our words, which are so often spoken in anger or spoken, not to heal or to give life, but to hurt.  This is in the first chapter of James.  Our Epistle begins at verse 22, but I want to back up a bit into last week's Epistle, to verse 19.  Here's what James writes: So, my dear brothers [and sisters], get this straight.  Every person should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.  Human anger, you see, doesn't produce God's justice.  (James 1:19-20) “Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”  How many times would that have saved you a world of hurt if you'd only heard and obeyed? Now, there can be a place for anger.  So often we get angry because the world isn't what we know it should be.  Sometimes—a lot of the time—that's just our pride being hurt or our selfishness being tweaked, but when we see real wrongs being done, when we see real injustice in the world, there is a place for just and righteous anger.  Godly anger over sin and injustice is often precisely what we need to get us up and out into the world to help the needy or the hurt, to stand up for the defenceless, or otherwise to speak out and to work for wrongs to be righted.  St. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:26, “Be angry” but then there's an “and”, a big “and”: “and do not sin.”  Deal with what needs dealing with and “do not let the sun go down on your anger,” because that “gives opportunity to the devil”.  If you're angry because your pride has been hurt, put a stop to it right there.  Swallow your pride and move on.  If you're angry because something is truly wrong, use that anger productively to set things right, but do not sin in the process.  Two wrongs won't make things right.  And righteous or not, don't let your anger fester.  Deal with it one way or another, because simmering anger is fodder for the devil and for all sorts of sin.  We all know that from experience.  Let your anger simmer and before too long you're thinking about payback and revenge and neither of those things have any place in the Christian life.  That was our lesson two Sunday's ago: As he has vindicated Jesus, so the Father will one day vindicate us.  We don't need to vindicate ourselves. In short, James says, “Human anger doesn't produce God's justice.”  In other words, your anger is not what will set this broken world to rights.  I know it always seems like it will at the time, but it won't.  Just consider: You think your anger will set things right so you lash out at that other person.  And now what are they thinking?  They're thinking the same thing: All the situation needs is a little bit of their anger to fix it so they lash out at you.  And all it all does is make everything worse.  Brother and Sisters, James reminds us to instead be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.  God is the one who will bring justice to the world and right the wrongs.  If we have been wronged, God will vindicate us.  The best thing we can do is to respond with the gospel and the Spirit.  Where the world is broken, where relationships are broken, we should be asking ourselves how we can bring to bear the things that God's Spirit gives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Our anger won't help God make things right.  And so James warns: So put away everything that is sordid, all that overflowing malice, and humbly receive the word which has been planted within you and which has the power to save your lives.   Do you see what he did there?  More often than not, when we get angry, it's because our pride has been hurt and that kind of anger tempts us to lash out—it tempts us to respond to a hurt or a wrong with some kind of sin.  Insults, brawling, that sort of thing.  In contrast, James says that when our pride is threatening to take control of us, we need instead to meekly receive—to hearken to—the word that God has implanted in us.  If this were St. Paul, he'd be reminding us to put off the old man and to put on the new.  The pride and anger are the old man talking, but in Jesus and the Spirit God has made us new.  James puts it in terms of the word by which God has forgiven us and made us a new creation.  I think James had Isaiah 55:10-11 in mind when he was writing this.  That's where the Lord, through the Prophet, says: For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven          and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout,          giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;          it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,          and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.   This is one of my favourite passages in all of Scripture.  When I get frustrated with my own sin and my own shortcomings and my own failures to be faithful to God, I remember what he says about his word here.  And as a pastor, when I'm discouraged with ministry and when it seems like nothing is happening or people aren't maturing or when I see sin and shortcomings and failures to be faithful in the church, again, I come back to what the Lord says about his word here and I go back to the word, because God's word is the source of life.  Nothing I can do will bring the life of God to myself or to other people—only his word can do that—and he promises through Isaiah that his word always accomplishes what he purposes and it always succeeds in that for which he sends it forth.  So I preach his word to myself and I preach his word to you and trust him to cause it to bear fruit in me and in you, because he says that that is what he will do.  God's word is life. So, Brothers and Sisters, don't let God's word go in one ear and out the other.  James writes, “Be people who do the word, not merely people who hear it and deceive themselves.”  Don't just listen to the word.  Don't just read it.  Hear it, Brothers and Sisters.  Hearken to it.  Do it.  If it helps, read your Bible with your finger in your ear to remind you not to let it go in one ear and out the other.  These are God's words and they are life!  Too often we come to church and hear the word or we sit down at home and read the word, but we don't actually hear it, we don't let it sink in, we don't let it take root like a seed, and so we don't become doers of the word, letting it make a difference and transform us.  If we just let the word go in one ear and out the other we're in danger of deceiving ourselves.  We think, “I've read the Bible or I've listened to it in church and I've done my duty,” but Friends, if the word doesn't take root in our hearts and minds, if it doesn't make a difference, we miss out on the life of God.  He promises that his word will accomplish what he purposes—that it will make a difference, that it will bring new life—but first we have to hear it, not just listen, but hear it, take it in, obey it, and let it change us. James uses an illustration here.  Look at verses 23-25: Someone who hears the word but does not do it, you see, is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror.  He notices himself, but then he goes away and quickly forgets what he looked like.  But the person who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and goes on with it, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer who does the deed—such a person is blessed in their doing.   You walk past a mirror, have a look, then walk away and forget.  In one ear and out the other.  That's not how we should approach God's word.  And how do we know if we're really letting God's word take root and grow in us?  We know it's growing in us when we go from being mere hearers to being actual doers of that word.  When we don't just know in our heads that truth is important, but when we stop telling lies, when we stop misrepresenting people, and speak the truth.  When “love your enemies and do good to them” goes from being something in your head to something you actually live out.  When love your wife or submit to your husband translates into loving your wife or submitting to your husband in real and practical ways.  When the Lord's Supper goes from being something you eat to something you live out in your interactions with your brothers and sisters in the Lord, showing love and living in the unity Jesus has given us.  When we confront the injustices of the world, not with anger, but with the gospel and the life of the Spirit. And notice how James makes this point.  He takes us back to his own roots.  He was a Jew.  He was circumcised into the Lord's covenant people when he was eight days old.  He grew up living torah, because he was one of the covenant people and that's what covenant people did.  That's how they were faithful to the Lord in return for his faithfulness to them.  And they learned the torah, the law, by reading and studying God's word.  And as much as Jesus changed everything, he didn't change the fact that the Lord continues to live in covenant with his people.  Jesus established a new covenant, but it's still a covenant.  And the Spirit has given a new law, but it's still a law.  God's people are still called to be different from the world.  As he marked out the Jews with circumcision and called them to live according to the torah, so he marks out the people of Jesus with baptism and calls us to live the law of the Spirit—what James calls the “perfect law, the law of liberty”.  Faithful Jews were doers—keeping the sabbath, eating clean foods and not eating unclean foods, all of that.  Some people think that Jesus has freed us from all of the doing, but it's really just the opposite.  Jesus calls us to even more and better doing, the difference is that instead of pointing to a list of laws written on stone and saying “Do that”, he fills us with God's own Spirit, gives us his own example of love at the cross, rises from the dead and gives us a foretaste of his new creation and says “Do that in the power of the Spirit”.  And this new law, instead of burdening us, actually ends up freeing us from all those things that used to weigh us down: anger and filthiness and wickedness and replaces it all with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control as the Spirit and the word work in us to redirect the affections of our hearts from sin and from self to love for God and love for each other. And so James sums it up in verses 26 and 27, writing: If anyone supposes that he is devout, and does not control his tongue, but rather deceives his heart—such a person's religion is futile.  As far as God the Father is concerned, pure, unsullied religion works like this: you should visit orphans and widows in their sorrow, and prevent the world leaving its dirty smudge on you.   God's word and God's Spirit will transform us.  It doesn't happen in an instant, so we have to be careful here.  Our expectations for a new Christian aren't the same as they are for a mature Christian, but still, a Christian will show the transforming work of God's life-giving word in his life.  And so James says that if you think you're religious—note that “religion” isn't the bad word some people make it out to be today.  Religion is our service to God.  There's good religion and there's bad religion as we'll see in a bit.  So if you think you're serving God but you don't have a bridle on your tongue—that's not the only thing that might show this, but since James has been talking about anger and sinful words, this is the example he uses here—if you speak hateful and hurtful and untrue things, you've deceived yourself.  You've been letting God's word go in one ear and out the other.  You haven't actually heard it and so it hasn't taken root and it's not growing in your heart.  It calls into question your profession of faith and your place in the covenant.  We enter the covenant through faith in Jesus.  And we show our membership in the covenant by doing the word, by living the law of the Spirit.  And if you aren't living the law of the Spirit, well, it begs the question: Are you really a member of the covenant?  Is your faith in Jesus real?  Because a Christian without the fruit of the Spirit, a Christian who is worldly and doesn't bridle his tongue, well he's like a Jew who isn't circumcised and who labours on the sabbath.  He's a contradiction. In contrast, true religion, real service to God looks like this: visiting orphans and widows and keeping yourself unstained by the filthiness of the world.  James could have listed any number of things here, but he's certainly practical and these are things that stood out in the First Century and made people take note of Christians and the Church.  It was a dog-eat-dog world, but the Christians took care of each other and they took care of the poor and vulnerable, because that's what love in action looks like and because that's what new creation looks like.  And in a world of filth, where culture was crude and vulgar and religion often involved ritual drug use and prostitution, God's people stood apart—much as the Jews of the old covenant had stood apart.  Jesus' people, transformed by word and Spirit, should stand as beacons of his new creation, by our lives and by our proclamation, lifting the veil on what God has in store for this broken world. So Brother and Sisters, be Easter people.  If you have believed that Jesus died and rose from the dead to forgive our sins and to make us part of his new creation, prove it.  Really be Easter people.  Immerse yourselves in God's word and hear what he has to say.  Don't let it go in one ear and out the other.  Let it sink in and take root and grow.  And then be the new creation that God's word will make us if we give it the chance.  As he promised, he will make us the firstfruits of his new creation—and that, Brothers and Sisters, is how he is setting the wrongs of this world to right.  Not by our anger, but by his word and by his Spirit. Let's pray: O Lord, from whom all good things come: Grant to us, your humble servants, that by your holy inspiration we may think those things that are good, and by your merciful guidance put them into practice; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

79 : Gospel of Mark 1 1. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2. As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. ; AB church Lausanne

Step back in time to 35 AD. The province of Judaea is restless. The execution of a man called “Christus” still haunts Jerusalem. Rumours swirl about an empty tomb. Was Pontius Pilate's trial just? Did his followers steal his body? Or is there another truth?Join Radio Maria for a thrilling live broadcast of The Passover Investigation—A Play for Voices by Edmund Matyjaszek. This thought-provoking drama delves into the mystery and political intrigue surrounding Christus's death. Featuring the voices of Fr Toby Lees, Charles Wilson, Stephanie Pena, Sarah de Nordwall and Edmund Matyjaszek and accompanied by Rachael Shipard on the piano. This broadcast was performed in front of a live audience on the 4th of May 2025.

46 He came again therefore into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain ruler, whose son was sick at Capharnaum.Venit ergo iterum in Cana Galilaeae, ubi fecit aquam vinum. Et erat quidam regulus, cujus filius infirmabatur Capharnaum. 47 He having heard that Jesus was come from Judea into Galilee, went to him, and prayed him to come down, and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.Hic cum audisset quia Jesus adveniret a Judaea in Galilaeam, abiit ad eum, et rogabat eum ut descenderet, et sanaret filium ejus : incipiebat enim mori. 48 Jesus therefore said to him: Unless you see signs and wonders, you believe not.Dixit ergo Jesus ad eum : Nisi signa et prodigia videritis, non creditis. 49 The ruler saith to him: Lord, come down before that my son die.Dicit ad eum regulus : Domine, descende priusquam moriatur filius meus. 50 Jesus saith to him: Go thy way; thy son liveth. The man believed the word which Jesus said to him, and went his way.Dicit ei Jesus : Vade, filius tuus vivit. Credidit homo sermoni quem dixit ei Jesus, et ibat. 51 And as he was going down, his servants met him; and they brought word, saying, that his son lived.Jam autem eo descendente, servi occurrerunt ei, et nuntiaverunt dicentes, quia filius ejus viveret. 52 He asked therefore of them the hour wherein he grew better. And they said to him: Yesterday, at the seventh hour, the fever left him.Interrogabat ergo horam ab eis in qua melius habuerit. Et dixerunt ei : Quia heri hora septima reliquit eum febris. 53 The father therefore knew, that it was at the same hour that Jesus said to him, Thy son liveth; and himself believed, and his whole house.Cognovit ergo pater, quia illa hora erat in qua dixit ei Jesus : Filius tuus vivit; et credidit ipse et domus ejus tota.Nereus and Achilleus were servants of Flavius Domitilla, who was martyred with them A.D. 98. St Pancras was put to death at the age of fourteen. A.D. 304

Acts 1:8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.This portion of scripture says that you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you. Now, as a new creation, you already have the Holy Ghost living inside of you.1 Corinthians 6:19know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?Therefore, this means that you ALREADY have the power of God upon you! You don't need to pray to receive power; it is already inside of you! Decree it, "I have the power of God inside of me!"#power #holyspirit

31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints…

Return of the Man-Child (8)  (audio) David Eells – 4/16/25  Father, in Jesus' Name, we thank You so much, Lord, that we can fellowship around Your Word. We know and trust in Your Word that is going to reveal to us those things that we need to know for the days to come and things that will enable us to cooperate with You in this process of sanctification and holiness, and also in the ministry of the Lord. We thank You that the Lord Jesus is coming in His people in order to fulfill in His Church that which You stated You would do from the beginning. We thank You, Lord, that You have taught us that what has been shall be, so that we can see how history repeats and see how wonderfully You have told us in the Word exactly what You are going to do. In the name of Jesus, Amen.  Well, we left off in Matthew 4, where we saw wonderful things that God is going to repeat in our day. The Lord had told me that everything that happened in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts would be repeated in our day, except that the cast of characters would be multiplied many times over, as more people are born into the world. The same thing has happened in history, but now it just happens with more people.  Let's pick up right after Jesus was anointed and had been tempted of the devil. Note that the Bible speaks about a “great light” that He was going to bring into the world, especially the world of God's people. (Mat.4:12) Now when he heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee; (13) and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali: (14) that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, (15) The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, (16) The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light, and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up. What could this light be other than the Lord Jesus Himself? Not only that, but what the Lord Jesus was sharing with people was the command to repent and believe.   Light is necessary in both of these areas if we want to walk in the Kingdom of God. We are walking out of one kingdom and into another. We are walking out of the kingdom of the world, much like walking out of Egypt, and we are walking into the Kingdom of God, which means under His Lordship and guidance. I believe the next verse begins with a revelation of that. (Mat.4:17) From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  That just happens to be a perfect quote from John the Baptist, who said, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mat.3:2). Of course, John went on in verse 7 to say to the Pharisees, who were coming to be baptized because it was a politically correct thing to do, (Mat.3:7) Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance (What does someone who has repented look like? What kind of fruit should they have?): (Mat.3:9) and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father … Don't a lot of Christians say the same thing? “Hey, I'm a Christian; I had my experience with the Lord years ago and accepted Jesus as my personal Savior.” Yes, but do you have fruit worthy of repentance? I believe that the light is going to come to the Church, which has not even understood what repentance means. The first thing Jesus did was to take up where John left off. You notice that when we left off in verse 12, He realized that John was delivered up, and that's when Jesus came into this particular area of the country where they said they saw great light. Like John, He said, “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repentance is necessary for the next revelation, which is the Gospel of the Kingdom. For those who repented, Jesus shared the Gospel of the Kingdom, the Good News of the Kingdom of God.  My friend Xavier once went to share with an apostate preacher who was living in fornication. He had the “greasy grace” that says, “It's okay; the Lord will forgive me. That's what the Gospel is all about, right? Forgiveness.” But no, that's not it. That's just a part of the Gospel. There is forgiveness, and then there is sanctification. Forgiveness is just a way to have a relationship with God until sanctification has done its work. There was another man in this church who recognized that the preacher was a sinner, but he told Xavier, “It would be wrong for you to judge him.” Of course, Xavier was sharing verses with the man, and the truth is that, yes, there is judgment. There is judgment in the Church. John the Baptist was judging when he said, “Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance.” He wanted to see their repentance. He did not want to see somebody say they were sorry and then continue on in their debauchery. The word “repentance” is metanoia, which means “to change your mind; to go the other way.” We have the authority to do this. We have the authority to change our mind and go the other way because of what Jesus did at the cross. He took away our sins; He delivered us out of the power of darkness; He made us free from sin. (Heb.10:14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.  When Xavier and I spoke about this, here's one of the verses I shared with him: (1Co.6:9) Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? What Kingdom of God is he referring to? The Kingdom of God is where God rules over you. It's not some place you go to after you leave this earth. It's some place you enter into when you repent. Notice what he's saying. (1Co.6:9) Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived (there is much deception out there concerning this): neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, (10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Where are you to inherit the Kingdom of God? Here and now. As a matter of fact, some people are waiting to go to Heaven to inherit the Kingdom of God. They will never see Heaven if they wait. You have to enter the Kingdom of God here and now, and you enter it through repentance and faith. Faith gives you the blood covering and repentance gives you the opportunity of entering the Kingdom. Without repentance, you cannot enter the Kingdom.  John the Baptist came in order to preach repentance to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord in their life. The Lord does not come into your life without repentance. If you received the first-fruits of Christ, which is a born-again spirit, and do not go on to get a born-again soul through your obedience to the truth (1 Peter 1:22,23), you are going to be an unprofitable servant. A “servant” refers to someone who has come to Him in one form or another. You will be an unprofitable servant who is good for nothing but to be cast out and trampled under the feet of men and cast into outer darkness. (Mat.5:13) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. (Mat.25:30) And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Now notice what he says in the next verse. (1Co.6:11) And such were some of you: but ye were washed (He is saying, “Some of you people were in these same sins, but you were washed.”), but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. The Lord demands repentance for you to enter into His Kingdom, which is where He is King over you. That's how you enter His Kingdom.  If you look elsewhere in 1st Corinthians, Paul said somewhat of the same thing. (1Co.5:3) For I verily, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already as though I were present judged him that hath so wrought this thing. Paul judged him. Was he wrong in that he judged? No. Paul had the Spirit of God and what he wrote here was from the Spirit of God. He judged him because this man was in willful disobedience, had not repented of his sin, and had not believed the Gospel. If you believe the Good News that Jesus took away your sin, then your faith has power to walk away from anything. Everyone who believes can repent and walk away. Belief is not merely mental assent, like it is in most of the Church. (1Co.5:5) To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh (I would say that's judgment! He is turning him over to the curse.), that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. People will repent when they are turned over to the devil. This is very common. If you want to know why you are living under that curse, you should question whether or not you are in willful disobedience or whether you have repented of everything and are walking by faith because the devil does a great job of bringing people to repentance. Many people come to the Lord because of what the Lord permits the devil to do.  (1Co.5:6) Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (He means that, in the Body of Christ, there are people who are fornicators, liars, and thieves.) (1Co.5:7) Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump (“Purge out the old leaven”; in other words, get rid of them.), even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, [even] Christ: (1Co.5:8) wherefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (9) I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators; (10) not at all [meaning] with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world: (11) but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat.   Well, this parishioner who was not in the fornication, but was saying that you could not judge the pastor who was in it, was saying, “Hey, Jesus ate with publicans and sinners.” But Paul tells you here quite clearly, “If any man that is named a brother be” in one of these sins, no, not to eat with him. It is not only abstaining from eating with him physically, but spiritually, as well, because he's talking about keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We eat when we study the Word of God. Jesus said, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees (Mat.16:6). In other words, “Don't eat their leaven; don't partake of their doctrine.” Paul goes on to say, (1Co.5:12) For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? So there was judgment; there was judgment from John the Baptist and judgment from Jesus, concerning people who are in willful disobedience and do not want to repent and believe the Good News that they don't have to walk in their sins anymore.  Clearly, there is judgment from the Bible, and that pastor and parishioner were trying to condemn Xavier for judging willful disobedience and lack of repentance when he was merely showing them what the Father had said in His Word. Look at what the Lord says in Ezekiel. (Eze.3:18) When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life … How is it judgment when you say, “Hey, that's fornication and you can't enter the Kingdom like that”? They say, “Oh, but I'm saved.” No, you're not saved, as long as you walk in willful disobedience. You are not in the Kingdom. “Be not deceived,” Paul said, but speak “to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life.”   (Eze.3:18) When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand. So God is saying, “If you don't tell them they're sinning, if you don't tell them, ‘Look, you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven (which has to be entered here, by the way), while you are in willful, outward immorality,' then I will require his blood at your hand.” It's the very opposite of what those people say. They do not want to repent, so they try to condemn the person who brings the message.  Notice, the Lord said, “When I say to the wicked.” We just read what God said to the wicked. You can tell anybody what God said to the wicked, whether you are judging or not. That's a moot point. The question is, are they going to enter the Kingdom by repentance? Or are they going to try to shift the blame over on you? The truth is, He says to have no company with them, to cast out the old leaven. If a person will not confess his sins but try to justify them or think that they are acceptable in the sight of the Lord because of the blood of Jesus, there is no hope for him. By the way, Jesus' blood does not cover willful disobedience. (Heb.10:26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. It says, If we walk in the light (Walking in the light is not walking in sin. Everyone would agree with that.) as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another (He tells you, “Don't have any fellowship with people walking in willful disobedience.” Period.), and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin (1Jn.1:7). That's a wonderful promise! If you will repent and believe and walk in the light, He will cleanse you of that sin. (1Jn.1:8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If a person doesn't want to confess his sin and wants to justify himself and hold onto his sin and wants to blame you for condemning him or bringing Scriptures showing where the Father has condemned him, then this person is not going to have any part of the Kingdom of God. The Lord says it very plainly, and we have to tell him the exact truth here concerning this. The light of the Gospel has to come. The true light of what repentance actually means is going to be brought on the scene here pretty quickly, folks. The overwhelming majority of Christianity don't understand what repentance is. They don't have any hope that repentance could actually deliver them from their sin and that they will not have to worry about that sin or walk in that sin anymore because of what Jesus did at the cross. He took their sin and nailed it on that cross. You do not have it anymore. Repentance and faith are necessary.  Back to where we were in Matthew, we found that Jesus took up where John left off. The next thing He does is to go out and gather His disciples. (Mat.4:18) And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers. (19) And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men. (20) And they straightway left the nets, and followed him. (21) And going on from thence he saw two other brethren, James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. (22) And they straightway left the boat and their father, and followed him. Jesus has just begun His ministry here. The people whom He was going to were seeing a great light and He was gathering together His “elders” of the Church. He was raising up His forefathers of the Church, like Jacob raised up the 12 patriarchs, who were the elders of the Church. As you know, from here on out, He carried them with Him, demonstrating to them the truth of the Gospel by His works of healing, delivering, setting free, etc., so that they could live in the Kingdom of God.  In the Kingdom of God, all the promises come to pass; the Kingdom of God is where God rules. We pray; Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth (6:10). When God's Kingdom comes on Earth, it is as it is in Heaven. Is there any sickness in Heaven? Are there any demon-possessed people in Heaven? Is there anybody lacking in Heaven? The provision of God's Kingdom is total and complete in this earth, and we want to enter into it because that's where all of God's provision is. (Eph.1:3) Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ. He's blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.   As we enter into Christ, we have all these spiritual blessings that God has in His Heavenly Kingdom. He is gathering up His disciples, with whom He is going to walk, and send them forth into a much broader path than He could walk in. They, in turn, were going to raise up disciples who were going to do the same thing in a geometric progression that was going to bring a great revival. This is a type and shadow of the Man-child ministry that's coming, in whom Jesus is come to be manifested. Jesus raised up disciples in whom He was manifested here, and the same thing is going to happen in our day. Disciples are going to be raised up as forefathers to the Church of our day, except there will be many more because the Man-child is not an individual, but a corporate body.  It goes on to say, And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Mat.4:23). So He preached repentance, and then He preached the Gospel of the Kingdom. What is the Gospel of the Kingdom? Gospel means “Good News,” the Good News of the Kingdom. The Good News is that you can enter into God's Kingdom on Earth through repentance and faith. Well, God's Kingdom is where God rules in your life, and this is the Good News, that you can walk in obedience to God; you can walk in the Kingdom of God, under the leadership and rulership of God. The reason we know that you can do this now is because of what Jesus did at the cross. He made reconciliation: He took your sinful life and nailed it on that cross, and He gave up His Life. Do you believe it? Do you believe that He sanctified you on that cross? That He washed you on that cross? That He delivered you from sin on that cross? The Bible says in Romans 6:18 that He made you free from sin. He delivered you.   See, here is the great light that is going to come. Most of the Church believes that the only opportunity you have is forgiveness from God, and that is the beginning, but that is not the great revelation that God's people are going to get. They already know that. The great revelation is that the Bible is actually true. Jesus actually did deliver you from your sin; He actually did heal your body; He actually did deliver you from the curse; He actually did deliver you out of the power of darkness. Hallelujah! He did this. This is going to come as a sudden shock to a lot of people, but the Gospel is actually true; it's not just a nice saying, but it's actually true.  I want to backup a little here. (Mat.4:16) The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light (He was talking about His people), and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up. He's referring to walking in the light, which was what Jesus was about to show them. He was about to show them that they can walk in the light and be delivered of their sin, washed of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7-9). This is the Good News that most of the Church has never heard. Oh, they have heard the Gospel, but they didn't realize it was really true. They never had any faith, only mental assent. Folks, He is talking about the nature of sin, about delivering you out of the power of darkness. It does not have any power over you. That is an awesome revelation that's going to come to the Church through the raising up of this Man-child ministry and disciples who walk in the steps of Jesus Christ.  Then Jesus went out to demonstrate this by “preaching the gospel of the Kingdom and healing all manner of disease.” Most of the Church does not understand that you have a right to healing, that you are not under the curse because you are a new creation. They don't understand that old things have passed away and all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). They don't understand that you have been delivered of sin (Romans 8:2) and God accounts you righteous through your faith in Him (Romans 4:3), your faith in what the Bible says. It needs to be real faith. This is the light, the sudden revelation that a lot of the Church is going to get and that some of you have already received.   (Mat.4:23) And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people. (24) And the report of him went forth into all Syria: and they brought unto him all that were sick, holden with divers diseases and torments, possessed with demons, and epileptic, and palsied; and he healed them. (25) And there followed him great multitudes from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judaea and [from] beyond the Jordan. He was demonstrating the Gospel that these people were not guilty anymore, demonstrating that God was forgiving them by healing them and delivering them of every curse that came upon them. Those curses came because of their disobedience to God and also because of the sin they inherited when they were born. They were born into sin. Some people say, “Well, God made me this way.” What does that have to do with anything? You were born in sin, you came into this world with the nature of sin, and so you say, “Because I was born this way, I'm supposed to keep it”? That will not float, folks. In the Kingdom of Heaven, you need to repent of this.  Let's read more of how Jesus demonstrated the Gospel. (Mat.8:16) And when even was come, they brought unto him many possessed with demons: and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all that were sick: (17) that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our diseases. He carried His disciples with Him and demonstrated to them how to minister and administer this Gospel of the Kingdom. Everyone who repented and believed could have these gifts because they were no longer under the curse, as they were no longer under sin. That's the Great News of the Kingdom. God not only forgave them, He washed and cleansed them, He healed them, He delivered them, and He took away every other form of the curse. It was just like the Passover. The Passover was the Death Angel, the Destroyer, passing over them because they actually had the blood upon the doorpost (Exodus 12:23). How do you get the blood upon your doorpost? The Bible is pretty plain about that. (1Jn.1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. The blood of Jesus cleanses us of all sin. Walk in the light. You take those steps in the light because of repentance and God will wash you, cleanse you and deliver you.  We see here something that is going to be fulfilled in our day on a much larger scale. The Man-child ministry is going to go forth to deliver, heal, bless, and demonstrate the Gospel. Not only that, there will be the saving of souls who are in bondage to sin, which many of you have experienced, but many more are going to experience that. Do you know how we know this is going to be repeated? Because this was a repetition in itself; this had happened before. You ask, “When did it ever happen before?” Well, go back and look in the Old Testament because in Hebrews 3, the author compared Moses' house and Christ's house. There is a comparison because Moses was the Man-child in his day and he did the exact same thing that Jesus did, even bringing the same Gospel.   Let me show you how we can see that. I know that it's in the types and shadows, but when it's pointed out to you, you can see it. For instance, when Jesus was anointed, the Bible tells us that He was given the throne of David, His father (Luke 1:32). Jesus was to rule over Israel, and His anointing was compared with the anointing that David had to rule over Israel. That is what's happening to Moses here. (Exo.3:1) Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro (whose name means “His excellence”), his father-in-law … Why is Moses' father-in-law called “His excellence”? Because his father-in-law was also the Father of the Bride. Is that not still true today? Exactly so. Moses was keeping the flock. Remember, David was keeping the flock before he was anointed to be king. Moses was doing the same thing.  (Exo.3:1) Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb. (2) And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned … Moses saw this sight and wanted to go investigate and when he did, he stepped onto holy ground, meaning he became holy. The Lord told him to take his shoes off, that he was standing on holy ground, and Moses did not want to be separated from holiness (Exodus 3:5). He was holy before God, and this is where he got his ordination to lead his people out of bondage in Egypt. As a matter of fact, the Lord said, And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land (Exo.3:8). “I am come down.” Is that not what the Lord said in Hosea 6:2-3? He said there that He would come as the latter rain on the morning of the third day, and that's exactly what's going to happen. The Lord is coming down to deliver His people out of bondage in Egypt, which is a representation of the world.  (Exo.3:16) Go, and gather the elders of Israel … That's the first thing the Lord told Moses to do, the same thing Jesus did. He gathered the elders of Israel. Who was Israel? Israel was Jacob and Jacob raised up 12 patriarchs, which is exactly what Jesus raised up, 12 patriarchs. So there you have it. It's a perfect parallel here. “Go and gather the elders of Israel.” Why? It's because they were to walk with Moses, just like those elders walked with Jesus. The Gospel had to be demonstrated; the power of God was demonstrated to them. They were to walk in the same path.   (Exo.3:16) Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, the Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, hath appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and [seen] that which is done to you in Egypt: (17) and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt … There it is. He's going to deliver them from the curse of Egypt, the affliction of Egypt. He had said, “I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians.” Who are the Egyptians? The Egyptians are the old man, the old flesh, the bondage to the flesh. What He's saying is, “Look, I'm going to deliver you from the god of this world (that is, the old man, the flesh), and I'm going to deliver you from the curse because you've been obeying them both.” That is the Gospel of the Kingdom, which is what Jesus was preaching.  (Exo.3:17) And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. These were the “ites” that represented the old man, the same thing the Egyptian represented, which was the one who had brought them into bondage. You are not supposed to be in bondage to your flesh anymore. The Lord has already delivered you at the cross; it has already been done. He has already accomplished it. That's the Good News of the Kingdom. Why is God bringing them into the Promised Land? He's doing it in order to put to death those people who were ruling in the land. The Israelite was to rule in the land, not these people. He brought the Israelites in there for the purpose of putting them to death. Most Christians today want to live with the old man, but when Israel did that and let the enemies stay in the land, they became thorns in their side for the rest of their life. So the Jews did not inherit all of the land the Lord gave them, and they lived under a curse, under warfare, because they did not obey God. He said, “You take up your sword and go in there. I will be with you. You put them to death and take their house to live in and raise up your crop, your fruit in that land” (Deuteronomy 7). That's the Gospel.  (Exo.3:18) And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, hath met with us (As if He had not been there all along! Actually, He came down in a much mightier way than He had ever done in the 400-odd years that they had been in bondage, and that's how He is about to come today. He's about to come in a more powerful way than any of us have ever experienced, for the purpose of delivering His people out of Egypt and out from under the god of this world.): and now let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. They had to serve God in the wilderness. Moses was taking the elders of Israel with him at this time, just as Jesus was, and demonstrating unto them the Gospel.  Here is the gathering of the elders again. (Exo.4:29) And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. When Jesus gathered the elders, He was not gathering together the apostates. He started all over, which is what He is going to do this time as well. He is not going to the apostates, but He will start all over with some new, humble people who did not go to Bible school. He is going to raise them up. Paul is one of those who obviously went to Bible school, but He had to prove that He could do it, and He did. But what is represented by Moses and Aaron here? We're looking at a parallel of what Jesus did and now we see Moses and Aaron, but it had said earlier, And thou (Moses) shalt speak unto him (Aaron), and put the words in his mouth (Exo.4:15). Moses was to put the words in Aaron's mouth? That's a little like what the Lord does to us, which is what He's about to say. (Exo.4:15) … And I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. (16) And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people; and it shall come to pass, that he shall be to thee a mouth, and thou shalt be to him as God.   Interesting. He is likening Moses to God, like Jesus was to God. Now let me say, if a Man-child comes in our day, Who is it Who is going to be with him, putting words in his mouth? Jesus, Who is God! Moses is being used of God, and Aaron is being used as his prophet to speak his words, to do his work, and to take the staff that he did to do the miracles. In this case, we're seeing Aaron as the Man-child and Moses as Jesus in the Man-child or behind the Man-child to do the works. (Exo.4:29) And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel (This is much like Jesus did; His Father God was in Him doing the works. Jesus was the spokesman, the mouthpiece; He gathered together His disciples and did the miracles, and Aaron is doing the same thing here.): (Exo.4:30) and Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. So it was Aaron speaking the words and doing the works, just like Jesus did.  “Aaron” means “bright” or “illumined.” He represents the glory of God shining out of a person, like this says: (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. There are three glories: star glory, moon glory, and sun glory (1 Corinthians 15:40-41). It gets brighter and brighter and brighter. This is the shining forth of God in His people. He is coming in “Aaron,” His first-fruits. Jesus was called the first-fruits (1 Corinthians 15:20), and there is a first-fruits in our day. David also represented the first-fruits and Joseph, as well. It is not the only fruits, just the first-fruits. He is planning on doing this with His whole Body. (Exo.4:31) And the people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped. This was a monumental time in their history because they were about to be delivered out of bondage to the old man, the Egyptian, Pharaoh, the god of this world, and to the curse they were under because they were serving them.  (Exo.5:4) And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, loose the people from their works? … Some people think you have to put up with your “works” the rest of your life, that there is nothing you can do about it because you're always going to be a “sinner saved by grace.” That is an anti-Christ gospel. They were setting the people free from their works, from their service to the old man and to the devil, who is the god of this world that ruled over them, like Pharaoh did. They were being set free and the devil did not like it. “Get you unto your burdens.” In other words, “Get back under the heavy weight of your burden.” (Exo.5:5) And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land are now many, and ye make them rest from their burdens. This is what the Lord brought us out of bondage for, to enter into His rest and to cease from our own works, the works of the flesh. We do not serve the flesh anymore. We serve the spiritual man now. This is the Gospel of the Kingdom, and it sets people free. Even the devil had to admit that they were setting them free from their works.  (Exo.6:9) And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses … You cannot set someone free unless they believe the Gospel of the Kingdom. Moses came there to set the Israelites free. God ordained him on Mount Horeb, representing the Kingdom of God, to go and bring them out of bondage and take them to that mountain, too, but they had to believe him first because the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Rom.1:16). (Exo.6:9) … But they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. God had to do a work in them before they could actually receive this light of the knowledge of the Kingdom. (Exo.6:10) And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, (11) Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt … The word “Pharaoh” means “temple of the sun.” He was God to the Egyptians. They believed he was divinity, believed that he was the sun god. Pharaoh was not the Son of God and not even a close facsimile to the Son of God, but he was usurping God's position over the people of God.  The devil does that today. He usurps the position of the Son of God over the people of God, and they do not know that the one they're serving is the devil. They don't know that they're serving the old man that serves the devil, which is the Egyptian. We know that the Egyptian represents the old man because when the Israelites went through the Red Sea, Paul called it a “baptism.” In the baptism, the old man died in the Red Sea, and the Israelite came up on the other side; the new man, the spiritual man came up out of the water. The carnal man died and the spiritual man was made alive, so we know this parable is true. (Exo.6:11) Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. Do you suppose this Man-child is going to have this same authority to tell the devil to set God's people free? Well, Jesus was doing it. He commanded the devil to loose them; He commanded the sickness to come out of them; He delivered their mind from the fogginess of their fallen state. And, yes, this is what not only the Man-child but the witnesses and the elders who are raised up by the Man-child are going to do. They're going to have the authority to say, “Turn them loose, devil,” and it's going to happen.  (Exo.6:12) And Moses spake before the Lord, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips? Does the devil have to listen to you when you tell him to turn people loose if they do not believe? No. When you preach the Gospel and they believe it, only then do you have the authority to say, “Turn them loose, devil.” This is exactly what Moses complained of. He was saying, “Hey, they don't believe me yet, so why would Pharaoh listen?” (Exo.6:13) And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. That was their ordination, their command from God, Who said, “Bring them out.   You have the authority to do this.” Jesus had the same authority, by the Isaiah 61 anointing, which Luke 4:18 also speaks about. (Isa.61:1) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to them that are bound. Who were they bound to? They were in bondage to their old man, in bondage to the devil, and they were living under the curse. Jesus took care of all three and that was all involved in the Gospel of the Kingdom. Now we know that Moses, too, was dealing with the Gospel of the Kingdom and trying to get those people to believe what he said. Praise the Lord!  (Exo.12:21) Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel (I'd like to point out to you that these elders were with him exactly as the disciples of Jesus, all the time, and he was demonstrating to them the Gospel. Actually, here is the Gospel in a nutshell.), and said unto them, Draw out, and take you lambs according to your families, and kill the passover. We're told that they had to eat all of the lamb (Exodus 12:8-10) and that the blood was to be put on the doorposts (Exodus 12:7), so that the Death Angel, the Destroyer, would pass over them and smite the Egyptians (Exodus 12:13). Jesus said, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves (Joh.6:53). Most of the Church is refusing to eat the body and drink the blood of Jesus Christ. The Bible says, The life of the flesh is in the blood (Lev.17:11). They are refusing the life of Christ through unbelief. Moses is not able to exercise any authority over Pharaoh because of their unbelief. Jesus was the bread Who came down out of Heaven (John 6:51) that gives life to the world, and that was His Body, the Word of God.  We are also told this: (Exo.12:15) Seven days (that is the last seven “days”) shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses (This is the house that we live in. There shall be no leaven, no polluting the pure Word of God.): for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. This is a dire warning to God's people that during the Tribulation period, you cannot continue onward believing the doctrine of these apostate religions. (Mar.8:15) … Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod, too, because there are many who are worshipping the government. They're worshipping their country, their nation; they're pledging allegiance to a wicked, worldly nation. This is not to say that you aren't supposed to submit to them in every way, except when God tells you to do otherwise. Your allegiance is to the Lord, and you will bow to no one else. We see here that Moses was leading them to partake of the body and blood of Christ, and this was causing a Passover so that they did not have to live under the curse. Praise be to God!  (Exo.12:29) And it came to pass at midnight, that the Lord smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of cattle. (30) And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. In every house there was one dead. So if we are the house, there has to be one dead, and that's the old man. He is the firstborn of Egypt, born of the flesh, born of the world. He is dead and we know that he is dead, and we are free because of what Jesus did at the cross because we were crucified with Christ. The Lamb was slain here, but the Bible says, we were crucified with Christ and it is no longer we who live, but it is Christ Who lives in us (Galatians 2:20). That is the new man and that is how faith in the Gospel works. We continue to believe what the Bible says, that, “Yes, this old man is dead. He was put to death, so I don't have to serve him anymore because he is dead, and he was crucified with Christ. Now the new man lives and rules in me.” That new man is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col.1:27). We behold with unveiled face as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, and are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit (2Co.3:18). Like Aaron, who was the “brilliance,” the shining forth of the Lord in him, so the people of God will be.  (Exo.12:31) And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. Pharaoh finally gave up, and the devil is going to turn God's people loose. The god of this world, the sun god, the one who imitates the Lord and usurps His authority over God's people, is going to turn them loose, is going to obey the command of Moses. When does that happen? It happens when they, “the people,” believe they're no longer in bondage to Satan because the Gospel, the Good News of the Kingdom, is the power of God to save the one who believes. It's the power to save them from the old man, from the devil, and from the curse. You will be delivered of those three things when you believe and continue to walk in the faith of the Gospel that sets free.  (Exo.17:5) And the Lord said unto Moses, Pass on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thy hand, and go. (6) Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. Here, Moses was still demonstrating the power of God's provision for God's people. Jesus multiplied the fishes and the loaves, and here Moses was still demonstrating it with the authority and the power of God to the elders and the people. (Exo.18:12) And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God. Praise the Lord!   This is, once again, Jesus raising up His elders and the Man-child in our day, raising up the elders to be free from the bondage of Satan and free from the bondage of the flesh. The harvest started getting bigger and bigger, and more and more people started coming into the Kingdom, just as it was also said about Jesus. (Exo.24:1) And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off: (2) and Moses alone shall come near unto the Lord; but they shall not come near; neither shall the people go up with him. As you know, Moses went up on the mountain and was caught up unto the throne of God. This is the first mention of the 70 elders. He had already mentioned them, but now He refers to them as the “seventy.”  We have already discussed Jesus raising up the elders, but He also raised up the 70. (Luk.10:1) Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come. (2) And he said unto them, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest. Obviously, the 12 were not enough. This was a great revival for many hungry people; there was a need. Even with Moses, his father-in-law Jethro had said, “You're going to kill yourself trying to serve all the people by yourself” (Exodus 18:14-18). Then Jethro gave Moses the wisdom from God to raise up elders unto the people to judge them, meet their needs, and so on (Exodus 18:19-26).   Jesus said, Go your ways; behold, I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves (Luk.10:3). (4) Carry no purse, no wallet, no shoes; and salute no man on the way. (5) And into whatsoever house ye shall enter, first say, Peace be to this house. (6) And if a son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: but if not, it shall turn to you again. (7) And in that same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. (8) And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: (9) and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. The Kingdom of God is where people are healed, delivered, prospered, blessed, delivered from sin, etc.  (Luk.10:10) But into whatsoever city ye shall enter, and they receive you not, go out into the streets thereof and say, (11) Even the dust from your city, that cleaveth to our feet, we wipe off against you: nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh. That is judgment; He brought judgment. These people brought judgment upon the ones who refused the Gospel. They cleaned their shoes off as a judgment against them. Don't believe that God did not do something about that because He goes on, (Luk.10:12) I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. (13) Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. (14) But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment, than for you.  God bless you, saints! Just remember, the Good News of the Gospel of the Kingdom is about to be preached with mighty power, and a great revival is going to go forth from it. God bless you! 

Return of the Man-Child (6)  (audio) David Eells – 4/6/25  We know that in the Gospels, the Lord has shown us that the things that happened in those times are going to happen again around the world. In fact, He gave us these as types and shadows of prophecies which shall come to pass in our days. Praise the Lord! God has hidden so many wonderful things in His Word. Father, we thank You for opening our eyes and bringing us into agreement with You. You say, “How can two walk together except they be agreed?” So, Lord, it is so awesome to see what You are doing so that we can cooperate with You and be used as vessels of Your glory in these coming days. We are just so happy to hear about the great revival You have planned for us that is almost upon us, Lord. We want to be partakers in that and let You use us in it. We thank You so much, Lord, in Jesus' name.  I'd like to go back and talk a little bit more about the John the Baptist ministry because there's much still to cover. (Mat.3:1) And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying, (2) Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (3) For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight (or “make a straight path for Him”). John's job was to prepare people for the coming of Jesus, and there is a corporate John the Baptist ministry in our day whose job it is to prepare for the coming of Jesus in the Man-child.  Remember, Jesus said He was coming again on the morning of the third day (Hosea 6:2), which is where we are now. We're at the third millennial day from Jesus, when He came the first time as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth (Hos.6:3). He came as the former rain, and now He is coming as the latter rain in a corporate body of people. We'll return to that text, but first, let's look at this. (Luk.1:12) And Zacharias was troubled when he saw [him,] and fear fell upon him. (13) But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. (14) And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. (15) For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.   There is also a fulfillment of that in our time. Remember that Paul spoke about being separated from my mother's womb (Gal.1:15), meaning he was being born out of the Jewish religion. In John's case, it could be taken that way as well, although Luke literally meant “from his (John the Baptist's) mother's womb.” I believe this John the Baptist ministry in our day is going to be the spiritual fulfillment of that corporate body. I believe that they will be anointed from their spiritual “mother's womb”, or, in other words, they are delivered out of their religion. The woman in Revelation 12 who birthed the Man-child and other later seeds represents the Church who brings forth these seeds as they grow up and mature.  Luke goes on to describe what we know to be a great revival that is coming because this John the Baptist ministry is on the verge of coming forth, probably after the next great judgment. Luke continues, And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God (Luk.1:16). Notice that it states “many of the children of Israel,” so this refers to those who were considered to be God's people. However, they were not who they thought they were. Jesus had a great problem with people like that, who believed they were right with God because of their religion. But He said that the Father had sent Him to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24). In our day, we have the same situation. There are a lot of lost sheep in Christianity, and the Man-child ministry of our day is going to be sent to them as the fulfillment of that in our day. (1Co.10:11) Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition (referring to Christians), upon whom the ends of the ages are come. It says, “Many of the children of Israel shall He turn unto the Lord their God.” That's a great revival!  (Luk.1:17) And he shall go before his face (that is, Jesus' face, or in our day, it would be the Man-child's face) in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children … What He means by that, I believe the Lord showed me, and this is also in Malachi, to “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,” is that we need the heart that our fathers had. We need to have the diligence and discipleship that our early Church fathers had. God is going to restore what has been lost to the Church for the last 2000 years. He said in Malachi that if He did not do this, He would have to smite the earth with a curse (Mal.4:6). (Luk.1:17) And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient [to walk] in the wisdom of the just … This will be the result of the John the Baptist ministry in our day. People will be seeking righteousness, purity, holiness, and repentance. This was the main message that John had, to “make ready for the Lord” a people prepared for Him. His ministry will be to prepare hearts to recognize Jesus.  Interestingly, most Christians could not recognize Jesus if He walked in the door. That's the whole reason for this repentance. We don't have eyes to see and ears to hear unless we have repented, which is the ministry of John the Baptist, who came to turn the people back to the Lord. If you turn to the Lord, you can hear and you can see; you can recognize someone spiritual. But not if you're dull of hearing and have closed eyes like Jesus talks about when He says, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given (Mat.13:11). He was referring to His own people here who had become blind and hard of hearing, and who did not recognize Jesus. They didn't know the importance of His words and didn't lay any importance on the sanctification that was in those words. Also, it says, This is He that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight (Mat.3:3). In other words, “make a straight path for your connection with the Lord and His coming into your life.”  This is a part of Isaiah. (Isa.40:1) Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. (2) Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. It sounds like that's when John came because this is a prophecy of John, which we'll see when we look at the next verses. They had just come through a time of judgment, and this probably softened them up to be ready to repent when John preached and baptized in the river. He said that they had received double for all their sins. As we read on, we are going to see this again. (Isa.40:3) The voice of one that crieth, Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of the Lord … The way to the Lord is in the wilderness. It is not in the city; it is not in apostasy; it is not in Babylon.   The way to the Lord is in the wilderness, as Moses told Pharaoh (Exodus 10) because you cannot serve God in Egypt. We have to go into the wilderness to serve God and that's exactly what is going to happen here. We're going into a wilderness where people will once again learn to walk by faith. (Hab.2:4) … But the righteous shall live by his faith. (Heb.10:38) But my righteous one shall live by faith … (Isa.40:3) The voice of one that crieth, Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of the Lord; make level in the desert a highway for our God. In other words, make a way for His entrance into your life. You have to get all the stones out of the way; you have to remove anything that is between you and God. That's what the John the Baptist ministry is going to be all about.  (Isa.40:4) Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low (God is saying about this coming time, that when a person is humbled, then they'll be exalted and when a person is exalted, then they'll be humbled.); and the uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain: (Isa.40:5) and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. It was prophesied of John to speak this, and in the letter, Isaiah was referring to the coming of Jesus. But Jesus said He was coming again on the morning of the third day, at the latter rain, and He's going to come in His Man-child company first. His purpose is to fill His whole body with His glory. You know that we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory (2Co.3:18). “Beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord” is the real Gospel and the people have forgotten that it's the Good News. They've forgotten that the Lord has done this; it is not us. We have faith in Him.  (Isa.40:6) The voice of one saying, Cry. And one said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. (7) The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the breath (or the “spirit”; it's the same word) of the Lord blewit upon it; surely the people is grass. (8) The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever. (9) O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up on a high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold, your God! This is prophesied of John the Baptist. “Behold, your God!”   The Lord is coming, folks! This is an exciting thing about the days to come. We're going to see the Lord again. No, not in His first physical body, but it's going to be Him manifested in His people. This is the great joy that God's people are going to have, and this is why no one will make them afraid in the wilderness because God's people are those who do truly desire Him and invite Him into their hearts to truly live, not as religion says, but for the truth.  The next verse speaks of His coming. (Isa.40:10) Behold, the Lord God will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him … (Isa.53:1) … To whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? That was Jesus and it is still Jesus today. Jesus in you is still the arm of the Lord that strengthens His hands to do His work, and He calls us His hands in Isaiah 53:10. (Isa.40:10) Behold, the Lord God will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him: Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. Notice that His recompense is before Him. That sounds like what we just read, that Jerusalem has paid double for her sins. It sounds as if judgment is coming before the Lord comes, and I believe that the Lord is showing us exactly that through many revelations, dreams, and visions. We'll return to that topic shortly, but it says, Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the earth (that is where we are), Say ye to the daughter of Zion (The daughter is born-again Zion, the New Jerusalem.), Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him (Isa.62:11). We can see that in two ways: First, we know that Jesus is coming in the Man-child as the white horse rider (Revelation 6:2) to bring judgment, like Moses came to bring judgment. But, and this is very interesting, it could also mean that there will be judgment before He comes, as we just read in Isaiah 40:2. (Isa.40:11) He will feed his flock like a shepherd (Ezekiel 34 refers to that – that He will shepherd His own sheep, His own flock.), he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, [and] will gently lead those that have their young. That sounds great, doesn't it? Praise the Lord! Glory to God! John the Baptist isn't such a bad guy. He's going to bring the beginning of a massive world revival.  (Mat.3:4) Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. (5) Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about the Jordan. That sounds like a revival exactly as Luke 1 prophesied of John, that there would be a great move of repentance in God's people. What would cause God's people to repent like this? I believe, according to Isaiah 26, that one of the main things that moves God's people toward repentance is judgment. A very shaking judgment is coming, not only to America, but also to the world, and I believe that this may be the beginning of a John the Baptist ministry, which many will listen to. Something has to happen for God's people to listen and it is spoken about in Isaiah. (Isa.26:8) Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee. So I think God is going to catch people's attention with judgment and then He's going to bring the John the Baptist ministry, which will have a message of repentance.  (Mat.3:5) Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about the Jordan; (6) and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Notice that “Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about the Jordan went out unto him, and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” (Mat.3:7) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance: (9) and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. We see here that there were two kinds of people who came to the John the Baptist revival. Those who were worthy and those who were not worthy. So, according to Jesus, even those who were actually sons of their father, the devil (John 8:44), were coming out there to that revival.  Now, it just so happens that we received a revelation that really fits this John the Baptist revival, the repentant burning up of the wood, hay, and stubble, and the two kinds of people there. Kendall Remmick received this on February 7, 2010. My comments are in parentheses.  I was walking down an old, familiar street with a friend whom I never did see in the dream. I knew the person standing next to me was a friend, but I did not know his identity. (It could have been the Lord. Who knows?) The street is the one I used to walk home on every day from school when I was in the first and second grades. (I think he's going to give us a revelation here of the path of immaturity, as you'll realize shortly.) My friend and I walked by one house that had some low evergreen bushes about two feet high, and there was a woman sitting in a chair in the midst of the bushes. She was pregnant and had her hands on either side of her stomach in anticipation of giving birth. In appearance, she was actually a silhouette of a woman, yet still three-dimensional. Inside the silhouette was black darkness, like deep space with no stars. Staring at her was like looking at a portal into darkness. (This is talking about the apostate, immature Church in whom is the absence of God's light. It is space, a vacuum, the absence of many things, but especially God's light. The Church is in bad shape, andi it's not the glorious Church that it's soon to become. God has a plan and He is going to tell you about that here.)  When we walked past her, either my friend or I said, “She's about to give birth to twins.” (The interpretation that came to me as I read this is that the twins represent the end-time Jacobs and Esaus born to the immature Church. Remember Jacob and Esau wrestled in the womb, And the children struggled together within her (Gen.25:22), and they were opposites, weren't they? Jacob is the father of the 12 patriarchs, just as Jesus was the “father” of the 12 patriarch apostles. In our day, the endtime Man-child will be used to raise up the patriarch apostles to the end-time Church. So there are parallels there and history always repeats, so we should expect this. Esau represents those who have sold their birthright, as Paul said in Hebrews 12:16. These two types will be separated at birth, and Esau will persecute Jacob, who is a type of the Man-child. Jacob was the father of the 12 patriarchs, and the Man-child will also raise up the patriarchs in our day. These two different types are being born to this Church, very similar to what we saw in Matthew 3. Some sold their birthright because they were sons of Abraham, and there is the true seed of promise.)  At this point, we looked away and continued to walk forward a few steps. I then stopped and noticed that I had a very small lawnmower in my right hand. The woman who was in the small hedge was behind us now, and the yard had grown very big. The grass needed to be mowed, but it wasn't green. It was golden yellow-brown, like wheat. And I realized that we were there to mow the lawn. (Now we're back to what we just read: (Isa.40:6) The voice of one saying, Cry. And one said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass … So the yard of the woman, who represents the Church, has a large, grassy lawn, which represents lots of flesh. (Isa.40:6) The voice of one saying, Cry. And one said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. (7) The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the breath (or the “spirit”; it's the same word) of the Lord bloweth upon it; surely the people is grass. (8) The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever. This is truly going to be a revival because of the Spirit of God breathing upon the flesh, withering it up. This is a part of the John the Baptist revelation of Isaiah 40. This is what we need in preparation for the coming of the Lord into our lives in a greater way than we have ever known, in the latter rain movement.)  I looked down at the little lawnmower in my hand. The top of it looked like a regular lawnmower, but the bottom side, where the blades were, looked like a house fan with a safety screen on it. (My interpretation is that a corporate John the Baptist ministry will breathe out the winds of the Spirit. That will cut down the flesh of the Church in repentance to prepare for the coming of the Man-child ministry.) I began to laugh and said, “I can't mow this lawn with this little thing. This lawn is huge!” (Meaning that flesh is abundant in the worldwide Church. This is a worldwide John the Baptist ministry coming to a worldwide Church and their job is cutting the grass. I recently had a lady tell me that she saw me mowing her lawn and I said, “That means I'm cutting your flesh.” This should be the work of every minister, to cut down the flesh to make room for the coming of the Lord.)  My friend said, “Well, sit down on the grass.” (I believe that this represents that these ministers are going to be tested. They haven't been anointed yet, so they'll have to be tested. I believe they're being tested right now, that John the Baptists and the future Man-childs are out there right now. The thing is, they haven't been anointed. I don't know if you've ever noticed, but evangelists like John the Baptist can say less and see more people come to an altar or any other form of receiving the Lord. Their message is very simple, but people just seem to flock to them. It's a gift, an anointing that God gives. These people could be preaching away right now, but it's Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts (Zec.4:6). Great revivals come by the Spirit of God. He is going to grant repentance, the Bible says. He can grant it to anybody. He doesn't even need your help to do it. A great revival is going to be just that; it's going to be a lot of people coming to repentance and wondering what happened. There's nothing from the outside you can observe that would tell you why this is happening, but you know that it's a move of God.)  When they set the mower down in the grass, it cut surprisingly well. But we realized that the lawnmower was way too small, so we agreed that we needed to go home and get a bigger lawnmower. (When the anointing comes on the worldwide John the Baptist ministries from Heaven, which is our real home because this world is not our home and we're going back home, the people will be prepared for the coming of the Man-child ministries. (Mat.11:10) This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee. Malachi 3:1 calls him “messenger.”   We once had a brother come and share, and the Lord had been telling me for weeks beforehand that this brother was a John the Baptist, and so when I told Brother Brad to put a banner up on the site to let everyone know he was coming, Brad said that the Lord had spoken to him that this was a John the Baptist. I said, “I know that; the Lord has spoken the same thing to me.” And then, the first thing that the brother said when he opened his mouth was that he was a messenger. I said, “Aha! You just confirmed something for me.” Of course, he didn't know that he was a John the Baptist. A lot of people don't know who they are, but it doesn't matter that you don't know who you are. It matters that you follow the Will of God until you find yourself in the Will of God. Praise the Lord! He can do this!)  When I was writing this, a verse came to me. (Amo.7:2) And it came to pass that, when they made an end of eating the grass … (In Daniel 4, the Beast Nebuchadnezzar, who was the head of the Babylonian Empire, had been given over to the mind of a beast and had devoured much flesh. But when he was delivered over to the mind of the beast, he devoured the flesh of the field for seven years, representing the nations that he was conquering. The nations of the Beast were conquered. Why is God raising up the Beast? He's raising up the Beast to cut the grass. He's not raising up just the John the Baptists who preach repentance, but He's also raising up the Beasts that put you on the cross in the first place. People don't want to see the Beast. They don't have any idea what the meaning and the purpose of the Beast is. They don't understand that God raises up the Beast to put His people on the cross; in other words, “to cut the grass,” so that they will humble themselves before God.)  (There's only one escape from the Beast, folks, and people are going to realize that it's going to be the Highway of Holiness. The Beast can't go on the Highway of Holiness. If you're walking holy before the Lord, Isaiah 35 says the Highway of Holiness goes to Zion, the City of God, the holy city, the mountain of God's presence, where also the Beast cannot tread. There is a place of safety from the Beast. God is going to make people understand that and that's why people are going to flock to Zion. We know that the John the Baptist ministry is baptized for the death of the flesh before the Man-child brings the latter rain.)  The lawnmower is the ministry before the latter rain. (He had that right because I had that revelation as I was reading from the top down, and I didn't know he had that there, but the ministry before the latter rain is the John the Baptist ministry. The dry grass is the saints who will die to the flesh. John the Baptist came in the anointing of Elijah, the Bible says. He will also come again in our time, to fulfill this revelation.)  According to Jesus, Elijah comes twice. (Mat.17:10) And his disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? (11) And he answered and said, Elijah indeed cometh, and shall restore all things: (12) but I say unto you, that Elijah is come already (So He said that Elijah was future and that Elijah had come already.), and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them. (Mat.17:13) Then understood the disciples that He spake unto them of John the Baptist. John the Baptist was Elijah (spiritually), who had come the first time, and now we have another John the Baptist Elijah that is coming. According to Jesus, he is coming twice.  Our text in Matthew 3 is an interesting revelation of a great revival and wave of repentance. We have had revivals, but a revival always starts with repentance, not just questionable signs and wonders. And for wise people, they are not even questionable. John the Baptist preached against such Babylonish hypocrisy as the Saul leadership, which we saw and understood must die before the David leadership could come.  I was talking with a brother one time about the John the Baptist ministry or evangelists in general, about how different they were, in that they generally stuck with the basics. The brother told me that the Lord had been telling him to get back to the basics, and I recognized that was what the Lord had taught me about evangelists or John the Baptist-type ministries. They're speaking to a people who do not have eyes to see or ears to hear, but through the preaching of repentance God is going to give them eyes and ears. They need to get the basics first in order to come into the Kingdom. The John the Baptists and evangelists both are speaking to people who are not yet fully manifested coming into the Kingdom, and also to apostate ministries, to bring them to repentance. You cannot bring a deep word; in fact, a deep word will just hinder their work.  John the Baptist had a real simple message of repentance, which is more than just crying at an altar. It is changing your mind, turning, going the other way. The Bible says, For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, [a repentance] which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death (2Co.7:10). That means you might repent, but you'll regret it and go right back where you came from. The sorrow of the world is that way, but real repentance changes a person. It does not matter if you cry or not. Repentance is not necessarily crying; it's changing your mind enough to where you reject your old way of thinking, which is the main problem.  Another text in Matthew 11 speaks about John the Baptist's simple ministry, and perhaps he didn't yet understand a few things. It seems very plain here. (Mat.11:1) And it came to pass when Jesus had finished commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and preach in their cities. (2) Now when John heard in the prison the works of the Christ, he sent by his disciples (3) and said unto him, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another? Now, why did he say that? It may be that Jesus was not living up to expectations, not that Jesus wasn't already doing great work. Maybe in John's eyes He wasn't living up to the expectations of what they thought the Messiah was going to bring. I'm referring to the religious crowd of his day; they didn't expect Him to come this way or act this way. John likely had some of that in him because he asked the question through his disciples, “Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?”   (Mat.11:4) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and tell John the things which ye hear and see: (5) the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good tidings preached to them. (6) And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me. Well, that was a mild reproof for John, to tell John, “You shouldn't stumble; don't stumble in Me.” Jesus was the “stone of stumbling” (Romans 9:33) and people did stumble over Jesus. But He warned John not to stumble over Him because there was a big difference between their ministries. John preached repentance and Jesus was an enigmatic teacher of the deep things of God. He had deep revelations of these things. We never had any sign that John ever went beyond the basic preaching of faith and repentance, which is what is needed to prepare the way for the coming of the teaching. People are not even interested in that unless they have changed their mind and turned to God. We hear many times of people who, after repenting and turning to God, ask Him to lead them to truth, and God did that for them. He led them to truth because they had repented and truly became a disciple, but they needed some “food.”  The important thing is that when John is through with you, you're ready for Jesus. That is what's coming in our day. When an evangelist is through with you, you're ready for a teacher. So God is laying the foundation, and He always does a very good job of that. (Mat.11:7) And as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind? (8) But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft [raiment]? Behold, they that wear soft [raiment] are in king's houses. John was not a fancy person at all, was he? He certainly did not eat fancy food. (Mat.11:9) But wherefore went ye out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is a great prophet. (10) This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee. As we'll see a little further down in the text, John was the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, according to Jesus, not because he spoke a lot of great things, but because of the anointing and the preparation and the job that he had to do. Once again, God is choosing a people through whom He is going to do a great work. Many of God's people are going to turn to God through this ministry, a worldwide ministry.  (Mat.11:11) Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. In Jesus' day, John came at the end of the Old Covenant and was an Old Covenant prophet who was, at that time, preparing for a New Covenant; it was the old order preparing for the new order. The old and new orders are slightly different in our day but still have to follow according to the pattern. The old order in our day is the former rain ministry, and I know not many people have even come into that. This is really sad because, if you just read the Bible and pay attention to it, not getting distracted by religion, you cannot help but realize that you're supposed to be filled with God's Holy Spirit.  I believe the John the Baptist ministries that are coming in our day are going to fulfill being in the end of an old order, to prepare the way for the coming of a new order, which is the Man-child ministry. The John the Baptist in our day is going to come as the greatest prophet of the former rain and be a great ministry, bringing in multitudes of people. He will have the gifts of the former rain and be a former rain prophet, but the Man-child ministry is coming with the latter rain. That's the anointing that will fall upon the Man-child. The anointing that fell upon Jesus was the former rain, but the latter rain will fall upon the Man-child. We know that Jesus said He was coming again after two days on the morning of the third day, as the latter rain (Hosea 6:2-3).  So you see, Jesus is coming again, but this time He's coming as the new order for our day. He came as the new order for His day last time, and He's coming as the new order this time, as well, but He's coming after a John the Baptist ministry, which will be the greatest of the old order former rain. We know that the prophecy says that the rain will come, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first [month] (Joe.2:23). We see that there's a revival coming and it's going to be a revival of the former rain and the latter rain. The latter rain is going to supersede the former rain, and John the Baptist said just that. (Joh.3:30) He must increase, but I must decrease. In other words, “Don't get your eyes on me too long, boys, because there is coming One whose shoe latchets, I am not worthy to undo” (John 1:27). So John's disciples started getting the revelation of Who Jesus was, and they started following Him. John freely admitted that he was not the Messiah, but that the One Who was coming was greater.  (Mat.11:12) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force. How much more is this going to be true in the coming revival? Why do we have to take the Kingdom by force? Because there is a whole army standing against you, one over which you have been given authority. (Luk.10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. He gives us authority, but we have to fight a spiritual warfare to take the Kingdom of Heaven. It has been given, but you still have to take it with your “sword” (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). When God sent the children of Israel to take the Promised Land, they had to take it with their sword. God said, “You go in there with your sword, and I will be with you.” Basically, that's where we are today. We have to take the Kingdom with our sword. Why? Because there's a second heaven before the third Heaven.  We dwell in the first heaven, but the second heaven is filled with the principalities, powers, and world-rulers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12) that do everything they can to keep us from reaching the third Heaven. We don't take the Kingdom from God; we're taking it from these spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places] (Eph.6:12). By the way, Paul was a type of the Man-child who entered the third Heaven. He said that he fought the good fight and finished the race (2 Timothy 4:7). We are fighting a fight to take the Kingdom of God, but we must take it here. People think that you don't enter the Kingdom on Earth, but you do. (Luk.17:20) And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: (21) neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you. So He says, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force (Mat.11:12). Remember the authority that the Lord gave you. You have a right to everything that the Lord says is yours in this Book, but that doesn't mean you're going to get it if you don't take up your sword and fight. For everything that God has given you, you may have to fight. Don't expect God to just lay it in your hand. You may have to speak faith, act faith, and repent to receive it.  (Luk.17:13) For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. (14) And if ye are willing to receive [it,] this is Elijah, that is to come. (15) He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Praise the Lord! And so it is, we are about to enter into more of the Kingdom than we have ever experienced, or anybody has experienced, except the Lord. We're going to enter into it right here. And for some people to receive the former rain, repent of their sins, and become true disciples, it's going to be because of John's ministry. Then the Man-child ministry shall come, which is the latter rain. During the first 3½ years of Jesus' ministry, He was the only One Who had the former rain. When He was baptized by John in the river, He came up and the Spirit of God came upon Him; that was the former rain. At the end of His 3½-year ministry, He breathed on His disciples and said, Receive ye the Holy Spirit (Joh.20:22).   Their former rain came out of Jesus and in our day, it's a perfect parallel because the John the Baptist ministry in our day is going to have the former rain, while the Man-child ministry in whom Jesus lives is going to have the latter rain for the first 3½ years. At the end of that time, they're going to pass on their mantle to their disciples. Why didn't the disciples need it during the first 3½ years? It's because they were being trained under Jesus' authority. He said that He would send them “another Comforter” (Greek: Paraclete; John 14:16). Jesus was also a Paraclete, meaning “One who stands beside and helps.” But the Holy Spirit was also a Paraclete, and Jesus went away in order to send the Holy Spirit, Who would manifest Him in those disciples.  So for the first 3½ years, Jesus' disciples were given authority by Him to go and do the things that they would do. They needed the other Paraclete when Jesus left in order to continue with the anointing and the power. Jesus was the only One Who had the former rain for the first 3½ years, but He imparted that mantle to them, as Elijah had done to Elisha (2 Kings 2:13), who turned and faced 42 youths who were mauled by two bears (2 Kings 2:23-24). The bears were the Beast, and the 42 youths represented the 42 months of the last 3½ years. We're seeing the parallel there of passing on this anointing, this mantle. Elijah passed his mantle to Elisha, who went out and performed more miracles than Elijah ever did. So did the disciples of Jesus; they went out and did greater works than Jesus (John 14:12) because they were multiplied. This was Jesus in all of them, going out and performing the same works that Jesus was doing, so it was multiplied into many greater works.  This is going to be repeated again and the reason this revival is going to spread all over the world is because of a geometric progression, or the “stadium effect” we've spoken of before. The stadium effect is a circle inside a circle inside a circle, and each circle that receives the words spoken in the center passes it on to a larger circle. Everyone who receives the Word passes it on to more than one person, creating a progressively larger circle. Geometric progression is going to turn the world upside-down in these coming days, just as it did for these disciples. The Man-child ministry is going to teach under the latter rain for the first 3½ years and will impart that to the disciples, who are going to go on in the second 3½ years to raise up the five-fold ministry (Ephesians 4:11), and so on and so forth.  We saw in Acts 16 that Jesus was still with them in Spirit, just as Moses went halfway through the wilderness and had to put a veil on his face because there was a glorified man underneath. Then Moses went with the Israelites the rest of the way through the wilderness, which represents the last 3½ years of the Tribulation. We know that the wilderness is, according to Revelation 12 and 17, the first and second 3½ years of the Tribulation. So, every Man-child type in Scripture adds more and more detail to the final revelation. Praise God! He's going to do an awesome miracle, an awesome revival, that will start with John the Baptist and be carried on through Jesus and the Two Witnesses because they're the ones who were trained by Jesus. He sent them out two-by-two, in every place that He was about to go. Where is He going? The whole world, For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of man (Mat.24:27). That anointing will be passed from these ministries throughout the Church in this way and Jesus is going to raise up a body in His image. He will raise up the body of Christ.  We have been calling ourselves the body of Christ for a long time, but Jesus lives in the body of Christ, and He ministers from the body of Christ, so we're going to really see the body of Christ in the earth. Jesus will be famous from here on out. For the last 2000 years, His name has been small among the nations, but not so from here onward. The Lord is going to manifest His glory in this earth and people will fear the name of the Lord. They are either going to love Him or fear Him, but He is coming again, though not in the way the Pharisees and the Sadducees think. He didn't come the last time the way they thought He would, either. Once again, God has hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes (Mat.11:25). Praise God!   The Lord has a great plan to once again hide these things from the Pharisees and the Sadducees of our day. They will not understand it; they will not believe it; they cannot see Him, and they do not know Him. But, as Jesus said, those who come as a child to the Kingdom of God will do awesome wonders in the power of God, like He did through those ignorant fishermen. They were like babes to the great theologians who looked down on them, but these were the true believers, the true people of God. And in our day, it's going to be God coming in simplicity through John the Baptist. You couldn't imagine John the Baptist in a suit and tie in the wilderness, could you? He was a simple man here for a very important purpose, and I will guarantee you that's exactly what is going to happen. Praise God!   Thank You, Lord, for doing a mighty work. Amen!   The things God has spoken in Matthew are prophetic of something to come in the future. The prophet Isaiah also said the same thing: (Isa.7:14) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign (The Hebrew word there is uwth, meaning “a sign of something to come.”): behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Jesus' birth to the virgin Mary was for a sign and we've discovered that Jesus' ministry was a sign of the coming Man-child ministry. When we look in the Gospels, we can also see a prophetic word about the coming days. Our study has reached the part where Jesus was anointed of the Holy Spirit, so we'll continue there. (Mat.3:16) And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; (17) and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. This, too, is a prophecy of the things to come. As you know, Jesus spoke to us in John 16 and said that He was going to come again as a baby born to a woman, “a woman when she is in travail” (John 16:21). When we look all the way through the Bible, we come to Revelation 12:2 and there's the woman in travail with the Man-child.  After the sign that Jesus gave us here in Matthew, we know the Man-child is a corporate body coming forth in our day. It's interesting that everything that happened in the former rain is going to happen in the latter rain and this Spirit of God falling upon Jesus at this particular time was the outpouring of the former rain of the Holy Spirit that Joel prophesied would restore all things to the people of God (Joel 2:23). The former rain was given to Jesus first, who taught His disciples for 3½ years and then breathed on them, saying, Receive ye the Holy Spirit (Joh.20:22). Ten days later, a mighty, rushing wind came into their presence and baptized all of them in the Holy Spirit and they received the former rain.   But Jesus had it first and was the One Who breathed it on the disciples. Paul said that Jesus is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (Col.1:18). And He is going to have the preeminence this time, as well. Many people leave Him out of their Manchild theology, but the point is that it is the Lord Who is coming to do this. The Lord came with the former rain, and He is the One coming with the latter rain, although He's coming in a different body. It is still Him coming to do it. He came in the body of the Son of David, the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15).  I know people want to make that the “seed of God,” but That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (Joh.3:6). Jesus was declared to be of the seed of David according to the flesh (Rom.1:3), but declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness (4). God was the Father of the spiritual man Jesus, the Son of God, Who came from Heaven, and it was Mary's seed that was the son of David. Jesus said, a body didst thou prepare for me (Heb.10:5), and that body was from man. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Once again, the Lord is going to take on a human body in these days and the body gets no credit; it is the Lord Who gets the credit.   But the Lord is coming to start the latter rain and though you've heard this before, I'll share it with you again briefly. (Hos.6:2) After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him. (3) And let us know, let us follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth. “He will come unto us … as the latter rain that watereth the earth.” This is referring to the epiphany of Jesus, not the parousia of Jesus. The parousia is the physical coming of Jesus, but this latter rain is the epiphany of Jesus coming in His body. The first-fruits who are going to receive this blessing are called the Man-child ministry and it's on the morning of the “third day,” exactly what we see here in the text. It is Jesus who is coming to anoint His people and to, once again, sit upon the throne of David, as Luke 1:32 tells us; Jesus sat upon the throne of David.  The Bible also tells us, by the way, that the Man-child is going to be caught up unto God, and unto his throne (Rev.12:5). A lot of people do not realize that the throne the Man-child is caught up to is not some throne up in Heaven, way out yonder. It's the Kingdom of Heaven here. The “throne” that Jesus was caught up to is that He was given the throne of David to rule over Israel and He even came in the triumphal procession into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:9; John 12:13), where it was quoted, Behold, thy King cometh … (Mat.21:5; Joh.12:15). Of course, He wasn't treated like a King, was He? He was a King Who was born of the seed of David and was to sit on David's throne and rule Israel. The Bible tells us, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king (Jer.23:5), and that David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel (Jer.33:17). So, once again, the Man-child is caught up to the throne, but I want to tell you Who rules on that throne: it is not the Man-child; it is Jesus! Jesus is coming as the latter rain to rule.  Here's another verse that pertains to this: (2Ch.9:8) Blessed be the Lord thy God, who delighted in thee, to set thee on his throne, to be king for the Lord thy God. He's talking about the throne of David. We are still talking about flesh, aren't we? Who is that Spirit in David? Paul spoke about the Spirit of Christ, which was in the prophets and that Spirit of Christ was pointing toward the suffering of Christ in our day. So, who was in David who manifested that righteousness and goodness? It was Christ. He has always been on the throne; nobody else is going to sit on the throne. Oh, yes, there will be fleshly bodies that rule, just like there are in the Church today. There's the five-fold ministry that God raised up, and those are now our leaders in the Church. They rule, yet they really only have a gift that comes from the Lord, and it's the Lord manifested in them to Whom we are submitting. Paul said, Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ (1Co.11:1). In other words, “Follow me as I follow the Lord.”  The latter rain is in complete parallel to the former rain and the Lord is coming to rule in a body, to raise up the whole Church into His Image, the glory of God. (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. That's the Gospel! I believe that the Man-child is the first-fruits in our day to reach sun glory. There is “star glory,” there is “moon glory,” and there is “sun glory,” the three glories that Paul spoke about in 1 Corinthians 15:40-41. He said that we grow through each of them in stages to come to maturity in Christ, Who is sun glory  Notice that one of the key words spoken in the verses that we looked at from Hosea 6:3 is “rain.” (Hos.6:3) He will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth. This “rain” keys in on quite a few verses, especially in the Old Testament. Those verses give us little clues as to what's going to happen in the latter rain, not only for the Church, but also in the Tribulation, because the latter rain happens in the Tribulation, which is “on the morning of the third day,” the third thousand years from when Jesus came.   Now let's look at Micah 5. The chapter starts out speaking about Jesus. (Mic.5:2) But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel (that was Jesus); whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. (3) Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth (That's the woman bringing forth the Man-child in Revelation 12. He has given them up, but they are going to come back.): then the residue of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. However, the children of Israel in the New Testament are not those who are circumcised in flesh but circumcised in heart. That's what Paul tells us in Romans 2:28-29. His brethren are going to come back to the children of Israel, the ones who are grafted into the olive tree. As the Bible tells us, they're going to be grafted again back into their own olive tree that they were broken off from because of unbelief (Romans 11:23).   This is what He's referring to right here, but the wonderful thing, the thing that excites me, is this: (Mic.5:4) And he shall stand, and shall feed [his flock] in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God: and they shall abide; for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. This is the Lord coming as the latter rain, at the time that the woman brings forth the Man-child, and it says He is going to feed His flock. That excites me! The Lord is coming, folks! I love to think about His coming. He's coming to feed us and minister to us. The Lord is angry with the shepherds and what they have done unto His flock, as He tells you all through the Old Testament.  Some key verses that refer to the latter rain begin a little further down. (Mic.5:7) And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples as dew from the Lord, as showers upon the grass (There it is again, “showers upon the grass.”), that tarry not for man, nor wait for the sons of men. Wow! They are not dependent on this world, are they? People who love the latter rain are just carried by it. Without the Spirit of God, it is such a struggle to live and do His work and to minister as He called us to minister. It's a struggle without the Word of God. He makes it easy. We're supposed to give Him our burdens (Matthew 11:28-30). It's Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts (Zec.4:6). It will get done by God's Spirit. We have now wasted almost 2000 years and made very little progress, as far as Christianity being born in the earth, as Isaiah 26 tells us. In just a very short time, the anointing of God is going to do its work. The Lord Jesus is coming with that anointing to sit once more on the throne of David and rule over His born-again people.  (Mic.5:8) And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples (We are spread throughout the world among the beasts of the field, the Beast being the nations of lost mankind.), as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep; who, if he go through, treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and there is none to deliver. (9) Let thy hand be lifted up above thine adversaries, and let all thine enemies be cut off. He is referring to the Lord here, the Lord in His people. The Lord stands and feeds His flock, and the Lord raises up “seven shepherds, and eight principal men,” or “princes among men,” as stated in Micah 5:5. The seven shepherds are like the apostle John, who was also caught up to the throne as a type of the Man-child, but he gave a revelation of the end time to seven angels, who were then to bring it to the Church. The word “angel” is the same word as “messenger,” and it's used in the New Testament for not only heavenly-type angels or messengers but also earthly ministers. John is giving his revelation to seven ministers, who go forth to the seven churches. This is what Jesus did. He raised up disciples to go forth to the 12 tribes because He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. John raised up seven ministers to go forth and bring the message of the end time to the seven churches. Here in this text, we see the same thing. We see the seven princes among men, and the eighth is Jesus in the midst.  We also see here that they are going to be used to bring judgment in the earth, that they will be like a lion and not like lambs. Jesus came as a Lamb and He sent out His sheep to be lambs in the midst of wolves (Luke 10:3), but now He is saying they will be like lions. Not only are they going to bring the Gospel, but they are also going to bring judgment, like the Two Witnesses company brought judgment upon the earth. The Two Witnesses represent the disciples of Jesus because Jesus sent them forth two-by-two, corporately, to the places He was supposed to go, and the same thing is going to happen to the Man-child ministers: they are going to send forth witnesses, two-by-two, and they are going to speak judgments. It is like Revelation 11 on the earth and upon the wicked. No, it's not going to be like a lamb this time. It's going to be the Lamb and the Lion this time.   There is judgment coming with the latter rain movement because the end is near. All nations are going to persecute the saints, but God is not going to leave them defenseless. He is raising up a Man-child ministry, who is raising up a Two Witness ministry, which is raising up a five-fold ministry. Remember the disciples that Jesus sent out ordained a five-fold ministry to lead and guide the Church. This is what we're referring to that will happen again in our day. The Spirit that is upon Jesus, the mantle that is upon Him, He put upon His disciples, and they put it upon the five-fold ministry, and so on. This same thing is going to happen. The anointing that is upon Jesus coming as the latter rain is going to be put upon His disciples, etc. This anointing is the latter rain. It's the power of the Holy Spirit.  There's another way that God speaks about coming judgment. (Rev.6:1) And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals (the first seal), and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, Come. (2) And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow; and there was given unto him a crown (this is the crown of David): and he came forth conquering, and to conquer. Notice that he had a bow but no arrows, and this is the first judgment. I have shared before that this is not really referring to the Antichrist, nor literally Christ. It's referring to the Man-child ministry, which is coming with judgment. Moses was the Man-child ministry in his day and he loosed all of the “horses” of judgment in his day. All of them followed his ministry. All of the judgments that fell upon Egypt came right out of Moses' mouth, and this is the same thing that's about to happen, according to type and shadow. The Man-child is the first judgment and because of his ministry, all those other horse judgments and the other seals are loosed upon the earth. This white horse rider is none other than the Lord in His Man-child.  We can see the same thing here: (Zec.10:1) Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain (We need to be praying for that now because it is very near.), [even of] the Lord that maketh lightnings; and he will give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. There are ‘the showers' on the grass again. Peter said, All flesh is as grass (1Pe.1:24), and yet, the Lord said that He was going to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh (Acts 2:17). That refers to the Church because that is “all flesh,” men and women out of all nations. He is pouring out His rain upon the “grass of the field,” which Jesus said was the world (Matthew 13:38). This gives you the timing that we are talking about in the latter rain; this is a prophecy of our time. If we go back one chapter, we read, For I have bent Judah for me, I have filled the bow with Ephraim (Zec.9:13). What does Judah represent? Well, Jerusalem the Bride came from Judah, and David was from Jerusalem, and David ruled over the Bride in Jerusalem over the rest of Israel. He says, “I have filled the bow with Ephraim,” and the name “Ephraim” means “the fullness of nations.” That refers to what we just studied in Revelation; it's a different parable, but it means the same thing. A remnant of Jacob or Israel was going to be used by God and was going to receive the anointing of the Man-child through the seven shepherds, who went to the churches, etc.  So how is this going to spread all over the world in just seven short years? It will be like a geometric progression, starting with a 144,000-member Man-child, first-fruits people with an anointing. And that anointing is nothing to belittle; look at the miracles that Jesus did. And then consider the miracles that Jesus is going to do because The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former (Hag.2:9). The miracles of the Man-child through the Two Witnesses, through the five-fold ministry, and through the Church will spread very quickly. God is doing a quick work here, for the Lord will execute [his] word upon the earth, finishing it and cutting it short (Rom.9:28) in righteousness. He will fill His bow with Ephraim. Notice also that the Man-child who rode upon the white horse had a bow, but he did not have any arrows. He had already sent forth His arrows.   The Bible says that our children are our arrows. (Psa.127:4) As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, So are the children of youth. Jesus called His disciples “children” (John 21:5) and He sent them forth. He drew the bow and sent them forth as His arrows to bring His anointed, His works, and His ministry all around the world. The exact same thing is going to happen again. (Zec.9:13) For I have bent Judah for me, I have filled the bow with Ephraim; and I will stir up thy sons, O Zion (the Bride), against thy sons, O Greece (the Beast at that particular time), and will make thee as the sword of a mighty man. Anytime one of the Beasts (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, Rome, etc.) is mentioned in the Bible, it's a type and a shadow of the end time. Well, He says He would stir up sons, so there's a war preparing to happen here.  Let's see what He says about this white horse rider. (Zec.10:1) Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain, [even of] the Lord that maketh lightnings; and he will give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. (2) For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie; and they have told false dreams, they comfort in vain. He's referring to the ministry that is there when the Man-child comes. It's the same as the ministry that was there when Jesus came. They were into a lot of falsehood – a lot of false prophets, false shepherds – and they had dealt corruptly. The Lord was judging them, but He did not judge them like He is about to judge this time because it is the Lion who is coming this time. (Zec.10:2) For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie; and they have told false dreams, they comfort in vain: therefore they go their way like sheep, they are afflicted, because there is no shepherd. Remember, the Lord is mourning because there is not a shepherd in Israel. They are like sheep scattered without a shepherd. Of course, they had shepherds, but God was not calling them “shepherds” and that's the problem. So the Lord sent His Own right arm, the Lord Jesus.  (Zec.10:3) Mine anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the he-goats; for the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as his goodly horse in the battle. You know, all those horses in Revelation 6 represent the harnessing of the flesh to do work. They were all judgments, but God was using different flesh to bring each kind of judgment. The kind of flesh that the Man-child is riding here is talking about Judah. David's authority was first received by the Bride because the capital city was Zion, which represents the Bride, and David was king in Zion.   The house of Judah will be “his goodly horse in the battle.” (Zec.10:4) From him shall come forth the corner-stone (which we know has happened), from him the nail (which we also know has happened), from him the battle bow … (And we know that happened. He sent forth Judah and Ephraim as the arrows. Judah is once again going to be in leadership, including the Lord Himself, Who is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. They will raise up the whole Church and that's what Ephraim represents as the “fullness of nations.”), from him every ruler together. (Zec.10:5) And they shall be as mighty men, treading down [their enemies] in the mire of the streets in the battle … A lot of people do not know the authority God has given His people, especially in a time when grace is being taken from some. There is going to come a time during the Tribulation period when nobody else will repent. In fact, God will turn away from the Gentiles and He will turn to the remnant of the Jews that He is going to bring in, like He said He was going to do, back in Romans 11.  Once again, this white horse rider is going to bring judgment in the earth, like Moses did with the judgments he brought. (Zec.10:5) And they shall be as mighty men, treading down [their enemies] in the mire of the streets in the battle; and they shall fight, because the Lord is with them … That's another meaning of “Immanuel.” Remember the sign that the woman would conceive and bring forth a son and they would call His name “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14)? Once again, “God is with us” because the Man-child is going to be born to the woman and God is going to be with us again. This is not saying that men will be God. It's saying that God is coming to do His works. If that offends anyone out there listening, the Bible says through Paul, Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye be reprobate (2Co.13:5). To the extent that you are bearing the fruit of Jesus, 30-, 60- and 100-fold, as in the Parable of the Sower, to that extent Jesus lives in you. We're just talking about Him coming in maturity in some people first in order to lead the rest into the same maturity. It's still Jesus, and He is still the Son of God. He is still God. (Zec.10:5) And they shall be as mighty men, treading down [their enemies] in the mire of the streets in the battle; and they shall fight, because the Lord is with them; and the riders on horses shall be confounded. Now, what is this referring to? God is leading the horsemen, yes, but they don't have any effect upon God's people. If you remember, in the Exodus, the judgments that fell upon Egypt, God separated His people in Goshen from those judgments (Exodus 8:22). So the riders on horses will be confounded in one aspect and that is concerning God's people because they are under the Passover; they are not under the curse.  (Zec.10:6) And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them back (Back from where? Bring them back from Babylon, back from bondage. They were the first ones to come out of bondage and build the city of God.); for I have mercy upon them; and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and I will hear them. (7) And [they of] Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine; yea, t

Return of the Man-Child (5)  (audio)  David Eells – 4/2/25  We've been exploring what it means that everything that happened in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts is going to happen again, except it will be on a worldwide scale, and the cast of characters will be multiplied. So we've been looking at the characters to see what they will do in their corporate bodies in our day. We need prayer.   Father, in the name of Jesus, we ask You to be with us this day, to open our understanding, to lead us, to guide us, to give words of wisdom and knowledge that will reveal Your Will to us. Thank You so much, Father. You are our guide, our wisdom, and we thank You so much for leading us in this Bible study. Amen  Let's back up to where we left off. We saw that Herod, as a type of the Beast, was attempting to destroy the Man-child and actually did murder many “man-children” in Bethlehem (which means “the house of food”). We also saw that, as a type and shadow, the Lord told us, A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted because they are not (Mat.2:18). When we were looking at the text in Jeremiah 31:15-20, the words “they are not” did not mean physical death. It meant spiritual death because Rachel's children had been taken into Babylonish captivity. They were in bondage to the Beast, and they were not serving God but serving the Beast. The Beast was their head and ruler; it was ruling over them. (Rom.8:13) For if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. So spiritual death is definitely what is being pointed out here in this text. There was no physical death involved in the original text of Jeremiah. It's very interesting that, in all of our lives, the Beast has to die. If it does not die, we are not free to follow the Lord.  The very next two verses give us more clues. (Mat.2:19) But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, (20) Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the young child's life. Notice again the word “they,” meaning more than one person. That may point to the fact that Herod represents in our day a corporate body, but we know from this that Jesus was ready to come out of His wilderness and start His ministry when Herod, the Beast who ruled, was dead. I believe that's a type and shadow for us in our day.   It goes on to say, And he arose and took the young child (Note that He is still being called a “young child,” the same as He was called when the wise men came.) and his mother, and came into the land of Israel (Mat.2:21). He had to come out of His wilderness to do that. He came from Egypt, a type of the world, through the Sinai Peninsula and the wilderness there, and into the land of Israel. And Jesus was coming out of His wilderness from Chapter 4:1 on down, where He came from His personal wilderness to His ministry. This may be the exact same type. We noticed that Moses, David, and Jesus all had a perfect parallel.   (Mat.2:22) But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned [of God] in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee, (23) and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene. This is rather interesting. We've seen many revelations about a baby being born in a type of the Man-child, yet the baby was born very mature and alert and grew up very quickly. We've seen quite a few of those and I think we see in this text that this is true. It refers to a “young child” in verse 21, and it's still talking about that young child for the next two verses.  But immediately following this, it says, And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea (Mat.3:1). That's intriguing; what happened to all those years in between? John the Baptist was only six months older than Jesus, so in Matthew 3:1, Jesus had to be almost 30 years old. You could not start your public ministry to the congregation until you were 30. That was the law. The text jumps from Jesus as a young child all the way to “in those days” with John the Baptist starting his ministry at age 30, and it makes you think, “Well, that Man-child must have grown-up very quickly.” Do you suppose this was a type and shadow of what is going to happen in our day? That the Man-child will be birthed and then immediately be caught up to the throne? In Revelation 12:5, the baby was born and then he was caught up to the throne of God; then he was leading the woman through the wilderness, which appears pretty fast. Clearly, God is shortening the time span that it takes because we don't have a lot of time for Jesus in the Man-child to grow up.  At any rate, John the Baptist's ministry was very short, starting when he was 30 years old. Six months later, Jesus was anointed to preach the Isaiah 61 anointing message, and He was 30 years old, so Matthew 3 is actually between when John the Baptist began his ministry and when Jesus began His. (Mat.3:1) And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying, (2) Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. That was proven by the great signs and wonders that God did in the midst of them, to show them that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. In other words, the Kingdom where God rules and where He reigns over the curse, over the devil, and over the flesh was at hand. It's obvious where the Kingdom of God rules because He does signs and wonders.  John the Baptist had a relatively simple ministry, which was the preaching of repentance. It did not seem that he ever went into much deep doctrine. He preached, “turning from your sins,” yet he had a very anointed ministry and he was, according to Jesus, the greatest of the Old Testament teachers “born of women” (Matthew 11:7). Jesus also said he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (Mat.11:11), meaning John the Baptist was the greatest of the old order ministers before the former rain came. Jesus came with the former rain, and that brought the Kingdom. So John was the greatest born of women up until that time.  I believe that we have just such a corporate body of preachers coming right now, who will probably be considered the greatest from among the former rain, before the latter rain comes, because now the former rain is the old order and we're coming to the latter rain. Some of you are seeing this program down the road, and all this is history, but at the point we are now, this revival is starting with the John the Baptist ministry and is yet to happen. We're on the very brink of it, and it is going to be a corporate body of people around the world who are coming to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. (Mat.3:3) For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. Obviously, without repentance, you cannot do that. If you want the Lord to live in you, it will not happen without repentance. John the Baptist was preparing hearts to receive the Lord Jesus and to receive the Man-child in our day. History is repeating.  (Mat.3:4) Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. (5) Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about the Jordan. This sounds like a great revival, doesn't it? I did learn that “all” was not all because the Lord said that the Pharisees and the Sadducees rejected for themselves the counsel of John, being not baptized of him (Luk.7:30). So “all” here means all of the elect, not all of the people. The Jews understood that very well because they believed in election. They believed that they were the elect people, the “chosen” (which is the same word, eklektos), people of God, and that God did not choose anyone outside of them.  Well, it's still the same today. (Mat.22:14) For many are called, but few chosen. God does call “many” unto Him, but not all are called, and of those whom He calls, He still chooses only those who bear fruit. The first thing people need is repentance, and I believe that we will see this preaching of repentance through some very anointed men of God, men who have the former rain anointing. And it's going to start a great revival, as in this passage where you see people coming out of their “churches” and going into the wilderness to meet John. (Mat.3:6) And they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. That's a good sign of repentance, when people confess their sins. Every great revival starts out that way, and a great anointing falls on people to be grieved over their sinfulness and to repent and confess their sins.  (Mat.3:7) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? John was very hard on their preachers, wasn't he? That got him in a lot of trouble – and Jesus, as well. No doubt that the same exact thing is going to happen in our day because the leadership of the churches has been leading them astray for a long, long time. (Mat.3:8) Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance: (9) and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Notice that it says we are to bring forth fruits. It hasn't been very long since I was confronted by a preacher who told me that he had repented of various abominable things that he was doing. He said that he had gone to God and asked God to forgive him, and he was forgiven. I said, “Well, that's fine, but that's not repentance because repentance is changing, and you're still in the middle of a crime spree.” So you have to change your mind because that's what “repentance” means; it means “to turn and go the other way.” That preacher didn't know what repentance was because he was not doing it. That's what John is saying here: “Bring forth fruit worthy of repentance.” There has to be fruit of repentance.  There has to be fruit showing in your actions that you are changing your mind, and John demanded that, even of these religious leaders. Obviously, some of them put on a show for the people. (Mat.3:10) And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees … Amen! That was true in John's ministry, and it will be true in ministries today, that the axe is at the root of the trees. By Matthew 13, Jesus was saying that those religious leaders were reprobated, saying, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but unto them it is not given (Mat.13:11); and that He had blinded their eyes (Matthew 13:13). (Mat.3:10) And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  (Mat.3:11) I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and [in] fire. And Jesus did just that; He brought the baptism of the Holy Spirit and was the first one of the former rain to receive, according to type, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In fact, He received it in the verses immediately following these that we're studying. (Mat.3:12) Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor (The fan was used to blow away the chaff, which was useless, and to leave the heavier grain, which is the fruit that God was after.); and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire. The chaff represents the old man, the carnal man, the fiery trials that we go through to burn up the old man and leave nothing but the spiritual man. Notice that John preached to “make His paths straight” and here Jesus is cleansing the people.  There is a text that speaks of this differently. (Mal.3:1) Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple (That represented Jesus, but it also represents the Manchild because this is a repetition of history. The word “temple” here means His body. (Heb.10:5) A body didst thou prepare for me.); and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith the Lord of hosts. (Mal.3:2) But who can abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire (That is the fire to burn up the chaff.), and like fullers' soap: (3) and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi. Remember, the sons of Levi were the only ones who did not bow to the golden calf, the image of the Beast. They were the true ministers of the sanctuary.  He also said that He had called us to be a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:6), so really all of God's true people are priests because we have an offering of fire to bring forth and we present our bodies as a living sacrifice on that altar of the fiery trial. That is the crucified life. That is what Jesus called taking up your cross and following Him, for you to be His disciple (Matthew 16:24). (Mal.3:3) And he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer unto the Lord offerings in righteousness. (4) Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years. For our day, He's talking about New Testament spiritual Judah and Israel and the New Jerusalem.   (Mal.3:5) And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner [from his right,] and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts. God is going to judge quickly those hanging around His people who are walking in their sinfulness. He will be very protective of His holy Church in these days with Ananias and Sapphira-like judgments on people trying to sneak in, acting as though they are Christians while they are not. So far, it's been difficult to keep that from happening, but the Lord says that He will put an end to it. Praise God! He is going to have a holy Church.  (Mat.3:13) Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. (14) But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? (15) But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him. Obviously, we need to be baptized, or put to death, by the washing of the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26), a crucifixion of the old man, which is what it's all about. It behooves us to do this. Jesus went through this before He came to His anointing, which is very important. (Mat.3:16) And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; (17) and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Jesus was baptized in the Spirit here; He was anointed in order to start His ministry.   And we're also told this in (Luk.1:31) Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. (32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: (33) and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. So Jesus came to be anointed to take David's throne. That's what this anointing was about; it was the king's anointing. All the kings received this anointing when they took their position. Right after Jesus was filled with the Spirit and before going into His wilderness, it says, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor (Luk.4:18). Jesus was 30 years old when this happened. This anointing of the Spirit started His public ministry and goes right along with history.  Joseph was 30 years old, according to Genesis 41:46, when he stood before Pharaoh and received the kingdom, and David was 30 years old when he began his ministry, which is very interesting. All these types of the Man-child were 30 years old. (2Sa.5:3) So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel. (4) David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. Forty is the number of tribulation. (5) In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. Jesus came to sit on David's throne. Jesus was anointed King of kings and He reigned over the true tribes of Israel. The apostate tribes did not recognize Him, but the true tribes did. Those who were born of God recognized Him immediately. He merely walked by His disciples and said, “Come, follow Me,” and they dropped their nets, left their business, left everything, and walked after Him. Now that's a strong calling! They just followed Him.  Well, what was the first thing that David did after he was anointed? (2Sa.5:6) And the king and his men went to Jerusalem … It wasn't called Jerusalem then. (1Ch.11:4) And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (the same is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. It wasn't called Jerusalem until they conquered it. (2Sa.5:6) And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites (which means “to trample down” or “trodden under foot”), the inhabitants of the land, who spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither; thinking, David cannot come in hither. Jerusalem had to be conquered before it could be called Jerusalem, before it could be Zion. It was in the hands of the pagans, in the hands of the old man, the Jebusite. We know from Revelation that Jerusalem is the Bride, but she did not start out as the Bride; she started out as a pagan, as an unbeliever, and was converted and became the Bride. Jerusalem, before David conquered it, was Jebus.  David's job was to take Jerusalem, to show his men how to conquer and take Jerusalem. With the coming of the Man-child ministry, which is also a Davidic ministry, the first thing that's going to happen is that they'll be conquering Jebus. They're going to raise up Jerusalem again – not old Jerusalem; they're going to raise up New Jerusalem. Paul spoke about it in Hebrews 12, but then there was a great falling away, and this place represented holiness, the place of safety, the Bride. It represented the only place the Beast could not conquer, and it represented the Philadelphia church because it was the only one that escaped the hour of trial from the Beast kingdom. Here, we see that the Jebusites were telling David, “You'd better get rid of the blind and the lame, or you can't come here.” In other words, nobody who is blind and lame can take Zion. It represents the Bride, who is not blind and lame. She is spotless and blemishless because she has overcome some things, especially being lame, which represents being crippled or not being able to walk right with the Lord. And she has overcome being blind, which represents not being able to see, understand, or discern the truths of God.  So they said, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither; thinking, David cannot come in hither (2Sa.5:6). You know, some people do not think it's possible and, in fact, there are a lot of preachers right now who are saying that it's not possible for you to be an overcomer. They say that you just have to settle for being “a sinner saved by grace.” The old man does not think that it's possible for you to conquer him and have this place become Zion, the holy city. (2Sa.5:7) Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David. (8) And David said on that day, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and [smite] the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul … The lame and the blind represent the apostates. Of course, the Jebusite represents the old man, and David and his men represent the spiritual man who must conquer Zion. We've been called to do that, and David is telling them that the way to do it is to “get up to the watercourse and smite the lame and the blind.” Put to death the old apostasy in your life. Two rivers fed Jerusalem, and David's men used those rivers to get into Jerusalem.  The place of the watercourses was where the water drained out of Jerusalem, akin to the sewer system. Instead of scaling the walls, they could go up the sewer. They probably smelled pretty bad by the time they got in there to take their sword and go to work, but that's what he was saying. Though most of this was probably river water, they still had to go against the current that was coming out of Jebus, so they were “going against the flow,” so to speak. And that's the way it is with us. Everything we do is contrary to the world: what they think is the right way, we think is the wrong way; what they think is up, we think is down. If we humble ourselves, God will exalt us. At any rate, David was teaching them that the way to conquer the city and the lame and the blind was through the water. (2Sa.5:8) … Wherefore they say, There are the blind and the lame; he cannot come into the house.  (2Sa.5:9) And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. He is talking about the ramparts of Jerusalem, so David built Jerusalem. He was the one who started building the “New Jerusalem” at that point. Jesus was doing the same thing. What Paul described with, ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb.12:22) … and to the spirits of just men made perfect (23), was what Jesus was building. I've shared with you a revelation the Lord gave me many years ago, where He showed me the tower in the midst of what was depicted as the New Jerusalem and He was giving it to me, revealing to me that my ministry was to build this tower. I found that Micah 4:8 spoke of Jerusalem as “the tower of the flock,” and it was the kind of tower that they actually built in those days in the midst of those cities to preserve them from invading beast armies. Jerusalem was just that; it was a place of safety where, if beasts invaded, whether from Babylon or Assyria, the people could flee into the broad walls and be protected.  David was building the tower of the flock here. (2Sa.5:10) And David waxed greater and greater; for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him. I have found this language referring to only two people in the Scriptures, where it says, “waxed greater and greater.” It spoke of David, and it spoke of Mordecai, whose name means “little man” or “man-child.” Mordecai was the same type as David; both of them were the Man-child. Mordecai's job was to raise up the Bride, Esther, and save the people of God from the Beast, Haman. Basically, this is the same thing that David did. He raised up the Bride, Jerusalem, and defended the people from one of the Beasts, the Philistines. David's first job was to conquer the Jebusites and take their city away.  In thinking about this, I'd like to share with you a revelation we received concerning the same thing. This is Pamela Orr's revelation, and she received it in January 2010. My notes are in parentheses.  In a dream, I was in a house that is safe and secure. I have no desire or plans to leave this house. (Pamela is a part of our broader UBM Fellowship safe-house, but also, I believe that this is referring to Zion, and she had no plans to leave.) To my amazement, though, there are people leaving. … I'm given to know that there are many who do not return. (This is necessary because the sons of perdition and the Jezebels and the rest of the tares who have come in amongst God's people cannot be a part of this Zion, as I will show you shortly. The only people who entered Zion were the ones who conquered the lame and the blind, and it became Zion, the holy city, because they were the only people there. The Jebusites were driven out. The carnal Jebusites are leaving Jebus so that it may become Zion. They're being conquered. Zion is the Bride. Praise the Lord!   I remember her brother Mark Fritz, who is a part of our fellowship, asked the Lord when he first met us about the church he was currently attending. God answered that it was Pergamum, which was the third church of Revelation that was caught up in the Nicolaitan error. So Mark asked the Lord about UBM, and the Lord said, “The sixth church.” So he counted and found out that the sixth church was the Philadelphia church, which is the Bride, the one that escapes the hour of trial under the dominion of the Beast, and the name means “the love of the brethren.”)  There are locks on this house, a whole row of them, probably seven or more, but I didn't count them. (This is a very secure place, like Zion, which was called “the stronghold of Zion.” We're all supposed to be climbing Mount Zion to enter into the presence of the King. The throne is on Mount Zion; the Temple is on Mount Zion; His presence is there.) These locks are high up in the wall. We can't touch them or tamper with them; they are a fixture of the house. (The key to enter is high up with God. It is not with man.) Some, if not all, of these locks are specific to profiles. For example, there is the ‘age 18-and-over' lock. I'm given to know that when a certain lock turns over, then no one fitting this profile will ever again be allowed to enter the house. (I thought about that and felt that the Lord was saying that God gives more grace to the immature and innocent. He does not impute iniquity to them, but the further they go in their walk, the more they are held accountable. (Luk.12:48) to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required, so when people become accountable and they do not walk in their accountability, then they will be out of there. They will not have a position in that house.)  As I watch these locks turn, as if of their own accord, I realize that when the final lock has been turned, no one else will be allowed to enter. (That's the way it is with spiritual Zion, folks. Many years ago, I saw in a vision our ministry starting in Pensacola as a Zion, the Tower of the Flock, the Bride. I know that this is going on around the world with people who are desiring earnestly to be obedient to the Scriptures, live the crucified life before their Lord, and walk in the grace of God. (Mic.4:8) And thou, O tower of the flock, the hill of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, yea, the former dominion shall come … When David took Jebus and it became the stronghold of Zion, the City of David, that was their stronghold. That was where the dominion started, right there. It said the former dominion was going to return to Zion, the Tower of the Flock, the Kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem. Note that the former dominion is not going to return to Jerusalem, but it's going to return to the daughter of Jerusalem or, in other words, to New Jerusalem. God is once again, in our day, going to raise up a David who will raise up Zion once more as the stronghold, the Bride.)  (In this New Jerusalem Zion, the wicked were not allowed, as Scripture says. (Isa.52:1) Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion (So it is coming to its former dominion.); put on thy beautiful garments (These garments are righteousness, purity and holiness.), O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. A New Jerusalem is started that does not allow any of the wicked. You can only do that with a spiritual city. In any physical city, you're going to have all kinds of people there, some of them good, some of them bad. But in this spiritual city, there will not be anybody unclean. That's what these locks are all about; they're to find out who is walking in purity and to keep out the rest. As I said, with knowledge comes responsibility, so the further you go, the more that's expected of you. When David first became king as a type of the Man-child, he taught his overcomers how to take the stronghold of Jebus from the Jebusites, representing the old man. Then Jebus became Zion, the City of David, a type of the Bride following the Man-child at the beginning of the Tribulation.)  (Father is cleaning house and will keep the evil ones out of His safe-house. Praise the Lord! As John said, He that hath the bride is the bridegroom (Joh.3:29). Soon, many, by their own evil nature, will not want to associate with the righteous for fear of alienating their Beast associations. God is separating here, and He is going to make His heavenly Zion a place where only the righteous will want to go. They will have had to conquer the lame and the blind to get there. They will have had to overcome. David's mighty men were sent by David to take Zion, and they took it. Jesus did the same thing with the disciples He raised up, who were His mighty men. Praise God!)  Speaking of entering this safe-house, people are entering. (The righteous are entering because they are the only ones who can come into this safe-house, the New Jerusalem.) Others are trying to enter, but the “bad guys” don't seem to make it past the door. (Praise the Lord! That is awesome. This is just like Ananias and Sapphira; they tried to enter, but God took them out.) And each bad guy gets done-in by the next bad guy. The bad guys get progressively worse, too. (2 Timothy 3 speaks about how bad the Church is going to get in our day. Verses 1 through 6 are pretty rough, and then it says, But evil men and impostors (KJV: “seducers”) shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (2Ti.3:13). This is true in the Church today because that's what he was referring to. He wasn't talking about the world.) The second-to-last bad guy is sort of a handicapped or perverted or dwarflike individual with short little legs like tree trunks. (Here is a perverted dwarf. I see one thing here, spiritually speaking: those who do not measure up to the stature of the fruit of Christ are not going to be permitted in Zion.)  This is where it gets awful. The final bad guy (the Beast) begins to compress, squeeze, or fold this dwarf-like individual until he murders him. (Spiritually speaking, those who have not yet experienced the crucified life will have help from the Beast to go to their cross and to manifest death-to-self. Those who do not measure up will need crucifixion in the world. How do we grow up into Christ? Jesus said, He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it (Mat.10:39). You do not gain your life unless you lose your life, so growing up is a matter of the crucified life. If we do not accept it, we cannot grow up. If we do not accept it, we cannot put away the blindness and the lameness and cannot expect to go into Zion. Remember, we are told, for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean (Isa.52:1).) The evil nature of this final bad guy was beyond description. (That is the Beast.) I can only say that I could almost feel this individual's sick joy and satisfaction in pressing the life out of the other poor sucker. (She is talking about the apostate Christians, I believe. Many of the apostate Christians are going to be saved because of the crucifixion that the Lord puts them in. His fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and … the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire (Mat.3:12), but He will have something in the midst of that which will be holy and precious.)   (Not everyone will be sanctified. Some people just get worse in tribulation. One thing that helps people to be able to come to Zion in the midst of tribulation is to know what God is doing. He is doing something for them. He is putting to death their old flesh, which cannot enter the Kingdom. By the Word of God, you learn how to cooperate with God, and then you see that this is a victory, not a failure. If the Church receives a lot of this prosperity doctrine and they do not believe that they are ever going to go through anything, any trouble, any tribulation, then these things come upon them as a shock, and they think that God has forsaken them. They are tempted to fall, and many do. So there has to be knowledge for the people to understand that God is doing a good thing with them and that they need to go through this, that they're privileged to go through this, and that they can have eternal life in the Kingdom. That's what the Man-child is coming to do; that's what Jesus came to do. Spiritually speaking, that's what David was doing. He was teaching men how to overcome the blind and the lame, teaching them how to take Jebus.) Even though I was horrified and sickened at the depravity, I was still safe in the (UBM) house. (Praise the Lord! Because God has a safe-house. He really does! I know that many people think that this is heresy, but that's not true. God has His safe-house.)  This same story is in 1 Chronicles. (1Ch.11:4) And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (the same is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. (5) And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come in hither. Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David. (6) And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief. (7) And David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it the city of David. (8) And he built the city round about, from Millo even round about; and Joab repaired the rest of the city. (9) And David waxed greater and greater; for the Lord of hosts was with him.  Yes, and what was the next thing David did? He brought the Ark of the Covenant. (1Ch.13:3) And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we sought not unto it in the days of Saul. The Israelites had been following after the flesh of Saul. That's why they got destroyed, and that's why Saul died. But David said, “No, we have to follow the Ark of the Covenant.” (1Ch.15:1) And [David] made him houses in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent. The word for “tent” is the same word for “tabernacle.” (2) Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites … Absolutely! Who else can carry the presence of God but the priests of God who have offered their bodies as living sacrifices? They are the ones who are holy; they are the ones who are the temple of God.  If you read further, it says, And they brought in the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it (1Ch.16:1). We know that God said He was going to raise up again this tabernacle. (Act.15:14) Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. (15) And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, (16) After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up: (17) That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called. So now we're talking about raising up a tabernacle of David, which represents the portable temple, for the wilderness, but also the portable temple of the Church. Once again, we see that there is a David coming for the Church, and that's the Lord Jesus Himself, Who is the Son of David, Who was sitting upon His throne.  But the Bible also says, David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel (Jer.33:17). There is a body in whom the Lord Jesus comes. The Son of Man came in the son of David 2000 years ago, and the Son of Man is coming in a spiritual Son of David today, a corporate Body called the Man-child ministry. Jesus is going to minister to His people, to raise up, once again, the Bride, the New Jerusalem. “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom,” as John said when he pointed at Jesus. He will raise up the Bride, the New Jerusalem, which is protected from the Assyrian Beast. When the Beast tried to conquer Jerusalem, God killed 185,000 of them and they left it alone (2 Kings 19:35). Folks, I tell you, the same thing is going to happen again. God is going to protect His Bride.  For instance, in the Book of Esther, there was the Bride, and there were also the people who were threatened by the Beast. Haman, the Beast, had been given authority to destroy the people of God (Esther 2:10-11), but Mordecai and Esther had been given authority to save the people of God (Esther 8:8). There were two contrary commands given, but they have their purpose and that is to make us decide whom we are going to serve, the Lord or the Beast.  Rachel's children fell into captivity of the Beast, and they were counted as dead, like the parable in Matthew 2:18, of the children of Bethlehem. It physically happened, but it was also a parable of things to come. In our day, many people are going to follow the Beast. They will take the mark of the Beast, which is a sign of his ownership, and these people will die. They will not bear the fruit of the Man-child, as Jesus did. Once again, we see that God is just going to repeat history, and Matthew 2 is going to be fulfilled, as well as Matthew 3. All the types of the Man-child are running in perfect parallel. Joseph was 30 years old, Jesus was 30 years old and David was 30 years old when they started their ministries, and they basically had the same job to do. It was shown in a slightly different parable each time, but it was the same job to be done.  Now the Man-child ministry is spiritually going to be 30 and it's going to start by building the New Jerusalem. Praise be to God! First, however, the Jebusites have to lose their grip and be conquered. And we need to know how to conquer this old man so that we can scale the heights of the City of God, the mountain of His holiness, and enter into His Presence. That is what the Word will do, and that is what the new anointed leadership is going to do for us. They are to teach us how to cooperate with God's work in our lives and be happy about it. Let's face it: if you don't know what God is doing, you're not happy about it. As soon as you get revelation, you can enjoy going through tribulation because you know that the Lord is getting you ready for His Kingdom, the manifestation of eternal life. Praise God!  Father, we thank You, in Jesus' name. Please open our eyes and make us joyful in cooperating with You in this process of sanctification, in becoming that holy, spotless, and blemishless Bride that You always wanted. Thank You, Father, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Appointed by the Romans as king of Judaea, King Herod's reign was defined by great architectural projects, canny diplomacy, and tyrannical behavior. Herod even appears as an unlikely and unlikeable character in the Christmas tale; the king who ordered the execution of children in an effort to kill Jesus. But did this really happen? Catholic Inspiration podcast available at https://amzn.to/3VxIeaU The Saint of the Day podcast at https://amzn.to/4cpIyyt The God Minute podcast at https://amzn.to/4aqynb0 Saint of the Day podcast with J. Atherholt at https://ancientfaith.com Saint of the Day podcast with M. Roberts at https://ourcatholicradio.org/programs/saint-day ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Mark's TIMELINE Video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio Credits: Saint of the Day podcast: The Holy Infants Killed for Christ’s Sake in Bethlehem (29dec2023), Greek Orthodox Deacon Jerome Atherholt and Ancient Faith Radio. Saint of the Day podcast with Mike Roberts (episode 243: 28dec2023 Feast Day of the Holy Innocents) Covenant Catholic Radio. The Saint of the Day podcast (28dec2023 S2 E181 Holy Innocents) Good Catholic and The Catholic Company. The God Minute podcast (Feast of Holy Innocents, 28dec2022) A Catholic devotional by the Congregation of the Mission - the Vincentians. Catholic Inspiration by Fr. Andrew Ricci Daily Mass: The Holy Innocents (28dec2023 Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI. Audio excerpts reproduced under the Fair Use (Fair Dealings) Legal Doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, education, scholarship, research and news reporting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Appointed by the Romans as king of Judaea and thanks to his feature in the Gospel of Matthew, King Herod ‘the Great’ is one of the infamous figures from the whole of Ancient history. So what do we know about this ancient near eastern ruler, who in his lifetime had contacts with a series of ‘goliath’ figures from the ancient Mediterranean World: from Caesar to Cleopatra and from Marc Antony to Augustus. Dan Snow's History Hit podcast available at https://amzn.to/48HlmtH Books by Seth Schwartz available at https://amzn.to/49US5vJ ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Mark's TIMELINE Video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio credit: Dan Snow's History Hit podcast (Episode 1337: King Herod with Seth Schwartz, professor of Classical Jewish Civilization at New York City’s Columbia University). Audio excerpts reproduced under the Fair Use (Fair Dealings) Legal Doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, education, scholarship, research and news reporting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19 : Gospel of Matthew 19 1. And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; 2. And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. 3. The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4. And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5. And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? ; AB church Lausanne

Return of the Man-Child (2)  (audio)  David Eells – 3/12/25  I'm going to talk to you today about spearheading the Man-child ministry.  The Lord showed me many years ago that history repeats (Ecclesiastes 1:9) and the events in the Gospels and Book of Acts will be repeated in our day, except the cast of characters will be multiplied many times over, with corporate bodies replacing the individuals of Jesus' day. As time goes on, there is a geometric effect from people passing on to people, and everybody walks in the steps of someone. These are the people about whom we read in the Gospels. The corporate bodies of people in our day have walked in the steps of those New Testament individuals, whether it be Jesus or Judas.   Nations have become empires in our day from the same geometric effect. We recently discussed the lineage of Jesus Christ, which, for some strange reason, was given as the lineage of Joseph, even though we know that Joseph had no physical or genetic connection to Jesus Christ. But he did have a spiritual connection, which was the most important one in the New Testament. Joseph had a gift from God to impart words, actions and examples for the child Jesus to imitate as He was growing up. (Luk.2:52) And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. And He was filled with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32).  I'd like to point out a few more things from Matthew 1. We read, And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ (Mat.1:16). The lineage given is the family tree of Joseph, but the interesting thing is that “Jacob begat Joseph.” That sounds very familiar. This is referring to Joseph the husband of Mary, but we know that in the Old Testament Jacob also begat Joseph (Genesis 30:22-24). And Jacob was Israel (Genesis 32:28), now he is a corporate body of people. And it's very interesting that Israel brought forth Joseph, who was a Man-child of the Old Testament.   Jesus' earthly father, Joseph, was two things to Jesus: He was a “head” to Jesus, the head of his family, the father Jesus was to submit to while He grew up in that earthly body as a young child. But Joseph also represents the spiritual fathers of these days who are being used to raise up the Man-child. Again, it has nothing to do with bloodline; it has everything to do with the Word spoken and taught and the emphasis on walking the holy life, etc. Joseph also received the revelation from God of the coming Man-child.   He received that revelation from God when it was sent to him through an angel. (Mat.1:18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. (19) And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. (20) But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. (21) And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins.   Joseph of the New Testament got this revelation of the coming Man-child and the Joseph of the Old Testament was a part of the Man-child. In fact, you might even say he was the head of the Man-child. Joseph in the New Testament is also the head of the Man-child. In a way, he is the head of Jesus, but he is also a spearhead of the Man-child. (Mat.1:22) Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us. Jesus was “God with them” in the Gospels and the Book of Acts, and He is “God with us” today as well because He left an individual body in order to come back in a corporate body, that He might be “God with us” and in us. He was also the reformer of the Church in His day and today we desperately need the same thing.  The prophet Joel spoke about two times in history when there would be a great reformation. Those are in the “former rain” and the “latter rain” (Joel 2:23), in which God would restore all things that had been stolen from His people (Joel 2:25). Over the last 2000 years, by fake teachers, fake leaders and the devil himself, God's people have been robbed and plundered. So God is coming once again in a reformer ministry called the Man-child of Revelation 12.   (Mat.1:24) And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife; (25) and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS. Jesus warned us what was going to happen when the events of Revelation 12 come to pass. He said that He would be again like a little baby born to a woman and that the “woman” was those disciples, His Church (John 16:21). Today the “woman” is His Church again. (Rev.12:1) And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman arrayed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.   The Church doesn't look much like this, but there is a body in the Church that we call the Bride. All through the Old Testament, the Bride was not the Church but was chosen from out of the Church. There were also the virgins, the friends of the Bridegroom and other attendees of the ceremony, and those who were invited to the ceremony, besides the Bride. She is not the whole Church, as you'll understand if you read the Book of Esther, Psalm 45 or the Song of Solomon.   The point is that this “woman” to whom He's referring is those who are manifesting the fruit of Christ, just like Mary represents in our Matthew text study. She was a virgin and a bride in the midst of a larger church. Joseph was the head of the Man-child, who was being raised up in the midst of the virgin bride, who was also in the midst of the larger church, and she will bring forth the Man-child. That's similar to King David's position in the midst of Jerusalem, which the Book of Revelation tells us is the Bride (Revelation 21:9-10), but Jerusalem was not all of Israel. It was just the part of Israel that was the leadership. So there's a hierarchy consisting of the Man-child, the Bride, and the people of God. Here we see the woman “arrayed with the sun,” having been clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ and the moon under her feet.   This shows her authority is over the moon, and the moon represents a reflection of the light of the Son. The 12 stars around her head, I believe, is the doctrine of the 12 Apostles in her mind, the renewed Mind of Christ. (Rev.12:2) And she was with child; and she crieth out, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered. (3) And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems. (4) And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child.   (5) And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. (6) And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they (the Man-child) may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days. This is the revelation that we're looking at as the type and sign. The letter always comes first; the Spirit comes afterwards. There is more than one fulfillment of prophecy. In Jesus was the letter-fulfillment of prophecy. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 7 that His birth to the virgin Mary was a sign, or an owth, which means “a sign of something to come,” which is what we read about in Revelation 12 and in our end-time, the corporate body fulfillment of what we are reading about in this text.  I'd like to point out something else to you, so that you understand how this is an end-time revelation. Jesus came in the body of the Son of David, as we have seen. That was because He was the offspring of David, naturally speaking. God used the DNA of Mary to bring forth the Son of David and the Son of God dwelt in the Son of Man, the Son of God being the spiritual man and the Son of Man being the human part of Jesus. But the Son of David is coming once again in our day. First, I'd like to prove that to you and then I want to share a revelation with you.   (Jer.30:4) And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. (5) For thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. (6) Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child: wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins (The Man-child Jesus is being birthed in a company of men today to do this.), as a woman in travail (This is the woman Church in travail with the Man-child.), and all faces are turned into paleness? (Jer.30:7) Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. Most of you recognize “the time of Jacob's trouble” as an end-time revelation of Jacob entering into trouble in our day – Jacob being Israel and also representing, spiritually, the Church.   We remember Jacob's trouble, when he was in travail coming into the Promised Land and was being threatened by his brother Esau, who had already said that he would kill him (Genesis 27:41), and who was leading a beast army out to meet him (Genesis 32:6). And we remember how God preserved Jacob through that time of trouble, showing him favor and deliverance.  That's what is about to happen with the whole Church. (Jer.30:7) … It is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. (8) And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck (meaning the Beast), and will burst thy bonds; and strangers shall no more make him their bondman (The words “no more” tell us that its fulfillment is very close to the end-time.); (Jer.30:9) but they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. This was a long time after David, so He's not talking about David, physically. This was about 440 years after David had died, so it's not referring to a past but to a future “David.” Nor is it talking about Jesus, Who was also a fulfillment of this as the Son of David; this is talking about David in the end-time, the “time of Jacob's trouble.”   (Jer.30:10) Therefore fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity … (20) Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me (As it was before, the Lord is once again raising up the Israel of God, as it is called in the New Testament. That is the Church; it's those who are circumcised in heart, not in flesh.); and I will punish all that oppress them. (Jer.30:21) And their prince shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them (The Man-child is birthed out of the midst of the Bride.); and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is he that hath had boldness to approach unto me? saith the Lord. In other words, the Man-child is in the position of authority in the Church and over the enemies of the Church, like David was. David not only fought the battles of the Lord against the enemies of the Church, but he was the leadership of the Church. He was the leadership in the Bride, the Man-child in the midst of the Bride.  So we see that Mary had a Son. That Son was raised up to be her Head. He led her into the wilderness, where He multiplied the fishes and the loaves, and so it will be in the end times also, as we just read in Revelation 12. The Bride brought forth the Man-child, but the Man-child led her through the wilderness as a corporate body. (Jer.30:22) And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. (23) Behold, the tempest of the Lord, [even his] wrath, is gone forth, a sweeping tempest (Yes, and a great storm is about to be raised upon the earth. You will want to have true leadership and the true anointing of the Holy Spirit, even the Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit.): it shall burst upon the head of the wicked. (Jer.30:24) The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall understand it. This is an understanding that has been given to us for the latter days. (Jer.31:1) At that time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. That's all the families, from the Old Testament to the New Testament.  Who is Israel in the New Testament? In the New Testament, if you are not born again, you are not Israel. You have been broken off the olive tree. The Church was grafted into the olive tree which, as God said in Romans 11:26, was all Israel. God will be the God of all the families of Israel, which can only be fulfilled in the end times. (Jer.31:2) Thus saith the Lord, The people that were left of the sword found favor in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. That's what God has planned for in the wilderness, to cause His people to enter into His rest, trusting in His promises.   In the New Testament, this rest is called sabbatismos. (Heb.4:9) There remaineth therefore a sabbath (Greek: sabbatismos) rest for the people of God. That word means “a continual rest,” not one day a week. The only thing that remains in the New Testament of the Sabbath rest is that continual rest. The apostles went into the synagogues on the Sabbath as evangelists to teach the Jews what Jesus had brought in the New Testament. The New Testament Sabbath rest is every day of the week, all the time, because you believe the promises of God. You cease from your works; you enter into His rest. The Man-child is going to bring the revelation of the true Gospel and the true Sabbath rest of God to God's people.  I said all that to say this: I want to share with you a revelation that was given to us. Now you don't base anything on modern-day revelations, dreams, visions or prophecies; you base everything on what the Scripture says. But these things do come to confirm what is written in the Word and sometimes to explain so that you are able to put verses together to explain what is happening. There's a revelation on our website called Spearheading the Manchild Ministry. I'm going to share part of it with you here because I feel that it's very important concerning what we've discovered about a type in the Bible. You might call it a snapshot in the midst of a panoramic view, a snapshot of Joseph being the head of the Man-child as someone who spearheaded the Man-child's ministry by raising-up Jesus and bringing Him into this position as an earthly guide to His humanity. Jesus also had the Father and the Holy Spirit, Who were guiding Him to receive wonderful revelations of Who He really was in this earth and Whom He manifested. He was growing both as the Son of God and the Son of Man.  The Man-child that we know is coming upon the scene now is also both son of man and son of God. The members of the Man-child have a body and therefore must be submissive to parents and authority, but they also each have a spiritual man who is taught of the Lord. We noticed that between the time of the conception of Jesus and His ministry in Matthew 1 and 2, many dreams came forth. I guarantee that's a sign for our day that the same thing is going to happen. The dream and the prophecy I am sharing with you now is a fulfillment of that. It's saying that the same thing is going to happen in our day between the time of the conception of the Man-child and when He starts His earthly ministry. There were five dreams in Matthew 1 and 2 that were to fulfill guidance and protection, and wisdom and provision to the Lord. We know that God is building the Man-child ministry to spread His truths to multitudes of babies about to come looking for answers when this nation is brought into severe chastening.   I share this revelation for your edification and preparation, not to give any credit to myself. The Lord did not choose the wise and the noble and the mighty (1 Corinthians 2:26) because He wanted His power to be made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). I have always told people that's the reason I'm qualified, not because I'm a great speaker (I'm not) or very intelligent (I'm not), or that I went to Bible school (I didn't) or anything, but only because God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong (1Co.2:27).  Some of these things appear to be glorifying me, but I tell you that God is only using me as a type and shadow of a larger body of people. He's using me because my name is David, because I believe in the Man-child ministry and because I have faith that I will, by the grace of God, have a part in this ministry. There's nothing to brag about; it's not us, it is Christ in us (Colossians 1:27).   The Jesus about Whom Matthew speaks is coming again. (Hos.6:2) After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him. (3) And let us know, let us follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth. Jesus is coming on the morning of the third day, as the latter rain anointing that comes, first of all, upon the Man-child, so that Jesus would live in this Man-child and do His works to be a reformer to the Church. The Lord is coming to shepherd His flock. Most people don't know that. The following is a prophecy given to me by a prophet named Philip, who shared this vision with me. My comments are in parentheses.  The Phoenix Vision: I have prayed for three days now for the holy Father's will in this matter of sharing the vision that I received during a meeting with David as the speaker in Phoenix. (I've often thought about why Phoenix was chosen for this vision. Well, the Phoenix bird as a legend, which I think was a very spiritual thing, aside from its pagan background, is a type of resurrection life. The Phoenix, after its life cycle, flies to Heliopolis, which means “city of the sun,” or to me, “city of the Son,” and creates a nest. Sitting on the nest, it bursts into flames and burns up, leaving nothing but ashes and an egg, which hatches a new bird out of the ashes as a type of resurrection life. So, Phoenix is the place of resurrection life and it was no accident that the prophecy he sent forth occurred in Phoenix.)  I am permitted to share the following: As I prayed with David at the start of the meeting (I led everyone in a prayer before the teaching and Philip was among the people there), I saw the room change into a stadium filled with people and David was at the podium shouting through a microphone that was in the shape of a shofar. He wore a silver yarmulke that glowed as he spoke and from above came a white-golden light pouring down from the sky as a beam of glory, growing brighter with each outpouring. From David's clothing came the same glory, lights pouring through the tzit-tzit on his garment, flowing like fingers through the people. The lights touched the forehead and were grabbed by the right hand of people who became pregnant and began shouting as they were covered in glory. This is the vision that I had at the meeting. The holy Father says that David would know its meaning, if not now, very soon.   Months after that meeting, Philip contacted me again and after he received this: The Holy Father is forming this ministry into His image to spearhead the Man-child ministry birthing and delivery to the world. Amen! He has given this to me in a mighty vision that ran in succession for three nights, along with some other things that I can't say just yet.  Here is the interpretation of the dream. What he's describing here is the corporate body of the spearhead of the Man-child Ministry. It's not just referring to me. He just used me because my name is David. It's not to glorify me; it's to tell you what is about to happen here, that God is raising up a spearhead like He did Joseph in bringing the Man-child ministry to fruition. The full interpretation is given on our website. I had already received a previous prophecy that I would be teaching in stadiums. I thought this might be spiritual because of the rows of people and how a stadium is built. The Word is passed on from person-to-person as each tier speaks to greater and greater circles of people in a geometric progression, like a stadium is built.   In other words, you speak from the middle, and it goes out and reaches the first circle, then the next circle in ever-increasing numbers, and this is how our ministry has been. I speak to a certain circle of people, and they go and speak to a certain circle of people, and I hear back from their children, their relatives, etc. It's just radiating out. Praise God! I've been contacted by many who have told us that they are using our broadcasts, MP3 audios or videos for their home Bible study groups. Also, multitudes are copying our materials and passing them out, so it just enters a larger and larger circle. This has been happening for some time now, but not to the degree that it's about to happen. It will soon happen in a much greater way, as the Lord has shown us.  My microphone resembling a shofar is significant because a shofar turns inaudible breath, which is the same Hebrew word for “spirit,” into the audible voice of the Spirit or the Word, which warns God's people and destroys the enemy, as in Gideon's battle. We are all called to this ministry of being a vessel through whom the pure Word of the Spirit will flow. The people being touched on the forehead by the light from Heaven are those who humbly receive the Word and so receive the renewed mind of Christ. These are grabbing the light with the right hand, which represents those who act on the Word and so have the renewed works of Christ.   The left hand represents the works of the flesh, and the mark of the beast in the forehead represents having the mind of the Beast, which is the opposite of those. So these people became pregnant with the seed of Christ through the Word, which is what recreates in us the life of Christ. Jesus was the Sower who sowed the seed and the seed that He sowed was the Word of God. It went into hearts and brought forth fruit 30-, 60- and 100-fold. Jesus told us, For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother (Mat.12:50). When this seed bears fruit in the womb of the heart and mind, and is eventually birthed to the world, they will be seen as the image of Christ.  What about the tzitzit? We're told, But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings (The “wings” are the same as the tzitzit, the fringe on our garment.); and ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall (Mal.4:2). (3) And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make, saith the Lord of hosts. The Man-child Ministry is coming to bring not only judgment upon the wicked but resurrection life to the saved people of God. (Mal.4:4) Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances. (5) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. Notice, this speaks of Moses and Elijah, which the Man-child brings into fruition. The Man-child raises up the corporate body of the Two Witnesses.   The disciples were Jesus' witnesses and they went forth two-by-two. They're a type of the corporate body of Two Witnesses, as Moses and Elijah symbolize. Before the Day of the Lord, the Man-child will raise up the Two Witnesses. (Mal.4:6) And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers; lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. The Jews believed that the “sun of righteousness” would be the Messiah, Who would have the power to heal whoever touched the tzitzit, or fringes, of His garment. They did not know that this would be repeated in the end-time through Christ in the Man-child company. A light from Heaven poured through the tzitzit of Jesus' tallit (prayer shawl) to heal the sick, just as it will spiritually through the end-time Man-child. Praise God!   The fulfillment of the Phoenix vision is the spearheading of the Man-child ministry. If we're talking about the physical Man-child Jesus, He was born in a physical body of the virgin Mary. But I believe that the Man-child is going to be born over a period of time because we're talking about a very large body of people being born out of the virgin Church. It could happen over a period of time, with the spearhead being born first. Just like Joseph was a type of the Man-child who was born to Israel, Jesus was a type of the end-time Man-child who was born to the virgin Mary of Israel.  Here's another confirmation. The following revelation I'm sharing with you concerning the Man-child's “head” coming forth first is to bring the Word to the world. I'm convinced that in these days, there's a Joseph, or a spearhead, of the Man-child that's coming forth first to bring the revelation of the Man-child to the Man-child Company, and this whole body, including the head, will have this end-time ministry. That's what I have been trying to explain to you through Matthew 1 and I hope we've been somewhat successful. This revelation was given through Leisa Miller in May of 2007. I will interpret (in parentheses) as we go along.   I dreamed that a lot of people and I were on top of a mountain. (I believe that the mountain represents the Kingdom of God, His people, His Church, worldwide.) I could see that some of us were looking at a small but active version of the mountain. Looking at this smaller version, I could see the whole shape of the mountain. (Why see a large mountain and then a smaller version of it? They were seeing a local microcosm, meaning in Greek, “small world.” In other words, we see the Church locally, but there is a Church that's worldwide. She was only seeing in her experience a small part, a small representation or scaled-down version of the Kingdom of God worldwide, the portion of the body of Christ that she was familiar with as part of the worldwide body. Leisa is part of UBM, which will have a part in this movement.)   There was an image in the mountain. The whole of the mountain had the shape of a woman who was pregnant. I could see that she was birthing her child. The mountain would shake and we could feel it. On the smaller version, we could see rocks give way to form the new development of the child being born. It was very detailed. (She saw the microcosm as the woman Church in her fellowship experience began to bring forth the first-fruits Man-child company at the same time as it happened worldwide.) The head and shoulders were out but the water had only begun to break. (This is the head of the Man-child body being born. Could this have been happening for some time? I believe so. It won't be finished until it is finished, but it could have been happening for some time. The head or spearhead of the Man-child ministry will be born first in the microcosm seen by Leisa, as well as in other microcosms.)   Suddenly there was a very hard shaking. (Who knows what this could be. But we have had this revelation given to us many times before, that when the Man-child begins His ministry, something catastrophic is going to happen in the world.) We could see on the little version, water began to flow out. (In the beginning of the coming time of judgment, the head will bring forth the water of the Word. We noticed that Joseph's words were the only seed that brought forth Jesus, the Son of God, the spiritual man, the true Man-child. It had nothing to do with any physical seed because he was not Jesus' physical father, but he did have something to do with that spiritual seed, which the Bible tells us is the Word of God. So Joseph raised Him up as a father would.) The detail of the child became more distinct, and we could hear the water rushing all around us, until it carried us away from the spot where we were standing. (Could this be akin to bringing the Church into the wilderness? It could be.) But each of us could still see one another and somehow we could also see that the whole world was flooding with this water. (Why? Because all she saw was the microcosm. The same thing was happening simultaneously all over the world. The head being born was breaking the water and the water was going forth.)  (What the Man-child lives on in the womb is the water, the Word of God. We have to be born of water and of Spirit, don't we? The Bible tells us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. (Mat.2:5) And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the prophet, (6) And thou, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah, For out of thee shall come forth a governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel. And “Bethlehem” means “House of bread,” or “House of food.” Jesus is born in, and is a product of, the Word of God. He is, as John said, the Word made flesh (John 1:14), and “Moses” means “drawn from the waters.” Moses was the man-child in his day. He was a product of the waters of the washing of the Word of God. So the head comes first and it teaches the body. With the breaking-forth of the head of the first-fruits in the microcosm, a great flood of the Word will go forth over the whole earth. This Word is being prepared by books, radio, television, video, Internet, etc. The Lord will use every available method to get this Word out.)   (This move of the Spirit will also carry disciples with the message all over the world. Notice that when the water broke, it carried them all away, just as it was in Jesus' day when He was the Man-child. He sent disciples with the same Word, the same anointing, the same mantle that He had, and they went all over the world. They were called “Christians” because they walked in the power and the anointing of Jesus Christ. This is about to happen once again in our day. A great reformer movement will go forth, but not necessarily a popular one. It will be popular with the people who love God and know Him, but it won't be popular with the status quo or the Pharisees and Sadducees, as we will see shortly.)   We were under the water, but we could breathe. (Abiding in the Word is natural for those who live by the Spirit, which in Hebrew is also the word “breath.”) We saw others caught in this water who could not breathe and were dying. (The Word brings death to the carnal man and his spirit, or breath.) But the water was so abundant that I could not tell which way was up unless I was near an object on the ground that could identify direction. (Beholding the reward of the wicked, as in Psalm 91:8, and the corruption of the earth lets us know what is under our feet and what is the way to Heaven. The earthly will swallow the flood going forth from the dragon's mouth, as in Revelation 12:15, and the heavenly will swallow the flood that goes forth from the Man-child, as Revelation 12:14 says.)   Some of us found ourselves inside a large building under the water. It seemed to be a large farm building where tools, farm equipment, and seed were kept. (For we are God's fellow-workers: ye are God's husbandry (Greek: “tilled land”), God's building (1Co.3:9). It's interesting that this farm and building were under the water. It's a part of God's work, God's building. You are God's husbandry, His tilled land. (1Co.3:10) According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon. (11) For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Jesus in the Man-child is about to lay the foundation of God's building and once again plant the seed of the Word over the world. It's a very spiritual revelation that Leisa had there.)   We knew that there were people who were now above the water and were angry at us and wanted to kill us. (The righteous lived beneath the waters. They were baptized in the Word of God which had put to death their flesh. They could no longer die because the spiritual man received life and sustenance from the water of the Word of God. It is a product of the Word of God. But to the carnal man the Word of God is death, so for those to whom the water is death, they will hate the righteous even more because of the increase of truth and fruit in them. Abiding in the water of the Word is a place of protection to them.)  Amen! I believe that both of these revelations have to do with what we're looking at here in the Book of Matthew.  Let's return to where we left off in (Mat.2:1) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, (2) Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him. (3) And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Remember those from Leisa's vision who were above the water, not dwelling in the water, not baptized in the water of the Word of God? They are troubled. We can see why Herod might be troubled, but “all Jerusalem with him”? Today, religious people are enjoying their life in the world, their leaders are enjoying their life in the world, and they really don't want the Messiah to come and upset their apple cart.   If you don't believe that, just read the Bible. What kind of a reception did Jesus get? The overwhelming majority of people were anti-Christ. Their leaders were anti-Christ. They had already set up their stage of playing church through their religion and didn't need Jesus to come along and upset them. They were already set in their ways and wanted no reformation whatsoever. Jesus was a reformer and that's what He came for, so we can understand why “all Jerusalem” was troubled. (Mat.2:4) And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. (5) And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the prophet … Why would they tell Herod, whom they knew was anti-Christ, where Jesus would be born? It seems as if they were on the side of the Beast here and throughout the New Testament we see that.   The leadership of the natural people of God, the status quo, was always on the side of the Beast, all the way through the Scriptures. Herod, representing the Beast kingdom, had ambitions to be the king and did not want any competition from this new upstart King coming on the scene. However, Jesus' Kingdom was not of this world (Joh.18:36). He came to be the King over the spiritual, born-again man and to lead God's people to the ways of righteousness and restoration. But Herod and the priests did not want anything to change and so it will be in our day. We have a wonderful reformation ministry coming that will spread over the whole world, bringing the true Word of God and the true Gospel to the whole world, yet it will be fiercely resisted by these people and they will attempt to quash it.   Throughout history, it has been that when God raised up a Man-child or a reformer or a prophet, they were fiercely resisted and hated by the religious leaders and people who wanted to live in the flesh. A person is comfortable living in the flesh and does not want the spirit man to be the ruler and the leader and the guide in their life. They will fight against it as they have throughout history. Nothing is going to change. (Ecc.1:9) That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. The Lord is continuing to repeat history.   What we're reading in the Book of Matthew will be fulfilled on a much larger scale, meaning the cast of characters has been multiplied. Herod represents a much bigger body of people in authority over God's people, a worldly body of people that is a Beast kingdom over God's people. Jesus also represents a much larger body of people, the Man-child ministry. The Pharisees and the Sadducees – the Sanhedrin, if you will – represent a larger corporate body called the False Prophet. The Sanhedrin was the False Prophet in Jesus' day; they were the ones who crucified the Christ, the ones who sided with the Beast against God's people, the ones who sided with the Beast against the disciples of Christ; and they were the ones who sided with the Beast against the Two Witnesses, etc. So history is about to repeat on a much larger scale, as it has throughout the Bible, and we're fortunate enough to read Matthew as not only history, but a very accurate prophecy.   All of the Gospels and the Book of Acts, even though they recount history, are speaking a prophecy because the Bible says, “That which hath been is that which shall be.” Anything that happens today has already happened earlier, but on a smaller scale. Praise be to God! He is opening our eyes here to understand this and to have much prophecy opened to us in these latter days. I've shared with you how the Gospels, which were Jesus' 3½- year ministry, represent the first 3½ years of the Tribulation and how the Book of Acts represents the second 3½ years and the 40 years between Jesus' ministry and the 70 A.D. destruction of the Harlot by the Beast. 40 is the number of tribulation, as can be seen in type when Moses took the children of Israel through 40 years in the wilderness. 

3 : Gospel of Matthew 3 1. In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2. And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, ; AB church Lausanne

2 : Gospel of Matthew 2 1. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2. Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, ; AB church Lausanne

Jesus Is The Way - Humility To Glory (audio) David Eells – 3/2/25 Today, I'd like to focus on our Example of humility, Who, of course, is the Lord Jesus. He said He could do nothing of Himself. (Joh.5:19) … The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner. Now, obviously, if Jesus could do nothing of Himself, we can do nothing of ourselves. Nothing of any importance in the Kingdom can we do of ourselves because self has no power to do the work of God. Self cannot walk in the Spirit. Self does not have the renewed mind of Christ with the renewed sight and hearing (Ephesians 4:23), having been washed with the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26). Self has no power to walk in the Spirit or to do the works of God. When men take over Christianity, they bring God and His gifts down on their level and everything about that is just dead religion. It's worthless to God. Look at the huge religious organizations that do not turn out anything that looks like Jesus. There's no reward for it whatsoever, but many people waste their lives in another kingdom rather than the Kingdom of God. Jesus was both a son of man and the Son of God. He was talking about self here. He wasn't talking about the spiritual man that dwelt in that body; He was talking about self. And He said in (Joh.5:30) I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. Jesus sought the Will of the Father. (Jas.4:7) Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. He was humble to the Will of the Father. He did not have His Own religious “agenda.” When we're driven by our own desires, our own agendas of ego, pride, and competition, we're not trustworthy, we're not humble, and we can expect problems. We can expect not to have the salvation that we need because we're self-willed and stubborn, and seeking our own kingdom. Jesus said that He could of Himself do nothing. That tells us that we certainly can't expect to do this on our own either. So, let's look to Jesus, Who is our Example of true humility. (Isa.66:1) Thus saith the Lord, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will ye build unto me? and what place shall be my rest? (2) For all these things hath my hand made, and [so] all these things came to be, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word. Notice, the Lord is talking about building Himself a house, and He is saying that He doesn't dwell in houses made with men's hands (Acts 7:48,17:24). This is the “house” that God is building, as verse 2 speaks of, but then He says, “to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word.” That's the “house” of the Lord. He is speaking about the house that He has chosen, and that house is “a man who is of a contrite spirit, that trembleth at his word.” Oh, praise God! Another verse says, (Psa.138:6) For though the Lord is high, yet hath he respect (That's the Hebrew raah, also translated as “to see, become aware, give attention, regard, consider,” etc.) unto the lowly; But the haughty he knoweth from afar. The bible school graduates of Jesus' day, as in our day, could not do the works of Jesus. Even though God is great and He rules over all and He is to be revered and bowed down to, He respects the lowly. Now we have learned that grace is God's method to give us faith and power. (Jas.4:6) … Wherefore [the scripture] saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. We also need to understand that the blessings of God are poured out upon the people who will humble themselves. (Jas.4:10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you. So our Lord Jesus Christ is our Example. He not only came to be our Savior, to deliver us from ourselves, from the devil, from the curse, but He's our Example of what is true “humility.” (1Jn.2:6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. We are commanded to walk in the Steps of Jesus because what Jesus gave us was an example of life. I agree we haven't all come into that yet, but the more we study Him, the more we see what it is to be walking humbly before our God. (Mic.6:8) He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God? We are to be transformed into that same Image. (2Co.3:8) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. Therefore Jesus' walk should be our walk, and we're coming to the time when God is going to fulfill that, when God is going to restore everything that's been taken away from His people (Joel 2:23-29). God is going to bring us back to walking in the Power of the Spirit of God! It will be awesome! So, also, it says in (Php.2:5) Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (So we are supposed to be thinking the same way He does, with the same ambitions, the same desires, the same humility.): (6) who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; (8) and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. (And we are also to humble ourselves, becoming a servant, taking-up our cross, and following Jesus.) (9) Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name. In baptism, which represents death, burial, and resurrection, He gave us His Name, and as we enter into the manifestation of that death, burial, and resurrection, the Name of Jesus Christ is manifested in us. As we've studied before, the word “name” means “nature, character, and authority.” As we “have this mind...which was also in Christ,” and we take up our cross to follow Him, and we humble ourselves to become servants in this world, that Name is manifested in us. That's the fruit that Jesus is asking for in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9,18-23; Mark 4:1-9,13-20; Luke 8:4-15). That's the 30-, 60-, and 100-fold fruit of the manifestation of His Name in us, His Nature, His Character, His Authority. We behold “in the mirror the glory of the Lord,” and are transformed into that same Image, “from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the spirit.” God Himself chose humble circumstances for His Son. Obviously Jesus could have come in all of His Glory and manifested Himself as the King that He is, but God wanted Him to come in humble circumstances. Let's read in (Luk.2:4) And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; (5) to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. (6) And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. (7) And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. God sent His only begotten Son to earth to be the Savior of mankind. He was the most important Person Who has ever been on this earth, and yet God sent Him in these circumstances. Could God have supplied better circumstances to honor the great King? Of course, He could, but it wasn't His plan, because Jesus not only represents the Savior, He represents the body of Christ. He came here to give up His carnal life, His physical, fleshly life, in order to take up His spiritual, heavenly Life, and He came to show us the Way. He was called the Way in (Joh.14:6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me. He said, “I am the way,” and so far what we're seeing is that He came in very humble circumstances, and throughout Jesus' earthly work, He continued in very humble circumstances. He took on no titles or letters behind His name. He took up no collections for himself. He is the way! And it says in (Luk.2:42) And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast; (43) and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not; (44) but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance: (45) and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him. (46) And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions: (47) and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. No doubt, even at twelve years old, He had a lot to teach them, although Jesus was still subject to the moral laws at that time. He was subject to His parents and He was subject to people who were set in authority over Him, just as we are also commanded to be in subjection to those who have been given authority over us. We are in subjection unto the kings and unto the governments. (Rom.13:1) Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the [powers] that be are ordained of God. (2) Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. (3) For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: (4) for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. (5) Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake. (6) For this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing. (7) Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. And, if we are servants, we are also in subjection to our masters as we are told in (1Pe.2:18) Servants, [be] in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. (19) For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully. (20) For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted [for it], ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. And so was Jesus. Even the mighty Son of God had to humble Himself to be submissive because of the body that He was dwelling in. Many people think we have special privileges because we are sons of God, but it is because of this body that we dwell in, we've been given these rules and regulations. Now let's return to our text in (Luk.2:48) And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. (49) And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father's house? (50) And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. (51) And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all [these] sayings in her heart. (52) And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. “Favor” is the Greek xáris meaning “grace, as a gift or blessing.” You see, because Jesus was humble, He received grace. He showed us how to overcome. Jesus was truly an overcomer. People think, “Of course, Jesus overcame since He's the Son of God.” But Jesus laid aside His omnipotence and omniscience to come down as a Spirit-filled man, the Son of God dwelling in Him just as the Son of God dwells in us. He came down and left that God privilege and ability to be an example unto us and demonstrated to us all that humility is the Way. He was humble, and God blessed Him, and He “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” You would expect that Jesus, being the great King that He was, would have had an awesome palace full of luxuries, with many servants and so on. Some preachers do preach that kind of a Jesus, a Jesus Who was rich, but it's very hard for us to see that anywhere in the Scriptures. It's because of their apostate doctrines and their own selfish desires that they preach that kind of a Jesus, because the Bible tells us why Jesus chose to be poor. (Jas.2:5) Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? Jesus wasn't forced into poverty; He chose it. Poverty is not a curse when everywhere you go, God supplies your need. He had a need for an ass's colt to fulfil scripture so He borrowed one instead of raising one, which would be a burden. It's a contentment. Paul said, (1Ti.6:6) But godliness with contentment is great gain: (7) for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out; (8) but having food and covering we shall be therewith content.  God translated Jesus because He didn't have airplanes. (Mat 6: 33) But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. God will give you what you need to do His will but we don't need the burden of idols. However, just “food and covering” aren't enough for most people. (Luk.9:57) And as they went on the way, a certain man said unto him, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. (Well, it's easy to say that, but when you find out the conditions, you might not want to go with Him, and so Jesus began to explain the conditions of His lifestyle.) (58) And Jesus said unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Did this potential disciple know what he was getting into? The Lord wanted to make sure that he did before he went, and do we know what we're getting into when we claim to be disciples of Jesus Christ? That's the important thing because God expects and wants us to follow the Lord no matter what, with no excuses, with no looking back at our former life, as the rest of the text says. And yet these are the people who live by miracles. (Luk.9:59) And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. (Notice “me first”.) (60) But he said unto him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God. “Publish” is diaggéllō, which properly means to “thoroughly declare (publicly herald); fully announce {throughout the world}, ‘declaring far and wide,' i.e. widely (profusely) proclaiming.” (Luk.9:61) And another also said, I will follow thee, Lord; but first suffer me to bid farewell to them that are at my house. (62) But Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Jesus wanted them to go and spread the Good Tidings, but they had very human excuses, which Jesus was not accepting in the least. He told them, “There's something more important than your family or your houses or anything you can think of.” Of course, most of society, and even religious people, will tell us, “Oh, no, these things are very, very important.” We need to have our mind renewed to deliver us from many such traditions that get in the way of our doing what is truly important, because as the Lord Jesus teaches us in, (Mat.6:33) … seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Jesus wasn't sorry that He chose poverty. He was happy for the joy that He was able to bring others through deliverance, healing, provision, and so on. He chose this lifestyle, and, for those who have in their heart the same mind as was in Christ (Philippians 2:5-8), it's their desire, too. The most important thing to them is not the things of the world, but to humble themselves to the Will of God. The rich are distracted by their toys. We're told in, (2Co.8:9) For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich. Some rather near-sighted people read that and say, “Oh, boy! The Lord became poor so we could become rich!” But, read very carefully, “that, though He was rich.” Now, where was He rich? (Php.2:5) Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; (8) and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself (Jesus had to humble Himself, and we have to humble ourselves.), becoming obedient even unto death (Humility is denying ourselves to take up our cross and follow Jesus.), yea, the death of the cross. (9) Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name. We can see plainly where He was rich. He was rich in the Kingdom of Heaven with His Father before He laid it all aside and came down here to be a Servant, and to humble Himself unto the death of the Cross in order to bear that Name. While He was down here, He wasn't rich. So notice, “though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor.” Jesus became poor in order to meet our needs. He sacrificed His whole Life, not just when going to the Cross, but His whole Life, in order to make sure that the Good News of God's all-encompassing provisions was proclaimed far and wide. “That ye through his poverty might become rich.” The “rich” this is talking about is the same kind of “rich” that Jesus laid aside in order to come down here. He's bringing us to His heavenly Kingdom. (1Jn.4:17) … As he (Jesus) is, even so are we in this world. He's not talking about riches down here and none of His disciples understood this to be riches on earth. There is no promise for the rich of the world who are not rich in the provision of the heavenly Kingdom of God. Jesus pointed that out in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, where the rich man didn't see to Lazarus' need (Luke 16:19-31). (1Ti.6:6) But godliness with contentment is great gain. In the New Testament, we are called to be rich in spirit, rich in the gifts of the Kingdom, rich in the “gold and silver” of the Nature of Jesus Christ and, yes, have all material provision that we need to build the Kingdom. This was clearly seen in the lives of Jesus and His first disciples. They were unencumbered by the distracting things of this world. (1Jn2:15) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. The promises are for the poor. He preached the Gospel to the poor. (Jas.2:5) Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? (2Co.8:10) And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you (So this needs to be fulfilled in us if we are to have the Mind of Christ, Who laid everything aside to become a servant of God and do the work of the Kingdom for our sakes.), who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will. (“God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure,” will put this in our hearts as in Philippians 2:13.) (11) But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability. In other words, “Hey, let's not be just hearers of the Word, but let's be doers of the Word in providing the needs of the brethren.” Then as we read on down, Paul speaks about how the Lord wanted equality in His people regarding material possessions. (2Co.8:12) For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not. (13) For I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed; (14) but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality: (15) as it is written, He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little had no lack. That's referring to the Israelites gathering manna in the wilderness, and it's the principle Paul was using about there being equality among the people. (Exo.16:18) And when they measured it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. When they gathered the manna, they would measure out an omer-full. Then they would put any excess into the container of somebody else who hadn't gathered quite enough, and that way everybody got their needs met. In the Parable of the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30), who couldn't give-up his riches to enter the Kingdom, Jesus said (Mat.19:24) … It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (25) And when the disciples heard it, they were astonished exceedingly, saying, Who then can be saved? (Meaning, of course, that they knew this was impossible.) (26) And Jesus looking upon [them] said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Jesus knew God could put the generosity in the heart of the rich to share their riches, as it should be done. (Ecc.5:11) When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding of them with his eyes? … (13) There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt. However, to their shame, the rich then made one of the Temple gates the “eye of the needle” because, of course, they wanted to get all the rich people through the Door of the Kingdom more easily.    Jesus was a humble person. Earthly riches were not something that Jesus preached anywhere in His ministry and He rejected it for His Own Life. He raised His disciples to be humble people with a simple lifestyle in order to focus on building the Kingdom. Everything else physical was just a means to an end, but like the Pharisees of that day, the Pharisees of our day are still trying to make Jesus rich. (Joh.19:23) The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also the coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. I'm sure you've heard some of the prosperity preachers who say Jesus was rich because of this garment that was completely woven without a seam. That's interesting, though I don't know how anybody could say that made Him rich.  I guess they think He had something that nobody else had, but I submit to you that there's also another reason God describes Jesus' garment in this way. In Revelation, the Bride is clothed with a lampros garment. (Rev.19:8) And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright (That's lampros and it means “shining, magnificent, bright, splendid.”) and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. A seamless garment represents not having mans works involved.. A garment also represents covering-up nakedness, which God likened unto sinfulness (Genesis 3:7,10-11). And also the Scripture teaches, (Isa.59:4) None sueth in righteousness, and none pleadeth in truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. (5) They hatch adders eggs (In other words, that's their fruit.), and weave the spider's web (A spider's web is very porous, and notice it is woven but you can see nakedness or sin.): he that eateth of their eggs dieth; and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. (6) Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. So notice in Revelation that the righteous works or righteous acts of the saints are what the lampros bridal garment represented, but here, these people whose works are wicked, don't have enough works to cover themselves. They are exposed for what they are. We, too, are weaving a garment by our works, and it has to be one that covers our nakedness. The Lord Jesus had this wonderful coat that was woven throughout with no seam of man in it, and it doesn't represent riches at all; it represents righteousness, One Who is walking in truth and righteousness and purity. The wisdom and righteousness Jesus had was not from man, but from God. As a matter of fact, we can see as we read on in our text, that Jesus had no riches. (Joh.19:24) They said therefore one to another, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my garments among them, And upon my vesture did they cast lots. (25) These things therefore the soldiers did. (They were casting lots for probably the only thing of any value that Jesus had.) But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (26) When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved (That suggests this is John the apostle, himself.), he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! (27) Then saith he to the disciple, Behold, thy mother! And from that hour the disciple took her unto his own home. What did Jesus provide for His mother during His ministry? He didn't seem to be making a living, and some people would say He was not really successful. We know He was totally successful because, as He told the Father, (Joh.17:4) I glorified thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do. He raised up a worldwide church but He didn't seem to worry about providing for His mother. When He was leaving, He hadn't arranged for her to have a home or any of the things that a successful preacher would obviously give to his mother. Instead, He passed on His responsibility for taking care of her to one of His other disciples, and that disciple didn't seem to be any better off than He was. Of course, Jesus had taught His disciples that God would supply their every need. (Luk.9:2) And he sent them forth to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. (3) And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats. … (Luk.22:35) And he said unto them, When I sent you forth without purse, and wallet, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing. That's because everywhere they went, God supplied their need. They freely gave, and they didn't charge a tithe, as some people say. There's not one place in the Scriptures where they ever did that. Jesus said tithing was of the Law (Matthew 23:23). They went by faith and God supplied. It's good to live by faith. (Mat.6:19) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: (20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (21) for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also. It's good to walk and to trust in God, but of course, you can't do that if you're materialistic and you want to live on a higher level than God wants you to live. We see plainly in the life of Jesus that the Father did not desire for Him to walk in the way of riches, nor is that healthy for anybody to do. God has called us to walk in the steps of Jesus, in His humility to the Father, and His humility to not try to impress the people around Him. He didn't care anything about being what the world called “successful,” and I think this proves that Jesus wasn't a rich person and wasn't interested in those things, nor was His mother. The physical things, the food, the covering, all these things are necessary but they're just a means to an end, not a love of our life. We're told in (1Jn.2:15) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Jesus' love was God's saints. He was interested in raising up the saints to be able to walk in obedience to the Will of God and to be sanctified and to be pleasing unto the Lord. And we're told that if we have His wisdom, we won't have the wisdom of man. (1Co.1:30) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: (31) that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Now let's go to (Mat.13:54) And coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? (That's the Greek dýnamis meaning “power, might, strength,” and it's where the word “dynamite” comes from. This is more accurately read, “Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty powers?) (Mat.13:55) Is not this the carpenter's son? In other words, “We know who his father is, so where did He come up with this wisdom and mighty powers? It doesn't make any sense because He's just the son of a carpenter.” Well, it doesn't make any sense only if you were used to nepotism, which they were. All those rich Pharisees and Sadducees and Scribes passed on the “family business” to their sons, just like a lot of the churches do nowadays. When the old man's gone, the son takes over. He's now chosen to be the pastor, but why is it that God always seems to choose the son to be assistant pastor, and then the pastor? Is this not nepotism? Isn't there somebody more qualified who's available? Well, you'd never find it out because of that spirit. Nepotism is the story of the High Priest Eli. (1Sa.2:12) Now the sons of Eli were base men; they knew not the Lord. … (17) And the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord; for the men despised the offering of the Lord. … (22) Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how that they lay with the women that did service at the door of the tent of meeting. (23) And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people. (24) Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord's people to transgress. (25) If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord was minded to slay them. Obviously, raising up his sons to take his place didn't work, because they didn't walk in the ways of the Lord and they grabbed for the physical as much as they could, and we're seeing the same thing today. We're seeing Eli ministries everywhere that walk in nepotism and in lust for the things of the world. And God destroyed Eli's sons, which are a type of far too many ministries today. And so, people were questioning how Jesus was teaching and healing and working miracles. They were implying, “Hey, this is not a son of a Pharisee. He's not a son of one of our scribes. He's not a son of a Sadducee. How does the son of a carpenter get all this wisdom and power?” Those Pharisees and Sadducees and Scribes had rich parents, so they went to their Bible schools and entered into the family business, because that's what it really was. Yet, here's somebody that didn't have the same “opportunity” their preachers did. Well, to Jesus, and to the Father, that wasn't an opportunity and that wasn't a blessing. Jesus was in a position of weakness because He was raised up in a family that wasn't well-to-do and didn't have connections, but it made no difference because He wasn't after what those people were after. (Mat.13:55) Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? (56) And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? (They knew His humble family and wondered, “How did this man get this wisdom?” because the only way they knew you could get it was to go to Bible School.) (57) And they were offended in him. (You have heard that familiarity breeds contempt. In other words, “Poor Jesus! He is just a commoner and has no credentials. He has no ‘pedigree.' And His father has no important connections.”) But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house. (58) And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. How foolish that people would question the gift because of the way that it came! Even today, that happens. People want to know if you have any “letters” behind your name. They ask, “Are you important?” and “Where did you get this wisdom?” Cannot God just give it to you by studying the Bible on your own? Cannot God lead you by the hand and make you a disciple? We read in (Heb.13:8) Jesus [is] the same yesterday and to-day, [yea] and for ever. He still takes people by the hand and makes disciples of them when they have a personal relationship with Him through the Word of God. Jesus had a personal relationship with the Father. He didn't need any go-betweens. He didn't need any Nicolaitan preachers that were between Him and the Father. He had a personal relationship with the Father and that's where He got His great wisdom and power. It came from the Father. So because Jesus had no credentials, it offended the Eli ministries of His time. Unlike the common people, they wouldn't just sit and listen and accept the gift of God that was coming through Him; they expected something more. Well, God is justified of His awesome works. Glory to God! If you want God's Will, you don't need to be raised up in a mausoleum. (Joh.7:14) But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. (15) The Jews therefore marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? (By that, they meant He didn't go to their seminaries.) (16) Jesus therefore answered them and said, My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me. (17) If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself. He didn't say they had to go to a seminary of man to get it like the Pharisees did. He said if a person desired God's Will, they would know of the teaching. God will raise you up as a disciple of Jesus Christ. He will take you by the hand. He will lead you. Of course, this is a humbling way, because the world and the worldly church don't recognize you, but the Lord does. He opens doors to the humble people and He will bring it to pass. Amen! Jesus was made known to the righteous because God opened their eyes to see Him, but we know He was rejected of the proud and the religious leaders and the rich people. They just wanted to walk in materialism and so He wasn't recognized of them. (Mar.12:35) And Jesus answered and said, as he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that the Christ is the son of David? (36) David himself said in the Holy Spirit, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet. (37) David himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he his son? And the common people heard him gladly. You know, it takes a lot of effort to get a worldly education and you want to believe it's valuable. All those religious leaders had gone through a lot of trouble to get to that place. They didn't want to be humbled; they wanted to be seen as the great people that they thought they were. But the humble people, the common people, they loved to listen to Jesus. Even though He wasn't raised up in their seminary, that made no difference to them. Humility is not an outward show. We read in (Mar.12:38) And in his teaching he said, Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and [to have] salutations in the marketplaces… Oh, they love to dress “snazzy,” don't they? You have to have a nice suit and stand behind a pulpit but Jesus didn't hold to their traditions of men. That's important to some people, but God said, (1Sa.16:7) … Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. God's not interested in the riches and the finery that a lot of the religious world is interested in. None of that makes you righteous, or smart, or a good teacher. Again in (Mar.12:38) And in his teaching he said, Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and [to have] salutations in the marketplaces (39) and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts. In the Parable of the Guests (Luke 14:7-11), didn't Jesus teach us to be content in a lowly place, and not to go up higher unless you are called? He said to beware of putting yourself in too high a position because somebody more honorable may come to take your seat, but these people chose for themselves the chief places in the feasts. Well, Jesus wanted to share His gift with people. That was the most important thing to Him. Promoting Himself above people was something He considered totally fleshly. Continuing with (Mar.12:40) They that devour widows houses, and for a pretence make long prayers; these shall receive greater condemnation. (41) And he sat down over against the treasury, and beheld how the multitude cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. (42) And there came a poor widow, and she cast in two mites (At current valuation, one mite is approximately 1/16th of a penny.), which make a farthing. (43) And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than all they that are casting into the treasury: (44) for they all did cast in of their superfluity (That's perisseúō meaning “overflowing abundance, excess, lavishness, prosperity.”); but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. Glory to God! We tend to judge in the flesh what humility is, and what submitting to the Will of God is. Jesus complained that all of these people who put in their over-abundance were not sacrificing anything because they still had all of their needs met, but this poor widow gave more than all of them because of what she had left. She knew that God would meet her needs and this is the kind of faith that impressed Jesus. Can you imagine, this poor widow, who humbly gave two mites to the Kingdom, is more famous throughout all of history than any of those unmentioned rich show-offs, who gave to the Kingdom in a display of pride. You know, it is truly what you have left that proves your sacrifice, not how much you give. This lady gave more than all of them according to God's accounting and that was true humility on her part. This impressed Jesus more than the Pharisees and the Sadducees and their ways of dealing with God. You know, Jesus didn't seek the honor that comes from man. He didn't even seek for God to honor Him, but when He didn't seek the honor for Himself, God sought it for Him. (Mat.21:4) Now this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, (5) Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek (The text that's being quoted here is from Zechariah 9:9 where “meek” is translated as “lowly.”), and riding upon an ass,  (Mat.21:5) Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, And riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass. And notice, He even had to borrow this foal of an ass, so we can't say He was rich in the way of the world. However, when Jesus does come back in Revelation 19, we see that He's on a big white horse. Now, I would say, if somebody was rich, and wanted to impress the multitudes, He'd certainly be riding on a big white horse, not the foal of an ass. What was the point He was making? He was making the point that, even though He was King, to be King does not mean materialism in God's Kingdom, and it doesn't mean pride, boastfulness, or being lifted up above anybody in God's Kingdom on earth. He came “lowly...riding upon an ass,” and if our Lord King would do this, what does God expect of us? Does He expect humility of us? I guarantee it. (Mat.21:6) And the disciples went, and did even as Jesus appointed them, (7) and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their garments; and he sat thereon. (8) And the most part of the multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the way. Jesus said, (Joh.14:6) … I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me. He is the Way, and He showed us the Way. His method is humility. He expects it of everybody. He doesn't care what the preachers nowadays think. Many are high and lifted up, but in the Kingdom, if they make it, they will be the least because they've disobeyed the principles that Jesus has laid down, the Nature and Character that He's passed on to us, and this humility that He carried throughout His earthly ministry. (Mat.21:9) And the multitudes that went before him, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David… Even though He was King, Jesus wasn't seeking any worldly kingdom, but here the Lord honored Him from the simple people. “Hōsanná is a transliteration of the Hebrew hôsî-âh-nā meaning ‘Oh, save now!' or ‘Please save!' It comes from two words, Yahsha, which means ‘O save, deliver,' and nah, which means ‘I pray.'” In both Aramaic and Hebrew, it was originally a cry for help, but then also became used as a cry of happiness. (Mat.21:9) And the multitudes that went before him, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. (Mat.21:10) And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, Who is this? (11) And the multitudes said, This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee. So Jesus continued on to Jerusalem and entered the Temple. (Joh.2:14) And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: (15) and he made a scourge of cords, and cast all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers money, and overthrew their tables; (16) and to them that sold the doves he said, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a house of merchandise. (Jesus complained that the priests and scribes had made the Father's House a “house of merchandise” to profit for themselves.) (17) His disciples remembered that it was written, Zeal for thy house shall eat me up. He defended the Father's House. He wanted it to be a humble place, a place of prayer for all nations, but they had made it a den of thieves. These days, what is loosely called “Father's House” is once again a den of thieves. It's a place for materialism and for worshipping men who don't share the humility that Jesus has and don't see the importance in it. All worship goes to God; all praise goes to God. He is the supplier of every thing. It doesn't do our flesh any good to be lifted up because, as the Bible says, (Mat.23:12) … whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted. Also, (1Pe.5:5) … all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. And so we have a whole generation of ministry that knows nothing of these principles that Jesus is laying down for us. He said, (Mat.10:9) Get you no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses. And, (Mat.10:8) … freely ye received, freely give. But they know nothing of this and they're not following the Master. They're not disciples of Jesus Christ. A true disciple is a “learner and a follower.” He is somebody who studies the Master in order to walk in His Steps and to do what He did. Notice that when we study the Master, we don't see the mansions that the leaders of Christianity have raised up unto themselves. And sometimes one mansion is not enough for them, neither is one jet plane enough for them, or one Rolls Royce enough for them. (Isa.56:11) Yea, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and these are shepherds (He's calling the leadership of the church “greedy dogs.”) that cannot understand: they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter. What about the equality that Jesus desired to have on this earth? What about the desire for His disciples to share and share alike so that everybody's needs would be met?    Jesus did not want people to profit or to be lifted up in the Father's House. He didn't want people to be esteemed for their physical attributes. Even the Body that God gave unto Jesus was not to be admired. (Isa.53:2) For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (Jesus was not good looking because He did not want to be followed for that reason.) (3) He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we esteemed him not. God didn't want anybody to follow Jesus for the wrong reason. The apostle Paul, one of the greatest writers of the New Testament, wrote things “hard to be understood” (2 Peter 3:16). He wasn't evidently, even a good speaker (2 Corinthians 10:10), but it didn't make any difference. God wanted people to listen to Paul for the value of those words that he got across to them. God wants His ministers to be humbled. It's the reason Jesus sent His disciples forth without all the provision of the world. Jesus was a King; He had authority. He could multiply the fishes, the loaves, the gold. He could have filled churches. He could have made Himself a Name in the earth. The people wanted to make Him a King, but He refused. (Joh.6:14) When therefore the people saw the sign which he did, they said, This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world. (15) Jesus therefore perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain himself alone. It was something that the devil had offered unto Him, and Jesus had refused him, too (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13). But, you know, there are many people today, even leaders of Christianity or members of the body of Christ, who would take that in a minute. They would be kings and lords over God's heritage. They don't know the principles of God's Word and the principles that Jesus was trying to get across to us in order to humble this old flesh. We have to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. It doesn't do us any good to let this flesh come down off the cross and have its own will. We deny it. We fast. We refuse it to be fed and to live. Thank You, Father, that You give us the ability, Lord, to deny the old man a right to live, a right to speak, a right to lift himself up, a right to pride. We deny it, in Jesus' Name, Lord. Amen! Now, I'd like to share a few revelations with you.     Jesus Is Again Coming in Humility June Johnson - 07/29/2008 (David's notes in red) In a very vivid dream, I saw a donkey in the middle of a road with a baby on its back. It is Jesus birthed in the end-time corporate man-child, whose beastly flesh is in servitude and humility by God's grace. Mat.21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass. Jesus is coming as the latter rain on this morning of the third thousand year day. Hos.6:2 After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him. 6:3 And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth. He will anoint the first-fruits man-child first, as it was with Jesus. Just as the Jews expected Him to come as a reigning king over their enemies, the Christians do today. “The things that have been are the things that will be”. Instead, He will come once again in the form of humble servants before coming personally. Next, I heard a car coming and thought to myself, “I had to get the baby out of the road before the car came closer.” The dragon will seek to destroy the corporate man-child, as with Jesus and Moses, but he will be anointed with authority to rule from the throne, as they were. Rev.12:4 And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child. 5 And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days. The donkey then knelt down and I grabbed the baby and ran. End of dream Jesus will come wherever the beastly flesh is in submission. Others will partake of the Spirit of Christ in them. The fruit of Christ will be served to God's people through a humble body.   Sad State of the Church Michael Boldea I had a dream where I was in a hospital room; it was very clean, and freshly painted. In the room there was a bed with a woman in it. I approached the bed and took a closer look at the woman. She was dressed in a gray robe, and she had a ring on every finger of her hand. From time to time, she would raise her hand, look at her fingers, and smile. For some reason, that smile was the saddest thing I've ever seen. It was crooked, and it exhibited no real joy. As I looked at her the sadness in my heart grew to such intensity that it woke me up. Even awake I could still feel the sadness, and as much as I tried I couldn't get back to sleep. For six days in a row I had the same exact dream; I would see the woman lying in bed, I would be overwhelmed by sadness, then I would wake up. I was so frustrated, not knowing what this meant, that on the seventh day I decided to fast. That night as I went to sleep the dream started again, the same as before. I looked at the woman, she smiled, and the sadness overwhelmed me, but I didn't wake up. The door to the room opened and a man dressed in a white smock walked in holding a clipboard. Before he could say anything, I began asking a barrage of questions. “Who are you? Why am I here? Who is she? Why have I been dreaming this for almost a week?” “Because you waited almost a week to fast”, he said. He must have noticed the stunned expression on my face, because his eyebrows arched upward. “I am a friend”, he continued, “I was sent with a message, be at peace servant, all will be revealed in due time”. “How do I know you're a friend”, I asked. “Because, Jesus is Lord”, he answered. Then he smiled, and I recognized him. I had seen that smile before. Suddenly I was eight years old again, sleeping in the top bunk of the bed I shared with my grandparents, on a cold winter night in Romania. I will remember that night for as long as I live. I had woken up to go to the restroom, but before I could get out of bed, I heard talking below me. My grandfather was talking to someone. I went to peer over the edge to see who it was, and found myself face to face with this same man. He'd smiled at me, and I'd instantly gone back to sleep. “I know you, don't I?” “Yes, we've met once before, but I see you often”, he answered. “Why am I here?” I asked. “Because you murmur, because you have said in your heart that you are on a fool's quest, because you think no one hears, that the message is falling on deaf ears. It is not for you to judge the success the message has in the hearts of others; you were called to be a servant; serve. I was sent to rekindle the fire of compassion in your heart. Compassion for the wayward and the lost, compassion for her”, he said, pointing to the woman in the bed. “Who is she?” I asked. “She is the church”, he answered me. “Content only with the things of this earth, absent of spiritual strength. She is the reason you and others like you were called to forfeit your lives. The sadness you feel when you behold her is nothing compared to the sadness the Father feels for her condition. If she is to stand in the fire, if she is to be victorious, she must be strengthened. She has been in this condition of spiritual paralysis for so long, she believes this is her natural state. If only she knew the power she has access to, if only she knew obedience. The wolves have gathered unhindered, and soon they will strike at her with violence. What will she do if she is unable to defend herself? What will become of the house of God?” “Be faithful, for faithfulness is rewarded. Why do you say in your heart that God should make it easier, that He should ease your trials? Would you rather that pride find its way into your heart when the Father endows you with the gift He has promised? Keep humility as your constant companion, for the humble receive an abundance of grace. Remember if just one soul is spared from the eternal flame, if just one soul is reached and brought to salvation, it is worth a lifetime's labor and sacrifice. One day you will know the number, receive your reward, and be astonished. I must leave now, but whether in the waking hours, or a dream, we will meet again”. The man walked to the bed, looked down at the woman, smiled a sad smile and walked out. As soon as he walked out of the room, and I was alone with her, the sadness began to invade my heart, and I woke up. The reason I share this with you is to ask for your prayers. It is a difficult thing to go to church after church, night after night, and speak a message of repentance that to the hearts of many, has become a foreign concept. The knowledge that if just one heart is reached, if one returns to the narrow path of faith, it is worth it and gives us purpose and new strength. May the light of God shine brightly in your hearts, and may you exhibit Christ wherever you are. Revelation 3:19, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent”.

Friends of the Rosary,Today, February 22, we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, renewing our assent to the Church's magisterium and unity.This feast, celebrated since the early Christian era, commemorates the day Saint Peter delivered his first sermon in Rome. It celebrates the papacy and St. Peter as the first bishop of Rome.St. Peter's original name was Simon. He was married with children and living and working as a fisherman in Capernaum when Jesus called him to be one of the Twelve Apostles.Peter was one of the three with Christ in the Transfiguration of Christ and the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was the only Apostle to whom Christ appeared on the first day after the Resurrection. Peter, in turn, often spoke on behalf of the Apostles.When Jesus asked the Apostles: "Whom do men say that the Son of Man is?"Simon replied: "Thou art Christ, the Son of the Living God.”And Jesus said: "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood have not revealed it to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to you: That you are Peter [Cephas, a rock], and upon this rock [Cephas] I will build my Church [ekklesian], and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven". (Mt 16:13-20)In saying this, Jesus made St. Peter the head of the entire community of believers and placed the spiritual guidance of the faithful in St. Peter's hands.However, St. Peter was not without faults. He had fallen asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane instead of praying, as Jesus had asked him to do. He also denied knowing Jesus three times after Christ's arrest.Peter delivered the first public sermon after Pentecost and won many converts. He also performed many miracles and defended the apostles' freedom to preach the Gospels. He preached in Jerusalem, Judaea, and as far north as Syria.He was arrested in Jerusalem under Herod Agrippa I, but miraculously escaped execution. He left Jerusalem and eventually went to Rome, where he preached during the last portion of his life. He was crucified there, head downwards, as he had desired to suffer, saying that he did not deserve to die as Christ had died.The date of St. Peter's death is not precise. Historians estimate he was executed between the years 64 and 68. His remains now rest beneath the altar of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.Jesus Christ, willing to begin the mystery of unity in His Church, chose Peter among all the twelve disciples.Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!St. Peter, Pray for Us!+ Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠February 22, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

"The Providence Of God" Acts 28:16-31 Brother Wade Cox 16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Remember that the Lord had said the gospel would progress from Jerusalem to Judaea, to Samaria, and then to the uttermost parts of the earth. The books of Acts begins in Jerusalem. After the murder of Stephen, the disciples scatter into the province of Judaea, and also Samaria. Philip went to Samaria and ministered there. An angel then sends him into the wilderness toward Gaza, but does not tell him why. While there, Philip sees a chariot (and probably a caravan, given the importance of this man). As the gospel fans out across the world, this is the next stepping stone, and the word of the psalmist is fulfilled. “Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God” (Psalm 68:31). And as the next verse makes plain, Ethiopia is the harbinger of all the other nations coming to Christ. “Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah” (Psalm 68:32).

Persecution of the True Church (audio) David Eells 2/9/25 Tribulation War on the Saints Diana McIlroy - 11/10/2009 (David's notes in red) I dreamed that I was walking down the street in a city (Babylon) and outside of a large building I saw a sign that read: Christian prayer meeting inside. (The Harlot.) I thought that it would be great to fellowship with some other Christians and proceeded to walk inside. It was very dark when I walked in. It was taking quite awhile for my eyes to adjust from the light outside to the interior darkness. (The harlot Church lives in darkness.) As I was walking down the hallway that I entered, I was walking slowly because I couldn't see and I didn't want to bump into anything. At the end of the hallway, I suddenly realized that I had walked into a pool hall (a competition for position), rather than the auditorium I had been expecting. I stopped walking and looked around. Right when I stopped, I noticed everyone in the pool hall had turned and looked at me. As I looked at them I knew that they were all demon-possessed and I also knew that they wanted to kill me. It was evident that they had been luring Christians into the building with the express purpose of killing them. (They are demon-possessed and bring death to many through seductive teachings and anointings. Rev.18:2 And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird. Pro.2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner that flattereth with her words; 17 That forsaketh the friend of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God: 18 For her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead. And verse 5:3 For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil: 4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold on Sheol.) As I started to back up, I realized that a few men had stepped in behind me to stop me from leaving. (They will do anything to keep you there.) There was a pool table that was to my right, so I stepped behind it, feeling a little more protected with the wall at my back and the pool table between myself and my would-be attackers. They started walking toward me, full of venom and menace, and I picked a pool cue off the table and was holding it in a defensive manner. (Fleshly defense will not help.) Suddenly, my attention was drawn to the man at their center; their leader, Satan himself. (Satan is depicted in Isa.14:4,12,13 as the king of Babylon who exalts his throne above the stars of heaven, which are the seed of Abraham, the saints. 2Co 11:13  For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. 14  And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. 15  It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. ) There he was as big as life, looking very pleased and wearing a green golf shirt (confirming for me, my long-held suspicion, that only Satan could be responsible for that game and its hold over people). (Green is the color of Satan's “save the planet, kill the people” politics that are taking over. Golf is, again, competition for position.) I knew that if I could stop him all of his minions would also be stopped. So I boldly looked at him and said, “I cast you out in the name of Jesus”. He chuckled and said, “It's not as easy as that, girlie”. I thought to myself that if I resisted him he was supposed to flee. He just laughed and motioned for some of his people to get me. (Our words have no authority if we resist in the flesh.) As they approached, I suddenly looked down at the pool cue in my hands and put it back on the table. I, instead, lifted my hands to the Lord and started praising and worshiping Him. As I was praising and worshiping, thanking God, and thanking Jesus, it got lighter where I was standing. (Psa 149:6  Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand; 7  To execute vengeance upon the nations, And punishments upon the peoples; 8  To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; ) I felt no fear, only peace and happiness. The demon-possessed tried to attack me but couldn't reach me. As I wondered about that, I noticed an angel on either side of me, preventing anyone from touching me. I knew that I was safe as long as I praised God and didn't physically defend myself. (Fleshly physical defenses hinder God's defense because He said, “My power is made perfect in weakness”.) Then I woke up. Another dream A new hotel had been built in town. It was quite big, particularly for the small town we live in. It was built in the shape of a U, three stories tall. The bottom part of the U was facing the street and the entire length of the longest block in town. I knew that there were some structural problems with the building and a big fire was coming. Because of the building problems, the building was going to go up like a giant tinderbox. (Possibly the U stands for the United Religions coming into Unity to persecute the saints as the Sanhedrin was in Jesus' day.) It was the hotel's grand opening it was almost full. (A hotel is a community of people joined house to house. Isa.5:8 Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no room, and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land! 9 In mine ears [saith] Jehovah of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. No one will be left out of this ‘United House' but God's true people. They will be united against His people. Notice, a big fire is coming to this unity. In Revelation 17:16 the beast of 10 kings hates the harlot and burns her with fire.) There was a meeting in the conference room on the top floor where all the investors and “authorities” were. I went and walked into their meeting and tried to tell them about the problems and the coming fire. They were all old men and didn't want to listen to a younger woman. (I had the impression of looking at the painting of the founding fathers of the U.S. when I first walked in there.) They had ‘shown me to the door', as it were. (The pride of the harlot's leaders will not permit them to learn anything their denomination does not teach just as in Jesus' day.) I thought that I couldn't let all these people die just because the leadership wouldn't listen. I started going through the halls, knocking on doors and telling people that the place was going to catch fire and they needed to get out. (Rev.18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: 5 for her sins have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities... 8 Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judged her.) Some people listened, grabbed their stuff, and left. Some scoffed at me and went back to their TVs and their beds. On the bottom (maybe even basement) floor some people in the rooms wouldn't come to their doors. They didn't speak the same language that I did and so they didn't understand what the knocking and shouting was about. (Zep.3:9 For then will I turn to the peoples of a pure language. Many apostates on the bottom level of Christianity do not have spiritual understanding of the prophetic language of a warning.) Just as I ran out of the hotel, it burst into flames. (Great tribulation is about to overtake the Christians on all levels.) I turned to look, and all floors were engulfed at one time -- there was no escaping this inferno. I was so sad at the thought of the people who wouldn't heed the warning and died. Just as I thought I couldn't bear the grief, God said to turn around. When I turned, I saw people standing in the street, many in their pajamas. (They came out from among them.) He said, “Rejoice for those who were saved”. Conspiracy Against Christianity Brent Gearhart -10/23/2009 (David's notes in red) I dreamed on day four of a fast that I saw a man running naked with just a robe on barely covering him. (The MARGINAL Christian leadership is not dressed up with Christlikeness. They name “Christ” as Savior, but they are not walking in the fullness of the Word. Their carnal doctrines and shallow faith do not cover them. They are appointed to the time of the tribulation.) Then I saw a woman running behind him wearing a black, scanty outfit; they were running to make an appointment somewhere. (The typical church pastor followed by the people in darkness. The woman is a church in darkness without true works of righteousness. They are the ones who will have their names blotted out of the Book of Life. As it is written: Rev.3:4 But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.) Then, I saw the same man and woman dressed up in formal dress but they had disguises on now to appear older and distinguished. (Outwardly, they seem respectable in formal, black and white attire, but they profess the “light” while walking in spiritual darkness. They are playing the part of maturity but cannot deceive the Lord's true people for long.) They were trying to enter a formal party of some sort but for some reason the invitation they had was fake. (The formal “party” is the Marriage Feast where the bride and groom feast on the Word. But the impostors have disguised themselves as “Christian”. Even those who do not have the real wedding garment.) Mat.22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.) When they approached the person who collected the invitations, the man started saying something to distract the ticket collector so they wouldn't pay attention to their fake invitation. It worked; they were granted admittance to the party. (Christian pretenders talk the talk in order to gain respect and acceptance. They have experienced only the fake invitation --accept Jesus as your personal savior-type “invitation”, instead of “repent and believe”. But this lukewarm Christianity is not dressing up for the tribulation seven-day Wedding Feast. Mat.22:11 But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment: 12 and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 14  For many are called, but few chosen. Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. ) When inside, I remember watching them split up right away and it seemed like the man was looking for some information -- some files, perhaps, or some film from a camera. (They have no interest in the Feast but are conspiracy-chasers like many apostates.) I remember seeing a little key, like for a padlock or handcuffs. (Instead of seeking the key to freedom, they find only captivity.) I then saw them in the basement and I saw the man got caught and was about to be killed perhaps by the owner of the house. (Jesus will cast them to outer darkness. The basement under the house represents hell where the wicked are destroyed.) As they were down in the basement, the owner of the house took back what the first man had stolen and then planted a bomb in the utility room.) Then he tried to blame it on the first man who got caught. (You can tell these impostors their leaders are at fault for their destruction, like Jesus did, but they rarely believe you.) Right after the bomb went off, security came in. (Security represents the angels who enforce the law, which is the Word.) I saw my friend, Terry, from the UPC (he knows martial arts) and he was taking the man down, who was being blamed for this false terrorist attack. (Terry represents the authority in the UPC, the United Pentecostal Church. The angels are strong to keep order in the world Pentecostal Church. All of the Church is commanded to be Pentecostal, i.e. filled with the Spirit.) I remember seeing Terry take this man down with an arm lock of some sort; he had one arm spread out and he had the other arm locked in with his legs and it appeared the man who got caught looked like he was in a crucifixion position. (They will bring the fake usurpers to their cross.) The man who got caught was looking at me to help him. I said, “Hey, I am staying out of it” and I remember picking up some pieces of the room that were torn apart. (The true Christians know that these people must go to their cross to be saved.) End of dream Then a vision and prophecy began Then I laid back down and I saw myself in a field, harvesting the crop. I felt impressed to go get my notebook and pen and write down what I saw or heard, as I was reaping the crop. I see a man come and talk me into stopping the harvesting and taking a break. I see myself taking a break, eating, drinking, and dancing with others. (Mat 24:38  For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 39  and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man. 40  Then shall two men be in the field; one is taken, and one is left.)  I then saw the laborers taken up by the Son of man as He came on the clouds for them. I saw the others get put into a winepress and squeezed. I heard, “This is the Day of the Lord, the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord”. (Which comes for those who did not bear fruit.) I was asked which group I wanted to be in and said, “The laborers”. He said, “Then you must die to self without complaining like you were today. There will be many days you will work more than 12 hours and have little time for your family. These days are coming soon”. Thus saith the Lord, “You are being called into the harvest field. Your Nintendo Wii is not important; you must bear fruit 30-,60-,100-fold. No murmurers or complainers will make it through the wilderness. Stay out of those negative conversations; spirits are transferred there. Be wise, be vigilant; the devil wants to sift you as he did Peter”. (During this time I heard the song, “How He Loves Us” by David Crowder and then the song switched to “Lose This Life” by Tait.) “You must lose your life to self, stick with the unleavened bread; don't let the devil separate you from them. Be patient and kind with your wife; she has gifts that the body will need and use. Be wise in all things. I love you. Try hard to join the marriage feast; join, Brent, join”. Then it ended.   Persecution from Brethren Sean Lynch - 12/19/2009 (David's notes in red) I had a dream that I was being persecuted by my fraternity brothers. (A fraternity is a Babylonish organization. When I was in college, I was in a fraternity that was founded upon Christian principles but, as with the church that has fallen away to Babylon's lusts, so has this fraternity. These represent apostate Christians who persecute their brothers and sisters during the tribulation.) (They will be taken down in the great and terrible day of the Lord.) Mat.24:10 And then many shall stumble and shall deliver up one another and shall hate one another. Luk.21:16 But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends, and some of you shall they shall cause to be put to death. And you shall be hated of all men for my names sake. During this trial I saw many on each side of me who were persecuting me. Act.4:25-28 Who by the holy spirit by the mouth of our father David thy servant didst say: why do the gentiles rage and peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth set themselves in array, and the rulers were gathered together, against the lord and against his anointed: for of a truth in this city against thy holy servant Jesus whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel were gathered together to do whatsoever thy hand and counsel foreordained to come to pass. I knew in the spirit that this was crucifixion that I had to endure. (As Jesus knew in the spirit that His hour had come, so will the people of God know when their cross is upon them.) I felt an overwhelming grace rise up within me to resist the temptations to come down from off the cross. (The anointing of the latter rain will empower us to endure our trials.) I then heard a brother from the fraternity tell me he felt sorry for me and then I felt him embracing me and I him. (As it was in the days of Jesus when our Lord was dying on the cross, there will be brothers who will see Jesus in us by our sacrifice and will embrace their own cross to the death.) 1Jn.3:16 Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: And we ought to lay our life down for the brethren. Luk.23:42-43 And he said Jesus remember me when thou comest in the kingdom, and he said unto him verily I say unto thee, today thou shall be with me in paradise. Jon.15:13 Greater love has no man that this that a man lay his life down for his friends.   Saints Accused of Being Traitors Deborah Rennier - 10/07/2008 In a dream, I found myself standing in the midst of a great mass of people. They consisted of all the ethnic groups and races on earth. In the middle of them, I saw a group of Spirit-filled believers. They were praying in tongues and it seemed that they couldn't stop praying. At first the saints were unnoticed by the multitude surrounding them. These saints had Bibles which they were holding up and were shouting, “Stand on the Word of Jesus!” Suddenly this changed. The multitude began to call the saints traitors and heretics. They were saying that these saints and anyone who listened to them were not loyal to the government. The mob then began to pick up rocks and hurl them at the saints. The saints started screaming, “Come quickly, Jesus”, as they held their Bibles aloft. The saints were being knocked down. They were bruised and bleeding. I watched as they all joined hands and began marching while singing psalms. Those opposing the saints continued to throw rocks and bottles at them. The saints kept on marching and singing loudly. I watched as those in the crowd began grabbing Bibles from the saints, saying they couldn't own them. I watched as they threw the Bibles into a fire saying, “This is what our government thinks of your God”. The saints began talking amongst themselves. They were saying, “It is time for us to go underground for a while. We need to be watchful at all times”. Then the populace said to the saints, “We will be watching for you and more of your kind. Traitors!” I then woke up and the Lord spoke, “This is upon you now”. He then led me to these scriptures: Luk.21:34 But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. Psa.31:23 Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person.   Government Oppression of the Church Amos Scaggs - 04/08/2009 (David's notes in red) I heard, “There is a time coming when the Gospel will be taught with permission only.” (That Gospel will not have the power to save.) (As it was in the Soviet Union and China) I saw the true Gospel taught in fields, under trees and along fence lines. (This is not the mainstream church.)   Escaping Tribulation Authorities G.C. - 10/12/2008 (David's notes in red) I dreamt I was in the town where I now live; it was nighttime, and the city seemed empty. I had this feeling that it was a bleak time in America. I realized this was the tribulation. There was an underground Christian leadership that broadcasted messages to other Christians. In this part of the country, Vincent Xavier, a brother who represents the Man-child was one of the leaders. (Vincent = To conquer. Xavier = “new house” or “bright” in the Bible. = Bright born again conqueror?) Whenever he began to speak on the airwaves the authorities would go nuts. On this particular night, I was in the city and able to receive the broadcast. The authorities were aware of the broadcast and they had special equipment that allowed them to zero in on the source of the broadcast. (They have technology that tracks and spies on people.) They searched the whole city for this man, but it was all for nothing because he was not in the city. He was in the outlaying areas miles away from the city, in the wilderness. I was standing in the street and the police officers who were looking for him or other Christians saw me and one told me to freeze. I told him I was not doing anything wrong, but he knew I was a Christian. I was totally submissive to his authority and did not try to fight him, but he pointed his taser at me and said he was going to shoot me. I repeated that I was not in rebellion, that there was no need to fire upon me. I pleaded with him not to shoot me with the taser because I was obeying orders. I knew that he was determined to fire upon me. That is when the Lord said to me, “Do not be afraid. Let him do what he is determined to do.” At that moment I had total peace and I calmed down and received the Word of the Lord. Then the policeman fired the taser and it stuck me in the chest and began to zap me. I was lying on the ground and shaking violently and although it was painful it was not as painful as I imagined it would be. Once the officer shot me, he grabbed me and handcuffed me. Another officer came and they took me to a base high in the mountains. I had the peace of the Lord upon me during the whole captivity. I was handcuffed the whole time and didn't know how I would escape. Soon after arriving there the guards walked into the other room and the Lord did something miraculous: I had the power to disappear and I slid out of the handcuffs. That is when I walked out of the building. I was in awe of what just happened. I thought those cops were going to be so surprised! Then the dream ended. (Jesus “disappeared” from their midst several times by the angels. [Joh 8:59, Joh 10:39 and Luk 4:30] In the Tribulation ahead, Saints will be protected and the angels will translate disciples out of harm's way and situations of captivity like Peter,) (Act 12:1-11 Now about that time Herod the king put forth his hands to afflict certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And those were the days of unleavened bread. 4 And when he had taken him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people. 5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and guards before the door kept the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the cell: and he smote Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9 And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision. 10 And when they were past the first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and straightway the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a truth, that the Lord hath sent forth his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. Act 12:18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.)   Lose Life To Gain Life Jennifer Giaimo - 01/11/2008 (David's notes in red) In a dream, I was set in what appeared to be medieval time. There were nobles and peasants. (Nobles are the rich, demon-possessed, landowners, like those who rule the people today; the Beast. Peasants are “the poor in spirit”, those who serve having no worldly rights of their own. Mat.5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.) There were some peasants who “worked” alongside the nobles; it was clear that they were doing this so they would be accepted by the nobles, or be counted as “on their side” if anything ever went wrong. (Many Christians seek the favor of the rich politicians and lawmakers but not God.) One character who clearly stood out to me was a heavy-set man, and I thought right away that he was a friar. (Apostate religious leaders seek political power and favor.) He was always working with the nobles behind the scenes. (The false prophet seeking the favor of the Beast but not the Lord.) The peasants were getting fearful as information started to leak out that the nobles were going to be eliminating all the peasants. (Just as Rev.13 says of the Christians -- they either become members of the beast through the mark or they will attempt to kill them.) They only wanted the nobles to exist. There was panic everywhere. The nobles started to torture and kill the peasants and you could see the bodies placed up for everyone to see. (Coming persecution of the poor of this world in the tribulation.) I was walking along a path (not fearful at all of the nobles seeing me) and saw that the heavy-set friar was talking to two nobles. They were up on what seemed to be a platform. It was clear that he thought he would be spared these atrocities since he had worked with them. (The apostate religious leaders are Judases and will betray their people. Like the harlot they will curry the favor of the beast in hopes of saving their life in this world.) The noble in front of him leaned in as if to whisper something, and then I saw the friar's face change. I knew he was being tortured by the painful expression I saw on his face. I kept walking but as I was about to pass, I saw the nobles push him; he was in something like a hanging cage. I saw that they had disemboweled him, as his intestines were hanging out and swinging behind him. (The harlot is used by the beast until they have served their purpose, as it has been throughout history, but the beast shall devour the harlot.) Then I appeared to be at some sort of game. The nobles had all the peasants dressed in silly costumes and playing some kind of sport. (Like the Roman games in the coliseums.) They were doing this as entertainment for themselves. I looked down and saw that I was in a costume and felt a voice inside say to me “Take off the costume and run.” (The costume is that which makes us appear to be as sons of men when in reality we are sons of God. Rom.8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. Rom.13:11 And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we [first] believed. 12 The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].) There was nowhere to hide but I did as I was told. I stepped back a bit so I was beside this shed, and took the costume off. (Putting off the sinful nature of this world; willing to be different than the world and to lose our life. Mat.16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?) I looked behind me to where I was supposed to run and saw there was a wilderness in the near distance. I knew I had to get to that wilderness and I would be safe. (The place of God's provision and protection from the tribulations of Egypt.) There was one man that worked for the nobles who was right at the edge of this wilderness, but he was in the middle of a task. I knew I had to just go, even though he was there. At that moment a girl came up by me and said she wanted to be saved too. I told her to take her costume off and we would run to the wilderness. (I.e., To trust in God's salvation.) At this point, I was at a different vantage point and I saw the girl come up to me but the really weird part is that I saw a male talking to her and telling her to take her costume off. So that means that I was the male. (After Jennifer took the costume off it was Christ in her doing the speaking, telling the girl to put off the old life.) Then I was back in the situation and looking to go to the wilderness. Then I woke up. (We are almost there.) I asked the Lord for some revelation for the dream and I opened to Rev.12:13,14 And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman that brought forth the man-child. And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.   Escaping the Inquisition in America Anonymous - 05/15/2008 (David's notes in red) Shortly after lunch on April 15, 2008, heaviness came upon my spirit. I sought the Lord and did spiritual warfare for a day but found no peace. I asked Him for scripture and the only scripture that kept coming to my head was Matthew 2:7-8, where Herod told the wise men to go and find the Messiah and come back and tell him where he was so that he might go and worship him. This, of course, was a total lie and his intent was to kill Jesus. When the wise men did not return, he sent his soldiers to Bethlehem to slaughter all the male children two years and younger. (A secret plot to kill the immature body of Christ.) When the Lord gave me this verse, I knew to watch out for wolves in sheep's clothing. I started going through my list of acquaintances and still got no revelation. I prayed through the whole afternoon and went to bed exhausted around 11:00 pm but could not sleep. The heaviness became worse. At about 5:00 am, I was so tired and still had no revelation so I begged God once again to give me a dream or vision according to Joel 2 so that I would know how to pray. I was half asleep, then I was immediately on the street at a busy intersection. I do not know exactly where except I knew it was in America. A police officer was in the intersection, holding on to a young man with a vice grip on his elbow. The police officer was interrogating the young man but I could not hear what was being said. In the vision my view changed to surveying the street, but I always came back to focus on this police officer holding the young man's elbow in such a way that I could see that it hurt him. The young man was not Caucasian, Black, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, or from the Far East, but his face looked like a mixture of all these ethnicities. His skin was somewhat darker, and he had curly, short, dark brown hair. Every time I saw him, his face radiated light, joy and love in spite of the bad treatment he was being put through. (A composite of Christians under the world beast system.) Then I saw the police officer roughly lead the young man into a large American-style church. He did not take him into the main sanctuary but into a large room that was next to the sanctuary. (The beast system in America will demand the true Christians submit to the Harlot corporate religious system, just as it was in Jesus' day. The false prophets will demand the death of those who don't.) (Beast system and covenant Harlot system. Links to pages in Hidden Manna.) I was aware that there were others in the room at this time but I did not see them. Then the police officer pulled a curly, reddish brown faux fur-like animal costume, up over the man's shoulders and then over his head. (Bringing the Christians under the covering of the beast in the house of the harlot.) As soon as the fake animal fur came up over the back of his head to the crown of his hair, I saw a vapor-like power come from the right and massacre the young man with his body parts flying everywhere. (The spirit of anti-Christian persecution just like anti-Semitic persecutions of the past under Caesar, Pilot, Hitler, etc. The world beast will help the people to be crucified of their members.) I then looked into the room and people were being dismembered everywhere. The room was dimly lit. At the far wall was a window about four feet by four feet with light coming into the room. I saw body parts flying so they were silhouetted against the light on the lower portion of the window. The last scene was surreal. Silhouetted in the center of the lighted window was a large dismembered hand with the fingers spread apart. This picture was black and white and was emblazoned on my mind, similar to the pictures I saw at the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem. (Notice the emphasis over and over is of this composite man being dismembered. The members of the body of Christ must be crucified to sin to remain members of the new man. Col.3:5 Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; 6 for which things' sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience: 7 wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things; 8 but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth: 9 lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, 10 and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all. We cannot enter the Kingdom with sinful members. Mat.5:29 And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into hell. Those members who are not crucified to sin will be dismembered to become members of the house of the harlot. 1Co.6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid. 16 Or know ye not that he that is joined to a harlot is one body? for, The twain, saith he, shall become one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. Then I heard a voice state, “The Inquisition is coming to America”, and the vision was over. The heaviness lifted. (This will start in mid-tribulation in Rev 13.)   Saints Dying During the Tribulation Anonymous Sister in Africa - 11/16/2012 (David's notes in red) I wrote down this dream shortly after I woke up. (I have been listening to UBM teachings since 2007 and all this time I have not listened to end-time teachings because I wanted to grow in the Lord first and since there is a lot of interpretation on when and what will happen I decided to wait on the Lord to teach me on the subject.) I dreamt we were a group of UBM members in Israel (representing the Church) but outside the city. (Outside the Bride but saved. This does not mean this sister will not be in the Bride; this is for our teaching.) We were in something that I believe was an ark or boat floating on air. (The spiritual ark of abiding in Christ.) It was clear and oval-shaped, divided into a top and bottom section. (This ark represents those who are in heavenly places in Christ but not in the heavenly city that the angel called the Bride in Revelation 21:9,10.) Part of us were on the upper level while some were on the lower level. I was with a group of those who were on the upper level. Then the group on the lower level detached from us and went to Heaven, still inside their part of the ark. (Those on the lower level of the spiritual ark will die first and go to Heaven.) The remaining part on the upper level kept floating in air. (In heavenly places in Christ.) I kept seeing a vision of us taken to Heaven repeatedly. (Some will die and go to Heaven and not be alive and remain until the Lord comes but will come with Him. 1Th.4:13 But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; 17 then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.) So I became worried because the UBM members I was with thought we were being transported to some city or hiding place, so I told them that we were also going to Heaven in a few days. (Because one is in UBM does not mean they will escape death any more than being in the Church makes one in the Bride. This is what we have taught: those in UBM who do not enter the Bride, the spiritual city of Jerusalem, will die in the Lord and go to Heaven at different times during the tribulation. They will die either in the judgments or as martyrs, which is an honorable and rewardable death. This is spoken in Rev.6:9 And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And there was given them to each one a white robe; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, who should be killed even as they were, should have fulfilled [their course]. We see here the two groups of saved martyrs. Also, we see that a soul to be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord. 2Co.5:8 we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.) In my vision, there was a Christian lady I call “Millicent” in real life but her actual name is Andrea (meaning “manly” or “like man”) who was not part of UBM but was on the ground underneath the ark and every time we were transported to Heaven she remained. (Those who are like man are not in the ark and cannot go to Heaven.) Seeing that we were not ready to go to Heaven, I told them that in the visions, every time we are transported, Andrea remains, so we should find a way to secure ourselves to her so that we may not be transported to Heaven, since whatever transports us is very much more powerful than us and seems to be a powerful wind. I then advised them to cast concrete on her with bolts and anchor our ark to her so that we didn't get transported when the time came. We did so but when the time came, the ark detached from her and we got transported to Heaven and she remained. (No matter what we do for those outside the ark, they will remain earthly, unless they learn to abide in Jesus, Who is our ark. It doesn't matter if they call themselves Christian; only if they are faith-filled disciples.) (I heard the word “cancer” and I also heard the number 60. I thought of a man I know who is 53 years old now and I thought it could happen when he is 60. This man was also part of the UBM group that was on the top section; in real life, he is a pastor.) (Seven years from 11/16/2012 would bring us close to the beginning of the period when many began dying of cancer of the vax in 2020.) Another dream I had in the early hours of 11/17/12. This time I was observing from a distance and it was not yet time to be transported to Heaven (but it was to happen very soon). The UBM group was staying in one place and this time they knew that they were about to go to Heaven and were excited to be leaving. (Yes! Amen!) Andrea was still not going to be transported to Heaven. I think this dream is related to another one that I had on 7/15/11, a week before my sister went to Heaven. My sister was sick. I had a dream that I was in the town where I currently live, facing northwest, when I saw Jesus Christ in the clouds behind me. He told me that my sister had to come home and that she was one of the clouds of witness. I saw a round, golden light ascending to Heaven, representing my sister's soul and as I looked further I saw the rest of Africa from where I was standing. There were other gold lights ascending to Heaven. (Many lost their immune system and became sick of various illnesses from 2020 on.) I saw a few from Zambia and a lot of them from regions around Nigeria/Ghana, representing saints going to Heaven. When I woke up, I kept wondering if the rapture would happen during my lifetime, since Jesus Christ mentioned that my sister was one of the clouds of witness. (This dream is related because we see the saints going home through deaths of various kinds and in different places. The rapture will follow the saints deaths from various things when this is finished because the dead in Christ rise first. I know that this is not the main interpretation of this verse but it is true, many will die before the rapture.) I don't know if I remembered this song in the dream or when I woke up. It's a song in my language and it goes like this: When Jesus Christ comes back the saints on earth will meet Him in the clouds, accompanied with people dressed in white and those coming from earth will ask, “Who are they?” And Jesus will reply, “Those I have washed in the blood”.   Hide Under the Atonement G.C. - 05/13/2008 (David's notes in red) A brother, David, and I were inside a trailer or RV fellowshipping. (Our temporary home in the wilderness.) Then something caught the brother's attention and he looked back through the window and saw the wind kicking up and debris flying around. There was a tornado taking shape in the far distance. I ran outside to see it for myself. As I looked through the open expanse of field, I saw a huge pillar of wind coming toward us. It was a very big tornado and it was heading toward us very fast. (Approaching the judgments, tribulation, and persecutions from the world.) Then we all ran outside the trailer and started to make our way into the woods and look for shelter. (Leaving what is to us only temporary homes to go deeper into the wilderness tribulation to find our permanent shelter in Christ.) As I was running I heard David say to all of us, “You have to go and get under the atonement!”, which did not register to me in the dream because there was so much confusion and we were all scrambling to run to the woods. After I woke up I knew exactly what David meant and why he said that. (The atonement is our covering from the curses of this world. Jesus bore the penalty for our sins and provided all for us at the cross. Gal.3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Jesus, Who is the Word, is our Passover Lamb that we must eat in order to escape the destroying angel in Exodus 12. According to this chapter we must eat all of the Word and cast the added leaven of man's ideas out of our houses to escape.)   Hide in the Deep Waters David Eells I had a dream years ago. I saw a group of Christians running from a dragon. At first they were in a house. When they were discovered by the dragon, they ran to a cave. They were discovered by the dragon again, so they ran out the back to a body of water. They jumped into the water next to the bank to escape the dragon. Then they got a revelation that they must get out into the deep water or the dragon could step on them. Interpretation: The dragon is the beast of the first 3 ½ years of the tribulation in Rev.12. The Christians left their homes for more primitive hiding facilities, the primitive Word of God, which is the water according to Paul (Eph.5:26). The shallow water will not protect from the coming beast, only the deep waters that put to death the old man. The deep waters cover not only the feet but also the head. There are some who do not walk in sin but their mind is not renewed to believe that Jesus bore the curse (Gal.3:13,14). Protection is only going to come from getting into the deep waters of the Word and believing what it says (Psalm 91, 34). Bob Aicardi had a dream of Christians who were being taught by their pastors how to commit suicide in the shallow waters of the Word. None were dying in the deep waters.   Escaping the Tribulation Falling Away David DiPace - 09/30/2006 (David's notes in red) I had this dream a little more than three years ago and about a month before we left the Pentecostal church we had been in for 13 years. At that time, I had asked for a sign from the Lord to show me when to leave the church and He gave me this dream and a confirmation shortly after. It was the most clear and vivid dream I think I have ever had. Perhaps it may be that the Lord has brought it to mind again for a particular reason. In the dream, I was getting ready to join a health club to get my body in shape. (Seeking to get rid of flesh and mature in the strength of the Lord.) I knew that the condition of my legs was okay (I am a runner in real life), but I wanted to work on strengthening the rest of my body too. (Your walk with God is strong but you are interested in strengthening the rest of your life in God.) I went into the health club to join but was surprised to see that it was closed. (This represents the door to your old church, which is supposed to be for strengthening your life in God, will be closed to you. Clubs are memberships and places where you pay dues like tithes and offerings. The true gospel is “freely given.”) When I came back outside, I saw that the day had turned into night. (The time of darkness has come in the world.) Astonished, I looked at my watch and it was 9:45 am. I didn't understand what was happening. I looked up at the sky and saw many stars, more than I was usually able to see from where I live. (Apparently, in this transition time, you are coming to terms with the fact that there are many other Christians outside the traditional church with whom you were associated.) Down near the horizon, I saw stars that were arranged to spell out several words -- something about power, but I could not see it clearly. (Stars, called Abraham's seed; Christians who have the need for strength or power so they may mount up high in heavenly places to be seated with Christ. The horizon is where earth [fleshly living] meets the heavens. So we have another clue here that there are many Christians living too close to the world. They could get allured by the gravity and begin to fall to the earth. Rev.6:13 and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind.) I noticed that my pastor and one of the elders were close by and they were also looking at the words and talking about what they might mean. I went over to them and asked the pastor what it said. He said, “Power to the people.” (The people, as stars, need to be strengthened in the way of disciples of Christ to do His works and follow Him; Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. They should not rely on just the pastor to be their Lord and do everything, as in the Laodicean church.) When he said it, I took note that he spoke it quickly and in a gruff manner, as though he did not like what it said. This fits his character perfectly, though, as his manner up to that point had always been for him to have all the authority and control over the people by himself. (Many pastors are little kings over their assemblies, as in Ezekiel 34. This reminds me of Rehoboam: (1Ki.12:13) And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him. They are power- and glory-hungry Nicolaitan clergymen, like Saul represented. (1Sa.8:11) And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. The king also took tithes...) After this, I called one of my church brothers on my cell phone to talk to him about what was happening. I knew he was very interested in end-time events and I was convinced that this was an end-time event. He was not available (your separation from an apostate assembly) but, as I was on the phone, I looked up at the moon and noticed that it had turned into a clock that looked like a huge pocket watch with gold with Roman numerals, and it began to spin. (We must seek God's strength to grow from star glory to moon glory while there is time. It is gold because it is very valuable time. Soon a third of the star glory Christians will lose their position in the heavenlies and fall to the earth. Rome is involved in this time because the Revived Roman Empire is coming to maturity, first as the Dragon and then as the Beast, to cause this great falling away.) It was spinning around very rapidly. It was as if it was on a north/south axis like the Earth. Then it began to move out of the sky to where I was standing and stopped right in front of me. (A reminder to you that every spin of the earth is a day in time lost before it runs out. Eph.5:15-16 Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.) By the time it reached me, it was about eight feet tall. (The eighth beast kingdom is the last when the falling away happens, so these people will go into the day of the Lord on the eighth day/year.) I reached out, as if instinctively, and touched it with my finger, which sank into it as though it was liquid. The people who were standing by watching this were dumbfounded. They seemed afraid of it and were amazed that I had the boldness to actually touch it, though I had no fear in doing this. (The time each of us has left to mature is fluid and cannot be tied down. Some will be martyred in the middle of the tribulation or after. Others will die by one of the plagues. Some fear to know about these things and would prefer a pre-trib rapture.) The next thing I knew, which seemed like a couple of minutes, it was light again for a second time and everything seemed normal. Then, suddenly, the light for a second time turned into darkness. (Some star-glory Christians lose power through dead religion) And by not overcoming sins by using the promises of the Word. In the darkness, I could see a familiar sister in my church, the pastor's daughter, pulling a loaded cart. She was very overweight and weak and appeared to be struggling to pull the cart. (This represents those born of this pastor, overcome by flesh, heavy laden with their sins and weak in faith.) Very soon it became light again for a third time. Then, a third time, it became dark, but this time the darkness came as a shadow, creeping along the ground very ominously. (This third darkness speaks of the tribulation to come.) I knew again, as if instinctively, that the nature of this darkness was different, very profound, and that it was powerful enough to envelop the whole earth. I could feel the power of it and that was somewhat unsettling. I knew this event would affect everyone in the world and that nobody would escape it. This is where the dream ended. (The tribulation is ordained for all the inhabitants of the earth, according to the scriptures. Although some will escape the judgments, like the Philadelphia Church, they will still go through the tribulation but spiritually seated in heavenly places with Chrisst. No pre-trib rapture.)   Losing Rights Under the Beast Bill Steenland - 12/01/2013 (David's notes in red) God's people will ultimately lose all rights and political power, with which they have been in idolatry. They will see God as their only hope and His provision in the wilderness refuge. In this first dream, I was in a courtroom. There were five or six judges debating something and kicking a man out of the courtroom. (Christians will lose all legal rights in this world. God will be their only resource. His power is made perfect in our worldly weakness; hence the wilderness.) I wasn't part of the actual trial but I was in the back with David and a very kind, elderly black lady who said that Nebuchadnezzar, her relative, was taking the stand next. (This is just like the three Hebrews who went into the fire because they lost their rights and refused to bow to the Beast. Our Nebuchadnezzar, whose elderly black lady relative is known, will also testify against them but God will defend us, like He defended them in the seven times hotter fiery tribulation. Laws will be decreed that will make conscientious Christians outlaws. Christians will lose businesses, jobs, rights, and financial support from the government. (How could this happen when we are in such a political revival? Read Rev 13 just 3 ½ years into the tribulation when the beast makes war on the saints.) I said, “Oh, wow! He was one of my favorite characters to study”, or something like that. (He was a wonderful example of God's power to save the beast when God's servants bore their cross.) (But the Babylonian Beast is being conquered.) Down the row of chairs was David. He had drawn a big boat; an ark on the wall. (God has a boat or ark of refuge in the wilderness for His people.) He was explaining something but there was so much going on I couldn't hear. (Like Joseph was, the Davids will be a refuge for the people who flee the persecution and the economic collapse. To David in the wilderness were gathered those who were in debt because of the economy and discontented with the demon-possessed Saul ministry. 1Sa.22:2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.) A lizard called a bearded dragon was on the ground and I was trying to grab it, but I couldn't. That was the end of the dream. (This represents the persecution of the saints at the hands of the Dragon Beast and that we need our refuge, for those whose rights the government revokes.) In the next dream, I was in kind of a children's room reading a children's book about Jesus. (Jesus said, to the [spiritual] children belongs the kingdom and we know its book, the Bible, is also theirs.) There was another book that was not a children's book I was also reading. (The Bible becomes every need to the children and those who are mature in the faith. It is all things to all men.) The part I was reading was about healing. It said there were 12 ways someone can be healed. (12 is the number of the elect for whom the children's bread is healing and deliverance that the world will no longer supply.) 1) Prayer. 2) Laying on of hands, etc. I didn't get to read that part. I was in the children's book about Jesus. It said Jesus was here, here and here. (That we may know where to find Him. Like the Shulammite asked, “Where does He feed His flock?” The answer was, “Beside the shepherd's tents”.) Someone had written in the book, “Jesus. I want to know Him” or “How do I know him?” (We who want to know Jesus read the Book given so that we may know Him.) I became very happy and excited (about knowing the Lord and where to find Him). My brother asked, “What's up?” I jumped and told him about how the Lord healed my leg and how the Lord is a healer. He got excited and said, “That's awesome!” (Spreading the children's bread by testimony.) My mother came into the room and she had a cold. My brother, Jim, and his girlfriend, Jessica, and I laid hands on her, commanding her to be healed. (Healing ministry to our spiritual and physical relatives.) The next thing you know, I was in the bathroom with blue soap and shampoo all over my face, head and neck. I could barely recognize my face. (Heavenly cleansing through the Gospel of seeing Jesus' face, mind, submissive life and power in the mirror. 2Co.3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.)

After the apostles had laid hands on the seven men who were to help administer aid to the widows, two of those men come to the forefront as powerful preachers and miracle workers. We have considered the story of Stephen, who face his martyrdom with remarkable courage and grace. The story of Stephen ended with an introduction to Saul of Tarsus and his early persecuting career, but Luke's main focus moves on to a second man among the seven, a man named Philip.Now remember the “table of contents” from Acts 1. Jesus had said they would travel as His witnesses to Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and then to the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit was poured out in Jerusalem (Acts 2:2-3), and all the early activity happened there. In the persecution that broke out after Stephen's death, the believers scattered into Judaea and Samaria (Acts 8:1). And then follows Philip into Samaria (Acts 8:5). 

 17 And coming down with them, he stood in a plain place, and the company of his disciples, and a very great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast both of Tyre and Sidon,Et descendens cum illis, stetit in loco campestri, et turba discipulorum ejus, et multitudo copiosa plebis ab omni Judaea, et Jerusalem, et maritima, et Tyri, et Sidonis, 18 Who were come to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases. And they that were troubled with unclean spirits, were cured.qui venerant ut audirent eum, et sanarentur a languoribus suis. Et qui vexabantur a spiritibus immundis, curabantur. 19 And all the multitude sought to touch him, for virtue went out from him, and healed all.Et omnis turba quaerebat eum tangere : quia virtus de illo exibat, et sanabat omnes. 20 And he, lifting up his eyes on his disciples, said: Blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.Et ipse elevatis oculis in discipulis suis, dicebat : Beati pauperes, quia vestrum est regnum Dei. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for you shall laugh.Beati qui nunc esuritis, quia saturabimini. Beati qui nunc fletis, quia ridebitis. 22 Blessed shall you be when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.Beati eritis cum vos oderint homines, et cum separaverint vos, et exprobraverint, et ejicerint nomen vestrum tamquam malum propter Filium hominis. 23 Be glad in that day and rejoice; for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For according to these things did their fathers to the prophets.Gaudete in illa die, et exsultate : ecce enim merces vestra multa est in caelo : secundum haec enim faciebant prophetis patres eorum.St Fabian, Supreme Pontiff, suffered martyrdom in the persecution of Decius, A.D. 250. St Sebastian, an officer of the imperial cohort, was pierced with arrows in the persecution of Diocletian; but he recovered and the emperor condemned him to be flogged to death A.D. 284.

2:1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. 2:3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 2:5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 2:6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 2:7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 2:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 2:9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 2:10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 2:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 2:15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 2:16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

A Sermon for the Epiphany Ephesians 3:1-12 & St. Matthew 2:1-12 by William Klock   Imagine the magi, the wisemen, on their long trek from “the East”—from Persia—to Judah.  They followed the trade routes through deserts and through cities, through mountains and across rivers for weeks.  Oasis to oasis, city to city, village to village to make their way to Jerusalem, to King Herod's palace, and eventually to Bethlehem.  And they carried those expensive gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  They were astrologers and they had seen a star.  They knew all the stars, but this one was different.  I wish we knew what made it so different, but we'll have to wait to find that out.  However they worked it out, that star told them the King of the Jews had been born, and so they made this long trek, not just to visit this new king, but to worship him. Now, consider that Jesus was hardly the first King of the Jews, but as far as we know, no Persian magi ever visited those others when they were born.  Something extraordinary had happened this time.  Maybe these men had studied the Israelite prophets.  It's not a stretch to think that they'd met Jews and heard of their scriptures.  However they knew it, these men knew—again—that something extraordinary had happened, so they came to pay homage to this foreign king.  In the ancient Near East that meant that they worshipped the king's god.  Maybe they knew, maybe the star was heralding the birth of Israel's God in human flesh.  They had to know something, otherwise it makes no sense.  Judah was a conquered nation.  The King of the Jews was a loser—and so was his god.  That's how people in that world thought.  But somehow these men knew—I wish Matthew had been more specific—but somehow these men knew that this was no ordinary king.  And so they made this long trek to honour him and to give glory to his god.  It was an epiphany: God made manifest in Jesus.  First to his own people, represented by the shepherds we read about on Christmas, and now made manifest to the gentiles, represented by these kings from the East. We'll come back to magi and to our Gospel, but first, listen again to St. Paul in our Epistle, Ephesians 3, as he writes to his brothers and sisters in Ephesus:   It is because of all of this that I, Paul, a prisoner of Messiah Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles…   Ephesus was a predominantly gentile church that Paul had started when he visited the city on his second missionary journey.  Now he's writing to them some years later as he sits in prison, having been arrested for proclaiming the good news about Jesus.  He goes on:   —assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me to pass on to you, how the secret purpose of God was made know to me, as I wrote briefly just now. Anyway…  When you read this, you'll be able to understand the special insight I have into the Messiah's secret.  This wasn't made known to human beings in previous generations, but now it has been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.  The secret is this: that through the gospel, the gentiles are to share Israel's inheritance.  They are to become fellow members of the body, along with them, and fellow sharers of the promise in Jesus the Messiah.   This was, as we say, Paul's “thing”.  This was for him the great secret or mystery—the great, earth-shattering revelation that changes everything.  We might say an “epiphany”.  For Paul the great secret was first the revelation that Jesus really was the Messiah, but then when he'd had the chance to work through all the implications of that great truth he was confronted with this one: “the gentiles are to share Israel's inheritance.  They are to become fellow members of the body, along with them, and fellow sharers of the promise in Jesus the Messiah.”  Most people would have thought this was a thoroughly un-Jewish thing to say.  Even that it was blasphemy that gentiles—unclean dogs!—were coheirs with the people of God.  A few of them, sure, but only after they'd been purified and circumcised and committed to observing torah.  And then they weren't really gentiles anymore.  But Paul's realised that, in fact, once you get the story of God and Israel straight, it would be hard to come up with anything more Jewish than this conclusion that the gentiles are, in Jesus, fellow heirs, members of the same body, and part of Abraham's family.  This is what the story was working towards all along, even though hardly anyone realised it anymore.  As he says as he continues, ministering this truth was his calling: This is the gospel that I was appointed to serve, in line with the free gift of God's grace that was given to me.  It was backed up with the power through which God accomplishes his work.  I am the very least of all God's people.  However, he gave me this task as a gift: that I should be the one to tell the gentiles the good news of the Messiah's riches, riches no one could begin to count.  My job is to make clear to everyone just what the secret plan is, the purpose that's been hidden from the very beginning of the world in God who created all things.  This is it: that God's wisdom, in all its rich variety, was to be made known to rulers and authorities in the heavenly places—through the church!  This was God's eternal purpose, and he's accomplished it in Jesus the Messiah, our Lord.  We have confidence, and access to God, in full assurance, through his faithfulness.   The Jews of Paul's day had got their own story wrong and no longer had any sense that “salvation is for the Gentiles”.  As far as they were concerned, they were God's people, God cared about them, God would deliver them from their oppressors and put them on top, and one day he would rain down destruction on all the unclean people of the word.  Salvation was for the Jews, they might have said.  Even those first Jewish Christians were still thinking in this vein.  Jesus was their Messiah.  There were a few gentiles who believed, but they had to first become Jews.  And there were the Samaritans who believed.  That was a challenge to this kind of thinking, but until Paul, no one seemed to have this vision of the deliverance, of the salvation of the Gentiles—at least not on a large scale. The irony is that today we've made the opposite mistake.  We've so dehistoricised, flattened out, and universalised the story that we've all but forgotten that “Salvation is from the Jews.”  “Salvation is from the Jews.”  That's what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman and it ought to ring in our ears too.  Those words ought to remind us of the great story of the God of Israel and his people.  St. Paul writes in today's Epistle to explain his unique apostolic ministry to proclaim the good news about Jesus to the Gentiles.  It has been my experience that many Christians have never stopped to consider just how odd Paul's ministry would have seemed at the time.  They've never stopped to think, because we have largely removed the gospel from its narrative and historical context and we've unnecessarily flattened it out to communicate its universal nature.  Sometime we need to stop and remember that, even though “God so loved the world,” it is also true that “salvation is from the Jews”.  That might not seem important, but think again of the big story.  Out of a world that had lost all knowledge of him, the Lord chose and called Abraham and from him created a people whom he made holy and in whose midst he lived.  He gave this people his law and his presence and made them unique amongst the nations.  And he promised that through them he would save his whole creation.  So Jesus was born a Jew—one of those special people.  He was the Jewish Messiah.  He fulfilled the Jewish law and the words of the Jewish prophets.  He proclaimed good news about a coming kingdom and a coming judgement to Jews and for Jews.  And while gentiles were welcomed when they came to him, he made it clear that his ministry was to his own people.  The evangelists lay the blame for Jesus' death with Jews.  The gentiles had their part in it—hinting that they would eventually also have a share in his salvation—but it was Jesus' own people who betrayed him and demanded his death.  Even in his death by crucifixion, Jesus foreshadowed the means of execution that the unrepentant Jewish rebels would face when judgement came a generation later.  Jesus literally took the death of his people on himself in that sense.  It cannot be stressed enough that Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, lived and died for the sake of the Jews and to bring their story to its climax in fulfilment of God's promises. We can't just skip all that to get to John's announcement that God so loved the world that he gave his Son, because when we do that, we short-circuit the story, we leave out most or all of the bits that show us how God, in Jesus, has been faithful to his promises made under the old covenant.  And in that, we cast a veil over his glory.  It was necessary for Jesus to fulfil the story of his own people, because only then would the Gentiles see the faithfulness of Israel's God, be drawn to what they saw, give him glory, and in the process be incorporated into the new people of God by faith.  In this, too, we see that the means by which the Gentiles are incorporated into the new Israel fulfils the message of Israel's prophets and glorifies the Lord.  While it is certainly true that a dehistoricised and flattened gospel has brought millions to the Lord Jesus, it is also true that communicating the gospel within its context better communicates the faithfulness of God as the basis for our own faith with a greater depth and builds upon a firm foundation.  In contrast, our evangelism today, rather than centring on proclaiming the faithfulness of God, is centred on our needs and wants.  Our culture is obsessed with the therapeutic, with feeling good and so we've tailored our gospel.  And it's not wrong to talk about what God, in Jesus, does for us, but if that's the focus, we end up with a small and truncated gospel.  Brothers and Sisters, when we get the gospel the right way round; when we make the gospel about the faithfulness of God revealed in Jesus, the gospel is so much bigger, so much greater—so much more powerful.  What we see in Paul's ministry—and what we see especially in Revelation—is the gentile nations being drawn to the God of Israel by the revelation of his glory in Jesus the Messiah.  In the New Testament, the gentiles come to Jesus, because in him they see a God who is faithful and worthy of glory—a God unlike anything or anyone known in the pagan world.  Again, Christians today need to understand just how weird Paul's ministry would have seemed in his day—even, at first, to the other apostles.  Again, most believed that the good news about the Jewish Messiah was for other Jews, and of little interest (or even relevance) to gentiles.  Jesus radically changed what it meant to be the people of God, but in many respects, it was not until St. Paul emerged from his wilderness sojourn that this dramatic change was really grasped by the fledgling Church. Of course, Israel's ministry to the Gentiles was there all along.  The Lord set Israel apart before the watching nations.  She was to be his witness.  Through her he would restore and reconcile humanity to himself.  But as Paul points out in our Epistle, this “mystery” was largely lost on Israel.  And yet there it was from the beginning, all the way back in Abraham's day—if anyone was paying really close attention—that the Lord's intent was to one day bring the Gentiles into his family and to make them fellow heirs with those who were children by birth rather than adoption.  This truth had been revealed by the Spirit to the prophets of old and, in the same way, had been revealed to the apostles—who took some time to parse it out—and to Paul it was a personal commission: to proclaim the good news about Jesus to the Gentiles.  Paul adds here that this mission is not simply to ordinary people, nor is it a matter of personal piety.  As Gentile believers come into their inheritance in the Messiah, the Church becomes both a witness and a challenge to the rulers of the Gentile world.  This diverse body of Jews and Gentiles of every sort, living in unity the inheritance given them by Jesus, announces that he is Lord and that a new age is breaking in.  Just as was the case with Israel, the lords of the earth can submit in faith to the lordship of Jesus or face the judgement to come. Now, let's go back to today's Gospel, Matthew 2:1-12, which dovetails with what Paul has written in the Epistle.  Here's the truth that Paul writes, manifest in the story of Jesus.  Matthew writes:   When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea, at the time when Herod was king, some wise men came to Jerusalem from the East.  Where is the one,” they asked, “who has been born to be king of the Jews?  We have seen his star rising in the east and we have come to worship him.”  When King Herod heard this, he was very disturbed and the whole of Jerusalem was as well.  He called together all the chief priests and scribes of the people and inquired from them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem of Judaea,” they replied.  “That's what it says in the prophet: ‘You, Bethlehem, in Judah's land Are not the least of Judah's princes; From out of you will come the ruler Who will shepherd Israel my people.' Then Herod called the wise men to him in secret.  He found out from them precisely when the star had appeared.  Then he sent them to Bethlehem.  “Go,” he said, “and make a thorough search for the child.  When you find him, report back to me so that I can come and worship him. When they heard what the king said, they set off.  There was the star, the one they had seen rising in the east, going ahead of them.  It went and stood still over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were beside themselves with joy and excitement.  They went into the house and saw the child, with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him.  They opened their treasure chests and gave him presents: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by a different way.   While St. Luke recalls the events of the night Jesus was born and shows us the shepherds visiting one of their own, one who will follow in the footsteps of David as both king and shepherd, St. Matthew tells of Jesus' birth in passing and puts all the emphasis on Jesus as King.  Wise men, these astrologers from the East, have seen a heavenly sign that heralds the birth of a king in Israel.  They desire to worship him and to give him gifts.  As I said earlier, they knew that this was no ordinary king.  There had been no star heralding Herod's birth. So naturally, they looked for the King of the Jews in Jerusalem.  Herod knew nothing of the birth of a king, but was politically astute enough to recognise the political nature of the magi's claim and paranoid enough to take action.  Matthew makes it clear that if Jesus is indeed the King, then Herod was not.  Again, Matthew emphasises the kingship of Jesus in the report of the priests to Herod.  They cite Micah 5:2—and it's not clear if this is their paraphrase or Matthew's—but they point Herod to Bethlehem.  And yet, in the paraphrase we see again an important bit of context.  Micah speaks, not of a universal king per se, but of one who will be king over Israel.  This king will shepherd the Lord's flock—a bit from verse 4 that the priests add to their paraphrase of verse 2.  The Messiah is the King of Israel.  It is only once Micah has established that the Messiah will be King over Israel that he goes on to tell us that this King “shall be great to the ends of the earth” (5:4).  Both the Magi and the priests highlight Jesus' kingship specifically over Israel.  Again, “salvation is from the Jews”.  It is because Jesus is King of Israel, in fulfilment of the Lord's promises through the prophets, that the good news about him goes out to the Gentiles.  The magi are the first, who foreshadow the future.  Matthew bookends his Gospel with Gentiles.  Here the magi come at Jesus' birth, Gentiles come to worship a very uniquely Jewish king and to give him glory.  And at the end of the Gospel, Matthew records the commissioning of the disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations”.  The good news is only good news to the Gentiles because it reveals that the God of Israel is unlike the gods of the nations: he does what he says he will do and he fulfils his promises to his own.  Think again of Revelation and how the nations there, the nations that worshiped the beast and frolicked with the great prostitute, discovered in the downfall of the beast that the kings and gods of this world can't hold a candle to the God of Israel revealed in Jesus, to his power and might, and most importantly, to his faithfulness.  Specifically, he fulfils his promises to his people in Jesus.  It is this faithfulness just as much as the amazing report of Jesus risen from the dead and the defeat of his enemies that draws the Gentiles to give glory to the God of Israel and to submit in faith and to give their allegiance to Jesus, the King of the Jews.  Of course, this carries the same ramifications for Caesar and the other rulers and gods of this age as it did for Herod.  This is what Paul stresses in the final verses of our Epistle.  Their days are numbered, for as the royal summons to the King goes out, Jesus “shall be great to the ends of the earth”. Brothers and Sisters, the gospel about Jesus is good news, because it reveals the faithfulness of God.  He does what he says he will do.  He fulfils his promises.  He does so like no other.  And that's reason for us to trust him, to give him our allegiance, to worship him and to give him glory.  And to proclaim his good news to the world. I want to close with the Collect for today, because it offers a wonderful comparison between the magi and ourselves.  They were drawn to Jesus by sight and we by faith, and so we look forward in hope to the day on which we, too, will see his majesty on full display.  It's the prayer of Gentiles who have seen the glory of the God of Israel revealed in the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah.  It is a thanksgiving for what God has done in Jesus, creating a new Israel in which the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and it looks forward in hope to the day in which Jesus will set the cosmos to rights and will be revealed in all his glory as both King and God.   Let's pray: O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith, may at last behold your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

A Sermon for the Second Sunday after Christmas St. Matthew 2:13-23 by William Klock For us, a week has passed since we heard Matthew's account of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem and the visit by the shepherds.  But as we come to today's Gospel, roughly two years have passed in the story of Jesus, Joseph, and Mary.  For now, we'll skip over Matthew's account of the visit of the wisemen.  (That's for this coming week as we celebrate the Epiphany.)  So today we pick up the story at Matthew 2:13, Matthew tells us that after the wisemen had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.  “Get up,” said the angel, “and take the child and his mother and hurry off to Egypt.” I can only imagine what Joseph was thinking.  This is the second time an angel has come to him to tell him what to do.  Remember from last Sunday's Gospel, Jospeh was thinking through how best to extricate himself from his upcoming marriage to Mary after he found out she was already pregnant.  The angel came to him in a dream.  “Don't be afraid!”  The famous first words of every angel.  “Don't be afraid.  Mary didn't cheat on you.  She's pregnant by the Holy Spirit and she's going to have a son and you need to name him ‘Jesus'—which means 'Yahweh saves'—because he will save his people from their sins.” So it's not like Joseph didn't know there was something special about Jesus.  Ditto for Mary.  Matthew tells the story from Joseph's perspective.  Luke tells it from Mary's.  Luke tells us about the visit she had from the angel and how the angel told her—also—to name the baby “Jesus”.  Why?  “Because he will be called the son of the Most High.  The Lord,” the angel said to her, “will give him the throne of David his father, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever.  His kingdom will never come to an end.”  That was all familiar messianic language to Mary.  There's that song that popular Christmas song that asks over and over, “Mary did you know?”  Yes.  She did.  She even composed a song about it that she shared with her cousin Elizabeth—who, you remember—was pregnant with John, who would prepare the way for Jesus.  Mary knew what her baby meant.  Think of the words she sang out in praise: My soul doth magnify the Lord… He hath shewed strength with his arm, he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the might from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath send empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever.   That night that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph both knew with absolute certainty that in him the God of Israel was about to act and that the world would never be the sme.  And not that he was about to act in some unforeseen way that exploded into history totally unexpectedly.  No.  This was the fulfilment of prophecy.  This was the fulfilment of the Lord's promises to his people.  The fact that shepherds came, having been told by angels; the fact that wisemen came, having been guided by a star—these were no mysteries to Mary and Joseph.  They knew from the beginning who Jesus was.  I'm sure they had lots of other questions: Why us?  How is this going to work?  But they knew from the beginning that this child would one day cast down the powers, the gods, the kings of the present evil age and set their world to rights.  That's what Mary's song is all about. So they knew that Mary's baby was a challenge to everything and everyone that stood in the way of God's new age.  As much as scripture gives us every reason to think that they trusted the Lord, I have to think that if they're anything like us, they still had their worries.  At the top of the list had to be King Herod.  And so, I suspect, Mary and Joseph probably didn't go around town announcing any of this.  Surely word got around at least a bit.  There were, of course, the shepherds.  But I expect Mary and Jospeh kept what the angel had told them on the low down as much as they were able.  And then the magi—the wisemen from far away—no one could mistake them riding into town with their camels.  And to hear that they'd been to see Herod, to ask about the new-born King of the Jews.  That was not good news.  Not at all.  Because now Herod knew about Jesus and Herod was what people today might call a “psycho”. Herod was an Idumean—today we'd call him an “Arab”.  His ancestors had been absorbed into Judaea, were circumcised and converted to Judaism—at least nominally.  Most people saw Herod as a pretender.  His decadent lifestyle was out of step with Judaism, but most of all, people hated him for the way he cozied up to the Romans and betrayed his people.  He had no right to call himself King of the Jews.  The Roman Senate had given him that title.  He was no descendant of David.  And all this made Herod more than a little insecure.  Deep down he knew he had no right to Israel's throne and it made him paranoid.  He murdered his own family members—even his wife—because he thought they were scheming against him.  Just before he died, he ordered the leading citizens of Jericho to be killed so that the people would be weeping as his funeral procession passed through the city. So Joseph and Mary had to be worried to hear that Herod had been told about this young “King of the Jews” in Bethlehem.  If Herod would murder his own family at a hint of sedition, what would he do to a new-born rival?  I expect Jospeh was already trying to think through their best course of action.  And then the angel came and said, “Get up and take the child and his mother and hurry off to Egypt.  Stay there until I tell you.  Herod is going to hunt for the child to kill him.” Matthew says that Joseph wasted no time: “He got up and took the child and his mother by night, and went off to Egypt.  He stayed there until the death of Herod.”  And then Matthew adds a quote—just as we saw him do in Chapter One, last week, with that quote from the Prophet Isaiah about the virgin conceiving and bearing a son whose name means “God with us”.  Matthew does it again.  He does this all through is Gospel, but we have to know our Jewish scriptures to know who he's quoting.  In this case it's Hosea 11:1.  Matthew's Jewish audience would have recognised it instantly and it's an indictment against our poor knowledge of the Bible that we need a footnote in our Bibles to tell us.  Anyway, Matthew writes, “This happened to fulfil what the Lord said through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.'”  We'll come back to this in a bit. Matthew then continues with the story.  You'll remember that instead of reporting back to Herod about the child as he'd asked them to do, the wisemen—because of their own visit from the angel—they bypassed Herod on their way home.  So Matthew tells us that when Herod realised that he'd been tricked by the wisemen, he flew into a towering rage.  He dispatched men and killed all the boys in Bethlehem and in all its surrounding districts, from two years old and under, according to the time the wisemen had told him.”  And then another quote from the Prophets, this time from Jeremiah 31:15: “That was when the word that came through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:  There was heard a voice in Rama, crying and loud lamentation.  Rachel is weeping for her children, and will not let anyone comfort her, because they are no more.” And then another visit by an angel.  Matthew writes in verse 19: “After the death of Herod, suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. ‘Get up,' he said, ‘and take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel.  Those who wanted to kill the child are dead.'  So he got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.  But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling Judaea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there.  After being advised in a dream'—again—he went off to the region of Galilee.  When he got there, he settled in a town called Nazareth.  This was to fulfil what the prophet had spoken: ‘He shall be called a Nazarene.'” Again, we sort of have this idyllic scene of Christmas in our heads: Jesus in a manger.  No crying he makes, of course.  The shepherds kneel adoringly.  Mary and Joseph sit there peacefully with their halos glowing.  Even the animals stifle all their natural noises and gather around to adore the baby.  “Silent night…all is calm…sleep in heavenly peace,” loops in our heads. But when you read the actual story as Matthew tells it things aren't nearly so peaceful.  Matthew tells us of the birth of Jesus at a time and a place of trouble, of violence, and of fear.  Jesus was born in a world of darkness, into a world controlled by powers and gods and kings who stood opposed to him.  Before he had learned to walk or to talk, the wrath of a psychotic king forced his family to flee to Egypt.  The shadow of the cross lies dead across the Christmas story.  And yet all this is in keeping with what Matthew told us last week.  If Jesus is the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy of Immanuel—of God with us—we'd expect this.  God's people longed for his presence, they longed for his deliverance, because the world was not as they knew it should be.  And so God came to them in the midst of the darkness, the brokenness, the evil, the pain—the violence and injustice—the sin and death.  God entered the world of a king who would murder dozens of innocent children just to keep his investment in the present evil age secure.  Think about the fact that on the three days after Christmas Day the Church commemorates St. Stephen, St. John, and the Holy Innocents.  John was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the good news about Jesus.  Stephen—the first martyr—was stoned to death outside Jerusalem for preaching to the people that Jesus was the fulfilment of Israel's story.  And the Holy Innocents—the collateral damage of the first attempt on Jesus' life.  It's a reminder that, yes, the light has come into the darkness, but that there are those who love the dark and there are those invested in it. Brothers and Sisters, as much as the light has shined in the darkness and as much as the darkness has not overcome it—as St. John writes in the opening of his Gospel—the darkness still remains and the darkness still fights back.  Herod's murder of the innocents of Bethlehem—probably a few dozen baby boys—pales in comparison to the millions of unborn children murdered in modern times in our once Christian nations.  The wars and violence of Herod's or of Caesar's day pale in comparison to the wars and violence of the last century—all too often perpetrated by supposedly Christian nations, kings, presidents, and prime ministers.  We see the light around us too often subverted by the darkness.  First by Modernists and now by Postmodernists, the gospel virtues that once transformed the West are plucked from the gospel tree, left to go feral, and fed back to our culture, twisted and abused—darkness masquerading as light. It's easy to get discouraged, isn't it.  Last year I read historian Tom Holland's book Dominion.  It's about how Christianity transformed the West.  The Gospel came into a world of Herods and Caesars and taught us things like mercy and grace that hadn't been known before.  It transformed sexual ethics.  It gave status to women and children and to the poor.  It ended slavery.  And now you look at the world around us and everythings reverting back into the darkness.  Large segments of the church have or are selling out.  I look at the alumni page for my seminary on Facebook and it seems everyone is “deconstructing”—and it always ends the same way—with denying the exclusivity of Jesus and an embracing of Postmodernism and the twisted sexual ethics of our post-Christian culture.  I've listened to local pastors who spend their time apologising for the Bible, blurring the lines it makes clear, and walking their people through deconstructing their faith.  Others have sold out to the materialism of our secular culture and are preaching a crossless gospel of health and wealth.  The gospel—the real gospel—is the answer, but it seems like it falls on deaf ears these days and that the people lost in today's darkness have become resistant to it.  It's easy to lose hope. But Brothers and Sisters, that's when I think of Matthew as he drops his quotes from the Prophets through his telling of the good news.  Remember that I said last week that Matthew saw God's promises down through the ages as lights in the darkness.  Last summer Veronica I did some railgrade riding on our bikes.  We rode through some tunnels—some of them long and windy enough that there was no light at the end—at least not at first—and so there were small lights at intervals, guiding the way, until you finally came around that final corner and daylight blazed into the tunnel.  I didn't appreciate those lights until I rode through the Adra Tunnel in the mountains between Kelowna and Penticton.  It's one of the longest rail tunnels in BC and it's been closed since the 80s.  Volunteers have spent the last few years making repairs and it's just about ready to be reopened.  At present the trail bypasses it and there are fences across the old railgrade to keep people out of the tunnel.  But when I got there, the fences were off to the side.  I took the turn and pretty soon found myself inside the tunnel.  It goes through something like a 270° turn and pretty soon I was in pitch dark, riding slowly, cold water dripping on me.  There are no little lights to light the way.  And I almost ran—smack!—into a grader that was parked in the dark.  I could just as easily have run off the grade and into a ditch or a wall. Like the lights in those tunnels, God's promises led his people through the darkness—around the corners, keeping them out of the ditch, keeping them from running—smack!—into obstacles sitting in the darkness—so that he could lead them out into the light.  At the time those little lights seemed like really big deals—those little lights like Passover and the Exodus, like the torah and the tabernacle, like King David and like the return from Exile.  They gave the people some bearings.  The lights gave them hope.  But what many didn't realise at the time was that those lights were leading the people—preparing them—to understand how God works, to understand that he is faithful, so that when they finally came out into the bright light of Jesus, into the bright light of the gospel—they'd understand that this is where the story had been taking them all along.  This is what Matthew's up to all through his Gospel.  Like we saw last Sunday with that bit of Isaiah and the baby, Immanuel, who served as the sign to accompany the Lord's promise to deliver his people from Israel and Syria.  And here, Matthew quotes Hosea 11:1, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”  At first it looks like Matthew is ignoring what that passage means in Hosea.  It's not looking forward.  It's looking back.  Israel was the Lord's son whom he had called out of Egypt.  That meant—at the time, back in the dark days of Hosea—that the Lord would not abandon the people: Israel was his beloved son and he'd gone to great lengths to deliver Israel from Egypt.  And Matthew saw that little light back there in the darkness of Hosea's day and it led him towards the light that had come in Jesus.  Jesus brings Israel's story to completion.  He's not just “God's son” in the sense that he's divine.  He's “God's son” in the sense that he is the embodiment of Israel.  Remember what I've said before: the King represents his people.  And so Jesus came to represent his people, to finally accomplish what they'd failed at all those centuries, and then to die on their behalf the death that they deserved. Matthew does something similar with the prophecy spoken by Jeremiah.  He holds up Rachel weeping for her children as a backdrop to Herod's murder of the baby boys of Bethlehem.  But when Jeremiah spoke those words, he was drawing on the imagery of Rachel to describe the pain of Israel's exile to Babylon and to proclaim the hope of God's promise to renew his covenant and to restore his people—to bring Israel back from her long exile.  The long darkness is full of weeping and mourning, but at the end is the Lord's deliverance. And then that bit of Isaiah 11 that Matthew quotes about Jesus being a Nazarene.  Isaiah uses the Hebrew word nazir.  It means “branch” and through Isaiah the Lord promises that he will be faithful to the promises he'd made to David and his descendants.  A branch will grow out of the stump of Jesse.  It's about a new beginning for the royal line of David.  Matthew hinted at this already in Joseph's genealogy.  The fact that the Old Testament nowhere mentions Nazareth, the fact that the Isaiah passage about the branch has nothing to do with Nazareth, that's okay.  Matthew knew that the lights along the tunnel—even if it doesn't look like it—they all lead to the same place.  Everything in Israel's story was leading to Jesus and so he takes Isaiah's prophecy of the nazir, the branch, and ties it to Jesus' hometown of Nazareth.  Matthew's sort of saying that we know Jesus is the promised branch because he came from “Branchville”.  Maybe it's a more “creative” way of using the Old Testament than we're comfortable with, but for Matthew it worked—again—because he knew that everything God said and everything God did—the whole story of the God of Israel and his people—was leading them through the darkness to Jesus and to the light of this new age, this new world, this new creation. And Brothers and Sisters, that's why as much as it's tempting to lose hope as we look at the surrounding darkness and even as the darkness creeps in and takes ground that was once won by the gospel, I don't lose hope.  Because the scriptures assure me of the faithfulness of God to his promises.  Because I know he has, in the birth, in the death, in the resurrection of Jesus done the hard part already.  Because he has poured out his Spirit.  And as surely as he called Abraham and his family and led them through the darkness—through slavery and through exile and everything in between—and then brought them finally out into the blazing glory of Jesus and the gospel, I know that God, who has established his church and has equipped us with his own Spirit to proclaim the good news—to carry his light into the darkness—will not fail to bring us eventually to that day when his glory covers the earth as the waters cover the sea, when every last enemy has been put under his feet, even death itself, when every tear is wiped away, and everything is once-and-for-all set to rights. Matthew saw God's promises fulfilled all through the story—even at its darkest.  As Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane he said, himself, “All this has taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”  God is sovereign and God is faithful, Brothers and Sisters.  Even as the darkness mustered its forces and rose to its full height to deal a death blow to Jesus, it was doing so as part of a plan orchestrated by the Lord.  Darkness, unwittingly, concentrating itself all in one place so that, through Jesus, it could be defeated when he rose, triumphant over sin and death.  And that is why I remain full of hope.  God's faithfulness to his promises did not end in the First Century.  He remains faithful today.  If we will only walk with him in faith, his light—his gospel promises, his Spirit indwelling us—will lead us through today's darkness. Let's pray: Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word:  Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Escaping Apostate Church Judgments (5) (audio) David Eells – 12/1/24 Let's continue with our study on escaping apostate church judgment through the apostate ministries. The days we're in right now are days where God is spiritually and, then physically judging these ministries because the greater Man-child ministry is coming on the scene. First let's look at Ezekiel, who was a type of the Man-child ministry; he was a type of the David ministry that was to come upon the scene to speak to God's people and speak to their leaders. In chapter one, from verse 26 down to the end of the chapter, Ezekiel was caught up to the throne of God, where he saw God on His throne. This was like Jesus and the end time Man-child ministers. Then, in chapter two, God began to call him “son of man” and He did this all the way through the book of Ezekiel. As you know, Jesus was called the “Son of man” and Jesus was also a type of the David Man-child ministry. And we see that in chapter two, in verses one and two, that the Spirit of God entered into Ezekiel. This is what happened to Jesus when He was ordained and to David when he was anointed to sit upon his throne. Also, this is a type of the end-time Man-child. So we see in verse three that the Lord sent Ezekiel to the children of Israel, to the nations that are rebellious. Just like Jesus did, Who was coming to His Own people, and David, who was to rule over Israel, Ezekiel was going forth to a rebellious people with a rebellious leadership. (Eze.2:8) But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that which I give thee. So the Lord is telling Ezekiel, “You can't be rebellious like they are.” What is it that they were not doing that Ezekiel was doing? Well, He says, eat that which I give thee. (Eze.2:9) And when I looked, behold, a hand was put forth unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein (This book represents the Bible.); (10) and he spread it before me: and it was written within and without; and there were written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. (3:1) And he said unto me, Son of man, eat that which thou findest; eat this roll, and go and speak unto the house of Israel. Now, we see this same little parallel going all the way down through about verse 11 or 12. And that is, eat the roll and then go and speak to the house of Israel. Don't be like the rebellious house who don't eat the roll; they just go and speak. They like the position of authority and they've usurped the position of authority, just as Korah, Dathan and Abiram did in the wilderness (Numbers 16). They usurped the position of authority; they hadn't overcome yet. But God says, to he that overcometh, … to him will I give authority (Rev.2:26). And how do you overcome? Well, first of all, you have to eat the roll of the book and then you have to walk in that through your faith. Let's read on here in (Eze.3:2) So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat the roll. (3) And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. Praise the Lord! Remember, also, John, in the book of Revelation, ate the roll of the book, but he was also a type of the Man-child in Revelation 10:9,10. He was called up to the throne and received a revelation to give to the churches in the time of tribulation. It's very neat how God does this over and over. We have to eat the roll of the book. (Psa.119:89) Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven. And we're told that if any man speaks, let him speak as an oracle of God in 1 Peter 4:11. In other words, we are to say what God says. We are to eat this roll, first, for our own life, and we overcome in our own life. We learn to walk and be an overcomer in our own life before we're qualified to go forth and exercise authority over God's people. In this way, He's preparing here a Man-child ministry to go forth and speak to God's people with His Words. (Eze.3:4) And he said unto me, Son of man, go get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. This is very important. We can't speak with our own words because they have no power to regenerate Christ in the life of other people. It's only His Seed that brings forth His life in His people. So God commands that the son of man here, Ezekiel, go and speak as an oracle of God with His words. (Eze.3:5) For thou art not sent unto a people of a strange speech and of a hard language, but to the house of Israel. The Man-child is once again about to go forth to the lost sheep of the house of spiritual Israel. But the Lord said, “I haven't sent you to the lost, I haven't sent you to those whose language you don't know. I've sent you to Israel.” (Eze.3:6) Not to many peoples of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, if I sent thee to them, they would harken unto thee. It was true in Jesus' day that when the overwhelming majority of the Jews blasphemed the Word of the Lord, that God turned to the Gentiles and they did harken and received. The same thing is about to happen. Now the Church has been grafted into the olive tree called “all Israel,” so the Church is part of “all Israel.” Everybody who believes in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and walks by faith in that is grafted into the olive tree. Romans 11 is very plain. But natural Israel is not involved in that. They were broken off because of unbelief in Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Savior, so they're basically the other nations that God's going to turn to today. When much of the church blasphemes God this time, God's going to turn back to the Jews, which it also says in Romans 11. So we see a parallel here in what is being told to Ezekiel. God said, “If I sent thee to them, they would harken unto thee.” We're coming to a time, when there's going to be a lot of people in the so-called church who are just religious people who are going to fight against the move of God and when they blaspheme, God's going to turn back to the Jews. Back to (Eze.3:7) But the house of Israel will not harken unto thee; for all the house of Israel are of a hard forehead and of a stiff heart. We know that was true about natural Israel when Jesus the Man-child came to them and now it's true about spiritual Israel when the Man-child of our day comes to them. There's a perfect parallel going throughout history. The church is very rebellious. The so-called church is full of people who believe they are members of the church through a born-again experience with the Lord, but they're rebelling because they're building their own kingdom. And they're of a hard forehead and a stiff heart. (Eze.3:8) Behold, I have made thy face hard against their faces, and thy forehead hard against their foreheads. (9) As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house. (10) Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words which I shall speak unto thee receive in thy heart, and hear with thine ears. (11) And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. God's people were in captivity then, just as they are today. They're in captivity to Babylonish religion and Babylonish society, and God is sending His Man-child unto them, but first He tells Ezekiel, all my words which I shall speak unto thee receive in thy heart, and hear with thine ears. And go, get thee to them of the captivity (Eze.3:10). Any other way is like that rebellious house back in Ezekiel 2:8 and that's basically what a lot of the leadership is made up of. Ezekiel was going to the Saul ministry of his day, as Jesus went to the Saul ministry of His day. And now we see God is going to choose a Man-child reformer ministry who have received His words into their heart and who hear with their ears. Then they are going to be sent to God's people. We've already seen from Ezekiel's example what it is to be sent of the Lord. First, to get the Word in your heart. God doesn't care about religion or man's Sunday school books. If anybody speaks, let him speak as an oracle of God. Let him say what God says because God has already said it and He said it very well and it's supernatural and  powerful. The Word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword in Hebrews 4:12, and it will accomplish that for which He sends it. But God rebuked the apostate ministers in (Jer.23:21) I sent not these prophets, yet they ran: I spake not unto them, yet they prophesied. (22) But if they had stood in my council, then had they caused my people to hear my words, and had turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. See, the whole point is that if we first put the Word of God into our hearts, we're able to pass on that Word to others. It will deliver God's people. It's supernatural. It will drive the wicked out from your midst and it will deliver those who are honest with God. This is God's plan and it always has been God's plan. Let's go back to the beginning of the chapter. (Jer.23:1) Woe unto the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. Shepherds like that are destroying God's people. They're not coming into the image of Jesus Christ. They're not prepared for life. They die before their time because they don't believe in a Savior Who provides, heals, delivers, Who does all these things. They don't come into maturity. They don't bear fruit without the true Word of God. So these shepherds are destroyers. God is talking about the Saul ministries here and I'll prove it to you. Woe unto the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. (Jer.23:2) Therefore thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, against the shepherds that feed my people: Ye have scattered my flock…. Now, that's the second time He's said that. What does it mean “scattered”? It's talking about denominating God's people, dividing them up. Instead of being one, they are now divided up into these sectarian groups for the sake of the sectarian groups, not for the sake of the Lord. Jesus said when He prayed, that they may be one, even as we [are] one (Joh.17:22). And when we read in Revelation, the church of Philadelphia was all of the church in that particular city. It wasn't a Baptist church, the Methodist church, the Pentecostal church, the whatever-denomination church. What has happened? Well, wolves came in to divide the flock. That's what we were told. (Jer.23:2) … Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them; behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord. I will visit upon you. I will cause you to pay for what you have done, is what the Lord says. Back when we were writing on these things, I received two short dreams from Shirley Hinkle. The first one of them she had back in July of 2005 and the second one was just a few days after that. (My notes in red) The first one is speaking about these Saul shepherds having to pay for what they're doing to God's people. She says, “I dreamed that our former pastor walked into the room where a group of us were standing and I wondered to myself, ‘What is he doing here?' I thought maybe we were to pray for him. So I walked over to him and laid my hand on his head. I said to him, ‘You are full of lust and pornography.'” (Now Shirley is a prophetess and, so, in her dream she was prophesying to him.) “You are full of lust and pornography.” (You can't imagine how common this is today among Protestant churches. I heard the percentages one time and I was just amazed. I'm wondering how they found all this out, but it was an extremely high percentage of ministers who are into pornography.) “‘You are full of lust and pornography.' As I said these words, his head turned to mush under my hand.” (In other words, he had a mind that was corrupted by the curse.) “I pulled my hand back, revolted, and had turned to walk away and, as I did, he leered and then sneered at me. I started to wake up and that is when I saw that he was just a shell of a man full of demonic spirits.” (I believe that this was not an individual prophecy here; this was not an individual dream about an individual man. I believe this pastor represents a great group of people out there.) She continues, “God spoke in my heart and He said, ‘As he stole from My people, I am taking his mind from him. He is given over to these spirits.'” (Well, what did he steal? If he lost his mind, what was it that he stole? He stole the mind of the Spirit from God's people. The mind of the Spirit is the Word of God. These men stand in the doorway and they won't enter in to all the precious truths and understandings of God's Word and they won't let the rest enter in either as in Luke 11:52. What they are stealing from God's people is going to be stolen from them; their understanding is going to be taken away. Remember the prophecy of Isaiah that Jesus pronounced upon the Jewish leaders in that time, that their eyes and their ears were going to close, and He was basically reprobating them in Matthew 13:14.) (So what they had stolen from God's people, God was taking from them. And then a few days later she had this second dream.) “All of these people were in booths at a restaurant.” (A restaurant represents a congregation of people gathered together to eat and that sounds like the church because we gather together to eat the Word of God. We just read in Ezekiel that God said, “Here, take the book and eat the roll.” So we're commanded to eat the Word. When you eat the Word it goes into you; it nourishes you in the ways of the Kingdom and it becomes who you are because what you eat is actually what your cells are made of. We need to be the Word made flesh. Jesus was the Word made flesh and we are His spiritual offspring, the Word made flesh. A restaurant is a place where you eat, but if you're eating a bunch of leaven, and things that inoculate you from the truth, then there's destruction coming from these ministers unto you.) And so, she said, “All of these people were in booths at a restaurant and I walked in and it was the congregation of a former church. I began to go from table to table under the anointing and exposing all the lies of the teachings and the sins in the lives of the people. Some looked at me like, ‘What are you doing?' They had no comprehension at all. Others said, ‘Yes, we see it.' And then others were getting very angry at me for exposing all the lies. And I raised my right arm to heaven and I began to pray in the spirit with a loud voice and with authority. Then, as I was walking out, I turned to the people and said, ‘The associate pastor was never supposed to leave his wife for the other woman. He played the harlot. He sold his body to prostitution. He left her.'” (And you'd be surprised how often this is happening in Christianity, too. But this is not ‘Christianity', is it? No, of course not. This is all too common.) “Then the next scene in my dream, my husband and I were walking down a hallway away from the restaurant.” (In other words, they were walking away from those teachings.) “We could hear the former pastor from the other side yelling. We knew he was mad at me for exposing him. He was yelling really loud as he came around the corner, but the weird thing was he was walking on his knees. His legs were twisted up behind him and he was being led by his head usher.” (In other words, he was spiritually crippled. He was not able to walk with the Lord.) “For a split-second, I felt pity for this man who was all disfigured and then I saw his face as he was yelling. And my husband and I just stood there quietly watching at first. This pastor was so mad and yelling so loud that his hair was all matted and he snarled with his face all contorted. Then, all of a sudden, I looked at him and said, ‘Everything you have stolen from My people (she said this in the spirit of prophecy), everything you've stolen from my people (Which is what? Their walk with the Lord.), I have taken from you. Judgment has come to your house.' I then brought my right hand down like a gavel was in it.” This sounds very familiar, doesn't it? It's what we read here in Jeremiah. (Jer.23:2) … I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord. (3) And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and multiply. Yes, God's people, in a spiritual way, have been taken captive to all nations, exactly as the Jews were physically captive. We are now captive to the nation, full of patriotism and things that make us pledge allegiance to our nation, rather than the nation that we truly belong to, which is the nation of spiritual Israel Peter spoke of. (Jer.23:4) And I will set up shepherds over them … Here is where He's delivering His people from these Saul shepherds. He's bringing them out of captivity back to their own land, to the Promised Land, to live on the promises of God, so to speak. (Jer.23:4) And I will set up shepherds over them, who shall feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be lacking, saith the Lord. So they will be fed the nourishing Word and will not be hungry and leave. That sounds good, doesn't it? And especially concerning the days that we're coming to, right? They shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be lacking, saith the Lord. That's kind of what was said about those under Jesus. None were lacking except the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled (Joh.17:12). The Scripture continues (Jer.23:5) Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch … This refers to those new shepherds whom we just read about whom God is raising up in these days to take the place of those foolish Saul shepherds. They are a righteous branch. (Jer.23:5) … And he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. (6) In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called: the Lord our righteousness. Our righteousness represents a corporate name. It's a group of people. “The Lord our righteousness” is David in our day. The Lord said He would multiply the seed of David to rule over the house of Israel. In our day there's a corporate body of David whom He says are these shepherds He's going to raise up. And He tells us that we're going to understand this in the last days (23:20). These righteous shepherds will replace those in (Jer.23:16) Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they teach you vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. We are to teach what comes out of the mouth of the Lord. (Mat.4:4) … Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Jer.23:17) They say continually unto them that despise me, the Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and unto every one that walketh in the stubbornness of his own heart they say, No evil shall come upon you. These apostate religions of “Christianity,” using the term loosely, these stubborn, rebellious people, have been trained to be that way. Their leaders are telling them that they're going to have peace and security and safety. They're telling them that they will all fly away, and all the other deceiving doctrines out there, such as ultimate reconciliation, unconditional eternal security, everything is okay – it's all peace and safety, peace and safety. But God says differently. (Jer.23:18) For who hath stood in the council of the Lord, that he should perceive and hear his word? who hath marked my word, and heard it? We know Ezekiel did. (19) Behold, the tempest of the Lord, [even his] wrath, is gone forth, yea, a whirling tempest: it shall burst upon the head of the wicked. (20) The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall understand it perfectly. (21) I sent not these prophets, yet they ran: I spake not unto them, yet they prophesied. (22) But if they had stood in my council, then had they caused my people to hear my words, and had turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. Yes. Amen. We need a ministry that God is raising up and sending, starting with the John the Baptist ministry, leading on to the Man-child ministry, leading on to the Two Witness ministry, leading on to the raising-up of the five-fold ministry. And this is all going to be wave after wave of a coming revival in the earth happening all during the time judgment is going forth, while both spiritual and physical judgment is going forth. Spiritual judgment is much more detrimental than physical judgment. Physical judgment can take people out who might even go to heaven, but spiritual judgment takes away their seeing and hearing, bringing reprobation upon a people which are not able to walk with the Lord anymore. That's an eternal judgment there, so it's far worse to be in that kind of a situation. (2Co.11:13) For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. (14) And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. (15) It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. Satan's ministers look like ministers of righteousness. They're in pulpits teaching God's people. They “fashion themselves”, it says, as “ministers of righteousness.” In other words, they usurp this position. Like Korah, Dathan and Abiram, they usurp this position. They didn't come to authority by overcoming, by hearing the Word, by eating the roll, by having eyes to see, by being ordained by God, etc. They fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works (2Co.11:15). But notice that the judgment upon them starts down here and now, folks. It's not just going to be passing off into eternity. Now this judgment is catching up. God is going to judge these ministries and judge all their organizations. There's going to be a reprobation. What we need to do, is make sure that we're eating the roll of the book individually, every one of us. It doesn't matter whether you're a minister or not, we all need to eat the roll of the book to be Christlike and not be like Korah, Dathan and Abiram and followers, upon whom the judgment fell. As you know, Korah, Dathan and Abiram were usurping not only the High Priest's position but the priesthood. Korah was a Levite, but he was usurping the authority of Aaron and Moses. (Num.16:20) And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, (21) Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. This was one of the trials in the wilderness. The Korah, Dathan and Abiram rebellion happened in the wilderness, which is the Tribulation. The first 3½ years of the Tribulation are called “wilderness” in Revelation 12 and the second 3½ years are called “wilderness” in Revelation 17. So here they are in the wilderness with this trial of usurpers. They've been there all along but now God's dealing with them. Now God's sending His Man-child. Now God is going to speak the Word before them, make them responsible and tear down their organizations. (Num.16:21) Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. (22) And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? Well, but all the congregation was following them, you see. (Num.16:23) And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, (24) Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle (tent) of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. (25) And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. (26) And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. Oh, yes. And God was planning just such a consumption, wasn't He? (Num.16:27) So they gat them up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side…. So, what is this saying in our day? This is talking about a revival of God's people coming out from among these usurpers who have taken a position that's not theirs. It's similar to what Jesus spoke about in John 10 when He called His sheep by name and called them out of the sheepfolds. This is what's coming. (Num.16:27) … And Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little ones. (28) And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works; for [I have] not [done them] of mine own mind. (29) If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me. (30) But if the Lord make a new thing, and the ground open its mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down alive into sheol; then ye shall understand that these men have despised the Lord. What is it to be swallowed up by the earth? The earth is our flesh. Adam's flesh was made out of the earth, so to be swallowed up by the earth alive is to be consumed by the fleshly old man. That's to be totally reprobated. You know, the Bible says, She that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth (1Ti.5:6). In other words, you can be dead while you're alive. They were swallowed alive by the earth, by their flesh. (Num.16:31) And it came to pass, as he made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them; (32) and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. (33) So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into Sheol (the place of the dead): and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the assembly. This is repeated again when we see Saul, and everybody that appertained unto Saul, died on Mt. Gilboa, and then David was made king. This is where we are one more time; we're right here. There is a rebellion and it's not going to be over until the Tribulation period, until God has reprobated all of the wicked and brought in all the righteous. Reprobation represents this dying while you're alive, being dead while you live. (Jud.11) Woe unto them! for they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah. (12) These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you, shepherds that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. It also speaks about the shepherds, those who followed after Cain and Balaam through their lusts to lead the people. They were twice-dead and plucked up by the roots. Twice-dead means you have to be born again and die again. Yes, there are multitudes of people who have had a new birth in their spirit, but they refuse to be reborn in their soul; they refuse to follow their spirit and eat the Word of God, and be an overcomer. So God is going to reprobate their leadership. That will enable the people to see that there's something wrong with this, especially when they're able to compare it with a new ministry that God is bringing onto the scene. These twice-dead shepherds are going to be falling into more and more sinful lusts of their flesh; that way the people will be able to see it. Even today ministers fall into the most corrupt, sinful ways and yet the people who don't love truth and don't love righteousness, those people don't depart from about their tent. Those people will go down with their ministers, still justifying them, because they're in idolatry with their organizations. They won't see that these men have become corrupt. Well, God is going to corrupt them so that all of the people of God will be without excuse when they continue to follow them. God is delivering His people in these days and it's great! What's really happening is similar to what Jesus speaks about in (Mat.24:15) When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the... Literally, in the Numerics, it says, “a holy place,” not “the holy place,” but the translators thought, “It couldn't be; there's only one holy place.” So they put “the holy place” but the original says “a holy place.” The Numeric pattern proves it's a holy place, so what is Jesus talking about? (Mat.24:15) When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place (let him that readeth understand) [That's in parentheses because He's telling you, “Hey, look a little deeper here; there's something here.”], then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains: let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house: (Mat.24:18) and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak. (19) But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! (20) And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on a Sabbath: (21) for then shall be great tribulation…. Daniel speaks of an abomination that maketh desolate (Dan.11:31). And who is it who is “standing in a holy place”? Well, it calls to mind 2 Thessalonians 2. So who's standing in a holy place? And what is a holy place now, in our day? Is there any holy place? Well, there is no such thing as THE holy place anymore, but there are holy places all around the world. They are assemblies of God's people who are truly God's people. So it's an abomination for anybody to stand in these holy places who is an antichrist. Jesus said in (Mat.12:30) He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.. See, we don't have any choice: we're either going to speak the Word and agree with the Word or we're antichrist. It's either Christ, Who is the Word, or antichrist, who is against the Word. God's been very merciful, but with the knowledge, the understanding, the anointing that's coming upon the scene right now, He's no longer going to be merciful because we're coming to the end. (2Th.2:3) Let no man beguile you in any wise: for [it will not be,] (that is, our gathering together unto the Lord) except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. Folks, before we gather unto Him there's going to be a falling away and the son of perdition is going to be revealed. Why do apostate ministers read this as the very opposite of what it's saying? It's because they want to make sure they get out of here. (2Th.2:4) He that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God. There he is in the holy place, right? And the word “temple” here is the word naos. Everywhere else the apostle Paul used that term, he used it to talk about the temple comprised of the people of God, not a temple building. You know, hieron is the word they used when they spoke of the building, but here he's talking about the people of God, just like he used it everywhere else. So that he sitteth in the temple of God (that is, amongst God's people), setting himself forth as God (2Th.2:4). They act like gods but they are rebels. Now, if you're not paying any attention to God and you're ruling in the temple of God, then you're the god there. The whole problem is that these men think that they can do what they want to do, say whatever they want, and lead you any way they want to lead you. They don't have to do it according to the Word; they make up their own rules and their own organization. But, you see, God already has an organization. It's called the Church and it's supposed to be one; it's supposed to be one with Him and it's supposed to be one with the Word. It's supposed to be led by people who have eaten the roll of the book and who hearken unto the roll and then go and lead God's people. So they set themselves forth as God. (2Th.2:5) Remember ye not, that, when I yet was with you, I told you these things? (6) And now you know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. The falling away is what restrains the revealing of the son of perdition. The falling away is this reprobation of these people. God's taking away their seeing and hearing. (2Th.2:7) For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only [there is] one that restraineth now, until he be come out of the midst (Numerics). What is restraining the revealing of the son of God? The son of perdition in the midst of God's people. We ought to be a spotless, blemishless people. Talking about them in their corporate body, Jude called them spots in your love-feasts, these apostate leaders. They are spots in the body of Christ. They have to be removed before He can come for His people. Only [there is] one that restraineth now, until he be come out of the midst. (2Th.2:8) And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord shall slay with the breath of his mouth…. The Lord is going to destroy these wicked leaders of God's people and every other son of perdition who leads God's people astray. We are on the verge of a great corporate move like this. God's given me a little training several times in watching how He does this and I know He is about to do it now on a worldwide scale. I know that He is training up other people around the world to understand these things too. There is a corporate body of the son of perdition leading multitudes of people astray, but God is sending some help. He's sending a new anointed ministry like we saw in Ezekiel, anointed with the Holy Spirit. This ministry will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to go forth and deliver His people. Praise be to God! Thank You, Father! Now I have some revelations to share, beginning with a revelation sent to us some time ago which points out that the true people of God will have a great victory. This will be as when they came out of Egypt at the Passover and their enemies were conquered there and at the Red Sea. Esther the Bride fought for the true people of God and won.     You Have Lost; We Have Won Mike Thompson - 10/5/18 (David's notes in red)   Well, hello, you mighty prayer warriors and beloved of God. I had to share a vision with you. It may be a little difficult for me to get through because it's still on me. I'm sitting in the sanctuary and this is where it happened last night. I had a class that started at 7:00, and while I was coming in to do the class, I could just feel myself being overcome by the Spirit. I could hear sounds in the Spirit, and catch images; and I want to talk to you about the Lion's Army: The Lion of the tribe of Judah. I want to share with you a victory that's happening in the spirit right now.     An Open Vision of the Lord's Army The first thing that I began …, In the Spirit, the way it swirls around me when these things begin to occur is that I could see darkness and I could see lightning. Here I am talking to people, in fact, standing behind the podium teaching a class, and I could hear, just muffled sounds that resembled strife and conflict. I would catch just glimpses, the glint of light that seemed to be reflecting off of swords. I slowed down in my presentation, my teaching, and the Spirit of God overwhelmed me, invaded me and just began to pull me away. The scene became clearer and I could see a battleground. And that's when I stopped the class and I just shared with them what I just shared with you: I said, Let's go into prayer, and we did. And as we did, the vision developed and went further. I could see this large battleground in front of me in the spiritual realm. It was a full vision; it was an open vision occurring. On the far side of the battleground were these hoards of grotesque disfigured demonic spirits. They were advancing and coming toward us screaming. When I say us, my position and those that were around me. The sound of their screams at the top of their lungs, and the screaming was violent, it was in anger and rage, blood-curdling screams of demonic spirits as they were advancing. Their screams were not only of anger and rage and meant to psychologically throw the opposing army off, but behind the screams, hidden in those screams I could sense fear; the fear that they have of losing the fight, of losing their purpose. It was a fear that was so strong you could tell that it caused them pain, but they screamed even louder. On the near side of the battleground were warrior believers and warrior angels, a mighty army. They were covered in light and glory. There was such a strength and a determination on the inside of them that it's like, ‘This battle is so important, we will not lose; We recognize our authority and who we are and we will not lose; We will not give up; We will not back down.' And they stood in confidence against that fear and the screams of the advancing hoard. I was part of the army. It was – it's hard to explain, but simultaneously I was both watching it from an elevated position, as well as being part of that righteous army. I could see that the army wore armor, they carried shields, they had drawn swords, light was reflecting off of the swords as they held them up; swords against the screams. Then I heard a thundering voice from behind the righteous army, and the words that just echoed with authority and power across the battleground saying to the demonic legion, YOU HAVE LOST; WE HAVE WON. (This is the Gospel, We have won through Jesus.) And as that voice thundered, I turned to look and it was a large lion that was immediately right behind the righteous army: The Lion's Army. As I write this, I'm getting overcome right now; I'm back in it. I wish I could articulate what I see and feel adequately to you. Just catch the anointing. Catch what the Spirit of God is dropping on the inside of you right now. As the words from the Lion came, they entered the army, the warriors, and simultaneously with the voice of the Lion the warriors released the same words. It was as if one voice through thousands, millions perhaps, all came forth with the Lion's voice: YOU HAVE LOST; WE HAVE WON. It was a faith declaration. The strength, the confidence, the authority from heaven, from the throne, through the Lion, through the backs of the warriors and out of their mouths. And it was like the sound of many waters as it flowed across the battlefield toward the advancing hoard. And then it shifted a little bit and at that point, the Lion's army at the same time was lifted up into the air and was carried over the heads of the advancing hoard and they began to speak down upon the advancing hoard words of authority, the Word of God, faith declarations, speaking against them in great authority and power. And when they did, there was a flaming sword that came out of their mouths and the swords launched straight down on the heads of those advancing legions. There were angels in the fire in the swords and when the fire would hit one of the demonic spirits, then his power was diminished, he slowed, his screams weakened. And it was having an effect. And then I noticed behind the legions arose a great beast. And I knew it was the same beast that I had seen in preceding visions. I knew it was the same beast that was connected with Leviathan and with Jezebel. The same beast that I saw before came up to the edge of Europe, the west coast, jumped into the ocean swam over, and crawled up on the east coast of the United States. And that beast began to yell as loud as he could. It was saying, ‘Scream harder! Scream harder!' But it was too late. The screams were no match for the flaming swords of the Lion in the mouths of His warriors and the battle, the tide of which began to change. I knew instinctively, I could feel it, that the beast had the ability to influence and call in more warriors and more screams, but the power was in the screams. But the authority in the advancing army of God, the Lion's Army, was also coming out of their mouths in prayer, in faith proclamations, in prophetic declarations, in speaking the Word, in pulling down the strongholds and the strategies and the structures, all the things that were happening. People, I feel that this vision is timely in several respects: (This was given in 2018 regarding the political scene at that time. But it fits today.) Number 1, for what's going on in the spiritual atmosphere over America right now; for what's going on in the confirmation hearing for Judge Kavanaugh; for the upcoming midterm election; for … I even see behind that, the 2020 Presidential election. (The Supreme Court is deciding who won the 2020 election now. So, this is still true and relevant for today with the current DS political situations, fake administration, the 2024 presidential vote, and imminent EBS, GCR, human trafficking, illegal immigration, weather warfare, etc. We need to be declaring the defeat of the DS/apostate church and the victory of the Lion's Army.) I see all those things just coming at me in the Spirit. And I hear the screams and the violence and the threats. And the Lord says, “Do not be afraid, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. The Lion's Army is well able to do its job. The Lion's Army with flaming words of authority will rise up and defeat the enemy.” I also feel that it's a progressive revelation that we will see a progressive vision that we will see come to pass in various forms through the upcoming years. The Lion's Army. If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are part of the Lion's Army. If you will dare to stand up in prayer, you're part of the Lion's Army. If you will stand up against the unrighteousness, if you will stand against the work of the beast; you don't have to fight the beast, the LION will destroy the beast, but you are part of the army that is launching those fiery projectiles down on the heads of the legions of the damned. And it is disempowering them, it is stopping them, it is paralyzing them. It is diminishing their power and their authority in the earth, and in America, and against the body of Christ, and against God's purposes and plans for the political structure of our nation, the destiny that He has already proclaimed. YOU are a warrior … clothed in Beauty and Garments of Praise, the Armor of God, the Shield of Faith, and the Sword of the Spirit. And the angels are flowing like fire from your mouth as you speak into the second heaven, the spiritual atmosphere the words of the Lion: “YOU HAVE LOST; WE HAVE WON”; and every other word that He places in your mouth. Stand up and give it with the third-heaven authority!     Discerning Shepherds and Apostles Ellen Cary - 09/10/2008 (David's notes in red) Prophetic Word - The seven-year cycle is over. I have called and you have not answered. I have warned over and over, but you have refused to hear. You shepherds who sit in your high towers have told my sheep that I didn't cause the towers to fall, that I didn't bring Katrina for destruction (of Mardi Gras in two states), that the floods and fires are not at the hand of My judgment, teaching them that all power is not Mine, so they learn to not heed My warnings, they learn to not hearken to My voice because they believe your lies; and for this, you false shepherds will pay a high price. I call you false, for you have turned from My divine plan for your life. You've allowed the enemy to entice you with the pleasures of this world, the riches and loftiness of sitting in high places. You have exalted your throne above Mine in making the choices you have to please men, to tickle their ears and tell them what they want to hear, rather than telling them the truth. Few there are who are listening to My voice and calling My church to repent of their wicked ways, for they have gone the way of the world; their lives are compromised and not set apart for Me, to live in the holiness I've commanded. See now you false prophets who speak lies of peace and safety, you shall all be brought down by My Elijahs I'm about to release upon the land. They will smite you with the sword of the spirit that will come forth from their mouths and it shall be wielded with precision and accuracy. You who have given yourselves a title of apostle, know ye not it is only the Lord God Almighty who decides who I call as an apostle, or any of My ministry gifts to My body for their edification and growth to build My church. You gather together in your convocations to discuss your lofty plans of dominating My earth, but you know not of what you speak, for this world will never be dominated by your flesh. It is only by My Spirit that My Kingdom is established on the earth because it is established in the hearts of those I choose. My true apostles are in the fields of the world, in the dark places establishing My kingdom, for I have sent them. I alone, and no man, for I called and I instructed and I gave the order to go and they have obeyed My voice to not only listen to obey My call, but to be chosen to follow My orders. They are nameless and they are faceless only to you, for l know their names and I know their faces. I know their hearts and I know their minds, for they seek only My will, not to build their mighty kingdoms, as you have done, and for this they shall be rewarded greatly. For they are true warriors and true soldiers of the cross who have died to their own plans and purpose and allowed Me to send them out for My glory only, nothing to exalt themselves, but only Me. For they recognize they are but dust willing to be blown by the wind of My Spirit to wherever I will them to go. These shall have great reward in My house, for they have laid down their lives for the sheep, some even to death, never even thinking they are great or doing anything for recognition in My body, but only having a heart to follow after Me and being obedient to My word. Yes, the time has come for all false ones to be exposed, for you want to be leaders but you lead My sheep into the darkness and for this, the blood of many will be on your hands. The hour has come for your judgment, America, the great America whom I have blessed to such measure that all the world envies you. But shortly in an hour you think not, you shall fall and the whole earth will groan and the nations will lament and rejoice at the same time, for your greatness shall be over. (DS Babylon in America and DS Babylon in the church are falling.)     Shaking Out the Sinners Vision Given to Ueli Surbeck I saw the Father standing above me with the world in His hand and He began shaking it -- violently shaking the world up and down, left to the right and backward and forward and this is what the Father says: “My church has to be shaken out of the world. I want it out, and I am shaking my church until it comes out of the world! They have become so entwined in the world it is the only way to get them out”. He continued to shake the world violently (it very much reminds me of the process of harvesting potatoes); as I saw the church being shaken out of the world, I saw 3 things happening in the Church: Preachers were falling out of the pulpits, head first, pulpits started falling out of the Church, I saw the prophets falling, as they fell they lost their mantles, their mantles fell out of the churches and then I saw the reprobates start falling out of the Church. And then the Father said in the Voice of the General, “THEY HAVE MISSED THE HOUR OF THEIR VISITATION”. He said it 3 times consecutively. They missed the hour of My visitation; they think they are somebody, but in fact they are blind and naked. As the prophets fell out and lost their mantles, I saw the Father pick up the mantles and give them to the faithful prophets of the hour who had not missed THE HOUR OF THEIR VISITATION. (Isa.66:15-16) For behold the Lord will come with fire, and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword the Lord will judge all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many.     Tell My People I Love Them Janet M. - 11/23/2012 Around 8:00 PM, as I was lying in bed, the Lord spoke to me, saying, “Tell My people that I love them”. He had a great urgency in His voice and He did this three times. Over the course of almost an hour, He spoke to me and showed me things. But of all the things that He said, He put the greatest emphasis on the message: “Tell my people that I love them”. He started by answering a prayer of mine: I asked the Lord, “Please confirm that You do not want us to participate in Christmas”. The Lord explained that He never asked us to commemorate His birth and yet people make the manger scene of Jesus into an idol. He is not a baby in a manger anymore. There will be no Christmas in Heaven and God does not honor that day. (When we share this with family and friends we should be graceful and weak to the weak so it can be received.) The Christmas holiday is a creation of man. He continued that it grieves Him how selfish people have become, all the exchanging of gifts is merely vanity for pleasing the flesh. (Jesus taught us to give to the poor and we will be rewarded.)  Jesus already gave the greatest gift of all. How can man ever top that? He showed tremendous emotion as He spoke. I saw Him cry with trembling concerning those perishing in sin. We must repent (turn from what we know is wrong). We must forgive those who have wronged us, so that God will forgive us. Jesus died so that we can be redeemed to the Father. The blood of Jesus was that perfect sacrifice to restore fallen man unto God. We must come out from among those who covet evil and be separate from the pleasure and distractions of the worldly “Egyptian” system. Then, the Lord showed me how sin separates us from Him. I saw a narrow path and Jesus waiting at the end of it. As the people traveled the path toward Jesus, the devil would place many temptations along the way to widen the path and divert the believer from Jesus. If the believer endured, the path would again narrow, as Jesus drew them ever closer to Himself. Eventually, the believer would be near enough to abide in the Lord (they knew Him and were sure of Him). That is the place where you can reach out and touch the hem of His garment. When I saw the sincerity of the Lord as He spoke, I feared for my relatives and I pleaded to God to have mercy on them. He replied, “Believe on Me and you and your family will be saved”. I asked, “Should I do anything?” He said, “Intercede for them by lifting them up in prayer. As it is written, pray without ceasing. Since an idle mind tends to be the devil's playground, think on the things of God, for where your heart is, there your treasure will be also.” And when it comes to the devil and demons, the Lord said, “I have given you power and authority over the enemy; use it”. As the Lord saw us praying and travailing for others in obedience to God, He smiled. His smile was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I cannot describe it. I did not see His face but I saw His smile somehow. His smile had real feeling to it and was so reassuring. His smile was light, love and perfect. God then showed me how He freed my husband and me from the oppression and deception that blinded us for so long. Then I saw the chains and something like a heavy weight that bound the people who desired to stay in the world system and refused to repent. He also said that we should be willing to open our homes and our hearts to the poor on more than just Thanksgiving Day and He asked us if we would do that. As He spoke, He took me up in the spirit and showed me some things that are important to Him. I saw Jesus pointing to the Earth. The Earth looked to be about the size of a tangerine compared to Him. Somehow, I was standing next to Him. He pointed to the Earth and said, “I have commissioned you to tell them, 'Tell My people that I love them'. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Start the conversation by telling them that I love them. It is your job to tell them. The Holy Spirit will convict them”.     The Harlot's Final Moments Jenni Davis - 06/30/2009 (David's notes in red) I had a vision the other night. I cannot believe it took me a couple of days to understand its meaning, as it is so incredible and obvious to me just now after God opened my eyes. In my vision, a group of people, including myself, were kneeling around an old, dying woman who was on the ground, taking her last breaths of air. Other people were standing around watching the scene, but a small number of us were knelt beside her. She was a very old woman, heavily wrinkled and ancient-looking, to the point it was clear she had shrunk in her old age. She was decked out in the most humorous way to hide her age. She had an enormous, thick, long, blond, curly wig on to hide her balding, thin hair. She had decked herself out in thigh stockings and lots of fake jewelry. She was so “in costume” that she just looked hilarious, as she was trying to cover her age and recover her youth. She was fooling no one, of course; she looked like she was dressed up for a costume party -- like an old hooker. As she lay there dying, taking her last breaths, suddenly, a horrifying-sounding demon started speaking out of her mouth. It was just like a Poltergeist movie. Here was this tiny old woman dying on the ground and this awful, male, evil voice started speaking in a language I could not understand out of HER mouth; it was clearly pure evil. I have no idea what she was saying but I could feel the evil in the air -- thick and awful --and her body slashed and flexed as she spoke these evil words forth. Suddenly, all the other people who were knelt beside her started breaking into spiritual warfare to combat the demon that was speaking. They were flailing their arms, pointing their fingers, binding demons and speaking in tongues in their own chaos all around her. My mouth dropped a bit and my eyes widened a bit, watching this mad display going on around me as this old woman lay hardly breathing, but still managing to speak forth evil. I remember thinking, ‘what in the world is going on here?' Then, like a mother who is tired of watching someone rock her whaling baby in the wrong way and finally gets frustrated and screams, “Give me that baby!” and snatches the infant into her own arms; well, I did the same. I took the old woman's upper torso into my arms and pulled her to my chest (my heart), out of their flailing hands and away from their words, and I held her to my heart and said, “Jesus”. One time only. Instantly, the demon(s) were gone! She was instantly healed and alive and she jumped to her feet and ran around happy and jumping like a little kid. Everyone was shocked, including me a little. It felt like such a natural response to pull her to me, that I was also shocked at the result. I only saw her for a second before the vision ended, but I saw that her wig and the rest of her costume was falling off. I am embarrassed to say it took me two days to realize it was the false harlot church that is the old woman, who even now lies dying. (I believe this old woman more specifically represents a body of people in the midst of the larger Harlot church who will turn to God because of the love of more mature brethren who will reach out to them as Jenni did here.) God knows what evil she will speak as she takes her last breaths (what more or new madness she will speak) and who will listen to it, but I do know how some will try and fight it. They will try and fight it with their own wisdom, their own power, their own warfare. It will not work. Jesus is the hero, He is the answer and He is the dragon slayer. He knows how to fight; it is our job to call on Him. He lives in our heart; we are His bride if we understand and know His love. It is His love in us and through us that will conquer the demons that hold the (harlot) church captive. She IS loved and out of love and genuine empathy for anyone who is lost, confused, bewitched and evil, we should do as God says: “Bring them to me and I will give them life”. All we do is hold them in our hearts and love them in Jesus' name and He will give them life. He will accomplish this --not us. I am reminded in this vision of the day that God asked me if I wanted to know what the “Best spiritual warfare is” and I eagerly said, “Yes! Tell me!” He said this slowly to me: “Close your eyes, lay your head on My chest and rest”. It is finished. It is all His work; we just call on Him.

⁠13 ⁠But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved.qui autem perseveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit. ⁠ 14 ⁠And this gospel of the kingdom, shall be preached in the whole world, for a testimony to all nations, and then shall the consummation come.Et praedicabitur hoc Evangelium regni in universo orbe, in testimonium omnibus gentibus : et tunc veniet consummatio. ⁠ 15 ⁠When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth let him understand.Cum ergo videritis abominationem desolationis, quae dicta est a Daniele propheta, stantem in loco sancto, qui legit, intelligat : ⁠ 16 ⁠Then they that are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains:tunc qui in Judaea sunt, fugiant ad montes : ⁠ 17 ⁠And he that is on the housetop, let him not come down to take any thing out of his house:et qui in tecto, non descendat tollere aliquid de domo sua : ⁠ 18 ⁠And he that is in the field, let him not go back to take his coat.et qui in agro, non revertatur tollere tunicam suam. ⁠ 19 ⁠And woe to them that are with child, and that give suck in those days.Vae autem praegnantibus et nutrientibus in illis diebus! ⁠ 20 ⁠But pray that your flight be not in the winter, or on the sabbath.Orate autem ut non fiat fuga vestra in hieme, vel sabbato : ⁠ 21 ⁠For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be.erit enim tunc tribulatio magna, qualis non fuit ab initio mundi usque modo, neque fiet. ⁠ 22 ⁠And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh should be saved: but for the sake of the elect those days shall be shortened.Et nisi breviati fuissent dies illi, non fieret salva omnis caro : sed propter electos breviabuntur dies illi. ⁠ 23 ⁠Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him.Tunc si quis vobis dixerit : Ecce hic est Christus, aut illic : nolite credere. ⁠ 24 ⁠For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect.Surgent enim pseudochristi, et pseudoprophetae : et dabunt signa magna, et prodigia, ita ut in errorem inducantur ( si fieri potest) etiam electi. ⁠ 25 ⁠Behold I have told it to you, beforehand.Ecce praedixi vobis. ⁠ 26 ⁠If therefore they shall say to you: Behold he is in the desert, go ye not out: Behold he is in the closets, believe it not.Si ergo dixerint vobis : Ecce in deserto est, nolite exire; Ecce in penetralibus, nolite credere. ⁠ 27 ⁠For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west: so shall the coming of the Son of man be.Sicut enim fulgur exit ab oriente, et paret usque in occidentem : ita erit et adventus Filii hominis. ⁠ 28 ⁠Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together.Ubicumque fuerit corpus, illic congregabuntur et aquilae. ⁠ 29 ⁠And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be moved:Statim autem post tribulationem dierum illorum sol obscurabitur, et luna non dabit lumen suum, et stellae cadent de caelo, et virtutes caelorum commovebuntur : ⁠ 30 ⁠And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty.et tunc parebit signum Filii hominis in caelo : et tunc plangent omnes tribus terrae : et videbunt Filium hominis venientem in nubibus caeli cum virtute multa et majestate. ⁠ 31 ⁠And he shall send his angels with a trumpet, and a great voice: and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest parts of the heavens to the utmost bounds of them.Et mittet angelos suos cum tuba, et voce magna : et congregabunt electos ejus a quatuor ventis, a summis caelorum usque ad terminos eorum. ⁠ 32 ⁠And from the fig tree learn a parable: When the branch thereof is now tender, and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is nigh.Ab arbore autem fici discite parabolam : cum jam ramus ejus tener fuerit, et folia nata, scitis quia prope est aestas : ⁠ 33 ⁠So you also, when you shall see all these things, know ye that it is nigh, even at the doors.ita et vos cum videritis haec omnia, scitote quia prope est, in januis. ⁠ 34 ⁠Amen I say to you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.Amen dico vobis, quia non praeteribit generatio haec, donec omnia haec fiant. ⁠ 35 ⁠Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass.Caelum et terra transibunt, verba autem mea non praeteribunt. Jesus foretells the destruction of the world, and His second Advent, when all nations shall see the eternal Judge coming with power and majesty in the clouds of heaven.

13 But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved.qui autem perseveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit.  14 And this gospel of the kingdom, shall be preached in the whole world, for a testimony to all nations, and then shall the consummation come.Et praedicabitur hoc Evangelium regni in universo orbe, in testimonium omnibus gentibus : et tunc veniet consummatio.  15 When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth let him understand.Cum ergo videritis abominationem desolationis, quae dicta est a Daniele propheta, stantem in loco sancto, qui legit, intelligat :  16 Then they that are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains:tunc qui in Judaea sunt, fugiant ad montes :  17 And he that is on the housetop, let him not come down to take any thing out of his house:et qui in tecto, non descendat tollere aliquid de domo sua :  18 And he that is in the field, let him not go back to take his coat.et qui in agro, non revertatur tollere tunicam suam.  19 And woe to them that are with child, and that give suck in those days.Vae autem praegnantibus et nutrientibus in illis diebus!  20 But pray that your flight be not in the winter, or on the sabbath.Orate autem ut non fiat fuga vestra in hieme, vel sabbato :  21 For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be.erit enim tunc tribulatio magna, qualis non fuit ab initio mundi usque modo, neque fiet.  22 And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh should be saved: but for the sake of the elect those days shall be shortened.Et nisi breviati fuissent dies illi, non fieret salva omnis caro : sed propter electos breviabuntur dies illi.  23 Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him.Tunc si quis vobis dixerit : Ecce hic est Christus, aut illic : nolite credere.  24 For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect.Surgent enim pseudochristi, et pseudoprophetae : et dabunt signa magna, et prodigia, ita ut in errorem inducantur ( si fieri potest) etiam electi.  25 Behold I have told it to you, beforehand.Ecce praedixi vobis.  26 If therefore they shall say to you: Behold he is in the desert, go ye not out: Behold he is in the closets, believe it not.Si ergo dixerint vobis : Ecce in deserto est, nolite exire; Ecce in penetralibus, nolite credere.  27 For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west: so shall the coming of the Son of man be.Sicut enim fulgur exit ab oriente, et paret usque in occidentem : ita erit et adventus Filii hominis.  28 Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together.Ubicumque fuerit corpus, illic congregabuntur et aquilae.  29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be moved:Statim autem post tribulationem dierum illorum sol obscurabitur, et luna non dabit lumen suum, et stellae cadent de caelo, et virtutes caelorum commovebuntur :  30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty.et tunc parebit signum Filii hominis in caelo : et tunc plangent omnes tribus terrae : et videbunt Filium hominis venientem in nubibus caeli cum virtute multa et majestate.  31 And he shall send his angels with a trumpet, and a great voice: and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest parts of the heavens to the utmost bounds of them.Et mittet angelos suos cum tuba, et voce magna : et congregabunt electos ejus a quatuor ventis, a summis caelorum usque ad terminos eorum.  32 And from the fig tree learn a parable: When the branch thereof is now tender, and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is nigh.Ab arbore autem fici discite parabolam : cum jam ramus ejus tener fuerit, et folia nata, scitis quia prope est aestas :  33 So you also, when you shall see all these things, know ye that it is nigh, even at the doors.ita et vos cum videritis haec omnia, scitote quia prope est, in januis.  34 Amen I say to you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.Amen dico vobis, quia non praeteribit generatio haec, donec omnia haec fiant.  35 Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass.Caelum et terra transibunt, verba autem mea non praeteribunt. Jesus foretells the destruction of the world, and His second Advent, when all nations shall see the eternal Judge coming with power and majesty in the clouds of heaven.

 15 When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth let him understand.Cum ergo videritis abominationem desolationis, quae dicta est a Daniele propheta, stantem in loco sancto, qui legit, intelligat :  16 Then they that are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains:tunc qui in Judaea sunt, fugiant ad montes :  17 And he that is on the housetop, let him not come down to take any thing out of his house:et qui in tecto, non descendat tollere aliquid de domo sua :  18 And he that is in the field, let him not go back to take his coat.et qui in agro, non revertatur tollere tunicam suam.  19 And woe to them that are with child, and that give suck in those days.Vae autem praegnantibus et nutrientibus in illis diebus!  20 But pray that your flight be not in the winter, or on the sabbath.Orate autem ut non fiat fuga vestra in hieme, vel sabbato :  21 For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be.erit enim tunc tribulatio magna, qualis non fuit ab initio mundi usque modo, neque fiet.  22 And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh should be saved: but for the sake of the elect those days shall be shortened.Et nisi breviati fuissent dies illi, non fieret salva omnis caro : sed propter electos breviabuntur dies illi.  23 Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him.Tunc si quis vobis dixerit : Ecce hic est Christus, aut illic : nolite credere.  24 For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect.Surgent enim pseudochristi, et pseudoprophetae : et dabunt signa magna, et prodigia, ita ut in errorem inducantur ( si fieri potest) etiam electi.  25 Behold I have told it to you, beforehand.Ecce praedixi vobis.  26 If therefore they shall say to you: Behold he is in the desert, go ye not out: Behold he is in the closets, believe it not.Si ergo dixerint vobis : Ecce in deserto est, nolite exire; Ecce in penetralibus, nolite credere.  27 For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west: so shall the coming of the Son of man be.Sicut enim fulgur exit ab oriente, et paret usque in occidentem : ita erit et adventus Filii hominis.  28 Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together.Ubicumque fuerit corpus, illic congregabuntur et aquilae.  29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be moved:Statim autem post tribulationem dierum illorum sol obscurabitur, et luna non dabit lumen suum, et stellae cadent de caelo, et virtutes caelorum commovebuntur :  30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty.et tunc parebit signum Filii hominis in caelo : et tunc plangent omnes tribus terrae : et videbunt Filium hominis venientem in nubibus caeli cum virtute multa et majestate.  31 And he shall send his angels with a trumpet, and a great voice: and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest parts of the heavens to the utmost bounds of them.Et mittet angelos suos cum tuba, et voce magna : et congregabunt electos ejus a quatuor ventis, a summis caelorum usque ad terminos eorum.  32 And from the fig tree learn a parable: When the branch thereof is now tender, and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is nigh.Ab arbore autem fici discite parabolam : cum jam ramus ejus tener fuerit, et folia nata, scitis quia prope est aestas :  33 So you also, when you shall see all these things, know ye that it is nigh, even at the doors.ita et vos cum videritis haec omnia, scitote quia prope est, in januis.  34 Amen I say to you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.Amen dico vobis, quia non praeteribit generatio haec, donec omnia haec fiant.  35 Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass.Caelum et terra transibunt, verba autem mea non praeteribunt

 13- But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be savedqui autem perseveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit.  [Matthew 24:13]  14 And this gospel of the kingdom, shall be preached in the whole world, for a testimony to all nations, and then shall the consummation come.Et praedicabitur hoc Evangelium regni in universo orbe, in testimonium omnibus gentibus : et tunc veniet consummatio.  15 When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth let him understand.Cum ergo videritis abominationem desolationis, quae dicta est a Daniele propheta, stantem in loco sancto, qui legit, intelligat :  16 Then they that are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains:tunc qui in Judaea sunt, fugiant ad montes :  17 And he that is on the housetop, let him not come down to take any thing out of his house:et qui in tecto, non descendat tollere aliquid de domo sua :  18 And he that is in the field, let him not go back to take his coat.et qui in agro, non revertatur tollere tunicam suam.  19 And woe to them that are with child, and that give suck in those days.Vae autem praegnantibus et nutrientibus in illis diebus!  20 But pray that your flight be not in the winter, or on the sabbath.Orate autem ut non fiat fuga vestra in hieme, vel sabbato :  21 For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be.erit enim tunc tribulatio magna, qualis non fuit ab initio mundi usque modo, neque fiet.  22 And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh should be saved: but for the sake of the elect those days shall be shortened.Et nisi breviati fuissent dies illi, non fieret salva omnis caro : sed propter electos breviabuntur dies illi.  23 Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him.Tunc si quis vobis dixerit : Ecce hic est Christus, aut illic : nolite credere.  24 For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect.Surgent enim pseudochristi, et pseudoprophetae : et dabunt signa magna, et prodigia, ita ut in errorem inducantur ( si fieri potest) etiam electi.  25 Behold I have told it to you, beforehand.Ecce praedixi vobis.  26 If therefore they shall say to you: Behold he is in the desert, go ye not out: Behold he is in the closets, believe it not.Si ergo dixerint vobis : Ecce in deserto est, nolite exire; Ecce in penetralibus, nolite credere.  27 For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west: so shall the coming of the Son of man be.Sicut enim fulgur exit ab oriente, et paret usque in occidentem : ita erit et adventus Filii hominis.  28 Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together.Ubicumque fuerit corpus, illic congregabuntur et aquilae.  29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be moved:Statim autem post tribulationem dierum illorum sol obscurabitur, et luna non dabit lumen suum, et stellae cadent de caelo, et virtutes caelorum commovebuntur :  30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty.et tunc parebit signum Filii hominis in caelo : et tunc plangent omnes tribus terrae : et videbunt Filium hominis venientem in nubibus caeli cum virtute multa et majestate.  31 And he shall send his angels with a trumpet, and a great voice: and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest parts of the heavens to the utmost bounds of them.Et mittet angelos suos cum tuba, et voce magna : et congregabunt electos ejus a quatuor ventis, a summis caelorum usque ad terminos eorum.  32 And from the fig tree learn a parable: When the branch thereof is now tender, and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is nigh.Ab arbore autem fici discite parabolam : cum jam ramus ejus tener fuerit, et folia nata, scitis quia prope est aestas :  33 So you also, when you shall see all these things, know ye that it is nigh, even at the doors.ita et vos cum videritis haec omnia, scitote quia prope est, in januis.  34 Amen I say to you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.Amen dico vobis, quia non praeteribit generatio haec, donec omnia haec fiant.  35 Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass.Caelum et terra transibunt, verba autem mea non praeteribunt.

Elitist intellectuals are drawn to the concept of a psychological trap because others' suffering entertains them and because their perception of another's supposed trap reinforces their sense of self-importance and permanence. Poor Sartre, poor DNC, poor duopoly.“The fool says in his heart, There is no Judge.”I agree, Jean-Paul: for your spiritual children, there can be “No Exit.”The local Judean elders, who should be hearing and repeating Jesus's words, are more concerned with manipulating the goodwill of their Roman occupiers to further their political agenda. In turn, the Roman servant, manipulated by the elders, shows zeal for the Torah. Still, his life remains in disrepair because the people of the Synagogue love their “nation” and their shiny new Synagogue more than the words—the debarim—of Isaiah.What right do the Judeans have to call anyone “worthy” or good? Their human judgment, assessment, and feedback “build” a house that Jesus does not enter and a Synagogue that ultimately rejects him.Is there an exit from Sartre's hell? Yes. Clearly. French existentialism, like postmodernism, is silly.There is only one Judge.Stop listening to the people of Capernaum and start following Jesus. Imitate the obedience of the Centurion, who did not accept accolades from the people of Judaea but received instead the one vote that counts.This week, I discuss Luke 7:1-10. Show Notesי-ק-ר (yod-qof-resh) / و-ق-ر (waw-qaf-ra)ἔντιμος (éntimos) “precious,” “honored,” “honorable in rank” (Luke 7:2) aligns with יקר (yāqār) in Hebrew, which can function as “heavy,” “valuable,” “honored,” “dignified,” “dear,” or—relevant to Luke 7:2, 1 Peter 2:4 and 1 Peter 2:6—“precious.” The Arabic root و-ق-ر (waw-qaf-ra) implies dignity, and can funtion as “to honor.”وَقَار (waqār) — Dignity or solemnity. This word is often used to describe a person's respectful or dignified demeanor.وَقِرَ (waqira) — To be weighty or important. In this form, it implies something substantial or of significant value.وَقَّرَ (waqqara) — To honor or respect. This is the form II verb (with shadda on the middle letter), meaning “to show respect or honor,” often used in contexts where someone honors or reveres another.تَوْقِير (tawqīr) — Reverence or high regard. This noun, derived from form II of the root, refers to the act of showing respect or esteem, often used in formal or respectful contexts.مُتَوَقِّر (mutawaqqir) — Dignified or solemn person. This adjective describes a person who carries themselves with dignity, calmness, and respectability.وَقُور (waqūr) — A dignified or composed person. This adjective describes someone who possesses an aura of respect, often used for people who are calm, collected, and reverent.The Hebrew root רפא (rafa) is rich in function related to healing, repairing, and recovering, extending across various Semitic languages. Arabic uses the verb رفع, (rafa‘a) “to mend or repair,” with a similar connotation. "And say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, Just so will I break this people and this city, even as one breaks a potter's vessel, which cannot again be repaired (לְהֵרָפֵא, leheraphe) and they will bury in Topheth because there is no other place for burial.'" (Jeremiah 19:11 )ח-ו-ר (ḥet-waw-resh) / ح-ر-ر (ḥāʾ-rāʾ-rāʾ)ἔντιμος (éntimos) also aligns to חֹר (ḥor), “free,” or “noble” حُرّ (ḥurr) freebornحرية (ḥurriya) “freedom” or “libertyحرر (ḥarrara): To liberate or set freeἔντιμος appears only in Luke 7:2, 1 Peter 2:4, 1 Peter 2:6 and Philippians 2:29.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

17 And coming down with them, he stood in a plain place, and the company of his disciples, and a very great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast both of Tyre and Sidon,Et descendens cum illis, stetit in loco campestri, et turba discipulorum ejus, et multitudo copiosa plebis ab omni Judaea, et Jerusalem, et maritima, et Tyri, et Sidonis,  18 Who were come to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases. And they that were troubled with unclean spirits, were cured.qui venerant ut audirent eum, et sanarentur a languoribus suis. Et qui vexabantur a spiritibus immundis, curabantur.  19 And all the multitude sought to touch him, for virtue went out from him, and healed all.Et omnis turba quaerebat eum tangere : quia virtus de illo exibat, et sanabat omnes.  20 And he, lifting up his eyes on his disciples, said: Blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.Et ipse elevatis oculis in discipulis suis, dicebat : Beati pauperes, quia vestrum est regnum Dei.  21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for you shall laugh.Beati qui nunc esuritis, quia saturabimini. Beati qui nunc fletis, quia ridebitis.  22 Blessed shall you be when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.Beati eritis cum vos oderint homines, et cum separaverint vos, et exprobraverint, et ejicerint nomen vestrum tamquam malum propter Filium hominis.  23 Be glad in that day and rejoice; for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For according to these things did their fathers to the prophets.Gaudete in illa die, et exsultate : ecce enim merces vestra multa est in caelo : secundum haec enim faciebant prophetis patres eorum. Ss Cosmas and Damian, two brothers, physicians, born at Egaea (Arabia), were beheaded after many tortures in Cilicea, under Diocletian, by order of the prefect Lysias A.D. 283.

Demetrius II was king last time we checked in with the kingdom of Macedon. In order to establish some context for the time period when both Macedon and Egypt were getting involved in Cleomenes of Sparta's war, we are going to have to introduce both Antigonus III and the young Philip V. Sources for this episode: Bevan, E. R. (1902), The House of Seleucus (Vol. I). London: Edward Arthur. Rawlinson, G. (1871), A Manual of Ancient History, From the Earliest Times to the Fall of the Western Empire. Comprising the History of Chaldea, Assyria, Media, Babylonia, Lydia, Phoenicia, Syria, Judaea, Egypt, Carthage, Persia, Greece, Macedonia, Parthia, and Rome. New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antigonus III Doson (online) (Accessed c.16/04/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Philip V of Macedon (online) (Accessed 15/04/2024 and 16/04/2024).

Entrusted with the Gospel Galatians 1:18-2:10 by William Klock I will never forget the first day I wore my letterman jacket to school.  High school is full of tribes.  There were the jocks and the nerds, there were the art kids and the shop kids, there were the cool girls and the stoners and the geeks.  And it was obvious which tribe everyone belonged to.  I was always carrying around a book by the likes of Tolkien or Asimov.  And my friends and I avoided the cafeteria at all costs.  Instead, we played Dungeons & Dragons in the library.  I had both feet firmly planted in the nerd tribe.  But I was also on the swim team.  The swim team was one of those sports no one paid attention to.  The only people who knew you were on the swim team were other people on the swim team.  So I remember walking into school that day with my letterman jacket on and everybody stopped and looked, because there I was, one of the nerds dressed like a jock.  But once the surprise wore off, everything fell into place.  Suddenly people who had never been friendly to me were friendly.  No questions asked.  That jacket marked me out as part of a new tribe.  I didn't hang out with the jocks.  I still wouldn't go anywhere near the cafeteria.  I still carried around my sci-fi novels and played D&D at lunch with the nerds, but to the other jocks it didn't matter.  I had a letterman jacket and that was all that mattered. It was something like that for Jews, except the thing that marked you out wasn't a letterman jacket; it was circumcision.  There were other things a good Jew was supposed to do that would also mark them out, because there was more to the torah than circumcision.  You kept the sabbath, you ate only clean foods, you avoided contact with gentiles.  Those were the big ones.  But circumcision was the marker.  You could fail at all those other things.  You could eat shrimp, you could do business on the sabbath, you could hang out with gentiles, but as long as you were circumcised you were still a Jew.  Maybe a bad Jew.  Maybe a people-pleasing Jew.  But still a Jew, because you bore the mark of God's covenant. With that in mind, it's not hard to imagine how this would present a problem for the first Christians.  Remember what I said last week.  They didn't see becoming a Christian as switching religions as we might think of it.  They were still Jews.  Jesus was the Jewish Messiah and he was the fulfilment of everything that Judaism stood for.  When gentiles believed in Jesus, they were joining up with a movement that was very much Jewish.  But what did that involve?  The Lord had cleared this up for Peter in Acts 10, when he sent him to the home of a Roman centurion named Cornelius.  Jews didn't visit or eat with gentiles, but in a vision the Lord made it clear to Peter that through faith in Jesus, even gentiles were made clean.  And this was absolutely earth-shaking.  Gentiles were unclean because they were idolaters.  They were sinners.  In those few instances where gentiles were attracted to Judaism, converting meant being purified and then being circumcised so that they were no longer sinful, unclean gentiles.  Only then could they associate with Jews and be accepted into the community.  But Paul is stressing—against these agitators in the Galatian churches and their false gospel—Paul is stressing that this new Israel, this new ekklesia or assembly of God, is marked out solely by faith in Jesus and that since Jesus dealt with sin in his death and resurrection, those who believe in him are no longer sinners, no longer unclean, and in need of nothing else in order to be part of the community.  In fact, going further, Paul stresses that the implication of this—and it goes against the grain of everything in Judaism of the day—the implication is that there is only one people of God.  Jew and gentile together—it doesn't matter, because the thing that always separated the two—sin—has been dealt with by Jesus.  This is why any “gospel” that adds anything to Jesus is false.  We saw in the first part of Chapter 1 that Paul actually calls down a curse on such teaching.  The gospel is Jesus plus nothing. So with this in mind, let's finish our look at Chapter 1 and then carry on to the first part of Chapter 2.  In the first part of Chapter 1 Paul has asserted first that his apostleship—his being called and sent—came directly from Jesus.  He's not the representative of any men.  He wasn't sent out by men—not even by other apostles.  He's been sent by Jesus.  And having established that, he's also stressed that his gospel came directly from Jesus, too.  He wasn't brought to faith in Jesus by Peter or James or anyone else.  Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, risen from the dead, and that changed everything for Paul.  Even then, he said, he didn't go to Jerusalem to consult with the other apostles.  Instead, like the prophet Elijah, he went to Mount Sinai to wrestle this through with the God of Israel.  There he worked through the implications of Jesus risen from the dead.  Only then did he go back to Antioch.  Now we'll pick up at 1:18.  Paul writes: Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas [that's Peter's Greek name…Cephas and Peter both mean “rock”].  I stayed with him for fifteen days.  I didn't see any of the other apostles, except James the Lord's brother.  And then Paul adds to stress his point, Look, I'm not lying!  The things I'm writing to you are written in God's presence. Paul uses this neat word here to describe his visit to Peter.  This is the only place we ever see it in the New Testament: historesai.  It's related to the word historia, which means “an account” or “a personal story”.  By Paul's day it usually just had the sense of visiting someone, but it could still carry the meaning of “to hear another person's story” and I think it's clear that's what Paul wants to stress here.  He could have said that he went to Peter to be taught, but hewants it to be clear that he didn't go to Peter for lessons on the gospel or on theology.  He'd wrestled that out with God after his encounter with the risen Messiah.  Paul's gospel was Jesus plus nothing.  Gentiles didn't need to be circumcised or to live by torah.  Paul had worked this out as the natural and inevitable implication of Jesus' death and resurrection.  So this visit was about getting to know his fellow apostle, Peter, to hear his story and to bring him up to date on Paul's own story and apostolic ministry—and hopefully they'd be in agreement about it all.  Again, Paul was sent by Jesus himself and his gospel came directly from Jesus, not from men.  Paul goes on in verses 21-24: Then I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.  I remained unknown by sight to the messianic assemblies in Judaea.  They simply heard that the one who had been persecuting them was now announcing the good news of the faith he once tried to destroy.  And they glorified God because of me.   So Paul and Peter met, they brought each other up to speed on their ministries and they got to know each other—lining this up with the book of Acts, this would have been Paul's first visit to Jerusalem, about A.D. 36—and then Paul went back to Syria to continue preaching the good news of faith in Jesus the Messiah.  The Jesus followers in Judaea knew who he was and they rejoiced that the man who had once tried to stamp them out was now one of them, but Paul's point here is that if they'd seen him on the street, they wouldn't have known who he was.  Again, apart from being a fellow apostle of Jesus, he had no connection with the apostles in Jerusalem.  He worked for Jesus, not for Peter or James.  And, he stresses, no one had a problem with this.  In fact, the people down in Judaea glorified God to hear of Paul's gospel ministry.  There's an echo of Isaiah there, where the Lord says, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” There is one thing that I think needs attention here before we move on and that's Paul's way of describing his ministry.  He describes himself as “announcing the good news of the faith”.  To put it literally, he's “gospelling the faith”.  It's an unusual way of putting things, but I think Paul does this here to stress what's going to be his main point in the rest of the letter: This faith—faith in Jesus the crucified and risen Messiah—is the thing that binds Jesus' people together.  It's the one thing that marks them out as his—not circumcision or anything else.  Faith in Jesus makes you part of the family. So there's about a decade of Paul's life that passes that we know nothing about other than that he was apparently ministering in Antioch and the surrounding area.  He picks up his story in 2:1, saying: After fourteen years [this would be from the time he met Jesus], I went up again to Jerusalem.  I took Barnabas with me, and Titus.  I went up because of a revelation.   Not everyone agrees on the timeline, but this seems to align with what we read in Acts 11, where a prophet named Agabus, told the churches that there would be a great famine.  This was in the middle of the 40s.  The church in Antioch—and that included Paul—responded by sending help to their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem.  This is why Paul says he went to Jerusalem because of a revelation. Now, Paul taking money from his church to help other churches might seem incidental, but it really isn't.  In fact, it's very much part of the theme of Galatians.  I think there's a tendency in conservative circles to ignore the way these early churches cared for each other in response to people on the left making claims that the early church was Socialist.  There's no reason for conservatives to avoid this.  Karl Marx was two millennia away.  There was no “socialism” in the First Century.  What there was, was Christians doing their best to live out who they knew themselves to be in Jesus.  They were a family.  That's why we call each other “Brother” and “Sister”.  And families take care of each other.  When the brothers and sisters in Damascus heard that their cousins in Jerusalem were struggling, they sent help.  This was a very Jewish way of life.  This was how Jewish communities worked and I think what's really remarkable here—and something we probably miss in our reading of passages like this—it's remarkable that the early church was living this way.  The Jews were literally a family, but these new churches, they were different, especially once you got out of Judaea.  There were people of different races and nationalities, there were freemen and slaves, there were men and women and they quickly realised that just like the old Israel, they were a family.  So what's going on here is them trying to live that out in their communities.  I think this is something modern Christians in the West need to be thinking about, especially as the world around us becomes more hostile towards us.  Our culture is all about “me” and it's materialistic and commercialistic and we bring that thinking into the church.  We make it all about what the church can offer me.  When we don't get what we want or when we have a dispute with someone, we leave and go somewhere else.  We go “church shopping”, looking for the right experience or the right combination of “features”.  That's the polar opposite of what a family is. For Paul, this unity across all these differences of language, ethnicity, class, and sex, it wasn't some secondary thing.  It was central to the gospel.  Jesus has one people.  Gentiles who believed were no longer to be seen as “sinners” or as “unclean”, because Jesus dealt with sin on the cross.  Anyone who believes becomes a full member of the one family. So Paul went up to Jerusalem carrying the money raised in Antioch.  While he was there—because he was already there anyway—he met with some of the other apostles to talk about his ministry.  Continuing with verse 2: I laid before them the gospel which I announce among the gentiles (I did this privately, in the presence of key people), in case somehow I might be running, or might have run, to no good effect.   So did Paul do this because he thought he might have got things wrong and wanted Peter and the others to weigh in one way or the other?  I don't think that's it at all.  For ten years Paul had been proclaiming the gospel and he'd seen its power.  He had no doubts that he had the gospel right.  He'd got it straight from Jesus, after all.  His purpose, I think, seems to have been a desire to make sure that he and the others in Jerusalem were really on the same page.  Things had come up.  Maybe things lost in translation between Jerusalem and Antioch, and I think Paul trusted Peter and the others and that the problems were elsewhere, but he wanted to make sure.  If nothing else, we get the sense that Paul really loved Isaiah 49 and that he saw himself in the figure of Isaiah's “servant”.  He quoted from Isaiah 49:3 back in 1:24 and now he alludes to Isaiah 49:4, “I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward is with God.”  Paul was worried that he might be wasting his time.  If the apostles in Jerusalem were preaching something different, especially something that added torah to Jesus, well then, Paul was kind of doing all this for nothing, because that kind of teaching was going to tear the church apart.  Paul saw this united messianic community representing, unveiling God's new creation in the midst of the present evil age.  The fact that this new people existed as one despite all their differences, meant that Jesus had defeated the evil powers of this age on the cross.  And if the folks in Jerusalem were going to undermine that…well…why was Paul wasting his time? So Paul says: But even the Greek, Titus, who was with me, was not forced to get circumcised.   Not so much because Peter and the others were on the same page with Paul, but because Paul stood firmly on the gospel he'd received from Jesus himself and refused to move from it.  It turns out that not everyone at that meeting was well-meaning.  He goes on: But because of some pseudo-family members who had been secretly smuggled in, who came in on the side to spy on the freedom which we have in the Messiah, Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery… I didn't yield authority to them, not for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be maintained for you.   Someone—Paul doesn't seem to be clear who—but someone smuggled some folks into that meeting who shouldn't have been there.  He says literally “pseudo-brothers”.  They pretended—even claimed—to be members of the church family, but in reality they weren't.  This highlights just how serious Paul thinks it is to mess with the content of the gospel.  No doubt these pseudo-family members claimed to believe in Jesus, but when they realised that Titus, a Greek, was with Paul and uncircumcised, they insisted he be circumcised.  He was unclean—or so they thought.  This was no small thing.  To turn the gospel into a message of Jesus plus circumcision meant that they didn't really understand the gospel.  They were gutting Jesus' death and resurrection of their significance.  They were fake family members.  Paul knew that the gospel stands or falls on this.  Either the death and resurrection of Jesus and the gift of the Spirit defeated the evil powers of the present age, delivered people from their power, and made them new…or it didn't.  This was the same thing that was happening in Galatia and Paul took a stand even if Peter and the others wouldn't.  And, he says, he took his stand “so that the truth of the gospel might be maintained for” them—for his brothers and sisters in Galatia. We'll finish with verses 6-10.  Paul summarises the end result of his meeting with the other apostles: And those who seemed to be something—what sort of “thing” they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality—those of reputation added nothing extra to me.  On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcision, just as Peter had been with the gospel for the circumcision (for the one who gave Peter the power to be an apostle to the circumcision gave me the power of the gospel to the gentiles).  They knew, moreover, the grace that had been given to me.  So James, Cephas, and John, who were reputed to be “pillars”, gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the gentiles, and they to the circumcision.  The only extra thing they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor—the very thing I was eager to do.   Paul went into this meeting knowing what people in Judaea thought of Peter, James, and the other original apostles.  The Christians there accorded them a lot of respect.  They were “something” Paul says.  But what Paul didn't know was how Peter and the others thought of themselves.  Were they basking in that respect and acclaim?  Or were they humble ministers of the gospel?  You see, what Paul stresses here is something that every gospel minister needs to take to heart—all of us, but especially, I think, pastors.  Paul talks about the “power to be an apostle”.  Energeo he calls it—where we get our word “energy”.  But he's not talking about some kind of tangible energy for the task, but the divine power behind the gospel call.  Paul knew that the gospel wasn't something that belonged to him.  It was a message he was entrusted with and the power in it lay not with him, but with God himself.  This is why Paul was fearless in his proclamation, this is why he could stand up in a synagogue and preach to hostile Jews and this is why he could stand in the agora in Athens and preach to hostile gentiles.  Because he knew that the power in gospel proclamation lies with God.  If it were just him, his ministry would never have gone anywhere.  But since the power was God's, Paul could confidently proclaim the good news of the Messiah anywhere and to anyone.  And to Paul's relief, even though there were some mixed up people in the church in Jerusalem, Peter and the other apostles believed the same thing—they were, after all, all on the same page.  Peter had been given the same calling as Paul.  The only difference was that Peter had been sent to the Jews and Paul to the gentiles—or as he puts it in verse 7, the circumcision and the uncircumcision.  Paul makes sure we don't forget the matter in Galatia. In the middle of this, Paul's description of Peter, James, and John as “pillars” jumps out at me, especially in light of why Paul was there.  Remember, he didn't go there to hash things out with Peter.  He went to Jerusalem to take the relief money that had been raised in Antioch to help the poor in Judaea.  To talk about “pillars” in this context calls up images of the temple and I think that's exactly why Paul calls Peter and the others “pillars”.  Because God was building a new temple, as Peter would later write in one of his own epistles.  This time not a temple of bricks and mortar, but a temple made of people—men and women with faith in the Messiah and filled with God's Spirit.  Peter and the others had been the start of it and, as eyewitnesses to Jesus himself and having been entrusted with the powerful message of Jesus, crucified and risen, they were its pillars—holding up the roof and inviting in the world.  But that temple imagery explains Paul's concern for the relief money he'd brought from Antioch.  That relief money from Antioch was a real, a tangible manifestation of this idea of new creation.  The temple didn't just stand by itself.  It stood—and it stand here today right now—as a symbol of God's intention to make the whole world new and to fill it with his glory.  We see this, on the one hand, as these believers—this new family brought together in Jesus—cared for each other.  But the nature of this family, it's unity across language, ethnicity, class, and status was underscored for Paul in that these Jewish believers in Jerusalem were willing to receive a gift from the believers in Antioch.  Unbelieving Jews probably would have turned it down.  At least they would have asked questions about its origin.  Did this money pass through the hands of unclean gentiles?  Unbelieving Jews would have looked at this motley group of people in Antioch as an abomination and the Jews there as people-pleasers.  But Peter and his people in Jerusalem saw the gospel, they saw Jesus and the Spirit at work in Antioch and knew the church there to be family, to be their brothers and sisters, even though many of them were gentiles.  Again, all because and only because of Jesus. So that's our text for today.  We'll pick up next week with 2:11, one of the most significant passages in the New Testament.  But what's the takeaway here?  I've touched on a few things already, but I want to close with two points that are closely tied together.  First, notice that when Paul was confronted with this problem of a mixed church of Jews and gentiles, he knew that there was one thing and nothing else that resolved this old problem.  That one thing was Jesus, specifically his death and resurrection.  He knew that Jesus' death dealt with sin and that those who have faith in him have been set free from their—from our—bondage to sin.  We are no longer sinners.  In other places Paul will say things like “once you were” and then he'll go into a list of a bunch of sins, but then he'll say, “but now you are in Jesus the Messiah”.  You've been freed from sin.  It no longer defines you.  What defines you now, through faith, is Jesus and this new family in which he's given you a place.  This means that there's one family.  The cross deals with the Jew-gentile divide, just as it deals with all the things that divide us today.  There is one family and our life as the church should reflect that reality.  It's one of the key ways we inhabit the gospel and lift the veil on God's new creation. Now, finally, closely tied to that is Paul's insistence on the power and authority of the gospel.  People were dismissing Paul, saying that he was working for other people or that he got his gospel from other people.  In response, Paul has insisted over and over that his calling and his authority lay with Jesus himself.  Neither the power that was revealed in his ministry nor the authority he had came from him—that is, from Paul.  It was all from Jesus.  Brothers and Sisters, we're too often afraid to proclaim the good news because we forget that the power of the gospel lies not with us, but with God.  We too often get discouraged when our proclamation of the good news doesn't produce the results we hoped for, because we forget that the power lies not with us, but with God.  Paul will write in 2 Corinthians that the power that raised Jesus from the dead is the power that continues to work through our proclamation to change hearts, to change lives, to change whole communities, and to tear down the fortresses of the powers that once governed this evil age.  Just as the gospel is about Jesus plus nothing, its power lies in Jesus himself.  He sends us out to proclaim it, but when things happen, it's not us—it's all him.  We must never forget that. So Brothers and Sisters, come to the Lord's Table this morning and be reminded of what Jesus has done for us.  Eat the bread and drink the wine together and remember that by faith in Jesus, we are one family no matter our past.  The things that once separated us fade to nothing in light of our union with Jesus the Messiah.  But come, too, this morning and remember that Jesus not only died, he also rose from the grave.  Remember that in him God's new creation has begun and that we are part of it.  Remember that his resurrection has changed everything and that it's now both the lens through which we, his people, see ourselves, see each other, and see the world, but it's also the authoritative root of our gospel proclamation.  Brothers and Sisters, the same God who raised Jesus from the dead now sends us out, just like Paul, to proclaim the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection.  Never forget that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is present in our gospel proclamation and gospel witness. Let's pray: Almighty God, who on third day raised your Son from the grave, keep us ever mindful, we pray, that you have invested your gospel with the same power.  Remind us that you send us out, not to proclaim ourselves or our own message, but to proclaim with your authority the life-giving power of your gospel.  Make us faithful to live out that gospel in our life together as your church and make us fearless to proclaim it to the world around us, knowing again that it's authority and power lie not with us, but with you.  Through our Lord Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Support Breaking Walls at https://www.patreon.com/thewallbreakers In October 1944, in conjunction with the Jewish Theological Seminary, NBC began one of the longest-running religious programs in radio history. It was called The Eternal Light. The dramatized stories from ancient Judaea, along with contemporary works like The Diary of Anne Frank. It was produced by Milton Krents. Many top New York radio actors appeared. NBC donated the air time and the Seminary paid for the show's production. As part of this second episode, which aired on Sunday, October 15th, 1944, listeners heard about the founding of Temple Emanuel, the first reform Jewish synagogue in New York. It was formed in 1845 in a rented hall near Grand and Clinton Streets in Manhattan's Lower East Side. By 1944 the congregation had moved to its current location, at 1 East 65th Street, just off Fifth Avenue, on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

People Pleasers or Slaves of the Messiah? Galatians 1:1-10 by William Klock The other day the phone rang.  I answered it and a stranger on the other end asked for Veronica.  I passed the phone to her.  I wondered who it was, but I didn't get much help from Veronica's end of the conversation.  It was all “Mmhmm” and “Yes” and “Okay”.  I had no idea who it was or what it was about.  In contrast, while walking to the church I ended up following a woman who was having a very loud conversation with someone on her cell phone.  I couldn't hear the other person, but I had a pretty good idea what he or she was saying based on the responses this woman was angrily yelling into her phone.  Things like, “Oh!  So I'm being dramatic?” and other things I probably shouldn't repeat in polite company.  We do this reading between the lines when we read St. Paul's epistles.  In them we have one side of a conversation and, thankfully, it's a lot more than “Mmhmm” and “Yes” and “Okay”.  In fact, it's a lot more like “Oh!  So I'm being dramatic?”  And it's not too hard, if we go slowly and think about the context, to piece most of the conversation together.  And so Paul begins his letter to the churches in Galatia writing, “Paul, an apostle…”  And then before he's even begun, he breaks off right there, because he has to defend himself against their attacks on his apostleship.  “My apostleship,” he writes, “doesn't derive from human sources, nor did it come through a human being.  It came through Jesus the Messiah, and God the Father who raised him from the dead.”  We know at the get-go that someone in Galatia is challenging Paul's credentials.  I think we get an even better sense of what's going on if we jump ahead to verse 10 of Galatians 1.  What Paul writes there doesn't get enough attention.  We'll come back and fill things in, but in verse 10 Paul writes to them: Well now…does that sound as though I'm trying to make up to people—or to God?  Or that I'm trying to curry favour with people?  If I were still pleasing people, I wouldn't be a slave of the Messiah.   Three times he says the same thing: Am I trying to make up to people.  Am I trying to curry favour with people?  Am I trying to please people?  So we know someone in Galatian is accusing Paul of abandoning the divine message of the gospel and, instead, preaching a merely human message that will tickle people's ears and win him friends.  Anyone who knew Paul should have known better, of course, but this is how it is.  Now there's actually a text—one that would have been well-known in the Jewish word of the First Century—there's a text that really sharpens the focus of this whole “people pleasing” accusation and that gives us some context for this whole dispute.  It stands out, because this Greek phrase Paul uses for “people pleasing” is essentially the same as another word that pops up in the Greek version of Psalm 52:6 and in the fourth of the Psalms of Solomon.  Psalms of Solomon is a little collection of eighteen psalms from the First Century B.C. and the First Century A.D., probably written by Pharisees or by people very much like the Pharisees.  And there's this Greek word that isn't actually Greek—anthropareskos—that was made up by Greek-speaking Jews and outside of Paul's writings, shows up only in those two other texts.  That fourth “Psalm of Solomon” is titled “A Psalm about the People Pleasers” and it's about people who compromised God's law, cutting corners here and there, in order to suck up to their pagan neighbours.  It speaks of men who would even enter the homes of pagans and fraternise with them.  That might not seem like a problem to us, but it was something faithful Jews did not do.  But once you got out into the real world, out of Judaea, a lot of Jews found it hard to get by in life while completely avoiding contact and fraternisation with gentiles.  In the Psalms of Solomon, the finger seems to be pointed at the corrupt Jewish rulers—people like the Sadducees, the Hasmoneans, and the Herodians.  To the faithful in Israel, these people were selling out the covenant by compromising God's law in order to ingratiate themselves with the pagans. And, we need to be clear, people like the Pharisees weren't angry about the compromise of the people pleasers because they were legalists who were trying to earn their way into heaven through good works.  There's been long tendency to read Galatians in that kind of light ever since Martin Luther.  Luther read the works-righteousness of the medieval church into Paul's adversaries.  And Luther was doing much what St. Augustine had done, when he read his own disputes with the heretic Pelagius into Galatians.  Pelagius, too, taught a sort of works righteousness.  As much as Pelagius and the medieval church did pose real problems, that sort of works righteousness wasn't at issue in these First Century disputes. The reason faithful Jews were obsessed with keeping the law was because they knew that God had chosen them, delivered them from Egypt, put them in the promised land, and called them to be holy—and that this was all for a greater purpose that would somehow involve God, one day, setting this fallen world to rights.  They were trying to be, in Jesus' way of putting it, the “on earth as in heaven” people.  There was a later rabbi who said that if all Israel would keep the torah for a single day, the Messiah would come.  The Pharisees had very similar ideas.  They also believed very firmly—because they knew the story of the Lord and Israel—that if Israel failed to keep the torah, if Israel flirted with pagans and their idolatry the way Deuteronomy warned them not to, the Messiah would not come and God would not establish his kingdom.  Not only that, but the very pagans with whom Israel compromised would destroy Israel and carry the people off into exile, just as the Babylonians had done six hundred years before.  I hope that helps us to understand what's behind this accusation made against Paul that he's a “people pleaser”.  It's not just that he's risking the salvation of some gentile believers in Galatia, but that he's putting in jeopardy the whole destiny of Israel—and probably even the world. In the First Century, Jews were faced with a crisis, and it was important to know who was “in” and who was “out”.  Who were your allies and who were the wicked risking another disaster.  The “people pleasers” were most definitely on the side of the wicked.  They pretended to be on God's side, but their compromises proved otherwise.  It's important for us to remember, too, that this was the mindset in which Paul had been steeped as a Pharisee.  This is the mindset that drove him to persecute the first Christians.  And now Paul is being accused of being one of those very people pleasers. So why would anyone accuse Paul of being a people pleaser?  Well, wherever Paul went, he was preaching that anyone who believed in this Jesus, who was crucified, died, and rose again…that anyone who believed that he is Israel's Messiah and, therefore God's King, this faith is the sign that that person is part of the people of God.  It didn't matter what their ethnic background was.  That was it.  Faith in Jesus the Messiah.  Period.  This is what Paul's epistle to the Galatians is all about.  Faith in Jesus the Messiah.  If a gentile believed, he was as much a member of the family as a Jew who believed.  He didn't need to be circumcised or to have any of the other signs that marked out Jews—not diet or Sabbath, not rules about who you could or couldn't eat with.  But to a lot of people this marked Paul out as a people pleaser.  He was compromising the law and the covenant.  That made him a traitor. I've begun with this, because I think it helps us understand where the focus of Galatians lies.  Ever since Luther, our tendency, at least in our Protestant circles, has been to read Galatians as a letter about how we are saved and as a warning about the dangers of legalism or of mixing works with faith.  The theology in that is right, but the perspective isn't where it should be and I think when we put Galatians back in the proper context and get a look at it from the proper angle, what we discover it's really about is community—about who the people of God are and what marks us out.  And in that light, the problem isn't just “legalism”.  Paul reminds us that what marks out the people of God is faith in Jesus the Messiah and that trying to define the community by any other means is to make it about something other than Jesus—to set up a false gospel. So the accusation against Paul, in a nutshell, is that he's got a gospel of human origin—that he got from someone else or that he made up himself—but a gospel that they think has been watered down to make it more palatable to the gentiles, that makes it too easy for the pagans to call themselves people of God.  If we understand that, then we'll understand these first verses.  This is why Paul breaks off after writing, “Paul, an apostle…”  Remember how be breaks off suddenly and adds: (My apostleship doesn't derive from human sources, nor did it come through a human being; it came through Jesus the Messiah, and God the Father who raised him from the dead.)   Some teachers had arrived in Galatia from Jerusalem and they've told the people there not to listen to Paul.  He's not a real apostle.  He wasn't there in the beginning with Jesus.  He never knew Jesus.  Instead, they should listen to them, because they got their gospel—at least so they claim—from the men who walked with Jesus for three years, real apostles like James and Peter.  And so Paul reminds them that he, too, had an encounter with the risen Messiah.  Paul would still be a Pharisee if it hadn't been for that miraculous encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.  And it was in that encounter that Jesus himself commissioned Paul to take this good news to the gentiles.  In fact, it was seeing Jesus risen from the dead that convinced Paul of the truth of the gospel.  So he goes on: Paul, an apostle…[verse 2]and the family who are with me; to the churches in Galatia.  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Jesus the Messiah, our Lord, who gave himself for our sins, to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of God our Father, to whom be glory to the ages of ages.  Amen.   Paul…and the family who are with me.  That's the church in Antioch.  First Paul stresses that his apostleship is as from Jesus as that of any other apostle and now he stresses the relationship that he and the church in Antioch have with these churches in Galatia.  They were accusing him of being a people pleaser, of being a traitor, of being a false brother and here he reaches out with verbal arms and embraces them and reminds them that in Jesus they're all family, all brothers and sisters. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Jesus the Messiah our Lord.”  Paul has this amazing way of making everything about Jesus and the gospel.  In the Greek world they greeted each other with the word chairein, which meant “to rejoice”, but in a letter basically just means “greetings” or “salutations”.  This is, for example, how James opens his epistle.  But Paul exchanges chairein for charis, the word for “grace”—from God the Father and from Jesus the Messiah—grace to you.  He adds the Jewish greeting of shalom as well: that means “peace”.  But even his word order here in his greeting sets the tone for the whole letter.  It's not grace and peace to you; it's grace to you and then peace.  Because the sum total of God's position towards humanity is grace and this is manifest uniquely and finally in Jesus the Messiah.  Everything begins with God's grace poured out in and through Jesus.  Even the peace we know and the peace we look forward to in the age to come, even that comes as a result first of God's grace. Paul then follows this up with a four-faceted summary of the good news.  First, Jesus gave himself for our sins, (second) to rescue us from the present evil age, (third) according to the will of God our Father, (four) to whom be glory to the ages of ages.  Amen. Jesus has rescued us from the present evil age.  What does that mean?  Well, when the Jews looked at history, they divided it into two ages.  There was the present evil age dominated by sin and death and full of pain and tears and then there was the age to come when God would fulfil his promises to set the world to rights and where his people would live in his presence forever.  The present evil age is dominated by dark powers that enslave humanity through idolatry and sin.  We worship idols, giving to them the glory we were created to give to God, and we rebel against him—that's sin—and our sin tightens the chains those idols have on us and on creation.  While we were bound up in the present evil age, Jesus came to our rescue, writes Paul.  He seems to have Isaiah's song of the suffering servant in mind as he writes this, because it's this suffering servant who represents Israel and who gives his life to break the chains the idols have cast around God's people.  He dies for their sins and breaks sin's power and he leads the people in a new exodus—into the age to come.  I like the way Tom Wright often reminds us that Jesus' resurrection isn't an odd or one-off event within the old world, but rather it's a launching and defining event of God's new world.  Paul's gospel, his good news, is that Jesus has dealt with the sins that chained us as slaves in the dark and bloody temples of the idols, and he now leads us out into the sunlight, into the beginnings of God's new world. Now, here's why this is so important in Paul's letter to the Galatians.  Remember that for Jews, the problem with gentiles was that they were idolaters.  There was one true God, the God of Israel, but the gentiles instead worshipped idols and they lived and behaved sinfully, as idolaters do.  This is what made them unclean and so offensive to the Jews.  This why good Jews wouldn't go into their homes or eat with them.  There were some gentiles who saw the Jews and were attracted to their purity of life and joined up.  But to do that, they had to be circumcised.  It was a dramatic (and painful) sign that they were leaving behind the idolatrous pagan world and becoming part of Abraham's family.  But—and this is vital to understanding Galatians—Paul's point is that the gospel tells us that on the cross Jesus defeated those evil powers when he dealt with the sin that put us in their chains.  This is how there can now be one family.  This is how the gentiles can be welcomed into this new Israel.  Again, If God has defeated the idols, the dark powers of the evil age, then the gentiles, the pagans can trust in the God of Israel and become part of Jesus the Messiah's family.  And, second, because Jesus's death has dealt with sin, then those who believe in him and who become part of his family, they are no longer “sinners” or idolaters.  The thing that separated Jews and gentiles has been dealt with by Jesus at the cross, and so membership in his family is by faith in him alone and nothing else.  To add anything else to that—like circumcision or any of those other things that marked out the Jews—to add anything else is to detract from Jesus and to lose the gospel itself. And then points three and four of Paul's gospel summary: The cross wasn't some accident of history.  This was God's plan all along.  What Jesus has done reveals the faithfulness of God and that, in turn, brings the gospel back to the glorification of God.  We often make the gospel about us, but for Paul the gospel is always and only about God.  God has redeemed us and in that he shows his glory and this is why we give him glory and praise.  The gospel begins and ends in with God. So that's the gospel in all its magnificent glory.  We can hear the shock and the disappointment as Paul goes on in verse 6 and following, rebuking the Galatians.  He writes: I'm astonished that you are turning away so quickly from the one who called you by the grace of the Messiah, and going after another gospel—not that it is another gospel, it's just that there are some people stirring up trouble for you and wanting to pervert the gospel of the Messiah.  But even if we—or an angel from heaven!—should announce a gospel other than the one we announced to you, let such a person be accursed.  I said it before and I now say it again, if anyone offers you a gospel other than the one you received, let that person be accursed.   It's not just that these churches have gone astray.  That would be bad enough, but it's how quickly after he left them that they've turned away.  The language suggests that Paul might be comparing his own astonishment to the astonishment of Moses at how quickly the Israelites went from praising the Lord for his miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea to creating and worshipping a golden calf.  As dumbfounding as it was to Moses to find his people dancing around an idol, Paul is dumbfounded at how quickly and how easily the Galatians have been led astray to another gospel.  And Paul quickly amends that, because, really, there is no other gospel.  There's the gospel.  Everything else is just is a lie. Also, the language Paul uses to write of them “turning”, that has its own shameful undertones.  The word he uses is one used in the Greek Old Testament to describe desertion.  In 2 Maccabees there's the poignant story of seven brothers whom Antiochus tried to force to eat pork, killing them one after the other when they refused.  When it's down to the youngest of them, the text says that Antiochus tried to entice the boy to “turn form his ancestral ways”.  (Or course, the boy refused and became a martyr.)  This is the same language Paul uses here and I think just to stress his point.  This probably corresponds to what we read in Acts about “certain persons from James” who arrived in Galatia not long after Paul and Barnabas had returned from their mission there.  Paul had seen these people devoted to Jesus and to the gospel, he'd seen them transformed by it, and now he's shocked that they've turned from the gospel—and so quickly and easily.  If they're going to accuse him of being disloyal to Israel's traditions, he turns that accusation right back around on them.  They've been disloyal to, they've deserted Jesus. He's not into the details of their corrupted gospel yet, but he says here that they've turned from the one who called them by grace.  They've turned from God himself.  Paul puts the emphasis on grace as manifest in Jesus the Messiah.  God's call is an act of pure grace.  His sending of Jesus is a pure act of grace.  The God of Israel has finally sent his Messiah as a gift of pure grace—and Paul now points his finger at these people and says—And you've turned away from him! So what was their “other gospel”?  We have to do more reading between the lines and it won't be fully fleshed out until we get through the rest of the letter, but the best way to look at it may be to see these new teachers not so much preaching a different Jesus, but preaching Jesus as the culmination of a different story.  Paul was preaching Jesus as the fulfilment a story in which the God of Israel defeats the powers of sin and death to rescue his people from the present evil age, but these folks seemed to be preaching Jesus as an add-on to Jewish life as it already was—maybe Jesus as the fulfilment of some Jewish nationalist hope or agenda: maybe a message that fired up zeal against the gentiles, for example, instead of announcing to them the grace made available in Jesus. And I think it's likely that Paul had in mind what “gospel” meant in the Roman world.  To the Greeks and Romans, “gospel” was the good news announced about the accession or the birthday of Caesar.  Caesar's new cult was spreading like wildfire through Asia and that included Galatia.  It's not that the Christian there were in danger of worshiping Caesar.  The danger was that they would embrace torah to save themselves from persecution for not worshiping Caesar.  To refuse to worship Caesar—not to mention all the other gods—would be a bit like marching the wrong way, carrying the flag upside-down, and saying unpatriotic things in the middle of a Canada Day parade.  But in that culture, not only was it disloyal, if and when calamity struck the city or the country, you'd be the one to get the blame for it, because you'd angered the gods.  But the Jews, they were uniquely exempt.  The Jews would rather die than worship an idol, so after all the trouble they'd caused him, Caesar had granted them an exemption.  And those first Christians started claiming that exemption for themselves.  They were, after all, Jews.  Even the gentile converts claimed it.  But then to claim to be Jews, well there was pressure to start acting like Jews, too—and that became a problem. And so Paul announces: Anathema!  A curse.  The real gospel, the true gospel is about how, in Jesus and his death and resurrection, God has dealt with sin and inaugurated a new age.  That's why it's good news.  But these new teachers, they're not just veering off course a little.  They're completely wrong.  They're telling a different story.  They're not announcing the good news that God's new creation has started.  No, they're just giving advice about how to live and get along in the present evil age.  There's no good news there.  As my New Testament prof, Gordon Fee, used to put it, they'd gone backwards from AD to BC—going from the bright sunlight of God's new day, back into the darkness of the old.  No, Paul says, if any—even if an angel from heaven—proclaims anything other than the good news that I've proclaimed, let that person be accursed. Brothers and Sisters, it's really very simple.  It's about Jesus and Jesus alone and it's faith in him that defines the people of God.  There is an organic relationship between faith and works such that real faith will always show itself in our lives.  We know good trees because they bear good fruit.  But as much as good works borne of faith mark us out, the thing that makes, the thing that defines us as the people of God is faith in Jesus.  That's it.  Nothing else.  Whenever we add something else—whether it's circumcision as in Galatia or some other thing or set of rules, when we establish some ethnic or cultural criteria, when we set up some kind of personal or ecstatic or emotional experience that stands alongside Jesus—we diminish Jesus and we rob God of his glory and we lose the gospel.  The solution, I think, if we listen to Paul, is to keep our eyes focused on Jesus and the cross.  Over and over Paul comes back to Jesus, declaring things like “who loved me and gave himself for me”.  We need to do the same.  Every week the Lord offers us a reset when he invites us to his Table.  Here we recall and participate anew in those events by which Jesus the Messiah gave himself for our sins, to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of God our Father.  Here we're reminded of grace, to go into another week with our eyes focused on Jesus that we might live to the glory of our gracious God and for the sake of his kingdom.  Here we're reminded again that it's all about God's grace poured out in Jesus.  It's not about us, it's not about who we are, it's not about what we've done or will do, it's all about and only about Jesus. Let's pray: Heavenly Father, you have poured out your amazing grace on us, giving your Son as a sacrifice for our sin and rescuing us from the bondage of the present evil age.  We should be overwhelmed by your grace and by your Son, but we confess that we too often lose our focus on him.  By your grace, set our eyes again and always on Jesus, that we might perpetually be amazed by your grace, so that we are never tempted to diminish your glory by adding anything else to the gospel.  In his name we pray.  Amen.

The destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70 CE was a cataclysmic event for the people of Judaea and the Galilee. Our guest Nathanael Vette argues that all four New Testament gospels were written after 70 when Jewish communities were grappling with the loss of the Temple and an uncertain future under harsh Roman rule. Nathanael has found remarkable evidence in Mark that times the first gospel's authorship during the Jewish-Roman Wars. Nathanael is the author of Writing With Scripture: Scripturalized Narrative in the Gospel of Mark and the co-editor, with Mona Siddiqui, of A Theology of Gratitude: Christian and Muslim Perspectives. SUPPORT BIBLICAL TIME MACHINE!If you like the podcast, please consider supporting the show through the Time Travelers Club, our Patreon. We love making the show, but since we don't run ads we rely on listener contributions to cover our costs. Please help us continue to showcase high-quality biblical scholarship with a $5/month subscription. (Think of it as $1.25 an episode!)BTM BOOK CLUBWe're excited to announce the first meeting of the Biblical Time Machine Book Club! Members of the Time Travelers Club are invited for a live Zoom discussion of Helen and Joan Taylor's book, Women Remembered: Jesus' Female Disciples. Grab your copy of the book and we'll see you on Saturday, September 28 at 10am EDT and 5pm UK.DOWNLOAD OUR STUDY GUIDE: MARK AS ANCIENT BIOGRAPHYCheck out our 4-part audio study guide called "The Gospel of Mark as an Ancient Biography." While you're there, get yourself a handsome Biblical Time Machine mug or a cool sticker for your water bottle.Support the Show.Theme music written and performed by Dave Roos

12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and he passed the whole night in the prayer of God.Factum est autem in illis diebus, exiit in montem orare, et erat pernoctans in oratione Dei.  13 And when day was come, he called unto him his disciples; and he chose twelve of them (whom also he named apostles).Et cum dies factus esset, vocavit discipulos suos : et elegit duodecim ex ipsis ( quos et apostolos nominavit) :  14 Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,Simonem, quem cognominavit Petrum, et Andream fratrem ejus, Jacobum, et Joannem, Philippum, et Bartholomaeum,  15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon who is called Zelotes,Matthaeum, et Thomam, Jacobum Alphaei, et Simonem, qui vocatur Zelotes,  16 And Jude, the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor.et Judam Jacobi, et Judam Iscariotem, qui fuit proditor.  17 And coming down with them, he stood in a plain place, and the company of his disciples, and a very great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast both of Tyre and Sidon,Et descendens cum illis, stetit in loco campestri, et turba discipulorum ejus, et multitudo copiosa plebis ab omni Judaea, et Jerusalem, et maritima, et Tyri, et Sidonis,  18 Who were come to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases. And they that were troubled with unclean spirits, were cured.qui venerant ut audirent eum, et sanarentur a languoribus suis. Et qui vexabantur a spiritibus immundis, curabantur.  19 And all the multitude sought to touch him, for virtue went out from him, and healed all.Et omnis turba quaerebat eum tangere : quia virtus de illo exibat, et sanabat omnes. St Bartholomew the Apostle, whose name means: son of Tholomy, is beleived to be the same as the Nathanael whom the Master praised as the Israelite in whom was no guile. He preached the faith in India and Armenia. He was flayed alive and beheaded A.D. 71.

Deception is Under Control  (audio) David Eells - 8/21/24  And even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn [upon them] (2Co.4:3-4).   The god of this world is Satan, but he does not run this world. He is called the god of this world because this world worships and serves him whether they know it or not. Anyone who serves the lusts of their flesh worships and serves Satan as their god. He is the father of the flesh, which is also called the old man. God never gives Satan credit in the Scriptures for being sovereign. Jesus said, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth (Mat.28:18).   Satan blinds the minds of the unbelievers so that they do not understand and see the light of the Gospel. We can see from other Scriptures that Satan received his authority from the Lord to blind the unbelievers. (1Pe.5:8) Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (9) whom withstand stedfast in your faith… We have the ability to withstand Satan when we walk by faith, but the word “may” here implies that he has permission to devour those who do not believe. With Christians or non-Christians, unbelief gives permission to Satan. The faith that resists and binds Satan is a gift from God (Eph.2:8).   (Joh.12:35) Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not: (Notice that word “overtake.” This indicates that darkness is chasing all of us. The Lord is saying that for a little while we are going to receive the light but do something with that light while you have it, so that the darkness does not overtake you.) and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.   (36) While ye have the light, believe (I.e., trust in and act on) on the light, that ye may become sons of the light. (If we do not act on the light now, the impression will leave us and the darkness will again close in. When we pass by the moment, we have been tried and failed if we have not done something with the light.) These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them. (Jesus hides Himself from those who do not value the light enough to act upon it.)   …(38) that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? (39) For this cause they could not believe, for that Isaiah said again, (40) He hath blinded their eyes, and he hardened their heart; Lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, And should turn, And I should heal them.  Israel had the light for a long time, and they did not bear fruit of it. Many Christians have the light, but do not act on it. They start out in a blaze of glory, but soon the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, trials, and persecutions hardens their hearts and allows the darkness to overcome them (Mat.13:19-23). We must believe and walk in the light while we have it so that Jesus does not withdraw and hide himself.  In (Isa.6:8) And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Here am I; send me. (9) And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. (10) Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed. God is blinding eyes and hearts through the devil. God makes us responsible when we see His Word to walk in the light of its truth. (1Jn.1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Walking in the light sanctifies us.   God has a method for weeding the Church which most do not understand. (2Th.2:3) Let no man beguile you in any wise: for [it will not be], except the falling away come first… (8) And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming; (9) [even he], whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,   (10) and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (11) And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: (12) that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Falling away comes through the deception of Satan.   However, God is sending this working of error to those who do not love the truth so that they might be judged. This letter is addressed to the Church. Only Christians, using the term loosely, can fall away. There is a great falling away today, but an even greater deception is coming. Before God sends judgment, He sends “a working of error” to weed out the Church. Who will believe a lie? It is the evil and wicked who will believe a lie.   (Pro.17:4) An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue… (11) An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. The evildoer will be weeded out by deception. They will be the ones who are going to buy the lie and fall away. The righteous love God's Word and the truth, and will not be deceived because they will not depart from it in the midst of trials.   (1 Cor.11:19) For there must be also factions (Greek: “heresies”) among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you. It is necessary for heresies to be among us, so that they that are approved by God may be known. God is doing two things with deception and evil: He is revealing the wicked, and revealing the true. This is God's method throughout history for separating His people from the tares. Birds of a feather flock together. God will gather the tares into bundles to burn them.   Deception is one of God's methods for proving who will be counted worthy of the kingdom of heaven. Remember this working of Satan will come through power, signs, and lying wonders. These are placebos to pacify the Church with replacements for the genuine to confirm the lies being taught. The genuine are listed as gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healings, workings of miracles, prophecy, discernings of spirits, kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues. For our own safety, we should obey Paul who said, Learn not [to go] beyond the things which are written (1Cor.4:6).   We read in (Dt.13:1) If there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give thee a sign or a wonder, (2) and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods (Elohim), which thou hast not known, and let us serve them. Here we have a false prophet speaking a sign that comes to pass. No false prophet can command something and have it come to pass unless God says so.   (Lam.3:37) Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? This is clear that God is trying His people with error. This prophet is saying, “Let us go after other gods.” This is not as uncommon as we may think. Actually, the Hebrew word for “gods” here is the same word used everywhere else in the Old Testament for our God “Elohim.” In this case, he is talking about a false elohim.   There are many false elohim, because anyone who has a Jesus of their own making and not the Jesus of the Bible has a false elohim. (Dt.13:3) Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. False prophets prove us for God by deception. God is saying it is necessary for us to be proven by deception to see if we love Him.   Those who love Him will not buy the lie. (Dt.8:2) And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or not. This is the whole point. A prophet, a dream, a vision, a teaching, or anything that comes to us that is not according to the commandments is a trial from God, to see if we are going to be counted worthy of the kingdom.   Now in (Eze.14:1) Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. (2) And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, (3) Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them? An idol is anything that demands more of our love, time, or money than God; self-will being the most evil idol. Should we ask the Lord's direction if all we want is what we want? It is dangerous to inquire of the Lord with self-willed motives before our face. We may satisfy our flesh but lose a blessing.   (Eze.14:4) Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord: Every man of the house of Israel that taketh his idols into his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him therein according to the multitude of his idols.   God is not our God, and we are not His servants when our will is more important than His Will. Before we ask God, we should ask ourselves if we would be as willing to go in the opposite direction should He give that answer. If we would not, then we have an idol. We should deal with our idol first. (Eph.5:5) For this ye know of a surety, that no… covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. The Greek word for “covetous” only means “to desire more.” A person who desires more than is necessary is an idolater. The word “idolater” comes from two words, eidolo, meaning “that which is seen” and latres meaning “a servant to.”   Those who constantly desire more are servants to that which is seen (physical things), not the Lord. These things can be anything – possessions, a job, a religion, or people to name a few. When people serve themselves, they can be their own idol, like the son of perdition who sits in the temple of God making himself god. Judas, whom Jesus called the son of perdition, sat among the disciples who were the temple of God. He was his own idol because he only wanted to please himself. There are many Judas' today. (Exo.20:3) Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Whatever is more important to us than the Lord is going to deceive us if we do not renounce it.   Back to (Eze.14:7) For every one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that separateth himself from me, and taketh his idols into his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet to inquire for himself of me; I the Lord will answer him by myself: (8) and I will set my face against that man, and will make him an astonishment, for a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.   Those who are separated from God through their idols will be answered according to the lusts of their own heart. God is going to give them an answer that is not a true answer because He will be answering their lusts. God said, “I the Lord will answer him by myself.” The Lord's answer may come through an apostate prophet, a religion, a thought, a dream, a word or a doctrine, but it will come to deceive. This could bring chastening or even reprobation as we see in verse eight.   (Eze.14:9) And if the prophet be deceived and speak a word, I, the Lord, have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. A true prophet, who has idols, or a false prophet can be deceived by a false word from God, as we shall see. (2Th.2:11)… God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie. The Lord sends the false word because people do not love Him, but the world. (1Jn.2:15)… If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. We are here to prove who it is that loves God.   God is going to cleanse His Church in these days because there are many idols. When the Word of God says one thing, and we believe our religion, which says another, our religion is our Babylonish idol. God will send deception and it's an increasingly degenerative road to travel. The more we believe religion, instead of God, the more deception comes in. Nothing but the Word of God should move us.   (Rom.3:4) God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified (accounted righteous) in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment. When we agree with God in the midst of judgment, we will prevail. These are the people whom God accounts as righteous.   When we receive a prophecy, vision, dream, revelation, or a word that agrees with the Word of God, praise the Lord because the Word does not give many specifics. It does not tell us where God wants us to live or work or whom He wants us to marry. It gives us principles to find out the true will of the Lord in all areas. We can desire something so much, we hear “the Word of the Lord.” We can become convinced that this is what the Lord wanted us to do, only to find out later that we missed God. We need to be careful, because if our desires are not for the will of the Lord first, we can be deceived.   Let's look at Balaam's situation. The children of Israel were in the plains of Moab. Balak, the King of Moab, was very fearful of the Israelites. He gathered together the elders of Midian and Moab. They decided they would hire Balaam to curse these people. Balak said to Balaam, I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed (Num.22:6). If Balaam spoke the Word of the Lord, it was going to come to pass.   The “profit” Balaam went to the Lord with the promise of rewards in his heart and a request to curse Israel on his lips. (Num.22:12) And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed. (13) And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land; for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you.   Balak did not give up. He sent more honorable princes who offered to bestow upon Balaam a very high honor and give him anything he asked. Balaam decided to ask the Lord again since this sounded like a pretty good offer. (Num.22:19) Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will speak unto me more. (20) And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.   Balaam did not like God's “no,” so God, wanting to put to death his covetous self-will, gave him a “yes.” (21) And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. (22) And God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the Lord placed himself in the way for an adversary against him…   Notice that God was angry that He went contrary to the first word spoken to him. The ass carrying Balaam to his reward, saw the angel with his sword in the way and stopped, saving his life. Balaam, still ignorant of the angel, was furious and beat the ass. Then God opened the ass's mouth to reason with Balaam, who was so blinded by the prospect of reward that he did not realize that an ass was reasoning with him and making more sense than he was.   (Num.22:32) And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me. The Hebrew word translated “perverse” here means “headlong” or “self-willed.” Because of this self-will, the Lord gave Balaam what he wanted to hear and told Balaam to go and speak what he was told to speak, but when Balaam went, the angel of the Lord was waiting to kill him.  Balaam got the following revelation through this: (Num.23:19) God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and will he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good? Balaam really wanted God to change His Word. Have we ever been there? It is a dangerous place to be in if we want a straight answer from God. God can send deception that will lead to crucifixion of the flesh or in more stubborn cases reprobation.   (Jude 1:11) Woe unto them! for they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah. We can be hired by our own selfish desires. Balaam wanted God to tell him “yes” and refused to hear God's “no,” so God told him “yes.” Be careful how much you want something from God. God wants us to submit our will to His, to desire what He wants, and to take Him at His Word. Do not let your flesh be pampered by voices that speak contrary to what the Word has already spoken, or God will send deception.   (2Th.2:11) And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: (12) that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Many have adopted deceptive doctrines that appease their selfish desires such as doctrines of materialistic prosperity rather than sacrifice, unconditional eternal security so that they may live after the flesh without fear of God's warnings, rapture without purification through trial, eternal life without discipleship and holiness, etc.   God's people have justified just about anything to appease their flesh such as unscriptural divorces, abortion, drunkenness, drugs, lying, stealing, etc. Peace for the flesh is deception. Satan and his ministers are anxious to tell us what our flesh wants to hear. (2Co.11:14) And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. (15) It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness…   When Jeroboam was the king of the northern ten tribes, he was afraid that his people would go and worship in the ordained temple at Jerusalem and, in so doing, stay and serve the king of Judah. He decided that he would erect altars for the people in Bethel and Dan. Jeroboam then made two golden calves and called them in Hebrew Elohim (1Ki.12:28). He put the name of our God on his own creation. Aaron did the same thing when Israel came out of Egypt. He built a golden calf and called it in Hebrew YHWH and Elohim. The apostate religions teach a Jesus of their own creation, not the Jesus of the Bible. Paul called him another Jesus (2Co.11:4). Jeroboam and his people were serving another Jesus.  The golden calf was the Egyptian god Apis who was called the creator. In other words, they were worshiping the god they knew in the world before they ate the Lamb and came out of Egypt. Many “Christians” are worshiping a Jesus that is acceptable to the world and the flesh. Jeroboam and his apostates were also making priests (ministers) who were not Levites (1Ki.12:31). This tells me that in ten of the twelve tribes, the ministers were not ordained of God but apostates. That is exactly what has happened in the church today.   God sent a young prophet to prophesy against the altar in Bethel. In Hebrew, “Bethel” means “house of God.” At that time, the king was standing at the altar offering incense before the people. When the prophet prophesied against the altar, the king stretched out his arm and pointed his hand at the prophet and told his men to seize him. At that point, the king's hand dried up and he could not draw it back. The altar rent and ashes poured out, which the prophet prophesied would happen.   This, obviously, symbolized that God did not accept their sacrifices in this place of apostasy. The king asked the prophet to restore his hand, so the prophet prayed, and the Lord restored the king's hand. As a result, the king wanted to take the prophet home and reward him. The prophet declined for he was commanded by the Lord to neither eat bread nor drink water in that place (1Ki.13:8-9). That place was where God's people were in apostasy and where their leaders were not ordained of God. It was an apostate religious system.  We must not eat their bread! This represents partaking of a false Jesus since He was the bread of life (Joh.6:48). Jesus is also the Word. Jesus said to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Leaven changes the bread (the Word) to make it more acceptable to the flesh. Neither should we drink their water, which represents the false spirit formed by a false word. Jesus commanded us to come unto Him and drink of the living water of the Spirit through the Scriptures. (Joh.7:37)… Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. (38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water. (39) But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive… Without this, any Jesus we might know is another Jesus.   The prophet was being obedient and was leaving those backslidden people. In Bethel, there was an older prophet who had heard what the young prophet did. He saddled his ass and caught up with him. (1Ki.13:15) Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. (16) And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee; neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: (17) for it was said to me by the word of the Lord, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest. (18) And he said unto him, I also am a prophet as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thy house, that he may eat bread and drink water. [But] he lied unto him.   (19) So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. The young prophet falsely believed that God had changed His Word that was originally given and so ate and drank of the apostate word. We are told in Jude 1:3 to contend earnestly for the faith which was once… delivered unto the saints. Today many without scriptural foundation tell us that after the apostles God changed what He called an “eternal covenant.” This lie has robbed the Church of its power by replacing Jesus with a golden calf. Daniel and his three friends would not defile themselves with Babylon's food (Dan.1:5-16). After refusing Babylon's food, they were said to have ten times the wisdom and understanding of those who did eat (Dan.1:17-21). They also were the only ones to not bow down to the image of the beast (Dan.3:12,18), Babylon's version of the golden calf.  The young prophet was deceived into a modern gospel. (1Ki.13:20) And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet that brought him back; (21) and he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast been disobedient unto the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee,   (22) but camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy body shall not come unto the sepulcher of thy fathers. The Lord tried the young prophet; but he was said to have “not kept the commandment” of the Lord, which was synonymous with partaking of apostate spiritual food. He lost his life in that place as many do today. The old prophet of God spoke a lie for personal gain. That place had leavened him, and he was now a false “profit.”   We must respect the Word of God so much that nothing can turn us away from it to another Jesus. We have to remain on guard, for even vessels of honor can be used as vessels of dishonor to try us. When the young prophet left a lion met him in the way and slew him. (1Ki.13:26)… the Lord hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the Lord…The lion was given permission from God to kill the one who ate the apostate spiritual food. (1Pe.5:8)… the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. “May” is used here because the devil must have permission to devour. He is ordained to devour apostates.   The Lord tested the apostle Paul by His Spirit. (Acts19:21) Now after these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. Paul determined in the Spirit, that he was going to Jerusalem and then to Rome. He could have only gotten that revelation from God because it was in the future. (Act.20:22) And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: (23) save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. It was the Holy Spirit telling Paul to go to Jerusalem where he could expect bonds and afflictions.   (Act.21:4) And having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days: and these said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem. Notice this was just the opposite of what the Holy Spirit had told Paul he was going to do three times before. Paul was being proven by “the Spirit” as to whom he would listen. Other disciples were offering a new word. He was being given an opportunity to obey his flesh and avoid the spiritual cross. (Act.21:10) And as we tarried there some days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. (11) And coming to us, and taking Paul's girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.   Having been told by the Spirit again that he would go to Jerusalem and be persecuted, he was now going to be tried by human sentiment. (12) And when we heard these things, both we and they of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. (13) Then Paul answered, What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. (14) And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. Paul obeyed what the Lord told him, which is the important thing.   The Lord will try us by His Spirit to see if we will believe what He has told us. We need to believe the original promises above all that we see and hear. God will prove or try us through religion, ministers, spoken word, or well-meaning friends. We are tried by external circumstances, but we are tempted by our own lusts. These things are necessary to prove who loves God. God waited until the last seconds, when Abraham was about to plunge the knife into Isaac, stopped him and said unto him, Now I know that thou fearest God (Gen.22:12). There is no proof that we believe God's promises until we are tried. The Lord then provided a ram caught in a thicket for a sacrifice in the place of Isaac, the seed of Abraham. This, of course, typified Jesus who died in the place of all the seed of Abraham, including we who believe.  God will tell our spirit what He wants us to do. Dreams, visions, revelations, or spoken words will agree with our spirit, but not our flesh. When God sends us to a cross, we are going to be tried to not go. We can also be tried to go beyond the Lord. We should do nothing when we are uncertain of God's direction. We should not be led by prophecy or by dreams and visions when they disagree with our own spirit. These are to be wonderful confirmations and direction for what we feel in our spirit. We are to be led by the Spirit of God.   If God puts something Scriptural in our spirit, we should let no one talk us out of it. Peter was used to try Jesus in this way. Jesus told the disciples that He was to die at Jerusalem, and Peter rebuked Him. (Mat.16:22) And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee. (23) But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men. Jesus knew that He was being tempted by Satan through Peter to do his own fleshly will.  Many may be tested by alien demons, artificial intelligence, CGI, religion's seducing doctrines, fleshly enticements, money and prosperity but we must follow the Spirit and Word through our spirit to escape.

Seleucus II has perished from falling off his horse. Long live king Alexander! Oh... wait... That's too original of a name, isn't it? Well, Seleucus III it is then. Find out in this episode what the new Seleucid regime has to consider. Sources for this episode: Bevan, E. R. (1902), The House of Seleucus (Vol. I). London: Edward Arthur. Grainger, J. D., (2014), The Rise of the Seleukid Empire (323- 223 BCE), Seleukos I to Seleukos III. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (eBook). Rawlinson, G. (1871), A Manual of Ancient History, From the Earliest Times to the Fall of the Western Empire. Comprising the History of Chaldea, Assyria, Media, Babylonia, Lydia, Phoenicia, Syria, Judaea, Egypt, Carthage, Persia, Greece, Macedonia, Parthia, and Rome. New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers. Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Cleomenes III (online) (Accessed 09/04/2024). Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Seleucus III Ceraunus (online) (Accessed 09/04/2024).

Acts 24:24–25 Sending for Paul, [Felix and his wife Drusilla] listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I'll call for you again.” Paul was now on the Mediterranean coast in Caesarea, the regional centre of Roman authority. The city had only recently been built and it became the largest settlement in Judaea. It was here that Pilate had been based. Governor Felix was in charge by this stage and Paul was brought before him. What I love about our verses today is that they are such a beautiful illustration of the fact that, whatever circumstances Paul was in, he just kept witnessing. At one moment he was happy to share his testimony with a crowd who, he knew, were hating every word he said and the next we find him sitting down with the most powerful man in the land and his wife, telling them the good news. Felix didn't have a great record. He was governor of Judaea for eight years and had a reputation for cruelty and a love of bribes. It is said that he was hoping to get a bribe from Paul and so frequently asked to speak with the apostle. We have no idea what impact Paul's testimony had on Felix and his wife, but that isn't the issue. What is significant is that Paul seized his opportunity. We must leave the outcome of our witnessing with God. What matters is that we are continually seeking opportunities to speak of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. I remember hearing some years ago from a very shy person who hated the idea of sharing his faith. And so he prayed about it and asked God to give him one opportunity, however small, every day to speak about his faith. He told me that God had never let him down! Whether you are like this man or the apostle Paul, God has given us good news to share, and we need to be alert for every opportunity, whatever the reaction. Question Will you pray for an opportunity to share your faith today? Prayer Lord God, thank you for every opportunity that you give me for sharing the good news about Jesus. Please give me such an opportunity today. Amen

" But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 King James Version 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.