Bible-9, Min Proph, Hosea-Mala: Part 2

LESSON 9

MINOR PROPHETS

HOSEA – MALACHI

Part Two:

By Rev. G. Evan Newmyer

HABAKKUK

The name Habakkuk means Embrace, he brings the second leg of the burden  (Hab 1:1). Very little is known of Habakkuk, thus he is another type of a nobody God picked to tell the some-bodies what they were doing. This is really a wise lesson, often we reject the words of the unknown, but these prophets show us God will use, whom He will use. Like most of us, Habakkuk begins to question God, but ends accepting the verdict, as he offers up his prayer of acceptance, an important lesson for us, there are times when the prayer of acceptance is in order.

Habakkuk will add to Joel, showing how to get Joy of being restored. Habakkuk comes to the conclusion, God is in no way obligated to comply with man’s ideas on how God should handle matters. When God answers Habakkuk, faith comes, then he knows God is completely wise and sovereign in all His dealings with man, whether we understand them or not. In essence he will move from “God wouldn’t to this to me”, to “God is God, and I accept the event knowing God is with me”. The former is fear, the latter faith.

The burden is seen by Habakkuk; whereas Nahum felt it. Habakkuk saw many things and wondered, How can the Lord allow this? How can God leave those Wicked among us? How can the Wicked seem to prosper, yet we sit here (Hab 1:1-3)? The prophet of God looked and saw contention and strife, how can this be (Hab 1:3)? The Law was slacked and judgment failed, on the same note we can be found guilty when we allow the Law of the Spirit to be slacked in our lives (Hab 1:4). God will work a work in the day of the heathen, which even the prophet of God won’t believe. This work among the Heathen is not bad at all, rather this is a prophecy showing how Grace through faith unto Salvation will come to the heathen; remember to the Jew the Gentile was a Goy (heathen).

God doesn’t say the heathen won’t believe it, rather we read “which you will not believe” (Hab 1:5). Of course, the immediate work God allowing the Chaldeans (Babylon) to bring the bitter (wormwood) as a hasty nation to march throughout the Promised Land, and the people of the time won’t believe it. We see the extension of the prophecy to our time in how the Cross and Resurrection opened the arms of God to all mankind.

Paul saw the precious in this, he used these words in the synagogue in Antioch (Acts 13:40-41). To him it was evident, through Jesus all Believe are justified, and the word “all” means just that, thus Paul used this warning to show how the Gentile was now included into the promise. After his preaching the Gentiles knew it, they asked Paul to teach them more (Acts 13:42). The Good News is so Good it takes belief to grab it, and faith to maintain it.

To the prophet all looked upside down and inside out, toward Jacob’s trouble it will appear the same to the Remnant. The prophet knew these things were going on, but God shows him the Iniquity (Hab 1:3). The word Show is the Hebrew Raah meaning To perceive or Consider, it goes a little further than merely seeing, it’s seeing and knowing what is going on. God will send us to places where He will “Show” us things, but if we see, and know not what to do, we are sent as observers. Knowledge and Wisdom are different, knowledge is the observance, wisdom is the ability to deal with it. If God has not given us the Wisdom in the matter, we remain silent and observe. There are some who see, some who observe to obtain the clarity. God trains us to observe, while others are seeing.

Habakkuk sees the Law “slacked”, not done away with. The word Slacked is the Hebrew Puwg meaning Feeble, or To grow numb. The tense used here shows the Law was still there, but feeble (Hab 1:4). The Judgment here is not the same as The Judgment, this refers to Psalm 82 as the caring for the people in a Godly manner. The reasoning is also Seen, the Wicked have compasses about the Righteous, like wolves ready for the kill as the “wrong judgment” proceeds. The word Wrong means Twisted or Wrested, showing there was a “judgment”, but the religious minded were using in an evil nature.

Connecting this to the end times we find the kings of the ten toes will control the world with their self-based, self-serving governments, until the day comes when Israel will rule the world in the Time of Comfort. The first call will be the attribute of Mercy, the proper  and right Judgment. Then the Woman will rule by control, and manipulation invoking the wrong judgment, leading to The Judgment.

During our Season these ten kings are terrible, they fight or exist in rumors of wars, they fight pestilence with intellect, rather than the Power of His Christ, they fight famine with manipulation and guilt, instead of faith. However, all they have to fight with is the power, authority and seat of Satan (Rev 13:1-2). They deal dreadful judgment, they exist in “pull yourself up by your own boot straps”, or “God helps them who help themselves”, or worse they murder in the “name of God”. They play mind games, supposing they are in control, presuming their supposed goodness will gain them entry into heaven. They have swift horses, they shall gather the chosen as the Sand of Sea into captivity (Hab 1:5-9).

They shall scoff at the kings of the Kingdom and the princes of Israel, they will make jokes and mock the Body, or hold captive the people of God by social laws and regulations confining the activities of the Believer. They will use the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. What they want, they call a right, whether it’s good or evil. They will offend by holding their own self as supreme (Hab 1:11). Yet, they will be working to complete the will of God toward the Judgment, yet never know it.

God is from everlasting to everlasting, there is nothing new under the sun, God saw it all before the foundation of the world, they bring no surprises. They bring no danger, they have no power except it be given them from on high. The Wicked boast in their supposed goodness, they are hypocrites. The Bible definition of a Hypocrite is one who presumes they are doing something, when they are not, yet they demand for others do it. They have a yardstick of compliance they apply to their own selves which is about twenty feet long allowing them great latitude, but in reference to others they shorten the rod to about one inch, allowing no latitude. In the Greek the word Hypocrite means to Judge Under, thus they judge us under them in order to exalt themselves; many times they accuse others of what they are doing. They presume their self-confidence is faith, they promote traditions of men as doctrine, yet demand 200 percent evidence before accepting Scripture. A hypocrite is the manner and nature of a legalist, allowing pride to rule their minds.

The Pharisees presumed they were the “workers of God”, yet they didn’t do anything close to what Jesus was doing, but called Him in error. Jesus said they were of their father the devil, the lusts of their father they would do (Jn 8:44). The world’s concept of a hypocrite is “do as I say, not as I do”, which is real close, but not close enough to the Bible concept. The Wicked boast they are something, they are nothing more than creeping things without Godly guidance (Hab 1:14). All of us were among the disobedient; however, all of us were pulled into the net to bring about a change so we won’t be numbered in the group. The Wicked accept the spirit of the world, only they use it to their advantage.

There are two nets, one the Lord casts, the other is man’s net. We saw the net of Zidon in the hands of Jezebel, which is the net of natural man. Instead of entering the net of God, some will sacrifice to the net of man (greed – Hab 1:16).

The good watchman stands on his tower, waiting to see what the Lord will say. If reproved by the Lord, the good watchman receives it (Hab 2:1). The Lord told Habakkuk, Write it down, make it plain for it is yet for the appointed time, a time to come (Hab 2:2-3). Habakkuk 2:2 isn’t saying the one who reads it will run from it, rather they will run to safety because of it, thus Jesus warned them to leave when the day comes. In the Book of Revelation at 18:4 God says, “Come out of Her, My people, be not partakers of her sins,  that you receive not of her plagues”. Even in the very end God still provides choice, why won’t He now? It’s the point, He is providing choice in the exposure.

When the Lord gives us a vision, a word, or a dream, whether personally, or through someone else, write it down, it may be for an appointed time, a time to come. If it tarry, it will not tarry, it will come to pass (Hab 2:3). There are dreams and visions as warnings, some warn of events, some warn us of people, it’s as much faith to hear and run, as it is to hear and stand. It’s the hearing and doing, not the running or standing proving our Faith.

Anyone who lifts their soul up in pride, whether it’s a pride in self-confidence, or the pride of religion, cannot walk upright before God. We can’t walk upright in pride and be humble at the same time, we can’t hold unbelief, yet claim faith at the same time, the Just still Live by His Faith (Hab 2:4). Habakkuk 2:4 also gives us a division between the “soul” lifted up, and the Just who live by faith; we find one element of Faith is Humbleness to vacate pride. The phrase “the just shall live by faith” was used three times in the New Testament, but here it reads “the just shall live by His faith”, a mystery? Yes, in Romans 1:17 Paul said the Righteousness of God is revealed in the concept of “faith to faith”, then he says, “the just shall live by faith”. In Galatians 3:11 he shows no one is justified by the Law of Moses, for it is evident the Just live by faith. Back in Romans 8:33 he tells us it’s God who Justifies us, then in Hebrews 10:38-39 we are told the Just live by faith, which is connected to those who Believe unto the saving of the soul. If this is also connected to the phrase “faith to faith” then there must be two faiths. Paul also told the Galatians, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20). In Ephesians 3:12 he said, “In Whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the Faith of Him”. Then the mystery really deepens when we read in Hebrews chapter 11 of all the people in the Old Testament who had faith, yet in Galatians 3:23-24 we find Faith didn’t come until Jesus. The key to the faith of the Old Testament saints is found in Hebrews 11:39 where we find as great as the faith of some of those people was, it wasn’t enough to gain the Promise of the Holy Spirit. The Faith of Jesus is proven, the New Man knows the tracks, our faith is then in God to lead us on the path of Faith. The Faith of Jesus broke the bounds of the grave, the Spirit of Holiness declared it (Rom 1:3-4). The Spirit of Christ is us is merely following the path, we live because Jesus lives. We die to the self, because Jesus died on the Cross for us.

There are some who deny the Faith of Jesus, but the Faith of Jesus is The Faith by which we have access. This doesn’t mean we don’t have faith, rather it’s a connection between our faith and His Faith, thus showing from faith to Faith. We have faith in Him, and His Faith will carry us. Some have even gone to the extreme of removing the concept of “His Faith” from certain translations, then replacing it with “our faith”, which is very dangerous. In any translation there are rules, one is the Genitive, keeping the possession in the right place. There is a vast difference between “his house” and “my house”, just as there is between “my faith” and “the Faith of Him”. The “falling away from The Faith” doesn’t mean people stop using faith, it means they fall from the Faith of Jesus as they begin to use their faith in ways not conducive to the Faith. We are told “have Faith in God”, a commandment. We can sit in our puny faith limited to our knowledge of God, or move to the Faith of Jesus by faith, gaining the Righteousness of God to become among the Just. If we are Just, then we are being Justified, it’s evident the Law of Moses can Justify no one before God, yet the Just live by faith. The Father looks at us through the Spirit of Christ in us, all the efforts are accounted for in the New Man. We allow the New Man to save our souls, we obey as we hear, we leave nothing undone.

Perhaps the most confusing verse for the Jew is Habakkuk 2:4, since all Jews are taught they live by the Law of Moses: Jesus pointed out the error of this thinking to the Pharisees (Jn 5:38-39). The only way to be Justified is by faith, meaning faith is the evidence of things not seen, yet faith will have a obvious fruit. Faith is like unto a Tree, wherein we find the hidden roots tell us what type of Faith is being used, the fruit of faith identifies the manner in which one uses their faith. James said he would show us his faith, thus it can be seen. The example he used in regards to Jesus related to the Wisdom of God, showing Jesus was not partial, thus wisdom is a work of faith (James 2:1-4 & 3:17).

The foundation of Faith must hold two elements, believing God Is, then faith part holding God as a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6). Hebrews chapter 11 talks about people of faith, after reading about these people we tend to call the “Hall of fame of Faith”, then we read, “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise” (Heb 11:39). They had the measure of faith, the only ones who don’t are the unreasonable and wicked. It’s not the measure of faith, but our faith reaching to a hope, the Faith of Jesus has obtained. It doesn’t mean we toss away our measure of faith, it’s still a gift, without it we haven’t a chance. Paul called it a “measure” of faith, the word Measure is the Greek Metron meaning A limited portion. He also shows the Measure was Given, thus it’s a gift (Rom 12:3). The gift reaches the Cross, the Faith of Jesus takes us by the measure of faith through the grave to obtain the Power of the Resurrection, it’s the Power of the Resurrection by the Spirit forming us into sons of God. The Cross grants us Mercy, making us sons of men, but we must have both the Mercy and Grace of God in order to make it.

This goes right along with “be you transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2). This Transformation is really a Transfiguration, since it’s the same Greek word used for Transfiguration. This is not a mistake, as we will see later, but for here we find our Faith in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost brings the Faith of Jesus in the New Birth, which is not limited, we then place our measure of faith in God to get us through this. This also shows when Jesus told the disciples “oh you of little faith”, He wasn’t belittling them, He was making a statement of fact.

We can’t confuse Faith for Mind Power, Mind Power is the use of natural mental abilities to control events, faith is a confidence in God regardless of the event. Our faith is not designed for us to put anywhere, or in anything, or anyone we want, it’s designed to be directional toward God (Heb 6:1-2).

The pride of life builds the lust of the eye, the lust of the eye builds the lust of the flesh, none of them can be satisfied (Hab 2:5). The Seventh church will be filled to the brim to the point of overflowing with the material blessing from the Windows of heaven, but it will think it’s rich and in need of nothing, not even God. The Seventh church will mix with the iron (bondage) and clay (flesh), but their downfall will come suddenly, in a Short Time (Hab 2:7). This helps us with the metaphors iron and clay, man’s flesh was formed of the dust, when you add water to dust it makes clay, or the substance keeping the dust in one lump. Iron is bondage, putting the iron and clay together we come up with the bondage of the flesh hindered by bitter water.

As for the Day we find the Body is going along just as God knew it would, yet we also know the sons of perdition introduced carnal self-based theology, traditions based in religious conceit, twisted truths calling for social change without Christ change, using the pride of life, or the Law of Moses to chase down the blessing, while denying the Kingdom of God. On the same note there have been many more, silent as they may be, who sought after, holding to the Doctrine of Christ, they rejected the traditions of men, refused to hear the doctrines of devils, denied the self, picked up their Cross, and sought the Christ change by the Spirit.

God will use the Sixth church to send the knowledge of the Glory, but they will not be the Glory (Hab 2:14). There is a difference between being the Glory, and telling people about it. There are different Glories, there is the Glory of the Sun and Moon unto judgment, but there is also the Glory of the Stars unto Salvation. The Glory of God is within us (Rom 8:18), the Glory will be revealed, thus if we are running all over the place, jumping from meeting to meeting looking for the Glory, we better consider our condition, for the Glory of God was granted to us in the New Birth.

Woe to the drunkard who goes into the Night and causes his neighbor to drink of his folly (Hab 2:15). Instead of the Glory of the Stars, Sun or Moon, the drunkard who goes into the Night has caused their glory to be a shame (Hab 2:16). The “cup of the Lord’s right hand” shall be poured out; it’s not the Cup with the Blood of Jesus for the New Testament, rather this is the Cup of God’s wrath, the same one Jesus took in the Garden (Hab 2:16).

Habakkuk 2:20 shows the silence in heaven during the last half of the Hour, the verses prior show the foolishness of the Image of Jealousy (Hab 2:18-20, Rev 8:1 & 15:8). Man makes idols so he can control his god; the Wicked use the Name of Jesus, yet they too want to control God, control their faith, control their salvation, and control people.

When the Beast (sons of perdition) give the Woman the wrong wine, she takes and drinks. Then the Beast shall make her naked and ashamed, she will fall under the curse of the Law with the curse of the Fall (Hab 2:15).

In Habakkuk 2:16 we find the Cup of God’s wrath, and the “spewing”. Jesus told the Seventh church “so then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spew you out of My Mouth” (Rev 3:16). John saw the Two-Edged Sword coming from the Mouth of Jesus as well, yet we have a better promise. The Word of God is Sharper than Any Two-Edged Sword, thus the Word (Logos) is better than the Two-Edged Sword. “Oh wait now, I recall the Sword of the Spirit in Ephesians 6:17 is the Word”. Correct, but in Ephesians we find it’s the Rhema, thus the Sword of the Spirit has One Edge of Grace, not Two, thus we speak Words of Grace to the hearer (Eph 4:29).

Idol worship is the downfall of man; man makes idols out of wood, stone, money, pride, governments, civil security, people, thoughts, fables and many other things. Anyone who promotes an idol, regardless of the idol is accursed (Hab 2:18-19).

Habakkuk then gives his prayer; he heard the Word, he was afraid, not for himself, but for those who would face the latter days (Hab 3:1-2). He also couldn’t figure why God just didn’t end it now. It looked terrible, violence, spoiling, the Law was slacked, what was the hope? Far ahead of Habakkuk’s time was Jesus, therein lays the hope of all mankind.

Verse 3 gives us two areas, the word Teman means South, we find His Glory is covered in the Heavens, pointing to the Stars who will be with Him during the 1,000 years, but the Earth was full of His praise, thus this is another verse showing the ten thousand times ten thousand in the presence of the Lord, while the thousands from the thousands are on earth (Rev 7:1-9 & 5:11).

Habakkuk sees the Glory of the Lord, with the Power of the Lord coming from His hands (Hab 3:4). The Remnant will give the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord, we’re suppose to be the Glory of the Lord. We’re suppose to lay hands on people and impart the Power of His Christ to set them free, as we present them to the Lord for the baptism with the Holy Ghost. The Lord measured the Earth and the everlasting Mountains (nations) were scattered, the perpetual hills (subnations) did bow, thus every knee will bow and every tongue confess, including every knee and every tongue who has ever been on this earth (Hab 3:6).

Here in Habakkuk we find two different Hebrew words for the word Everlasting, in the phrase “and the everlasting mountains” it’s the Hebrew Adh meaning A time with duration, or Without end, depending on how it’s used, showing the Mountains will remain forever, but they remain on the Earth, even after the Earth turns into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is a kingdom lasting forever and ever, without end. In the phrase “His ways are everlasting” the Hebrew word Olam is used meaning The vanishing point, showing times past, times present and times future. The conclusion shows, simply because something is everlasting, doesn’t mean it’s good and everlasting, for hell itself is everlasting as it moves into the lake of fire (Rev 20:14). There are two everlasting kingdoms, the kingdom of heaven will be divided, with the Good Fish going to heaven, and the Wicked (Bad Fish) into the lake of fire, but the Kingdom of God will not be divided, it will last forever, and ever without end. If there is Eternal Salvation, there must be Eternal Life, but there must also be Eternal Judgment (Heb 5:9, 6:2 & Jn 10:28). The problem with those who want to limit Eternal Judgment, they must also limit Eternal life, but if something is Eternal it’s not subject to time, thus it can’t be limited by time. However, we also know the Hebrew has several words for Everlasting, thus everlasting can mean until another aspect takes place, or everlasting without means to escape, or everlasting unto everlasting without end, or as we know it, Eternal. The element of Time is only a factor to man who is under the hand of the flesh, even the resurrection unto damnation is not a timed element, like eternal life it will always be Now. Yet, as long is time is a factor we find Seasons, and the Seasons will not mix, the Day must come before the Night, thus the Night will not begin until the Day is complete.

The “tents of Cushan” are not the “tents of Judah”, they are the left over ones, or the Wicked after the Rapture. They did ride on the efforts of others during the Day (time of Salvation), but they held to their self-will and pride (Hab 3:8-9). The only place we find the word Cushan is here in Habakkuk, it means Their blackness, but it is a compound word. The first part has to draw our attention to “Cush”, from Cush came Nimrod, from Nimrod came Babel, from Babel came Babylon. From Nimrod came Asshur, and Nimrod built Nineveh, thus metaphorically this all fits (Gen 10:8-11).

Habakkuk then jumps to the Judgment, when the mountains (nations) see Him, they will tremble, the Sun and Moon shall stand still; the Sun and Moon are metaphors of Jacob and Zion connecting to the Woman (Hab 3:10-11). John says, every eye will see Him, then he shows every eye will be in one of two groups. The first are those who pierced Him, then those who wail because of Him (Gentiles), the Church doesn’t fit either (Rev 1:7). God does move through the world, but His purpose is for the salvation of His called (Hab 1:12). Jesus said the Holy Ghost will reprove the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, but the same Holy Ghost will teach us, guide us into all Truth, telling us things to come.

From the Day of Pentecost until today, and further until the Rapture, God has, is and will pour from His Spirit upon all flesh, both Jew and Gentile. God’s sovereignty is found in His foreknowledge, knowing what will happen without causing it to happen, yet providing a path through it for the Just. We know there are events “not of God”, but it doesn’t mean God didn’t know about them. Rather He has all things in hand; although the world appears anything but on a course, it’s nonetheless on a course. God’s sovereignty is also seen in His ability to make a path through or around any event for those who Love Him, and for those called according to His purpose long before we get to the event.

God wounded the head of the wicked house and discovered the foundation unto the neck (Hab 3:13-14). The metaphor Head points to authority, or the granted permission to do something; the head was wounded right to the neck. Yet we know the head of the image was Babylon, which image was of a man (Dan 3:1). The image stopped at the neck (foundation), but Nebuchadnezzar attempted to make the entire image subject to the head (Dan 3:1-4). Although the other heads continued, the house of the Wicked lost its authority, until the time of Jacob’s trouble. Even today they lack Authority, they usurp it, fake it, and talk about it, but in truth they lack authority in our Season. Without authority their power, if any, lacks ability. However, the Night is a time of little strength, things change and the Wicked bring back the wounded head by placing the abomination, which is also known as the image of jealousy in the place it should not be.

Habakkuk ends with the faith and patience of the saints, his real prayer centers on his confidence in God being much wiser than we. Even if the fig tree should not blossom, or if the vines fail to bear fruit, if the labor of the olive tree fails, if the fields yield no Wheat, if the flock is cut off, or there is no place for the herd, the faithful will rejoice in the Lord of their Salvation (Hab 3:17-18). If the flock is completely cut off, even if it’s passed away forever, there is still cause to rejoice. If we are without anything, even a stall to sleep in, there is still cause to rejoice. If the event doesn’t please us, there is still cause to rejoice. If the majority of the Body remains in iniquity, there is still cause to rejoice. We are in a time when we can be Born Again, a time when the New Man is forming our souls into the spiritual nature.

ZEPHANIAH

The name Zephaniah means JAH has secreted, his prophecy refers to the last half of the hour, but it also reflects to our time as well. The given lineage of Zephaniah is the longest of the prophets, yet we don’t find him mentioned in the historic records, thus he speaks to the “fathers”, but again he is a nobody, speaking to the some bodies.

The theme of the Book is the Day of the Lord, as before we find he speaks of it being at hand not in hand (Zeph 1:7). John the Baptist and the disciples of Jesus preached the Kingdom of God was “at hand”, not “in hand” (Matt 3:2, Mark 1:15 et al). Although the beginnings of the Rock were in place, the actual kingdom in hand would not be possible until Jesus was glorified. These prophets warn of the Day of the Lord as a pending factor, yet we know the Day must come before the Night, why then was the warning preached in their time? The Two Witnesses of the Law of Prophets pertain to their time, as the Night, thus these words will be on time for the Night. Really they are on time for us as well, since in our Season the iniquity does already work, but so does the Grace to free us from the iniquity.

The Lord says “I will utterly consume (destroy) all things from off the land” (Zeph 1:2). Was everything consumed at the time of the captivity? No, there were still people living in the land when the children were taken captive by Babylon, Jeremiah being one, when they return they will find people in the land as well. Also, there was still some buildings, even parts of the wall remained. In the days of Zephaniah the prophecies referred to the Promised Land only, but his prophecy is all inclusive, the “land” refers to the entire earth in the end of time. The Gospel has gone out to all the world, making the world the subject of the Net, meaning the world is also subject to the Judgment.

This is also a promise, since the word Consume has two meanings, pointing to the Broken Body, if the Body must be Broken then the Rapture is a real Hope. On one hand the word Consume means To destroy, but on the other it means To snatch away. In the Greek it would read Catch Away, thus pointing to the Rapture when the Tents of Judah (Church) are taken, but the House of Judah is left in it’s own destruction.

Zephaniah will prophesy regarding the Remnant, the Two Witnesses, the Seven churches and the Body. Zephaniah sees the Lord’s hand Stretch into the future upon Judah, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem. This connects to Isaiah 2:2 with the outline pointing to the end times regarding “Judah and Jerusalem”. From both groups the Lord will cut off His Remnant from Baal (idol worship), and from the priests who hold to idols in their minds while they claim to serve God (Zeph 1:4). The word Chemarims only appears here in Zephaniah, it means an Idolatrous priest, not only the priests of Baal under Jezebel, but any priest who uses the authority of idols. Simply, “the name of the Chemarims” refers to the Authority of darkness being used to lead God’s people to different gods.

Jesus said, pray the day not come on the sabbath, which is a direct correlation to the Jew, but He also said, Let him come off the housetop and take nothing. Zephaniah tells us they will be on the housetop worshipping idols, but which housetop? (Zeph 1:5).  Their own, or the temple? Or both? It appears to be both.

The host of heaven is interesting, going back to First Kings 22:19 we find the prophet saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him, so what is this? Zephaniah breaks it all down, there are those who worship the host of heaven, much different from giving honor, or respect. Paul warned the Colossians about the danger of worshiping angels (Col 2:18). In First Kings the prophet saw the host of heaven, here in Zephaniah they are worshipping angels.

Then the phrase, “them who swear by the Lord, and them who swear by Malcham” (Zeph 1:5). The Lord covered it all, Malcham was also known as Molech, the god the people sacrificed their children to (I Kings 11:5). From the priests to the people, thus anyone who claims God, yet claims idols are lukewarm, leaving openings for demonic activity to invade. So it will be with the Lukewarm Seventh church in the end, they will leave the opening for the false prophet to enter; the false always look for those they can devour.

Like the Days of Noah the people felt Judgment was so far off they had plenty of time, in truth the Judgment itself is far off in our case, but the Night approaches quickly. The Lord has prepared the Sacrifice, yet the Day is at hand (Zeph 1:7). The Judgment is set, whether one is found in it, or not is up to the person. The Sacrifice and the bidding are different, presenting another interesting verse. The word Sacrifice alone doesn’t tell us much, it could be the great slaughter, or the Cross. However, the word Bid reveals the mystery, it’s the Hebrew Qadash meaning To prepare, or Make holy, thus showing the Cross was seen from the foundation of the world. We as the Body were also seen, the Bidding was done before the Day of the Lord could be in hand. This is another verse showing the Day would be first, then comes the Night. However, the Cross holds two positions, showing the Word is divided into two areas, Salvation and Judgment. For it will come to pass in the day of the Lord’s Sacrifice, God will “punish the princes” and the “kings children”, and all “such who are clothed with strange apparel”, what gives? Jesus told the Parable of the Wedding Banquet (Matt 22:1-14), in it we read, “Friend, how came you in here not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless, then said the King to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt 22:13-14). It’s the context here, many will be separated (Bid), but some will remain princes, some will be bad kings, and some will refuse their garments (natures). On the same note there will be Multitudes who will refuse to associate with the “prince of this world”, who refuse to be a bad king, who have submitted to the Blood to have their robes washed.

All this goes right back to verse 3, thus the Lord will Utterly consume all things, both “man and beast”, the word Man here is the Hebrew Adham meaning Mankind, it’s also used as the proper noun Adam. This is the division between the Wheat and Tares, only the Tares are tossed into the oven (Zeph 1:3). This is made clear when we find the Stumblingblocks of the Wicked will also be consumed, which stumbling blocks consist of fables, strongholds, fears, slander, or deception (Zeph 1:3).

The Sacrifice is the Cross, but the Supper comes for the Bride, thus the Cross opened the Way for the Bride to be the Bride. Some of us think the Bride’s Supper is a prime rib dinner, but it’s hardly an enjoyable feast. The Bride’s Supper is delivered to the birds and fowls, for the Day of the Lord will bring the Lord’s Sacrifice (Zeph 1:7). The Lord Gave a Sacrifice for us, the Bride’s Supper is another type of Sacrifice. When our prayers are mixed with the coals from the fire of God’s altar, they are then poured out on the Earth and Sea, as they will begin to Cook the meal.

Then we find others, they were termed Jezebel in our Season, the children of Jezebel in the next. They heaped violence (self-righteousness in our Season), and deceit (lies of the False Prophet in the latter Season) on the threshold of their Master’s houses (plural – Zeph 1:9). The “houses” points to the people, the Threshold is the place of entry, to the Jew once someone was invited past the Threshold they were a protected guest, here the people allow idols to enter, giving them protection. The worship of idols on the rooftops was common place, thus Jesus tells them to come down, and take nothing.

Zephaniah 1:10 talks about the “fish gate”, and “from the second”, which points to the rebuilding of the city and temple in the days of Nehemiah (Neh 3:3). The fish gate metaphorically refers to the Net, but we also find the family order who built the fish gate in the days of Nehemiah are “Hassenaah” (Neh 3:3). The name Hassenaah means Thorny, as a thorn in the flesh. The “noise of cry” was also seen in Jeremiah (Jere 49:21), in reference to a fall. This noise is one of sorrow, connecting to the next verse which shows why the noise comes. Zephaniah 1:11 shows the “howl” of the inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down. The word Maktesh is only found here, it means a deep hollow, connecting it to Jerusalem. Since this involves merchants it takes us to Revelation 18, where we find the fall of Babylon causes the “merchants” who were made rich by the blessing on the City to stand far off and weep, not because of the City, but because of their riches are fading fast (Rev 18:14-19).

Zephaniah 1:12 has been used to counter the Deists thought of God creating the heaven and earth, then leaving man to fend for himself. The sayings, “God loves those who help themselves”, and “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps” are both Deists concepts. Here we find God will use “candles”, the Book of Revelation shows the candles are the seven churches (Rev 1:20). God uses the saint, but only because the saint shows God can take the worse of the worse, and make them holy, set them apart as He is able to save their souls.

The context here in verse 12 is Jerusalem, the word “Lees” is the Hebrew Shemar meaning Lees, or The dregs or sediment settling during the fermentation of wine. This points those who actually appear as the Sediment, pointing to the Wicked. In our Season the New Wine is presented, but rather than partake of the New Wine, they took of the Lees, becoming the Lees, thus they were unable to hold to the Spirit at the Rapture.

This connects back to verse 11 and the wording “Are Cut Off” which is one Hebrew word meaning Broken Covenant. God didn’t break the Covenant, rather the Covenant or Falling Away was caused by those who became the Lees. Also the wording “Cut Down” means To destroy, thus we find Cut Off, and Cut Down, the Cut Off aspect refers to the Broken Body, then the Cut Down on the Day of Judgment. Another verse pointing to the Broken Body, the Rapture, the Night and Judgment.

In the latter days they will build houses, but they will become desolate. These are not houses of brick or stone, but houses in their minds and hearts (Zeph 1:13). The Voice of the Lord will bring the Great Day of the Lord, not the Word of the Lord (Zeph 1:14). The Day of the Lord is the wrath of God, a day of trouble, distress, darkness, all showing the pouring out of the Fourth Cup of the wrath of God. A time none of us want to experience, thus we will either Sleep in Jesus, or be among the Dead in Christ who are Raptured before the Night begins (Zeph 1:15-16).

Zephaniah and the other prophets defined this Day of the Lord in such detail, we know when Jesus does return it’s for Judgment. The First coming of Jesus established Salvation and the Kingdom, the Second coming relates to the Judgment. Peter and others define the New Earth as not New as the Garden, but New based on the condition, as it becomes the lake of fire (II Pet 3:12).

Man’s flesh will be as dung, their blood as water on the ground, their silver and gold will not save them from the Day of the Lord’s wrath (Zeph 1:16-17). Clearly there is the Day of Salvation, and the Day of the Lord, the two were Divided and Separated from the beginning, God desires for them to remain so.

The Good News is looking real Good, there is much for us in the Good News, being spared the wrath of God is only a part of it. A great part of the Old Testament prophecies don’t seem Good for mankind, but it’s all God, thus it’s Good if we receive the warning and act accordingly.

The “nation not desired” is caused by the Woman, it’s caught with the Woman as the Seventh church; therefore, God says, “come out of her My children, be not a partaker of her sins” (Rev 18:4). The “meek of the earth” are the Remnant. We tend to forget Jesus separated the Body from the Remnant, but He taught to both groups. We are the meek of the Kingdom of God who have taken the Kingdom, the Remnant will inherit the physical earth (Zeph 2:1-3). Going back to the Psalms we read, “The righteous shall inherit the land” (Ps 37:29) and “the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” (Ps 37:11). This refers to the Remnant who will have Peace and Safety, but then comes the Seventh church, nonetheless the Lord shall deliver the Remnant from The Wicked, because they trust in Him (Ps 37:40). How will He save them? At the Judgment, thus they will be overcome in the physical, but it isn’t the end of it. While it is yet Today we have a better promise of being the overcomers, the Lord will save us from the Wicked because we Continually Believe in Him.

The meek are described as those who seek righteousness and meekness, the Lord will hide His anger from them (Zeph 2:3). We are told to have meekness, but seek the Righteousness of God. The Remnant will seek righteousness in the Two Witnesses, but they are nonetheless meek.

We see the term “Sea Coast” as a mixed metaphor (Zeph 2:5), meaning Near the Sand of the Sea, but not the Sand of the Sea, or near the Sea, but not of the Sea. This is seen in verse 2:7 where the coasts are for the Remnant of the house of Judah; the House of Judah is not the House of David, rather it shows those who are left after the Tents of Judah are taken in the Rapture. They are not the Sea, neither are they the Sand of the Sea, rather they become the element joining the two, John saw them as the Beast of the Earth. This of course defines the Night, then comes the end.

Zephaniah then sees all the nations without inhabitants, burning as Sodom, full of salt pits based on their pride (Zeph  2:4-10). When Jesus returns the earth will be the lake of fire, it’s still appointed unto all men once to die, then the Judgment. It’s torment as the second death after the Judgment, the first death is the soul separated the flesh, the second death is the soul separated from any and all attributes of God. They chased after the gods of the earth, but when they enter the lake of fire, they will worship the Lord and cry out day and night for mercy, but man’s opportunity to join the Lord is only when man’s soul is still in the flesh (Zeph 2:11). The paradox is how the devil thinks by getting as many as he can in hell, he will be the center of attention, but the Bible says every knee will bow, and every tongue confess Jesus is Lord. For some it will be too late, but they will nonetheless cry out to the Lord continually forever and ever.

God looks at the “rejoicing city” who said in Her heart, “I Am and there is none beside Me”, clearly this is a City, not a nation pointing to the Woman in Revelation 17. She will become a desolation based on the abomination of desolation, because she allowed the False Prophet to place it in the one place it should not be (Zeph 2:15).

God continues talking to the City, showing the rejoicing city is a she, the same Woman John sees in the wilderness (Zeph 3:1 & Rev 17:17). This Woman and the city are not the Church, nor the Body of Christ, the Hebrew wording for Oppressing City also reads, Sinful Jerusalem, thus this can’t be either the Body or New Jerusalem. The Body is akin to Zion, the Church is built on the Rock, thus New Jerusalem is not corrupt, it’s established by the hand of Jesus. The Rock is mixed with tares and wheat, thus when we find Jerusalem is polluted it’s the Woman on the earth. The description and iniquity define why she is judged; she obeyed not the Voice of the Lord, she failed to receive the correction, she trusted not in the Lord, she failed to draw near unto her God (Zeph 3:2).

The correlation between sinful Jerusalem and the iniquity found in the Body is close based on the Wicked in the Body now, but they surface as the Beast of the Earth in the Night, but it doesn’t mean the entire Body is corrupt, nor does it mean a majority of the Body is corrupt. The descriptions may draw a parallel, but not an exactness. The iniquity of the Body is found in those who hold the “he in the world” while rejecting the Greater He (I Jn 4:1-4). The Wicked in the Night still use the he in the world, while calling it the “Spirit of God” to infiltrate the Woman then entice her based on her lusts and iniquities.

While we are on earth we are termed The Body of Christ, the only place we see the term “Bride” is when we enter heaven, thus we find the she who is the City, is not the Kingdom of God. That’s important, if we don’t keep them separate we will think the Body of Christ is the Woman, ending missing the importance of the entire message given by these prophets of Old. The parallel does give us mutual warnings, but we also want to make sure we gain the Lesson while not mixing the Day into the Night, or the Night into the Day. The Wicked will entice the lusts of the Seventh church in the latter days expanding their error to include the abomination making desolate. God looks toward the Woman, and sees the leaders as the cause of the failure, then pronounces their iniquity on them. The lesson for us shows we can’t hide behind church dogma, thinking God won’t see us. We are called to be kings and priests, we have a kingdom, thus the purpose of any kingdom is to see the will of the king carried out. If we are kings, who then are our subjects? Not the other kings,  thus things become our subjects, if we allow anger a ruling position, it will take it, but if we allow Mercy a ruling position, it will also rule. We can’t have rulers of the darkness of this present world sit as princes, then expect to be considered a good king. The rulers of darkness are defined by Paul as corrupt communication, anger, clamor, evil speaking, bitterness, wrath, unforgiveness, or anything from the fallen nature of man ruling over us. How many times have we said, or heard, “I’m sorry I lost my temper”, what happened? We didn’t lose our temper, anger ruled, guided, directed and spoke for us. Any emotion not saved will rule over us, yet saved emotions become useful tools. God has emotions, Joy, Anger, and the such, but they don’t rule Him. The false prophet takes advantage of something he discovers in the leadership within the Woman, thus God looks at the entire leadership as the Woman. She will have “princes”, those who have a principality, yet the Law is also a principality. The Law of Moses is not all the nation is, but it is a standard or a place in the nation. The City’s princes become roaring lions who go about seeking whom they may devour, her judges are evening wolves going about devouring for hire; her prophets are light and treacherous, since they are the false prophets; her priests polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the Law (Zeph 3:3-4). Many of these things were happening in the time of the prophet, but not all. Rather the preview is just that, the actual event is yet to come in the Night.

The metaphor “cedar work” means the foundation of an idol, it comes from the use of the people taking cedar wood and putting gold and silver on the wood to make their idols (Zeph 2:14). It’s after the Cedar Work where we find the Rejoicing City, only she is Rejoicing in her own iniquity, rather than the Truth. This shows us the base, or foundation is the desire to be worshipped, the failure of the Wicked is they don’t make the separation between worshipping God, and the lust to be worshipped.

The Remnant will not be privy to the Spirit; therefore, they will have a little strength, not as the supernatural power the disciples had before the Cross, thus the devil will have to be bound. Therefore, God sees the world Like the Garden, where sin was defined, but with the removal of the serpent, leaving the only enticing element as man enticing man, it’s the point. For some reason we think if only the devil was out of the way, we could be holy. Most cult systems have the same thought, but they trust in their self-righteousness as their holiness. Yet the End Times prove even with the devil bound, there are those who come with the working of Satan. We are provided a Much Greater Promise based on a Greater Covenant, if we neglect so Great a Gift as Grace, or run to promises not afforded to us, we also run from the responsibility of faith.

“Oh now, wait, it seems to me all this is about the enemies of Israel”. True, the Woman becomes an enemy to Israel and God, the Wicked are the enemies of Jesus, who will become His footstool. God pronounced four iniquities against the Women: 1) rebellion, 2) religious conceit, 3) ignoring the Truth, and 4) refusing to repent gives the fourth. Each of those is a failure to do something, rebellion is the failure to submit, religious conceit is the failure to see the Truth, Ignoring the Truth is a failure to be teachable, refusing to repent, is the failure to submit to God. All these are Unequal positions and conditions, each one shows the Woman had the ability to submit, be humble, be teachable, and to repent. Being Unjust is an iniquity, since in order to Un Just one must have the ability to be Just. Iniquity is when we have the ability, knowledge, capability and command to do something, yet refuse to, while doing other things presuming we are holy (Matt 7:21-23). In order to be Unequal, one must have the ability to be Equal, thus in order to be a worker of iniquity, one has to work at it. Making a mistake here or there, or even falling into sin is not the same, if we like the feeling of sin, then we’re in trouble, but if we know it’s wrong, and we seek the escape then we are still a saint, looking to be perfected.

The time will come when God finishes the work, yet the Woman produced it through her own free moral choice. These same four iniquities are talked about in Paul’s words on warfare, we war against these elements by seeking the things of God. What good would it do to defeat Principalities, yet remain a prince? No one can say their choice was not presented, the evidence to believe was placed before them (Zeph 3:5). Since the Woman falls, we tend to blame all women; however, it’s a man who causes her to fall. Paul said the woman was deceived, the man was not (I Tim 2:14), yet both lost their positions.

When Jesus returns there will be no physical inhabitants on the earth, yet every eye will see Him (Rev 1:6 & Zeph 3:6). Every eye will include every soul from the beginning of time who did not partake in the First Resurrection. It’s still appointed once to die, then comes the Judgment (Heb 9:27), thus all will be physically dead when Jesus returns for the Judgment. Peter shows the earth will become a great fire ball, John calls it the lake of fire as hell will widen her borders to include all the earth. However, we are promised to be spared the wrath of God, thus Grace never appoints us to the wrath of God. Our position is so great, God will not impute sin on us, as we refuse to impute sin on others (Rom 4:8 & II Cor 5:18-19).

The Good News gets better and better. If we fear (respect) the Lord, and His Name, we also remain open for instruction, if we reject the instruction, then comes the hard hand of correction. If we reject the correction, then comes the bondage and captivity. If we reject the purpose of the bondage and captivity, then comes the Just Lord to Judge our iniquities. Therefore, be obedient, teachable and open, the Lord will bring us into the perfection He promised.

Wait upon the Lord, don’t give up on Him, He won’t give up on us, the Day of the Lord will come, but  thank God, we can still avoid it, rather than be partakers of it (Zeph 3:8). God will take His people then give them a pure language, we have the opportunity to speak the pure language now (Zeph 3:9 & Mark 16:17). In that Day the people of God shall not be ashamed, rather they repented, and sought the Lord, He will take us away from those who rejoiced in their pride (Zeph  3:10).

In the end the Jew will be judged to the Books, yet they still have to search the Book of Life for their name. All the others will be judged according to their “works” (ways of mercy), yet they too will have to search for their name in the Book of Life (Rev 20:11-15). It doesn’t matter if we fall or slip, it really doesn’t matter if we raise the dead, or heal all the sick, what does matter is our desire to finish the race Lawfully.

Zephaniah prophesies regarding God’s Offering, the Offering is when the enemies of Jesus become His footstool (Zeph 3:10). To these prophets, and to many Jews in general there is one Jerusalem, which is of the earth, but we know of Two, the one of the earth and New Jerusalem. Paul defined the differences by telling us the Jerusalem of the earth is in bondage with her children, but the Jerusalem of above is Free, which is the mother of us all (Gal 4:25-26). If New Jerusalem is our “mother”, how then does John see Her as the Bride? Do we become our own Mother? Or does our Mother become us? Oh wait the mother of Joseph was Zion, New Jerusalem is established on heavenly Zion, thus no one is going to make it to New Jerusalem during the Day unless they first begin in the Body. Paul merely shows the reversal, God made Zion of the earth, man built the city of Jerusalem, but we are of the Rock, as we build Zion, and Jesus builds New Jerusalem. The reversal explains Paul’s reference, we’re not our own mother, rather New Jerusalem like Zion of the earth is not the product of man’s hands, or endeavors. Even the Seal of the Spirit is a type showing construction in us is not the product of man’s hands, rather the Seal of the Spirit is the circumcision not made with hands. We do have a much Better Covenant.

In many of the prophetic words of these prophets we find the reference to New Jerusalem, yet they had no idea they were making the correlation. Therefore, we don’t ask a prophet to define or interpret their own prophecy. Such is the case here, God will take away from the “midst” of us them who Rejoice in pride, which happens at the Rapture (Zeph 3:11). There will be no Haughty people in the Holy Mountain, this Holy Mountain is defined for us in the Book of Hebrews. The Book of Hebrews isn’t written to Hebrews, it written about them, a Hebrew is defined as one who is a sojourner, one who has a kingdom, but has yet to fully take it. We have the promise in us, thus the Kingdom of God begins within, it’s not based on observation (Luke 17:21), yet we are true Hebrews waiting until the day when we are fully in our Kingdom.

In Hebrews 12:20-22 we find two mounts, one shows how any “beast” who touches the mount will be stoned or thrust through with a Dart (Heb 12:20). However, we then find another Zion (Sion, Greek rendering for the Hebrew Zion), which can be touched, this Sion (Zion) is joined to New Jerusalem (Heb 12:22). This separation between Jerusalem of the earth and New Jerusalem is important. Jesus said He would build His Church on the Rock, yet Jerusalem of the earth is also founded on a rock (mount), thus Jerusalem of the earth is founded on Zion of the earth, but New Jerusalem as the Bride is founded on the Rock, which Rock is the Body of Christ (I Cor 10:4). The Bride comes through the Rock to the Church to become New Jerusalem. However, to these prophets Old Jerusalem of the earth was their only concept, yet they spoke as the Holy Ghost moved them to say words to be Interpreted by the Holy Ghost in our Season (II Pet 1:19-21). We also find a division between the removal us from them who rejoice in pride, and how the Holy Mountain shall no more be haughty, giving way for the formation of the Remnant. This division shows the Rapture is the change of Seasons, then comes the Remnant of Israel, as those who are Israel.

Zephaniah’s description of the Remnant correlates with John’s, showing how they kept the undefiled religion, spoke no lies, which is a reference to bringing the knowledge of God. Then we read, “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem” (Zeph 3:14). There are three elements, “daughter of Zion”, “O Israel”, and “daughter of Jerusalem”, they all relate. Israel is found in the middle, thus we find a division: the reference here to the daughter of Zion speaks of the Sixth church, the nation Israel is purpose for the restoration of the land, then the daughter of Jerusalem is the Seventh church. The Seventh church begins with the judgments taken away when the devil is still bound, thus the phrase “He has cast out your enemy” refers to the devil being bound. (Zeph 3:15).

Then we read of our promise, the Lord our God is in the midst of us in the New Man or the Greater He, who is Mighty. There is more than enough reason to Rejoice, this is the Day of Salvation, let us Rejoice and be glad in it. The change from earthly Jerusalem to New Jerusalem and from earthly Zion to heavenly Zion is found in Zephaniah 3:16. Here it’s not the “daughter of”, but an actual location, the nation Israel is not noted, thus this prophetic message is for us, “Fear Not”, let not our hands be slack, rather we lift holy hands to the Lord as we Rejoice, for the Lord our God has made us New Creatures, we are fully able to finish the race lawfully.

When the House of David is opened we will be standing before the throne of God, with the Great King of Israel in the midst of us (Rev 7:9). The Time of Comfort will give the Remnant praise in every country, God will again make them a “name of praise,” or give them a New Name (new form of authority), which points to making the enemies of Jesus His footstool (Zeph 3:20 & Rev 3:12). It will happen, it will come to pass “but even if” it doesn’t we will still rejoice in the Lord, the God of our salvation (Hab 3:17-18). We are a people so blessed we can’t help to be a blessing, our problem is still a lack of knowledge in who we are, where our hope is, and how all this is going to come to pass. The New Man is the greatest gift anyone could hope for, the Power from on high guiding us on the footsteps of the Faith of Jesus.

HAGGAI

The name Haggai means Festive, he prophesied at the end of the captivity in the time of the rebuilding of the temple. Haggai is important, he speaks to the battle after the battle, the one some of us forget. The correction time is over, the wilderness behind us, so now what? Be obedient, begin the building process. In most cases the wilderness is the place where God rebuilds our foundation, the place where He disrupts or removes the bad, or tears down mental idols, removing the self-based elements we thought were treasures. It’s the time for the destruction of fables, strongholds and traditions of men and devils. Now comes the battle after the battle, the construction process.

Regarding these people we might wonder if they would be as enthusiastic if they knew a drunken solider of Titus would cause the Temple to be destroyed in 70AD? Could the solider of Titus merely be the instrument, the religious leaders the cause? Ahh, a failure to engage in the battle after the battle. For us it seems when we’re “going through it” it’s a time when we cry out to God, or kick the family cat. When it’s over we puff out our chest and say, “Yes amen, I held my faith in the face of it all, and God was with me”. God was, but the rest of is bragging on something which didn’t happen, we failed to fight the temptation of self-righteousness and pride after the battle. These people will be told not to forget the captivity, to remain Obedient as they listen to what the Lord has said. Not a bad way to go regardless of the Season or time. Of course when the storm passes we do gain knowledge and clarity, nonetheless we were rocked from our foundation, it’s time to build our Tabernacle on a sure foundation. However, when we make up our minds to build on the secure foundation we will also find those who say, “not yet brother, the time has not come”, but when God says, Go, we Go whether others want to or not (Haggai 1:2-4).

Haggai will give us two earthquakes, first is when the heavens, earth, sea and dry land are shaken, which is the earthquake bringing about the Rapture (Haggai 2:6), then an earthquake to overthrow kingdoms destroying all (Haggai 2:21). We can also see how Haggai will finish Zephaniah, then set the stage for Zechariah.

Whenever we are in trouble, or when we’re “at ease” it’s a good time to “consider our ways”. This doesn’t tell us “look at the Acts”, rather it’s the Ways, neither does it mean if we are at Peace we’re in trouble. Here the people were back from captivity, it was time to enjoy the freedom, but it doesn’t mean to do nothing. They rested when they should have worked, just as they worked the land, when they should have given it rest. This is the battle after the battle, the foundation is set, yet don’t sit around waiting, get busy in the building (Haggai 1:5-7).

The result of the past had to be a reminder for the present, they have sown much, but gained little. Their bags have holes in them, as fast as they put things in, it seems as if it would disappear (Haggai 1:6). Something was missing, the only way to discover what was missing was to “consider your ways”. This is sound advise, it was time for Restoration, a time to be healed, but something was not right, the result was a lack.

Could it be they needed to plant more seed? No, they did that, yet they reaped little. What could it be? Obedience, doing what God has set forth, build. What else? Prophetic, the Prophetic word laid out the order, yet they had it backward, causing their own lack. At times we get a word from the Lord, then we decide how the Lord must accomplish the outcome. When it doesn’t go the way we want, we get mad. A failure to be obedient often leads to adding to, or taking away from the Word of the Lord. On the same note there are some who are obedient just to get what they want from the Lord, wrong kind of “fear of God”. They fear if they don’t appear holy and righteousness God will not provide for them, thus they wear a mask to convince God they are holy. A true fear of God is the awareness of the Integrity of God, He will do what He must do.

Going back to Jeremiah we found the premise was, “to root out, to pull down, to destroy and to throw down” those areas were done, but what was the order? “To build and to plant” (Jere 1:10). It was not to plant then build, they had the right items, but in reverse. How does this apply to us? “Seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God (evidenced by the New Man), and His Righteousness (The Scepter of the Kingdom), then the Things will be added. At times we get all the right things, but in the wrong order. We work on our faith for days, yet never spend ten minutes on our foundation of belief. We speak of Grace, yet fail to walk in Mercy.

Since the priority was reversed the condition of the land was suffering again, there was no rain, a drought was on the land, not because of the enemy, rather they failed to have elements in order (Haggai 1:10-11). They did the planting, but forgot the building. What to do? All is lost? Nay, all is gain. God was still with them, the evidence was of course the drought (Haggai 1:13). The Lord then Stirred up the spirit (attitude) of the leaders, both civil and religious, enthusiasm joined to the excitement producing a will to accomplish the will of the Lord. They had to be reminded of God’s priority, when they remembered they began to build the house. Why even begin if it’s going to be destroyed? Prior their focus was “the Temple, God will not allow the Temple to be destroyed”, they were wrong. God did allow the Temple to be destroyed in order to destroy the pride in the people regarding the Temple. They made the Temple more than it was, they trusted in the Temple to protect them, rather than God. Now God wanted the Temple rebuilt, yet they placed the land as their priority. Was all this the Temple’s fault? No, it was stone building. The people caused it, they had to repair it to gain the Restoration. How does this apply to us? At times we make gods out of the things of God, the anointing is vital, but it comes from God, it is not all God is. The Body is our home, but it too came from God. We can’t honor the things of God above God, including elevating the ministry above the calling.

In our case it’s not building a house of stone, but the inner Tabernacle of Peace, Joy and Faith in God. Haggai looked at these people and said, “the Lord’s house Should be built”, the Lord does the same with us, it’s a choice, not a Commandment. Like many things in the Kingdom it’s based on the desire of the person. We have no Commandment to give, or pray, or present our sacrifice of praise, or many other things, rather they are products of the desire of the New nature (Haggai 1:2).

Zerubbabel was delivered from Babylon as a Governor of Judah, we are delivered by the King to be made kings and priests. Zerubbabel was governor, Joshua was the priest, thus Zerubbabel couldn’t hold both positions as governor and priest, thus Joshua couldn’t be priest and governor, but we have the opportunity to be both kings and priests. They had connections and examples of how God set the order before the captivity, thus they could remember the order as well.

Haggai’s ministry started on the sixth month of the second year on the first day (Haggai 1:1), but finished on the 24th day of the ninth month of the second year; it was short but profound (Haggai 2:10 & 2:20). However, the construction had to be based on something, who among them remembers what the Temple used to look like (Haggai 2:3)? Do we remember the joy and excitement we used to have? We walk by faith, but there times of Remembrance as well. We have to remember the joy of our Salvation in the midst of the test, or we will enter fear, or bitterness.

God tells them to remember back further to the time when He delivered the children out of Egypt. The purpose was to cross the wilderness to be established in the Promised Land, which they were, yet they ended in captivity. The captivity was based on the failure of the people to remember the purpose of the wilderness. Now they are delivered, don’t sit around wondering if the tree will make the water clean, get up, build a house, for us it’s assist in the building a place for the Spirit to work (Haggai 2:5).

Now the prophet points to the future, the heavens will be shaken: the earth, and sea and dray land and all nations, this points to the Day. The “desire” of “all nations”, both Jew and Gentile will fill “this house” with Glory, Jesus did it for us (Haggai 2:7).

Now the responsibility, the silver and gold belong to God, if so, He will tell us what to do with them. Silver metaphorically stands for redemption, Gold for purity relating to Paul’s comments on the building process. We can build with gold, silver and precious stones, or we can build with wood, hay and stubble (I Cor 3:12). Wood, hay and stubble won’t make it through the fire, the only thing remaining would be the foundation, which we didn’t lay. However, if we build with Redemption, the Purity of Christ, with all the precious stones of faith, love, hope and belief we will survive.

The glory of the latter is based on Jesus being in it, the former had the Ark of the Covenant, but we have Christ in us by the New Birth, which is the Glory in us (Rom 8:18), waiting to be revealed (Haggai 2:9). It’s one thing to follow the Ark of the Covenant, another to have the True Holiness and Righteousness of God within (Eph 4:24).

Then the question of holiness, if the garment makes the priest holy, does the garment make other elements holy? No (Haggai 2:12). The garment is the covering, but it’s designed to cover the priest, not to make things it touches holy. However, if one touches a dead body, then touch other things, the things are made unholy. Death produced death, thus it wasn’t the garment but what the priest touched. So is the nation, if the nation is covered, then the covering is to protect the nation, yet if the people in the nation play idols, which is playing with dead things, they make the entire nation unholy. There is no reason to ask, “How could God allow this?”, rather it’s a time to look at the ways of the nation.

In our case the Body will be broken, thus if this applied to us, there would be no broken Body, which means no Bride, but it’s not the case with us. We are a nation in a nation, we are kings and priests. If another kingdom falls, it doesn’t mean ours has to. If another priest presents a polluted sacrifice, it doesn’t mean we have to.

The prophet then shows God will bless them because they obeyed, but the “IF” clause was already mentioned, if they allow the idols to reenter, they will change positions again. This is exactly what happens, the Seventh church enjoyed the open windows, but felt it was their power and might, they fail to “consider their ways”, moving to a different position, as the city becomes Babylon.

Our lesson is this is the Restoration, adding this to Joel we can see how attitude makes a difference. It changes our viewpoint regarding the event, by putting us in a place to gain. The Lord is with us, He is in us by the Spirit, we remember all Jesus did for us, the purpose of Communion is to Remember. The purpose for us to Remember is to build our belief, giving us the ability to remain in our “continual belief”, in order for the premise of “shall be saved” to apply to us; let’s move to Zechariah.

ZECHARIAH

The name Zechariah means JAH Has Remembered, which holds two points; the first point indicates God will remember His promise to the Remnant, the next point shows He will remember all the evil done unto Him by those who refuse to repent. Zechariah started in the eighth month of the second year, the one month which Haggai didn’t prophesy, thus Zechariah will fill in some gaps.

Zechariah could be termed the “between prophet” he was also a grandson of a prophet. Zechariah, who had Eight Night visions, all of great importance. Zechariah will point out the destroying mountain, the one we say “go” to. From his visions we also identify the Two Witnesses, then  we find they are not of the candlestick, but next to it, making the seven churches of history the candlestick.

Zechariah reminds us of the fathers, but not the founding fathers of Israel or the Church, but the last generation who polluted the house of God (Zech 1:2). Although we may be the victims of wanton theology, we can still turn things around by doing as the Lord has commanded (Zech 1:3-5). Zechariah will give us some Bible support to firm up our foundation of Belief, while at the same time giving us the power to cast away fables.

A clue to showing how the Prophets are one of the Two Witnesses is found in Zechariah 1:4 where we read, “be you not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried”. In the Night they won’t have the “New Testament”, neither will they have actual prophets, but they will have the written Law and Prophets, they contain more than enough warning for the Woman, the religious leaders, or the False Prophet.

Zechariah moves from repentance to a vision, as he sees the eyes of the Lord going to and fro through the earth (Zech 1:10). While they were in captivity the world was at rest, but it was time to end the captivity (Zech 1:12). When the world is at ease with itself it brings a disease to God, when the Body is comfortable in carnal behavior it brings disease to the Body (Zech 1:13-15). The horses seen here are not the four horsemen of Revelation, these horses See, they don’t do (Zech 1:8-11). They are the nations round about the land, they want to see what God will do with His people.

Zechariah 1:12 is predicated on the earth sits still, the prophet knew the Testimony of God’s people had failed, thus the prophet asks the Lord to have mercy on the cities of Judah and Jerusalem, but in verse 14 the Lord only points to Jerusalem and Zion, but where is the rest of Judah? Metaphorically and prophetically the tents of Judah are with the Lord, the House of Judah can’t receive Mercy after the Rapture, thus John sees those who rejected the premise to become “tents” in the lake of fire at the Judgment.

The people of God were in captivity, they had no Temple, God was more than a little displeased when the heathens who helped to afflict His people, but He is very displeased when they are at ease with their behavior (Zech 1:15). When the world is comfortable around us, we’re in trouble. It doesn’t mean we beat them with sticks, rather it means our Witness should reprove them. God will send us to disrupt the thoughts of the world to bring them to repentance.

God looks to the Time of Comfort and sees the rebuilding of the temple as a step to bringing the prophecy to pass (Zech 1:16-17). This is found in the phrase “shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem” (Zech 1:17). This is another area where the Jew obtains the phrase “Time of Comfort”, showing why Jesus marks the 144,000 on Zion opening the House of David, which also begins the Night.

Of course we see, “choose Jerusalem”, we know it to mean New Jerusalem, thus when God brings Comfort to Zion by marking the 144,000, New Jerusalem will be the Chosen before the Throne of God as the Crystal Sea of Glass.

The prophet sees “four horns” or powers, he finds these powers scattered Judah, but then he sees four carpenters. The Hebrew word used for Carpenters is also the word used for Engraver in Exodus 38:23, referring to a Re-builder. Then we find the “four carpenters” are also Horns, they will cause the land to return to Zechariah’s people (Zech 1:19-21). Zechariah defines the metaphor Horn relating to power, here it’s the power of the nations, not some specific leader. The nations have leaders, thus it’s still the ten kings with their crowns, when the kings are without their crowns, it’s the Time of Comfort (Zech 1:21 & Rev 17:13 & 17:16-17). This is one of those areas remaining in the time of the prophet, but nonetheless gives us something to gain when we see how the prophecy projects to a future event.

Zechariah sees a man measuring Jerusalem, this is not Revelation 11:1, where John measured the temple with a iron rod, rather this is Revelation 21:12-17, referring to New Jerusalem, as the time when John used the Golden reed to measure the wall and the city (Rev 21:15).

This is still a promise to the 144,000, Jerusalem will be inhabited in peace (Zech 2:4-5). Today Israel has a land, but she is hardly at peace or in safety, much less bringing the knowledge of God to the entire world for a 1,000 years. When we pray for the “peace of Jerusalem” which one do we mean? If it’s Jerusalem of the earth, we are praying to for the Night to come, if it’s New Jerusalem we are praying for the Peace of Christ to fill all who have the Spirit?

God then tells the daughter of Zion to deliver herself; John said, the Bride made herself ready, the process for both is to rebuild and restore (Zech 2:6-11 & Rev 19:7). The Lord shall inherit the portion of Judah belonging to Him, then He shall chose Jerusalem again (Zech 2:12). This is a key verse for us, it shows after Judah receives the inheritance, there is silence in heaven, thus John says during the Last half of the Hour Heaven is closed, until the silent is broken after the plagues (Rev 8:1 & 15:8). This shows how Judah is divided, the Tents with the Lord, the House with it’s princes unto perdition, thus both get their Reward, for the Tents the Reward is Good, for the princes it’s Bad.

This is seen in the wording “Shall Inherit”, which is the Hebrew Nachal meaning To Seize To Oneself, thus the Lord will Seize to Himself the Good, and the Bad will Seize to themselves what they sowed. Also in verse 2:13 we find “He is raised up out of His holy habitation”, which is a reference to the time when Jesus stands opening the Day of the Lord, but finishing the Day of Grace. He will first move to meet us in the Air, then continue the trip to the Judgment seat.

Then comes the Eighth doing the working of Satan, as he puts himself right next to the son of the high priest (Zech 3:1). The next verses explain how Michael stands for the Body of Moses (Law of Moses), there is a certain cultist religious system who twists these verses to fit a fable, but there is a great truth contained herein. All angels speak on behalf of the Lord, this shows various people talking, including the prophet, but one has to define who is talking to whom. Michael will speak on behalf of the Lord, Satan on behalf of himself. If we can see how Satan is the enemy of God’s people, we can also see how the Wicked come with the working of Satan from their synagogue of Satan to destroy the people of God. Jude uses this in reference to Michael contending with the devil in the dispute about the Body of Moses, did not bring a railing accusation, but said The Lord rebuke you (Jude 9).

The Lord said unto Satan through Michael, The Lord rebuke you, O Satan (Zech 3:2). If this was the Lord Himself it would seem strange at best for Him to say, “the Lord rebuke you” rather than “I rebuke you”. After all didn’t Jesus tell the devil, “Get you behind Me, Satan”? Yes, why didn’t Jesus say, “The Lord rebuke you”? Why does Jude use this to show how Michael didn’t bring a railing accusation? (Jude 9). Could it be Michael gave only what he was given, without adding to, or taking away from? Yes, it’s Jude’s point, the angel didn’t interject himself in any degree, rather he delivered exactly what he was given.

Joshua was clothed in filthy garments, after the angel says, “The Lord rebuke you”: Satan answered with, “Take away the filthy garments from him” (Zech 3:4). This is a challenge, Michael knows he lacks the ability to take away the garments. We can’t take away the defiled garments of another, we can point them out, help them to remove them, but we can’t remove the filthy garments for them. Jude tells us, some we have compassion on making a difference, others enter the net with filthy garments spotted by the flesh (Jude 22-24). We toss the Net, we don’t separate the fish, rather we separate ourselves from our own filthy garments, yet those who love filthy garments (flesh) we save with Fear (Jude 19-21). We are fishers of men, we are not the inspectors of fish.

After the challenge, comes the lie; if we assume Michael has taken the filthy garments, the rest of this makes no sense whatsoever, rather we find Satan says to Joshua “Behold I have caused your iniquity to pass from you and I will clothe you with change of raiment” (Zech 3:4). This is the false prophet speaking, not Michael, it shows the power behind the False Prophet is the dragon (devil)’ as the False Prophet uses the working of Satan. Satan tells Michael to remove the defiled garments, Michael does not, because he cannot. However, Satan says he did, yet it was Satan who caused them, but the illusion is the garments are gone, when they are not. Zechariah then says, “let them set a fair miter upon his head”, they clothed him with garments, but the angel protested over these events, he stopped the men from following the words of Satan (Zech 3:6). Here the angel is contending over the Body of Moses, the Law laid out the requirements for making a priest, hearing the False Prophet wasn’t one of them.

Joshua is told what it will take, not false words filled with pride and ego, rather if he walks in the Ways of the Lord, keeping His charge, then Joshua will be able to judge the house of the Lord, as he keeps the courts, among those who stand by (Zech 3:7). The change of garments isn’t going to bring the rebuilt temple, the rebuilt temple brings the change of garment. Here the false prophet nearly fooled the elect, they almost entered the illusion, but for Michael who stopped it.

The key to this entire dialogue is found in the word “protested” in Zechariah 3:6, which is the Hebrew Udh meaning To give testimony against; it can mean one has done wrong, or one is being told they are doing wrong, thus when they put the “miter upon” the head of Joshua, Michael tells Joshua how it’s wrong, the crown isn’t going to change the garment. It’s important to see Michael is not talking for himself, rather he is contending in the place of the Lord, as he speaks for the Lord by using the Law of Moses as a basis, thus he didn’t bring a railing accusation (Jude 9). This also connects to Revelation 12:14 where God gave the Woman an Eagle with Wings (Michael). Whatever the devil became, he started as a peer to Michael, rebuking a past or present peer by any means other than prophecy is wrong.

All the fellows who were sitting around Joshua, they were told “behold, I will bring forth My servant the Branch”, Jesus said, we are the branches, thus this Branch would almost seem to be Jesus, but wait, there is much more. Jesus is The Vine, in the Book of Revelation He is seen as the Root of David, not the Branch, thus this Branch is an extension of something, referring to the Remnant, the Lesser Light, thus they are not  counted as “branches” many, but Branch as one (Zech 3:8). This is also seen in the “stone” before Joshua, it’s One Stone, but it has Seven Eyes, the metaphor Eye refers to churches, not The Church, but each of the seven as the Eye of God for their time. The metaphor eye by itself would point to clarity, but we can see how the first five churches all have Great Clarity, the Remnant will still see the tricks of the Wicked, by having clarity regarding the Image of Jealousy, but they will lack clarity in spiritual matters. The stone before Joshua will hold the seven eyes of the Lord (seven churches), which will be defined further in a few verses.

The lesson for us here shows, no one can make their self Christ Like, attempting to change our own garments produces a self-transformed condition, the outside appears righteous, but inside the old man still rules. We receive the New Man, it’s the New Man who brings us a New nature, we grow into the nature on a daily basis.

Then in Zechariah 3:10 we find the phrase “in that day”, but then we also find the terms “vine” and “fig tree”, pointing to two Seasons not one. Jesus said He was the Vine, we are the Branches, thus the Vine points to the Peace we have by Jesus, but the Fig Tree is a symbol for the religious order for the Jews. Although the Fig Tree will not produce Fruit, it will produce Leaves. The leaves of the Tree of Life bring healing, the leaves of the Fig Tree a covering.

Chapter four begins another Night Vision for the prophet, taking on a different avenue. This vision shows the difference between those who make it past Judgment, and those who don’t. When we read, “Not by Might, nor by Power, but by My Spirit says the Lord”, yet we find a few saying in their heart, “By my power, and by my might, and I will use the Spirit of the Lord”? The word Might is the Hebrew Chayil meaning Power, or ability, the word Power is the Hebrew Kowach meaning Firmness, or Authority. Authority is the granted permission to do something, power the ability to do it; however here we find one can have Authority and Power, but from the wrong source. The False Prophet uses the authority of the Beast of the Sea, but usurps the power of the Woman. Before the Cross the disciples had Authority and Power, but it was earthly in nature, based on the Mercy of the Father, thus they didn’t understand spiritual matters. After the Resurrection Jesus gave the disciples Authority in His Name, then told them to Tarry until they receive Power from on High, the Power was the Spirit (Matt 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, 2:3-4, 10:45-46, 11:15-16 & 15:8).

Zechariah sees the candlestick with the Seven Lamps, each lamp had a pipe and a bowl, but there were two olive trees next to the candlestick, not attached to it (Zech 4:1-3). These Seven are the Eyes of the Lord, it doesn’t mean the Lord can’t see, rather we find Jesus said “let your light shine”. The Light is the Eye, yet we know there is the Greater Light (eye), and the Lesser Light (eye). If we assume the Lord can’t see, but we can, we’re in deep trouble, No, it points to the Lights as the Seeing Eye before one enters the Holy Place.

Before we saw the horses run to and fro, now the Seven Eyes are turned loose throughout the entire world. Prior to Jesus coming the Jew was land and people centered, they didn’t reach out to other nations or seek converts, yet Jesus came for the Jews. However, it changed, during the Day we go ye into all the world, during the Night the world will come to Jerusalem.

The seven churches were not a factor until the Cross, Resurrection and Pentecost, then the time clock for the last Hour began. The Remnant keep the commandments of God, thus the two olive trees are supportive, not connected. Verse 12 assigns the two olive Branches to two of the golden pipes, not all seven. This is another key to understanding the division between the Day and Night. These two anointed ones are anointed, but they have a Season in which they will become active. The anointing depends on the call, there is an anointing for the offices, one for a task at hand, the anointing within us unto Salvation, but the anointing for the Two Witnesses is unto Judgment. John confirms how the Two Witnesses are only assigned to the last two candlesticks (Rev 11:4).

The “headstone” in verse 7 isn’t the Cornerstone, rather this Stone is one placed on Top at the corner, whereas the Cornerstone is the foundation, thus this “headstone” is the remaining Stone to be placed. It goes with the Shoutings and comes after the phrase “Grace, Grace”, thus the shoutings of “Grace” must be complete before the headstone is set in place. This stone is one of authority (head) as the last stone, showing the work complete when this stone is set in place.

On the same note we can see how one can be deceived into thinking since they keep the Law of Moses, they are also keeping the commandments. If one keeps the Law  it shows they violated at least one of the Commandments, so how can the Remnant keep the Commandments? Which ones? The Ten? Or the least based on Mercy? A mystery? Perhaps, they keep the Least commandments of Mercy, in so doing they walk in Mercy (Matt 5:3-15). It’s Grace (Spirit) coupled with Mercy making the distinction between the Day and Night.

The two olive trees couldn’t rebuke the mountain, thus these two olive trees are the Two Witnesses who stood with the Lord of the whole earth on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt 17:1-9 & Zech 4:13-14). Since they are Olive Trees we find their purpose is Mercy, based on repentance. When Jesus was on the mount Moses, as the “Body of Moses”, or “Law of Moses” was on one side, Elijah who represented the Prophets was on the other, the Father said, “Hear ye Him”, rather than “hear ye them”. The Mount of Transfiguration is not the “destroying mountain”, rather it’s the means in which one changes from the destroying mountain to heavenly Zion.

Zerubbabel, was delivered from Babylon heard how one can be delivered by The Deliverer, we can also define the call of “Grace, Grace” in knowing it’s Not by might  nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts (Zech 4:6). This goes with John 7:39 wherein we find the Spirit was not given until Jesus was Glorified by the Resurrection. We know the Spirit of the Lord was with the people, yet John 7:39 makes it appear as if He wasn’t, what gives? John 7:39 shows the Holy Ghost had not yet given man the Spirit by the New Birth, we find the Holy Ghost moved these men, but the title “Holy Ghost” never appears in the Old Testament. The manifestation of the Holy Ghost is a New Testament wonder, the Holy Spirit is a New Testament sign of the Seal of God in the Born Again Believer. There is the Spirit of God, and the Spirit which is of God (I Cor 2:11-12). Which simply means we who are Born Again have the Spirit connected to the Resurrection of Jesus as we are being formed into Spiritual Beings.

Zechariah sees, but understands not, this came as a result of Zechariah not knowing what the candlestick, or the two olive trees represented. Zechariah should know what they represented, after all he is included in one of them. Therefore, the prophet sees the two olive branches then asks, “what be these?” (Zech 4:12). The angel then asked him, “know you not what these be?”, which is a Jewish idiom meaning “you should know”. This vision would come to pass when the Voice on the Mount says, “hear ye Him”, the might of the Law and the power of the Prophets aren’t going to bring the Spirit, they are defeated in the end, it’s only by the Spirit one becomes a Victor.

Moreover the destroying mountain standing before them could only be removed by saying, “Grace, Grace” unto it (Zech 4:6-7). Saying Mercy, Mercy isn’t going to move it, saying “Law of Moses, Law of Moses”, isn’t going to move it, saying “I rebuke you, I rebuke you”, isn’t going to move it; it must be by the Spirit through Grace, since it’s “Grace, Grace” it points to a process.

It’s after the time of the Spirit the Two Witnesses become effective, the phrase Anointed Ones reads in the Hebrew “Sons Of Oil”, this is much different from having the Anointing in us. The Olive Tree is representative of the Father’s Mercy, the 144,000 are not the Olive Oil, the Two Witnesses are. This shows the Anointing in the Day is in the person unto Salvation, the anointing in the Night is in the Law and Prophets by Mercy, then the False Prophet turns it to Judgment. The Law of Moses and the Prophets are anointed, but for the single purpose, Mercy, but Mercy rejected produces Judgment, thus they will torment the people with conviction (Rev 11:10).

Zechariah then sees the flying roll, which is the curse applied to the whole earth: the metaphor here points to the world during both Seasons (Zech 5:3). Zechariah sees the Sixth as the ephah (bushel basket), then he sees the Woman with a cover of Lead over her (Zech 5:6-7). The word Mouth is the Hebrew Peh meaning the organ of speech, as in “mouth with great swelling words”. When we get the idea how the “weapons” of the enemy are words, we can defeat those darts by having the Armor of God in place. “Well brother, you know the devil is beating me up with two by fours”. You are far too close to Egypt.

There is the “house of the thief”, the thief attempts to enter another way, which means they attempt to enter heaven by the Windows (Zech 5:4). There are those in the house who swear falsely by the Name of the Lord, which points to the sons of perdition who use the Name of Jesus in this Season, but fail to live in it (Zech 5:4 & Matt 7:21-23). There is also the “house of Shinar”, an old name used for Babylon, in the latter days the Woman is known as Babylon (Zech 5:11).

Zechariah turns and sees two mountains, which is a symbol of the Law of Moses, but in this case both are cursing, thus they made the Mountain of blessing one of cursing. Therefore we find they begin with the Blessing, but turned it into a Cursing. Instead of one mountain for blessing, the other for cursing, the entire thing becomes cursing.

Then the prophet sees a Talent of Lead, a symbol of poison and bondage. The lead was already there, but then Wickedness was placed in the Ephah. The Wickedness is the False Prophet, the Lead represents the lust in the Woman he uses against her. This shows the Woman and the False Prophet become so close in the bed of adultery, one can’t tell one from the other (Zech 5:7). Clearly this is Judgment, since both mountains are made of brass, thus those who reject the Mountain of the Lord are judged. This mountain is the one we send back to the world, there is no cursing in Grace, just Blessing.

The talent of lead is lifted, then defined as “a woman” sitting in the midst of the Ephah (Zech 5:7). The word Ephah is the nation, it’s measured, in the end the Woman is given “double her measure”, thus this Ephah is numbered, weighed and found wanton. Then we find another element “this is Wickedness”, the Wickedness is cast into the Ephah, it’s measured as well. The Wickedness is sealed in the Ephah, the Two Women lift if between “the earth and the heaven”, it’s not lifted into heaven, neither does it remain in the Earth, rather it raises up out of the Earth, John saw this as the “Beast of the Earth”.

Then come four chariots, these are not the same Horses as John sees, these chariots symbolize God’s power directed toward the Earth for judgment (Ps 68:17 & Isa 66:15). The Four Horsemen in the Book of Revelation are seen as Rider and Horse, not as Chariots with more than one horse. Here we find a like metaphoric use, but these are not the same as the Four Horsemen. The Four Horsemen appear on the first, second, third and fourth seals, these Chariots are seen by the prophet correspond to “an angel”, the angels appear at the breaking of the Seventh Seal.

In the Book of Revelation we have a White horse, a Red horse, a Black horse, and then a Pale horse (Rev 6:1-8). Here the order is different, first is the Red, then the Black, then the White, then Grizzled and Bay, or a mixture of Grizzled (sprinkled with spots), and Bay. The Grizzled represent a “spotted garment”, the Bay the activity of Wickedness, yet they are called “four spirits of the heavens” (Zech 6:5). These are not “world empires”, they are not four of the ten toes, they are not from the devil, they represent something of the heavens coming upon certain portions of the earth. Since these are not the four horsemen in the Book of Revelation, they must point to something else. Metaphorically, Red represents the Blood of Jesus for the Day, the Black points to the Night, the White as Jesus returning for the Judgment, the Grizzled horse represents the masses at the Judgment, some with spots, someone without (Zech 6:6). These are also seen in the time as a Horn of Power to bring Peace to the north country, so they will not attack the people of God when they enter the land again. These horses are akin to the “four horns” we found back in Zechariah 1:21, they go to forth to the North and South, not to the East or West (Zech 6:6 & 6:8). The purpose is to cause interior wars among the northern nations, so they will enter peace with the Jews, thus leave the children of the Lord alone during the restoration. Zechariah is given his confidence, the enemy will not take them captive in the reconstruction. These horses in the time of represent a protection for the people, but they also give us a metaphoric look at the Day, Night, Judgment and Result.

Now the prophet is told by God to place crowns on the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest (Zech 6:10). Prior it was, “and I said, Let them set a fair miter upon his head”, now it’s the Lord doing the talking, not the prophet (Zech 3:5 & 6:11).

Here we also find the Branch shall build the “temple of the Lord”, which would sound like Jesus, but wait, doesn’t Jesus build us into the Church? Isn’t the metaphor Temple pointing to Judgment? Yes, the Branch here is the Remnant, they will build the Temple, they will also rule on the earth by the Mercy of God. As the Mountain of the Lord they will counsel “of peace”, since the Night begins as Peace and Safety (Zech 6:12-13).

In truth, if the Lord doesn’t build the house, the work is in vain, but it doesn’t mean the Lord has to do all the labor, rather it shows He is the Master Planner, or Contractor regarding the Work, often we are the laborers following the Voice of the Contractor.

All this is made clearer when we know the word Branch refers to the candlestick, showing the supporting Branch on the menorah. John saw Jesus “in the midst of the seven candlesticks”, he didn’t see Jesus As the menorah, or any of the candlesticks (Rev 1:13). Prior the two olive Branches were defined, here is another Branch, the House of David, as Zechariah will show us (Zech 13:1). Does this mean Jesus will return to build the temple? No, it means He has the keys to David, no man can open the House of David until it’s time.

Zechariah moves ahead to the fourth year of Darius in the ninth month, some two years later (Zech 7:1). Zechariah was in Chisleu, or the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar, which points to our December as the “new moons”, thus this isn’t a Place, but a Time. The Jewish Day of Dedication, or as we know it Hanukkah wouldn’t come about for many years after this vision, yet Hanukkah is in reference to the celebrated regarding the dedication of the temple in the Maccabees period around 167 BC, but this is some time around 520 BC. The only Jewish feast day in Chisleu is Hanukkah, it was at the Feast of Dedication where Jesus taught on the Sheep who hear His voice (Jn 10:22-32). The prophecy here shows when Jesus spoke the words it was a time to leave the past and have a Feast of Dedication. Here in Zechariah we find the priests mourning the past captivity, but there comes a time for a feast, rather than a fast (Zech 7:5-8).

Zechariah 7:9-10 is God telling them what the people of the past were suppose to do, but verse 10 tells us they refused, thus the blessing could have continued, but they turned their shoulder, closing their ears, thinking they were rich and in need of nothing. This points to the future as well, to the time when the Father will make the enemies of Jesus His footstool.

Having ears to hear is up to us, we can stop our ears by turning away our shoulder (Zech 7:11). Zechariah 7:12 shows how the Prophets are a witness against the people, then the phrase “sent in His Spirit” is defined by Peter as these prophets speaking of the Spirit of Christ by the Holy Ghost (I Pet 1:11), then he defines it further by showing these prophets may have spoke the words, but it takes the Holy Ghost to interpret them (II Pet 1:19-21).

The Lord then rebukes the people for the act of insincere fasting, on the surface it would seem fasting in and of itself was wrong, but it’s not the case. They fasted in the fifth and seventh month unto the Lord, but when they ate it was unto themselves, making their fasting in vain; since they didn’t Hear the Words of the Lord (Zech 7:5-7). This is not saying fasting is wrong, rather they failed to mix their fasting with Hearing. One can fast ten times a week, yet if they fail to show Mercy, their fasting is in vain (Zech 7:9). They fasted, yet imagined evil against their brother in their hearts (Zech 7:10). They pulled away their shoulder, the metaphor Shoulder points to government ruling. This shows they rejected the words of prophets, thus a Prophet is a government office ( Zech 7:11).

The Lord will return to earthly Zion, but He dwells in the midst of New Jerusalem, as New Jerusalem is the city of Truth (Zech 8:1-3). Jerusalem on earth will find her peace when we move to the Throne of God as the Sea of Glass (Zech 8:4-8). The Mountain of the Lord in this case is New Jerusalem, Jesus is Truth, and we have the Spirit of Truth, thus this prophecy points to the end of the Day as the beginning of Night. Jesus will mark the 144,000 on earthly Zion, but does so when we are before the Throne of God in heaven (Rev 7:1-9).

Zechariah 8:8 points to the New Birth, showing the New Man in us, formed or created in God’s righteousness and true holiness. The word Midst is the Hebrew Tawech meaning Within, denoting Between something at the same time, thus the New Man places us between the earth and heaven while we are on the earth, the purpose is to get us to heaven when the separation of the Seasons occurs.

The rebuilding of the temple may have seemed small to some, but it was important to the timing of God, and the fulfilling of prophecy. The Remnant in the Night will rebuild the rebuilt temple, but here, and in Daniel we found the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was centered on the date the order for the rebuilding takes place; could they begin two days prior? No, God was in control, the day they began started the clock for the entry of Jesus. From the small task of rebuilding the temple the promise was affirmed (Zech 8:12-15). Did God make them build? No, He encouraged them, knowing they would build.

Zechariah 8:12 would make it seem as if Israel in the days of Zechariah possessed the entire earth, yet we know it’s not the case, rather we see prophecy being projected to the future. The “Seed shall be prosperous”, the “Vine shall give Her fruit”, the Ground shall give increase, referring to the Day. Jesus said He was the Vine, we are the Branches, we know the Seed of God in us is always Prosperous. After our Season then the “Seed of the Remnant of the Woman” will see the land as the Garden of God. Then many nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in earthly Jerusalem, as they will pray before the Lord (Zech 8:22). It’s the concept of the knowledge coming from Jerusalem, as the earth being like the Garden which seems to attract cult systems, but they fail to see the End of the test is Judgment. The end will come, the Lord will cast the Woman into the Sea, and she shall be devoured with fire (Zech 9:4). Since the Woman is the City, it stands this is something to be, it’s still in the Plan from the Beginning, now it’s working to the result.

In the Night the Remnant appear after the Latter Rain stops, then the time will come for the earth to appear as the Garden of God, but then comes the Dreamers, as the false  prophet who will make the Comfort a vain work (Zech 10:1-2). Zechariah 10:11 shows the Affliction on the Sea, as the “waves in the sea” will suffer. The metaphor “waves of the sea” point to the Wicked (Jude 13). The rivers will be dry, or without Water, showing no Mercy in the land. The pride of Assyria will be brought down, as the false prophet uses the ways of the house who suffered the head wound. The scepter (crown) of Egypt will be taken, John says the City is known spiritually as Egypt and Sodom.

Zechariah 11 talks about the “foolish shepherds”, yet Jesus it the Good Shepherd, obviously this is not about Him, but it does point to pastors who allow the Foolish Stranger to rule them. The phrase “pride of Jordan” in Zechariah 11:2 doesn’t mean Jordan has pride, rather it refers to the Chosen of Jordan, it was once known as the “prophet’s river”, thus it shows how the foolish shepherds can spoil the prophets and prophecies.

A point to our Warfare is found in Zechariah 11:4-5, first Feed the flock of “the slaughter”, the word Slaughter is the Hebrew Hereghah meaning To kill a person by violence. This would seem way out of line, but it’s not, this is not feeding the people to  destroy them, rather it’s feeding the people who are victims. This would apply to any victim of “violence” (unrighteousness), including the victims of the various cult systems. Instead of ripping their hearts out with destructive theology, we have pity on them by feeding them knowledge, truth and mercy. Writing books about how stupid they are, is hardly preaching the Truth in Love, but showing them the greatness of Jesus is.

God then gives us two metaphors, “Beauty” and “Bands”, the word Beauty is the Hebrew Noam meaning Pleasant, Suitable or Becoming words, it was used in Proverbs 15:26 and 16:24 in the phrase “pleasant words” thus Beauty connects to James defining a “doer of the Word”, since the word Doer was also translated as Poet in Acts. It doesn’t mean we go about saying, “roses are red, the sky is blue, I’m going to heaven and so can you”, it means a Doer of the Word has beautiful thoughts coupled with Pleasant words, meaning they speak the Rhema in Love by the Logos in them. The word Bands is the Hebrew Chevel meaning A rope, or Pangs, or Pains, referring to a measuring line, or something of division. Beauty is on one side, Bands on the other, these metaphors point to the Body of Christ. On one side the Doers of the Word, on the other those who attempt to bind the Word.

Then God shows the division of Seasons, those Cut Off, let them remain Cut Off. This is seen in Revelation 22:11, when John shows the division, and says, “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still”. This would make no sense at all if it was talking about the Day, since all of us were unjust and filthy before we came to Jesus. Someone who is Unjust, is one who has Un the Just, or had the ability to be Just, but reversed the purpose to become Unjust.

Then John tells us, “he who is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he who is holy, let him be holy” (Rev 22:11). This connects to Ephesians 4:24 as the New Man is created (or formed) after God’s righteousness and true holiness. Another division is found in Revelation 22:11 as the Broken Body of Jesus, just as we find here in Zechariah, with the righteous holy saints being the Beauty, the wicked as the Bands. The word Staff in Zechariah 11:10 points to this as well, it’s the Hebrew word Maqqelah meaning A rod, as in Rod of correction: it also points to a “walking stick”, we walk by faith, thus Faith will mark the dividing Line.

Zechariah also points to a Covenant made with “all people”, not just the Jews, this Covenant is the New Covenant, yet the Body will be broken to separate times and seasons (Zech 11:10). The “poor of the flock” are the Remnant, since they Wait on the Lord, they also fit into the realm of Meek (Zech 11:11).

How do we know this division refers to the Body of Christ? Zechariah 11:12-13 points to the Thirty Pieces of Silver, the amount Judas took, then tossed back into the temple. Judas began a position, but the beginning of his final position gives us several things to consider. In order for one to be among the Wicked they have to escape the pollutions of the world, yet turn back to the ways of the world (II Pet 2:18-22). Next they have to have the opportunity to be Christ like, in order to be antichrist (I Jn 2:19). The only ones who can cause the Broken Body, are those on the inside (proved by Judas), by  rejecting the premise for being members of the Body. They are few indeed, yet they could fool the elect, if it were possible.

God is going to raise up a shepherd, one who will not visit those who are cut off, nor seek the young ones, or heal the broken hearted, but one who shall eat the flesh, and tear with their claws. Why? Because of the foolish shepherds (Zech 11:15-16). Then God speaks to the shepherd: “woe to the Idol Shepherd” (Zech 11:17). The word Idol is the Hebrew Elyil meaning worthless, or of no value, one who trusts in false gods, or divination. They were in the office for self-gain, they used anything sounding as if the people would accept it. God will raise them up? What gives? God will allow the shepherd to come up, yet the shepherd will guide and rule based on divination. Then the Lord will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling, showing the shepherd came up out of the earth to join to the City (Zech 12:2). The Wicked use the authority of the Beast of the Sea, but they barter their life to the Image of the Beast. They hold to the spirit of the world, yet reject the Spirit of Christ. However, they were formed into vessels of dishonor by God (Rom 9:21-23), showing the mystery of how God will raise them, in the same manner as He raised Pharaoh for a purpose.

They are the fowls who hide in the shadow of the Tree, but when the Tree is cut, then the bands of iron will be in place. God will make Jerusalem a “cup of trembling”, referring to the Cup Jesus took in the Garden. Since Jesus took it, so we won’t face it. Jesus never intended, nor did He desire to give us this Fourth Cup of God’s Wrath, rather He freely presented the Third Cup of the New Covenant with His Blood to spare us the Fourth Cup. The Third Cup came at the table, the Fourth was taken in sorrow over the Rock in the Garden, two different locations, for two different purposes.

The rest of Zechariah 12 points to the latter days, giving us the beginning of the term “house of David” as it relates to the latter days and the Key of David. Jesus has the key of David, keys open doors, doors are connected to houses, thus the House of David is assigned to the Night. Jerusalem shall be inhabited, but first God will save the Tents of Judah, then comes the glory to the House of David (Zech 12:7). If ever a verse in the Old Testament supported Paul’s teaching on the Rapture, this is it. The word Saved is a past tense issue, one completed and finished, the goal is the Salvation of our souls, but here it’s completed before the House of David enters as the Sun and Moon for the Night.

Will Jesus be on the earth during the Night? Not hardly, the evidence is here, the House of David will be as David, a king, it will be as “God” (Zech 12:8). How can the House of David be as God, if Jesus is here? It would make Jesus subject to the House, rather than the House subject to Him. Fables ruin us, during the Night we are before the Throne, just as John showed us (Rev 7:9). The House of David will have the Two Witnesses, they will represent God during the Night.

Zechariah 12:10 would make it appear as if the House of David has Grace, but the word Grace here is the Hebrew Chen meaning Favor or Kindness, it’s more akin to Mercy, thus never confuse the word Grace in the New with the word in the Old, they are two completely different languages with different meanings. Grace and Truth came with Jesus (Jn 1:14 & 14:26). This verse shows God will open the windows of heaven to pour out a blessing on the House of David centered in Mercy, because the Remnant are keeping the Commandments of Mercy. The blessing will be so great there will be no need for social programs, governments, or anything else in that regard.

Then comes Jacob’s Trouble, in the end they shall look upon Him they have pierced. They shall “mourn of Him”, as there will be “bitterness”. This doesn’t sound like salvation at all, but it does sound like Every eye will see Him, those who pierced Him, and those who wail because of Him (Rev 1:7). In that Day there shall be Great Mourning in Jerusalem, if this was Salvation, surely there wouldn’t be Mourning. The word Mourning is the Hebrew Micped meaning Wailing or Lamentation, this is Judgment. Every land shall Mourn, the “family of the house of David” as well as all others, their “wives” as well, this has nothing to do with gender, rather it shows the influx of the Strange Woman into their ranks.

Zechariah confirms all prophecies given to us by the prophets, then adds, “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (Zech 13:1). Jesus told the Sixth church, “These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David” (Rev 3:7). It takes the key of David to open the House of David, only Jesus can open the House, He does so at the Sixth Seal, but thank God we’re not on the earth then. The fountain is the fountain of waters, but this is not Living Water, rather this is God’s Mercy placed on the Remnant when they receive the Mark of God as the windows of heaven are opened, but at the end we find the fountain of waters become rivers full of blood (Rev 16:4-5).

Zechariah already showed us how the priest and Satan will stand side by side, thus even when the House of David is opened isn’t possible for the priests to pollute it. When the House of David is opened, God will bind the devil by causing the unclean spirit to pass out of the land, this is different than causing the unclean spirit to pass over the land (Zech 13:2). We also know during the time the devil is bound, the false prophet still comes forth using the Working of Satan, as the evil shepherd.

Then comes the judgment, it’s almost funny if it wasn’t so tragic; the false prophets are caught with their lies, yet even in the face of Jesus, they continue to lie. Instead of saying, “Lord, I have failed”, they say, “I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth” (Zech 13:5-6). They pass the blame to those who taught them. Instead of “it was the woman you gave me”; they say, “It was the teacher you gave me”; however, they had the same Two Witnesses as the Remnant. We have the same Water, Blood and Spirit as Paul, Peter, Jude, John, Stephen, just as the rest of the Spirit Filled, Believing Disciples; therefore, there is no excuse in the end, God never allows any temptation to come on us which we are able to overcome (I Cor 10:13).

Then the Remnant look upon Him they have pierced, asking, “what are these wounds in Your hands?”: Jesus will answer, “Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends” (Zech 13:6). This is not the “wicked house” with the head wound, this is Jesus, but if He was on earth for the 1,000 years, or if His Kingdom was in place, surely they would know about the marks. If there was one Christian on earth during the Night,  surely the people would know about the Marks. This verse gives us Hope, yes there will a Time of Comfort, yes there will be plagues, yes there will be famine and great horror, but God gave us a promise, we will be lifted above the Night activities before they take place.

When they See Him, it holds every eye will look upon Him. John tells us one group is “those who pierced Him”, which is a direct reference to these verses (Rev 1:7). It’s after we read about Jesus making us kings and priests, we find “every eye shall see Him”, thus we find more evidence pointing to the Rapture. When they Look upon Him it will be the judgment at the end of the earth as we know it. This also shows the Book of Revelation is not some revelation given to Jesus, but Jesus Revealed to those who pierced Him, and to those who wail because of Him.

Jesus will bring one third through the fire and refine them as pure gold (Zech 13:9). Jesus told the Laodiceans “I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in fire…” (Rev 3:18). It all begins to fit rather nicely.

Zechariah then shows why the judgment must be; the Woman, the Beast, and the false prophet all loved their pride of life, they loved to control people and religion, they hated rebuke, they ignored correction, they rejected righteous repentance, they brought  destruction to the entire earth. The Lord will bring all nations, not a few, not just those in Europe, but all nations from all four quarters of the earth against Jerusalem (Zech 14:1-2 & Rev 20:8). It will not come until the devil and his band are released from the pit by the Fifth Angel, which is long after the Rapture (Rev 20:7 & 17:16-17).

Then Zechariah tells us more about the Rapture, then comes the time when Israel dwells safely. While Israel is in her Time of Comfort, New Jerusalem will flow with living water. This connects to Revelation 22 where we see the River of Life flowing from the Throne of God and of the Lamb, meaning the River did not deny either the Father of Son, the River is “clear as crystal”, defining the Bride (Rev 21:11). The Street of it will have the Tree of Life on either end, the Record and Witness joined (I Jn 5:7-8 & Rev 22:1-2). This shows us the Living Waters flow from the saint whose residence is New Jerusalem.

Zechariah continues to show Half toward the Former, half to the Hinder, the word Hinder is the Hebrew Acharon meaning Afterward. It would appear as if this is two groups, but it’s two locations. The Textus Receptus shows Revelation 22:2 as pointing to “here and there”, showing two locations, the Report at one end the River of Life flowing to the Witness at the other end. The Tree of Life is on both ends, yet it’s one tree, thus our connection to the Report is by the Water, Blood and Spirit which is of God.

The Church is called the Tabernacle, the feast of Tabernacles is the time when the Tabernacle of God is with men, as God Tabernacles with us (Zech 14:18). New Jerusalem will be the place where the living water runs freely, all who make it to New Jerusalem will have the New Name of “HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD” written on them forever (Zech 14:20).

MALACHI

The name Malachi means “My Messenger”, or “Ministrative”, like A Deputy With A Message, it seems to be the abbreviated from of “the messenger of the Lord”. Malachi ends the Old, but points to the New, speaking of John the Baptist who will be a “messenger”, not only announcing the Lamb of God, but a person with a very short ministry, who was neither Old Testament or New. Malachi then becomes the door hinge to the New Testament, he also received and speaks on the burden of the Lord.

Malachi bridges both Seasons, pointing to the whys; our First Love is to Love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and soul. We know the Lord loves us, but in the valleys there are times when we question His love. The Lord says, “I have loved you, saith the Lord: Yet you say, Wherein have you loved us?” (Mal 1:2). As strange as it seems, this shows when adverse events happen, some yell at the Lord saying, “is this Your Love?”. At times we forget the joy of the mountain top takes a valley of training. At times things seem crazy, what are we doing here? What is this? Are we breathing? God has a purpose for us, yet to be revealed. “Well, I really don’t like this”, good, you’re being saved. “Well, I don’t think God would do this to me”, therein is your problem, you’re thinking. “Well, I really hate this situation”, good, you are being Crucified with Christ. For some reason we think the flesh hears, “I accept your Cross Lord, and impute my flesh dead”, then the flesh says, “oh dead, oh sure, yeah, I will just fade away, excuse me sorry, have to die now”. No, it will fight to show it’s supposed power, but God has a wilderness wherein we gain, as the flesh loses.

When we are being Crucified With Christ, the phrase shows the Method is By Christ, rather than instead of Christ. We can’t crucify ourselves, rather we must submit to the Spirit as we pick up our Cross by imputing the old nature dead, in order to receive the New. The secret is to have the same attitude as Jesus did, filled with Mercy forgiving all, then submitting to the Cross by being humble (Ph’l 2:8). However, how can we pick up our Cross if we never deny the self? We can’t, dancing around the Cross is hardly being crucified. It may seem confusing, but an example is the difference between a patient and the dentist, the patient must come to the office, sit in the chair, and allow the dentist to do their job. The dentist doesn’t ask the patient to do the drilling, thus it takes cooperation in order to accomplish the task, which benefits the patient, although it may not seem so during the “drilling”. Submission is not the same as being a slave, submission is allowing something to take place as it should. Submission does not insert it’s opinion, or self-devised plans, or agendas.

Two men from the same womb, Jacob and Esau, yet we find God hated Esau and laid his mountains to waste, because Esau sold his birthright, becoming a warning to those who play with Grace (Mal 1:3 & Heb 12:16-17). Jesus said He chastens those He loves (Phileos), thus the Lord will chasten us, but it also proves He loves us (Rev 3:19). Chastening is not hanging us by our thumbs, or running over us with a truck, it’s correcting our soulish endeavors, to bring us back to the path of perfection. Of course if the Lord has to chasten us every 38 seconds, something is wrong. Nonetheless we find Esau was given a gift he didn’t pay for, or ask for, his birthright, but he failed to respect it. It’s exactly what the Wicked do, thus God hates the ways of the Wicked. If they hold those ways into the Night, then the Father will make them the footstool of Jesus. Association is something we seldom think about, if we associate with the old man, we become like him. However, if we associate with the New Man we become like Him.

Esau is a type of the self-nature, the one who pulls their self up by their bootstraps, but what they Build, God will tear down in the end (Mal 1:4). Man is impressed by man, man says it’s Good to give honor to father and mother, and master, but God wonders why they don’t give Him honor. There is a commandment telling us to honor our father and mother, but who gave the Commandment? God, so why would someone honor the Commandment, yet not God? They failed to honor God as their Father, then complained about serving God (Mal 1:6). When God does those things pleasing we get all filled with Joy and dance around, but when God asks us to do something for Him which we don’t want to do, we get mad. Are we servants, or masters?

God hated Esau, but Loved Jacob; Paul used this same premise in his teaching toward those who question God (Rom 9:13). There are vessels of dishonor, but there are vessels of honor as well, our goal is to become one of honor (Rom 9:21-23). Paul equates the word “Serve” with the difference between Esau and Jacob, the elder will serve the younger. Which would make it seem as if God is to serve us, not so, this points to the soul being the Elder, the New Man being the younger (came second). Paul asked, which was first? The natural then the spiritual (I Cor 15:46). Our souls will be formed into Spirit by the Spirit, bringing to pass that Born of the Spirit is Spirit.

God then looks at the priests, yet they despised the Lord’s name (Mal 1:6). How can it happen? By not using the Name (authority) in the manner prescribed by God. Since Malachi points to the Jew and Gentile, we can see some warnings to our Season, as well as the Night. When we question God’s love, we enter error. However, wondering is different, just as seeking information to discern is not questioning. This type of questioning falls into the “how dare you!” category.

Since we are the Body, as Paul said we are “the Bread” it stands the comments and teachings by Malachi regarding the Bread point to us (I Cor 10:17). When we offer polluted Bread, we defile the Body of Christ, if we fail to discern the Body we have despised the Name of Jesus, becoming a shame to ourselves, and a dishonor toward God (I Cor 11:21-27 & Mal 1:7). Using the misfortunes of other people to exalt ourselves, or seeking a special validation from God before we will believe is error. For the priest to offer the lame, sick, or blind animals for a sacrifice was error. Here God wonders if He gave them everything to secure their position, why do they offer Him the inferior (Mal 1:8)? We are crucified with Christ as we imputed death to the flesh by the Cross, but we give ourselves a living sacrifice. The question here is what do we offer God, after God has blessed us?

The prophet speaks of the table of the Lord, showing the table is polluted, the fruit is contemptible and corrupt (Mal 1:12). This has to relate to our Season, some weren’t joyful because the table didn’t serve them, or God was not performing for them. The Table is the place to Remember what Jesus did, it’s a time of restoration; a time to belief. The table holds the Power, the Bread is pure because it’s Christ, but they weren’t seeking the holiness and righteousness, they were seeking the self-benefit and self-glory. Discerning the Body isn’t determining what the Body owes us, rather it’s to judge what we have done for, or against the Body. The Lord has given us His Body, we are separated from the wrath of God, we are in a place of enjoyment, peace and security. Jesus shed His own Blood to secure the New Covenant, Communion is a time to recall and remember all Jesus did.

God then gives all the priests a commandment, if we fail to hear or lay it to heart, then the curse will fall in full force (Mal 2:1-2). This covenant is only for those who have “life and peace”; therefore, it’s given to us (life) and the Remnant (peace). The Law of Truth relates to us, the Law of Truth is found in having the Spirit of Truth in the Law of the Spirit. The “test of the Spirit” is to determine between two spirits, not fifty, is it the Spirit of Truth, or the spirit of error? We seek the Spirit of Truth; the Remnant will seek Truth through the Two Witnesses by keeping the commandments of God. We have the advantage of having Another Comforter in us, but it still remains, to whom much is given much is required. We keep the knowledge and wisdom of God by the Spirit, to discern what God has for us, yet both we and the Remnant are seeking God’s Ways (Mal 2:7-8).

After the Rapture the house of Judah remains, we see how Judah will deal treacherously, as the abomination happens in Israel (Jerusalem); for Judah (the princes or Wicked) have profaned the Holiness of the Lord and married a strange daughter (Jezebel – Mal 2:11). They profane the Holiness? Is this a clue? Yes, the New Man is created (or formed) after God’s True Holiness, we are to be Merciful as our Father, and Holy as our Father, Mercy then connects to Holiness. The only difference between a vessel of honor and one of dishonor is Mercy (Rom 9:21-23). The Good received God’s Mercy, then give it, the Wicked took it, but refuse to pay it back.

The Woman allows the abomination to be placed in the Temple, then loses her purposed Glory. The Wicked marries a strange woman, then rejects their position to be the Glory. This helps us understand the correlation between the Mercy and the Glory. The Remnant have a Glory, it’s the Glory of the Sun and Moon, but still a Glory, since they give Mercy to the world. We have the Glory of the Stars, the Greater Glory, and the ability to bring Mercy to many. It’s the inherit Mercy of God healing our bodies, or bringing us into the kingdom of heaven. If you want More Glory, give More Mercy.

The Lord will put away the Wicked person, regardless of their soulish confession (Mal 2:15-17). Confessions without power, theology of unbelief, self-based testimonies weary the Lord (Mal 2:17). They say, “Every one does evil is good in the sight of God”, or “God accepts us the way we are” which is a half truth. God accepts us the way we are so He can change us to what we should be.

The Wicked go about saying, “Where is the God of Judgment?”. They claim God will neither do them good or evil, thus they claim God is dead, ineffective, or doesn’t care what they do. This is one area shows the mind of the Wicked, in our Season of Peace we have many attributes of God, yet the Wicked think natural intellect, forced moral behavior, or personal talents benefits them more than the Spirit. Wrong, the ways of the Wicked are still powered and enforced by the old nature. The old nature doesn’t mind being religious, the Pharisees were extremely religious, yet they did the lusts of their father the devil. God will reward the Wicked for their envy, strife and slanderous words in His time and timing.

God is a Just God, equal in all His ways; if the wicked man changes his ways while it is yet Day, God accounts him as righteous but if the righteous man rejects God’s ways, God accounts him as wicked. If the only reasons they are seeking God is for the personal fleshly benefit, they will also long for the conditions in the Time of Comfort, rather than the Kingdom. They love pleasure more than God, they attempt to change the stones into bread, tempt God with prayers of manipulation; while they praise Him with their lips, they hold iniquity in their hearts. Giving honor to the world is calling evil good, failing to give God the glory is calling good evil (Mal 2:17).

Is not God equal? Since God is equal it stands while it is yet Day if we seek the Lord, then He will Seek us. In order to help us in the struggle to gain true holiness God will break the bondage, then set up an everlasting Kingdom in us, it’s not by our power, nor by our might, but based in the Spirit (New Birth). However, there must be someone to prepare the Way, God will send His messenger, he shall prepare the way of the Lord. Jehovah whom we seek shall come suddenly into the temple (in us) by the New Birth, we shall suddenly leave this earth to enter His tabernacle in heaven, to avoid the opening of the Temple in heaven which brings the Judgment (Mal 3:1).

Jesus did come and clean the Temple, but the Temple was given to the religious leaders; they could receive the rebuke, or attack it. Of course we know they attacked it, yet their hope was written in the Old before Jesus came as the Word made flesh. The word Messenger in Malachi 3:1 is the Hebrew Malakh, which is the root word for the name Malachi, it means Dispatch someone. If God is doing the sending it can be an Angel, Prophet, Preacher, Evangelist, Teacher, Apostle, Deacon, Elder, Bishop, or a any Saint. If the devil is doing the sending then it’s a “messenger of Satan” sent to bring a thorn in our flesh. Nonetheless we can gain, regardless of the event, there is a Precious for us. There are times when the Word of the Lord opens the door to the hidden areas in us, the place where we are “judging un-righteously”. Exposure brings knowledge, knowledge opens us to allow the Spirit to clean us through and through, none can enter without the cleaning of the Water by the Word (Jesus in us – Mal 3:2).

Silver is the medal of redemption, Jesus will refine us in His redemptive Power (Mal 3:3). Then the offering of the tents of Judah (Church), and Jerusalem (Remnant) will be pleasant to the Lord (Mal 3:4).

When Jesus returns it will be a swift return with everlasting effects (Mal 3:5). The phrase “come near to you in Judgment” shows the Second coming of Jesus, then He will be a Witness against the Sorcerers, or those who used Mind Power but called it faith. He will be against the Adulterers, and the False Swearers, the Liars, who said they would serve God, but wanted God to serve them. A Covenant breaker is a liar, they enter saying they will adhere to the terms of the Covenant as God has given them, but then they begin to make their attempts to change the contract by introducing terms not in the Covenant, thus they break the Covenant, in so doing they break the Body as well.

The sons of Jacob are from the house of Jacob, they receive the Wicked and cause all great or small to stand before the Image of Jealousy, they will be consumed (Mal 3:6). Yet the call to any who have slipped is simple, “return unto Me and I will return unto you, saith the Lord”. This call is placed in a position where it defined the workers of iniquity, calling for them to return while it is yet Today.

The Time of Comfort will open after the Bread and Table are divided, the Lord laid out the method for the Remnant to operate. Using the tithe under the Law, and going about thinking we are honoring God is not Grace based, we are to please God by Faith (Heb 11:6). We have the principle of receiving tithe, not taking it. We are givers by nature, we are called cheerful givers, God honors the Tithe, but God loves the cheerful giver (II Cor 9:7). Israel will see the return when they bring their tithe to “the storehouse”, not storehouses, there is only one storehouse, it’s located in Jerusalem (Mal 3:9-10). This Scripture is so specific, one can’t confuse it, taking the tithe anywhere but to The Storehouse in Jerusalem isn’t completing the Scripture. The second danger is who is God talking to? Loving people who want to serve? Or people who are asking what good is it to serve God unless they gain a personal benefit? The last group, but the danger is the Window, a son enters by the Door, the thief attempts entry by the Window. God will pour the blessing out of the Window, but He never says one can gain entry by the Window.

We’ve been over this area, but look at the people God is speaking to. They ask “it is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?” (Mal 3:14). They are only interested in the profit, they never say they love God, or desire to serve Him.

The Windows are for a set time and people, we found the Table came before the Window, which shows the Day before the Night. When the Night begins God will rebuke the devourer, by binding him for the 1,000 years (Mal 3:11), then all the nations shall call Israel blessed (Mal 3:12). Although God will bless them, we find the words of these people are not accepted, as God says, “your words have been stout against Me” (Mal 3:13). They said, It’s vain to serve God, what profit is it? God will challenge them with a test, the use of the word “prove” means a test, or proving of the people. Wouldn’t it be better to please God by faith, to be a cheerful giver loved of God?

We look at the proud, calling them blessed with their great intellect and knowledge, yet they have tempted God; all those who have done wickedness, and followed their self-serving goals shall be delivered up to the devourer (Mal 3:15). Wait, didn’t God just rebuke (bind) the devourer? Yes, the rebuking begins the Night, but the fifth angel opens the pit allowing the devourer to be set free to torment the people. The phrase “they who work Wickedness are set up”, doesn’t mean God is “setting them up” for a fall, rather it means the people of God have set the Wicked in high positions. Then we read “they who tempt God are even delivered”, does it mean they are delivered from the evil? Or does it mean they are delivered into the hands of Judgment? The word Delivered is the Hebrew Malat meaning several things, running from God’s deliverance, to one delivering their self into the hands of evil, in this case it points to the person who tempted God causing their own deliverance into evil. God took the challenge, He opened the Windows for a blessing they could not hold, but it turned out to be a test, much like the Great Quail hunt.

The Book of Remembrance is the Book of Life, the Book of Life is Jesus, in Him do we trust (Mal 3:16). The warning is for our own good, for the Day of the Lord is coming, with it comes the time when the earth shall burn as an oven, with the proud who burn as stubble, yet the Lord will leave neither “root or branch” (Mal 4:1). Wait, didn’t we read where Jesus is the Root of David? Didn’t we read where Jesus is the Vine, and we are the Branches? Yes, this shows after the Judgment Jesus will not leave His own on the earth, they will either come with Him as the “Clouds”, or be received by New Jerusalem, but nonetheless, He will save His own. As for us who love and fear the Lord and walk by the Spirit, we shall go forth to meet Him in the Air (Mal 4:3). When the Body of Christ is Raptured the Time of Comfort begins, toward the end God tells the Remnant “remember the Law of Moses My Servant”; however, He tells us, Remember how you Received, and we received by the Holy Ghost given us the Seed (Isa 49:3, Mal 4:4, Rev 3:2 & Jn 14:17).

The next area is predicated on “Remember you the Law of Moses” connected with “I will send you Elijah”, giving us the Law and Prophets. Wait, didn’t Jesus say something about John the Baptist being Elijah? Yes He did, we will find some very interesting things regarding this. Here in Malachi we find this Elijah will “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers” (Mal 4:6), giving us two things, not one. When the angel appeared to Zacharias (father to John the Baptist) he said, “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just” (Luke 1:17). John came in “the spirit of Elijah”, not the “Spirit of Christ”, there is a difference. What was the “spirit of Elijah”, some reincarnation? Couldn’t be, since John said He was not Elijah (Jn 1:21-23). Wait, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why then say the scribes Elijah must first come?” (Matt 17:10), this was right after they heard the Father say, “Here ye Him” (Matt 17:5). Jesus answered their question and said, “Elijah truly shall come”, which is a future tense phrase, then He said, “But I say unto you, Elijah is come already” (Matt 17:11-12). Is come, will come, what gives? Wait now, isn’t there Two Comings of Jesus? Yes, John the Baptist was more than a Prophet, he stood between the Old and New, in the latter days the Law and Prophets will stand between the Time of Comfort and Jacob’s Trouble. The Day calls for the heart of the fathers to the children, the Night for the children (Remnant) to the fathers, two different methods, for two different Seasons.

Elijah becomes the Message of the Prophets, the Message, not the man will come before the Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord. We just read in Zechariah 13:4 how those in “rough garments” do deceive, yet John wore a Rough Garment, but did he deceive? Hardly, the “rough garments” will come much later by those who attempt to copy the outward appearance of the prophet, but they will do the working of Satan. Elijah was a prophet, but Jesus said John was greater, yet the least in the kingdom is greater than John. Therefore, John’s baptism was a timed event, it began with him, and ended with him (Acts 19:2-6). It called for the people to repent, adding they should believe, our water baptism is a token on our part accepting the Mercy of God, being accepted into the Body, and making our Vow saying we do believe and will continue to believe (Mark 16:16-18). This ends our study of the Old Testament, yet there is much more for us to learn. We will enter the Good News with some knowledge, hope, and a joy. The earthly ministry of Jesus is a place between places, He tells us the New Covenant is in His Blood, but the Old Testament ended with John the Baptist showed up. There is a place between places where knowledge will abound.

Between the Old Testament and the New there are a series of writings called the “Apocrypha”, which consist of 15 books. The Apocrypha was considered just as Jewish as the rest of the Old Testament, but not considered canonical (conforming to orthodox rules of Scripture). It covered the time element between Malachi and the coming of Jesus. Several of the church Fathers, including Origen, Augustine and Jerome considered the Apocrypha a source of information regarding Judaism. However, it was also felt the Apocrypha was strictly Jewish related, it contained no Christian information. During the Reformation period the Apocrypha was dropped from what we now know as the Bible. Meaning it was considered more history, rather than cannon. If one is interested in the Apocrypha they can obtain one from any Bible book store. We don’t cover it, since it was not considered a Christian connection.

SUMMARY OF THE PROPHETIC EVENTS YET TO COME

Amos 3:7 tells us, Surely the Lord God will do nothing but He reveals His secret unto His servants the Prophets, the End Times would be a perfect example. The information and knowledge of the End Times is recorded in the Prophets of Old, God said through Malachi “For I Am the Lord, I change not”, thus what God said will be, will be. On the same note, John didn’t call himself a Prophet, but he did say the Book of Revelation was Prophecy. However, we’re concerned with the words of these prophets as they relate to the End, yet we will take a look at parts of the Book of Revelation as they support the words of these prophets, showing God had the plan in hand from the beginning. We’re not going to cover all the words over again, it would not only would it be redundant, but we will catch the highlights.

In our Season we have the Spirit of Christ, in the very last days the Two Witnesses of the Law and Prophets stand; although the Law and Prophets testify for Jesus, they testify against the evil doer. In Zechariah 4:14 we found the Law and Prophets are the “sons of oil”, or the Anointed Ones standing by the Lord of the whole earth. During the Time of Comfort they will continue to Stand until they are overthrown and tossed it the street. For us we have a different route, the Father told us “hear ye Him”, but does it mean we cast away the Law and Prophets? Hardly, a good scribe knows both the Old and New, but they Hear ye Him. Knowledge of the Old helps us keep in the Now, as well as keep the seasons divided

Jesus tells the church of Philadelphia, He has the key of David, but Jesus gave us the keys to the Kingdom. Zechariah tells us the Lord will first save the tents (tabernacles) of Judah, then the House of David (Zech 12:7). The prophet then tells us “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David” (Zech 13:1). The fountain is not the fountain of living waters, since there is a fountain of waters subject to the plagues (Rev 16:4-5). By simply adding the word “living” the matter of the “fountain” of “waters” changes considerably, the fountain of waters relates to Mercy, but the Living part adds the Spirit indicating Mercy and Grace combined, giving us the Strength of His Christ. The Remnant will have a little strength, the devil will have to be bound in the pit in order for them to operate.

By now we know the Day of the Lord is one of darkness, “Woe unto you who desire the Day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the Day of the Lord is darkness, and not light” (Amos 5:18). The Season to come no man can change, God purposed it upon the entire earth, not just a few nations. The Season we’re in will reach an end, before the Season to come can open (Isa 14:24-27). The Prophets of Old spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, the same Holy Ghost knows how it will end.

Malachi says, Israel will bring the tithe into The Storehouse, as God opens the windows of heaven when He binds (rebukes) the devourer, then the world will call Israel blessed (Mal 3:10-12). Of course a thief attempts to make entry by the Windows, the Door is for the Son of the house. John says the devil is bound during the 1,000 years, which supports Malachi (Mal 3:11 & Rev 20:3). In our day we cast out devils, the only way the devil can touch us, is if we give him place, thus after the Rapture they will have a little strength, not the Spirit, nor the same power of Mercy we have. Our Mercy is obtained by God forgiving our sins, in the Night a child shall live to be a hundred, but a man shall die in his sins. All these things separate the Seasons, explaining why Jesus said, Pray the day doesn’t fall on the sabbath, yet we are free of the sabbath rules. Also it explains why the Remnant look upon Him they have pierced, asking where He obtained the wounds, yet every Christian knows about the marks, even the Christian who walks by the flesh can tell us about the marks.

Jesus said, the last days would be as the days of Noah, not as the days of John the Baptist; in the days of Noah the earth was one land mass until it was divided in the days of Peleg (Gen 10:25). The air was clean, there was no need for government protection, there were no wars, no crime, people lived many years, there was no sickness, yet man held violence (unrighteousness) against God (Gen 6:11-13). If the Days of Noah were so good, why did God destroy them? Simply having Peace in the world doesn’t mean the world is holy. In the Days of Noah there was no fear of God, they didn’t think for one second God would destroy the earth. When Noah was making the Ark, they mocked him, they considered their Safety the Fruit of God on earth; therefore, they were given in marriage, as they ate, drank and were merry, until destruction came. As it was in the Days of Noah, so shall it be in the end.

God promised the fathers He would save the Remnant, they were the first promised, but last to receive; whereas, we are the last promised, but the first to receive. Jesus said, the last shall be first and the first shall be last (Matt 20:16). Malachi also tells us, after the world calls Israel blessed there will come a time when their words will be stout against God (Mal 3:13). They will say, “It’s vain to serve God”, but why? Could it be they equate Service with the reward of the material blessing? (Mal 3:14). Yes, when the Woman is clothed in Purple, she will have all the Silver and Gold, she will think she is the “I Am”. Then the day will come when they will burn as in an oven, but those who fear the name of Jehovah will be saved (Mal 4:1-2). Shortly thereafter, they shall look upon Him they pierced and say, “What are these wounds in Your hands” and He will say, “Those with which I was wounded in the House of My friends” (Zech 13:6).

When Jesus returns His Feet appear as Brass, as if they were burned in a Fire, this is a type and shadow of the Courtyard, the place where the enemies of Jesus made entry by the Sacrifice, but rejected the call to be sacrifices unto the Lord. They came marching in based on God’s mercy, but they refuse to grant mercy. They said they would serve God, but they really wanted God to serve them, they lied, meaning they loved the lie. They speak Great Swelling words promising Liberty, yet they are still bound to the flesh. The phrase “swelling words” means Domineering in character, To bring controversy or Chide, all of which are products of Iron mixed with Clay leading to Brass.

The Jew knows God is faithful to His promise, they know  more about the Time Of Comfort than we do. They know the prophets have said the Mountain of the Lord will sit on the mountains of the world (Micah 4:1 & Isa 2:2); John told us the Woman sits on the mountains (Rev 17:9). It’s clear she sits on the mountains, rather than being surrounded by seven hills. Isaiah gave us the names of the ten horns (powers) and the Seven Mountains (nations), along with the one who removes three to produce the remaining Seven (Isa 11:11-14). When we fail to separate the seasons we mix the Day into the Night, or the Night into the Day, finding ourselves attempting to tame the Beast, yet God said the Beast will end in the lake in fire (Isa 2:2-4 & 11:9).

In the Night the knowledge of God will come out of Jerusalem, it will be the only place where the knowledge of God is found. Micah says, the Lord will bring peace through the temple, then He will “tread upon the high places of the earth” (Micah 1:3).

While in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter was told to pray about The Hour, not for An hour (Matt 26:36-43). The hour has two seasons, John says the last half of the hour holds silence in heaven, no man can enter heaven until the plagues are finished (Rev 8:1 & 15:8). Jesus took the cup of the wrath of God in the Garden, but He gave us the cups of separation and remission (Luke 22:17-20, Rev 14:18-20 & Jere 25:15). The separation between the Table and Garden was made clear for us, it will seem like a Garden during the Time of Comfort, but which cup came in the garden? Was it the Cup of the New Testament? No, it came at the Table before Jesus entered the Garden. It was the Cup of the Wrath of God, thus we can take the cup with the Blood of Jesus to be free of the pending wrath of God in the Night.

The Jews know about the whore’s forehead, they also know all physical life will be dead when the judgment begins (Micah 1:7 & Jere 33:12). Jeremiah said, Babylon has been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand; thereby showing God is in control; all things will happen as God says they will. Although the cup of Babylon made all the earth drunken, it doesn’t mean God did it, rather it shows His control is based on His knowledge of the events (Jere 51:7). We find Babylon is the golden cup in the Lord’s hand, thus the Woman becomes Babylon, yet God never left her, nor did He forsake her, rather the plagues come from heaven, not hell. The Woman holds the cup filled with her abominations, and she is made drunk by the blood of the saints and prophets (Rev 174 & 17:6). The paradox is amazing, the Woman has a cup defining who she is, God holds her as a cup in His hand, the cup then becomes the fourth Cup of the great winepress (Rev 14:19-20 & 19:15).

The Woman in the days of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel was the nation, but in the Book of Revelation points to the city, thus the City is the adopted daughter of the Nation. The Woman is the same City called of God to proclaim Him to the world, but she rejected the First cup of Passover, then took upon herself a cup not afforded to her, which causes the Fourth cup of the wrath of God to be poured out on her. She begins by delivering the knowledge about God, she is blessed, but begins to think like Ephraim, assuming wealth is a product of her hands. Then the Beast of the Earth as the Wicked will come to her with smooth words to entice the Woman. The wicked house suffered a head wound by God, yet the same house of the Wicked arises with the Beast of the Earth, causing the Woman to take away the children of Ammon, Edom and Moab, leaving seven heads (nations) without crowns, then the same Woman is seen as the Bloody City (Hab 3:13, Dan 2:31, 2:38 & 3:1).

The Seven Mountains won’t become a factor until three are removed, the Eighth won’t surface until the time to remove the Three to make Seven, which is during the time of the Seventh church (Isa 11:11-14 & Rev 17:10-11). Many of these signs are yet to appear; however, the Tares are planted in our Season, they attempt to appear as Wheat, but inside they lack the heart to make them Wheat. They are a present iniquity, who will surface as the man of sin. However, the Meek shall inherit the earth, but the evil doers will be Cut Off.

When the Sixth church is active, the knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth, but the Wisdom of God will be with us in heaven. While the world is worshipping idols, they will also praise the Lord, but the Remnant will continually praise God, looking forward to salvation (Isa 12:1-6). When the Seventh church arrives, it will be rich, thinking it’s vain to serve God. They open the temple to the Eighth, who marches in with words of flattery (false prophecy) as the children of Jezebel (II Thess 2:3-7 & Rev 17:10-11). The “words of flattery” are seen today, “Oh look, what great men of God, who have come to show us the way to salvation” (Acts 16:16-19).

When Paul was faced with the unbelieving Jews, yet he told them how the Law of Moses could not justify them, then he said, “Beware therefore, lest it come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets” (Acts 13:39-40). Did Paul understand these End Times? Yes, they are written down so those in the Night can understand them as well. There were people who heard these prophets at the time, and repented. Therefore, the evidence is in, anyone who hears them can repent as well. However, some will look at the words of the prophets as torment, they will cast the Law and Prophets aside, then kill the saints of God, bringing it all to an end.

Proverbs 9 talks about Wisdom and the Foolish Woman, we know how both begin by giving the same invitation. Wisdom says, “Whoso is simple, let him turn in here; as for him who wants understanding, she says to him”, but the Foolish Woman also says, “Whoso is simple, let him turn in here: and as for him who wants understanding, she says to him” (Prov 9:4 & 9:16). However, there the similarities end, as Wisdom says, “Come, eat of My bread, and drink of the Wine which I have mingled”, but the Foolish Woman says, “Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant” (Prov 9:5 & 9:17). Wisdom promises Life, the Foolish Woman is death (Prov 9:6 & 9:18). They begin with the same words, but the intent, purpose and result are much different. The Foolish Woman is a metaphor for the Wicked, they use the wiles of the enemy, yet call them gifts of God.

Isaiah said, God will make a highway for the Remnant, but Assyria shall come upon Israel (Isa 11:16). Assyria is also among the ten horns, noted as one of the seven mountains (Isa 11:11-12). This shows when the Woman takes the Assyrian idols from the hand of the False Prophet, she becomes Babylon, healing the head wound of the wicked house. When the Woman thinks she is the Power of God, she will say, “I sit a queen and am no widow and shall see no sorrow” (Rev 18:7). The deeds of the False Prophet are found in the method used, which causes the Woman to set up the Image of Jealousy (Ezek 8:3-5).

The Woman begins her downfall by saying It’s vain to serve God, she does so because she is rich, thinking she needs nothing. The words of the False Prophet convince the Woman, she is God, then she places the Image in the place it should not be. It will be the first time the majority of the nation of God will place an actual Abomination in the Temple. We saw how Antiochus placed a pig in the Temple, but he was hardly a Jew. We also saw how the people brought their abominations in their hearts into the temple, but this latter day experience will be one the fathers never thought of: a called City of God allowing the Abomination to be set up in the Temple, then calling the City, “I Am” (Zeph 2:15). It was one thing to sacrifice on the mountains, then come to the Temple, but to make the City their god, while calling the abomination their Christ?

Isaiah says, Lucifer is a man (Isa 14:16); Ezekiel says, the prince of Tyrus is a man who says in his heart, “I am a God, I sit in the seat of God”, but God says, “you are a man and not God, though you set your heart as the heart of God” (Ezek 28:2). The image in the heart of the Wicked as the image of a man, not God, but the man thinks he is God. When Nebuchadnezzar felt he was rich and in need of nothing the Lord said, “let his heart be changed from man’s and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him” (Dan 4:16). The image is like a lion, but without a heart for God, it has a man’s heart centered on the self, the wicked barter away their life, giving it to the image, ending with a “man’s heart” bringing the number of “a man” (Dan 7:4).

All ten horns came from two feet, the two feet represent two of the three sons of Noah (Gen 10). However, the image of Nebuchadnezzar began with the Head, working down to the feet, thus the feet will be the last in the series, yet they are the foundation. On the other hand the Beast grew from the horns, the horns didn’t grow from the Beast. Isaiah and Habakkuk show Babylonia suffered a head wound (removal of authority – Isa 7:20 & Hab 3:13). Isaiah also shows Assyria as one of the Ten nations, but survives the removal of the Three to remain as one of the Seven after God puts His hand A Second Time to recover the Remnant (Isa 11:11-14). The house of the wicked suffered the head (authority) wound based on idol worship, yet there are various forms of idol worship. The Wicked in our day are engaged in mental idol worship, but they would deny it. They hold the spirit of the world, the self, intellect, personal endeavors above the abilities of God. Judge their ways, not their acts (Matt 7:21-23).

The False Prophet will use wonders to entice the lust in the heart of the Woman, she will allow the purpose of the Law to be changed, setting up the abomination in the place it should not be. The Hour of Temptation has two halves, the Day and Night with the end of the Hour of Temptation beginning Jacob’s Trouble, ending the appointed sevens (Jere 30:7 & II Pet 3:7-13). Micah tells us, Jacob’s Trouble will be the sin of Samaria as the high places of Jacob will be found in Jerusalem (Micah 1:5). The hire of the harlot will make all things desolate; Daniel said the abomination will cause all things to become desolate (Micah 1:7-9 & Dan 9:27).

Micah shows the time of peace (Comfort) when the people will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks (Micah 4:3). Joel shows a time when they take the same plowshares then beat them into crude weapons, then they come against the City (Joel 3:10). The “war” in the very end will not be anything like the ways of war we know, since they will not know the ways of war. Micah shows us the activity during the 1,000 years of Peace And Safety, nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn the ways of war any more (Micah 1:3). Therefore, the ways of the last war will be much different than the ways of war we see today (Ezek 38). Just as the world in the Time of Comfort will be much different, don’t attempt to compare what is going on today with what will be, rather the best way to view the circumstances is to see there are Two completely Different Seasons for two completely Different Purposes.

Although the Woman is noted in the singular, she contains many people from one nation; although the son of perdition is noted in the singular, the position also contains many (I Jn 4:1-4, Eph 2:2 & I Pet 2:7-8). Ezekiel said, the man will say, “I am God, I sit in the seat of God in the midst of the seas” (Ezek 28:2). This is a Man, not a Woman, thus the Wicked Prince will move to corrupt the Woman, but the seeds of corruption were already there, in her words of thinking she was in need of nothing, not even God. The saving of the soul exposes the seeds of corruption, keeping from us entering the corrupt ways of the wicked. The New Birth has many advantages, the Spirit of Truth as the Word in us saving our souls (James 1:21).

The use of the plural (Seas) shows two Seasons for the Sea, not one, the Sea in our time, and the Sea yet to come, thereby showing the Beast of the Sea is now. It doesn’t take a real genius to see how the world uses the power, authority and seat of Satan.

In the latter days there will be three elements, with two connected to make one, the Beast of the Sea and the Beast of the Earth are connected by using the same authority, but there is the Sand of the Sea who is suppose to be separated: within the Sand of the Sea is the City (Woman), and the Remnant. The Body of Christ is not seen in the End Times, since there will be no Christ like people on earth. The Body will be broken, one part taken from the earth where they will meet Jesus in the Air. Another part will sleep in Jesus until the 1,000 years end, then they will be judged according to their works of mercy. The last part will be those who are drunk with power, they will go into the Night as the synagogue of Satan. In our Season the Wicked are antichrist in nature, it doesn’t mean they are against Jesus, or the Cross, it means they are opposed (anti) to the spiritual things of Christ. In the next they will be the false prophets in a time when there are no prophets. Therefore, John sees the Sea, the Beast of the Sea, Beast of the Earth, the Remnant, and the Woman.

In the end the City says in her heart, “I AM” (Zeph 2:15). Jeremiah says, she has a “whore’s forehead”, which means her mind is set on corruption. This is made clear when Jeremiah also shows she refuses to be ashamed (Jere 3:3). God doesn’t give us this information to scare us, rather He provides information to show us the importance of walking in the Spirit in our Season. The City is noted as a she, but run by leaders. God views the result of what they are doing, they took the adopted daughter of God, then made her the abomination, wonder how He feels about that?

John tells us how the Woman entered the wilderness at the same time the Man Child (Jesus) ascended; Hosea tells us Israel will go many days without a king, prince, sacrifice, image, ephod or teraphim, which we see today. Afterward shall the children of Israel return seeking their God, and David their king in the latter days (Hosea 3:4-5). Could this mean David will come back as some reincarnated person? Silly? Some of us think the men Moses and Elijah will come again as reincarnated people to be the Two Witnesses. We know the term David means House of David, we also know now how Moses and Elijah represent the Law and Prophets. There is no need to make up stories about the End Times, it will be bad enough without fables.

Wherever the nation goes, so does the Woman, today she was trodden under foot by many nations. God will bring her into the wilderness, to speak comfortably (Comfort) to her (Hosea 2:14). Joel says, the land will return, they shall eat in plenty and be satisfied as they praise God, then God will restore Israel (Joel 2:25-26). It’s true God divorced Israel, but He didn’t cast off the City, thus His work in the latter days is with the City. Ezekiel shows the mark of God on those who cry over the abominations done in Jerusalem, rather than in Israel. The windows which poured out the blessing will be assaulted as the Wicked attempt to gain entry by the windows, but they will find the plagues being poured out instead of a blessing (Joel 2:9).

Isaiah wrote, “as one whom his mother comforts, so will I Comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem” (Isa 66:13). There is a time promised to Daniel’s people and Jerusalem, Jesus called it the Restoration of Israel, Paul called it Peace and Safety, John called it the 1,000 years, but the Jews call it Comfort, or Restoration. Isaiah 66:13 pin points the location, when we see how Peace and Safety will reign we assume it will continue forever, but the prophets also give us the end as a ball of fire like Sodom. However before the 1,000 years we find those who are partakers of the First Resurrection before the Lord in heaven, thank God (Rev 20:4-6 & 7:9).

Elijah had two messages, the one John carried was “prepare ye the way of the Lord”, for the latter days it will be “If God be God worship Him, but if Baal be your god”. Just as John was not the man Elijah, we know the man Elijah will not be reincarnated for the end times: it’s the Message, not the man. Therefore, there are more than two people giving the message of the Two Witnesses, John saw 7,000 (Rev 11:13), Elijah found God had 7,000 prophets who refused to bow their knee to Baal (I Kings 19:18). In the days of Elijah they were prophets, in the latter days they will be those who stand with the Law and Prophets, nonetheless it shows God has His remnant.

Zechariah sees many false prophets as the False Prophet, John saw many antichrists run by the spirit of antichrist, yet both groupings are contained in the one position of the son of perdition (Zech 13:2, I Jn 2:18 & 4:1-5). Those who follow Jezebel will toss away the gift, enter perdition, then come out of perdition as the children of Jezebel, yet it’s still perdition.

God told the Jews, “When you are in tribulation and all these things are come upon you, even in the latter days, if you turn to the Lord your God and shall be obedient unto His voice; (For the Lord your God is a merciful God) He will not forsake you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore unto them” (Deut 4:30-31).  The context is Mercy, not Grace, thus Jesus judges as the Son of man, not the Son of God.

If they are obedient God will not destroy them, if they are not, they will destroy themselves. God merely provides the evidence to repent, their rejection of repentance is the cause of their downfall. Jesus said, no man can shut, or open the Door to the House of David, thus no man is going to Usher in the Time of Comfort. The times and time were formed from the foundation of the world, they are in the Hand of the Lord, not the hands of man (Rev 3:7-8). However, there was another Door, one Jesus wasn’t going to open, rather we have to open it, then Jesus will come and sup with us (Rev 3:20-21). There is the Door which the Spirit takes us through (Rev 4:1), Jesus gave us keys to the Kingdom, but He has the keys to hell and death (Rev 1:18). There are keys many, and doors many, knowing which is which becomes a matter of knowledge. We could refuse to open the Door we’re suppose to, while spending all our time attempting to open one we are not; thus Jesus called it the time of “Doors” not door (Matt 24:33 & Mark 13:29).

The end sees the Woman flying upon the shoulders of the Philistines to remove Edom, Moab and the children of Ammon leaving Seven nations (mountains – Isa 11:14). The shoulders of the Philistines entails the use of soothsayers, the Eighth (false prophet) uses the same method of witchcraft now, they will use it again in the Season to come (Isa 2:6). Isaiah said, “therefore you forsake your people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east and are soothsayers like the Philistines and they please themselves in the children of strangers. Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures” (Isa 2:6-7). We know the word Philistine means To roll or wallow in the self, it will be the means the false prophet uses, exalting the self-nature, rather than denying it. Don’t confuse Philistine with Palestine, they are different, although they both call the Jews their enemy.

The Woman who rides the Beast in the wilderness was seen by Ezekiel many years prior, as he writes; “Your mother is like a vine in your blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters” (Ezek 19:10). Here is the separation, yet joining of Two Women, the prophet shows “your mother” as the nation, but the statement is made to the daughter, thus the Woman is see with the Sun and Moon, rather than being the Moon, or Sun. Then speaking about the same Woman, he says; “now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground. And fire is gone out of her branches, which have devoured her fruit, so she has no strong rod to be a scepter to rule” (Ezek 19:13-14). The false prophet will do things his fathers would not do, since the false prophet came from us, but was not of us, the “fathers” would be those in our Season, meaning they attack the Christ nature now, but the City in the Night (Dan 11:24, I Jn 2:19 & 2:14).

Isaiah wrote, “they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant”. The Covenant was everlasting, as long as they kept it, but here we find the word Everlasting is dependent on man. The prophet then says, “Therefore has the curse devoured the earth, they who dwell therein are desolate, therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned and few men left” (Isa 24:5-6). Everlasting is still everlasting, but in the end there is no blessing, it’s all a curse.

Isaiah also said, “Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it” (Isa 13:9). Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees excellency (pride), shall end like as the time when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah (Isa 13:19). Peter said the earth will melt with a fervent heat, or turn inside out to become like Sodom (II Pet 3:10). God will not destroy the righteous with the wicked, but when the righteous are removed by the Wicked, just as Lot was removed, then comes the Judgment. In our case it’s either the Rapture or those who Sleep in Jesus, in the case of the Remnant of the Seed of the Woman they will be overcome by being killed, yet they will also be resurrected unto life.

The false prophet, the woman, and the people will believe a lie, the lie will be God will not bring His wrath. The first key to discernment is when we see something we know isn’t right, we ask ourselves “Am I that way?”. Deception is based on seeing something not right, yet either not caring (condoning), or thinking it’s acceptable. The Seventh church thinks it’s rich and in need of nothing, yet Jesus sees a completely different picture (Rev 3:17). Jeremiah prophesied saying, the whole earth would be desolate, the Lord has purposed it and will not “repent, neither turn back from it” (Jere 4:19-29). It’s a Set Time, the Woman has Set Times, a time to be trodden under foot, a time of Blessing, then a time of Cursing. The abomination making desolate leads to the earth being desolate; however, the Eighth brings the image to the Seventh, and the Seventh makes a decision to accept it, but the 144,000 reject the Image Of Jealousy (Ezek 8:3 & 9:4). God doesn’t cause it, but neither will He stop it, He has spoken through the Law and Prophets, it’s up to the people to receive or reject, thus it’s still man who holds the choice to repent, or not. Does it mean God is not in control? Hardly, control is proven by who has the last word.

Lucifer is the son of the morning, or the son of perdition, he is the “man” from whom the number comes. This element begins in the Morning, not the Night, thus this “he” never made it to the Light of Day, yet he was of the morning. Jesus prayed three times in the Garden, the subject was Judas, the Wicked in our Season, and the Wicked in the Night, with the last two prayers being the same. Each time they reject one of those prayers, another six is added. Each six relates to the driving motivation of the Wicked, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life.

Isaiah not only says Lucifer is a man, but says this man destroyed his own land, and killed his own people, thus God didn’t destroy them, they destroyed themselves (Isa 14:16-20). What land? The land Lucifer destroys is the kingdom of heaven on earth, when the Church is removed at the Rapture the Earth remains, then the Beast of the Earth will destroy it based on the following the spirit of the world. They used the sheep for personal gain, just as Judas did. They attempt to make things turn out the way they want, rather than follow the plan of God. They seek the things of man, yet claim Christ, but reject the Greater He, for the he in the world.

The title Lucifer means Son Of The Morning, Joel says the Morning will spread upon the Mountains in darkness (Joel 2:2). No man, devil or demon can curse what God has blessed, but the Eighth causes the Woman to curse herself. No devil can curse us, rather we curse ourselves, thus blaming the devil for our own iniquity is adding foolishness to our iniquity. Don’t give the devil place (opportunity).

As we know, Daniel saw the nations as the leopard (Dan 7:6), bear (Dan 7:5) and lion (Dan 7:4). He saw the bear after he saw the symbol of Babylon stand as a man (Dan 7:4), we also recall how the bear stood on one side as a type of compromise. However, John shows the Beast of the Sea as a combination of the leopard, feet as a bear and the mouth of a lion, each representing the power, authority and seat of Satan (Rev 13:2). The man-lion with wings is a symbol of Babylon, but this image loses it’s wings, takes on the heart of a man, thus Babylon being the Woman takes the False Prophet as her heart (spirit). The false prophet becomes the voice of the abomination, giving the image status in the Temple.

The Beast of the Earth had the opportunity in our Season to enter the Power (Strength), Authority (Power of His Christ), and Throne of God (Kingdom of God), but rejected it for the power (authority) of the Beast of the Sea. Why? Control, the dragon also gave control to the Beast of the Sea, thus making connection to the Beast of the earth by using the same Authority, the Beast of the Sea is run by the spirit of man, the Beast of the Earth by the spirit of the world. Since both are earthly, sensual and devilish, it really doesn’t matter how they use the authority, it will end evil.

The Second Beast entered the kingdom of heaven, but retained the Stains of the flesh. This explains how the false prophet can do the working of Satan, while the devil is bound. The children of the prince of the power of the air are nonetheless the children of the disobedience, but the princes of the house of Judah exercise their wicked authority in a manner nearly as subtil is the serpent himself (Gen 3:1). The difference is knowing the children of disobedience are under the power of the prince of the power of the air. The Wicked have authority over the spirit of world, yet use it for their own interest.

The life given to the image doesn’t make it some mystic robot, rather the false prophet barters his life to the image, becoming the voice of the image. Being a false prophet means he speaks on behalf of a false god. It’s one thing to make images of pigs, goats and cows; it’s another to make one of a man, as did the king of Babylon. The acts of the king of Babylon are the acts of the false prophet, the voice behind the image is the voice of the false prophet.

The Woman is seen with all her Godly supports, the Sun (nation – Israel) as her light, her crown the twelve tribes of Israel, her foundation the Moon (Zion of the earth); however, she changes positions, then is found riding the Beast (Rev 12:1 & 17:3-5). The prophets called her the “bloody city”, for good reason. John says, the ten horns hate the Woman, they shall make her desolate (Rev 17:16). The paradox is strange at best, the Beast of the Earth uses the authority of the Beast of the Sea, yet it’s the nations of the Sea coming against the Woman in the end. Therefore, God says He will come at Israel as a lion, leopard and a bear (Hosea 13:7-8); John says the Beast will complete the will of God (Rev 17:17).

The Eighth brings the stout heart of idol worship as the little horn, just so they can control the one religion on earth (Isa 10:12, Hab 3:13 & Micah 5:6). In all this Daniel is told the saints shall possess the Kingdom forever, it’s the purpose (Dan 7:18). The Kingdom they possess is not of this world, Micah says the Kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem (Micah 4:8). With this we have an addition to the Woman, she will also have a daughter, the Remnant, the Virgins, the 144,000, they will gain the kingdom in the end. Therefore, the daughter of Jerusalem will face the children of Jezebel, thus the Kingdom will be granted to the Remnant after the judgment (Rev 11:11 & Dan 7:10).

Daniel understood the first three beasts, but this fourth troubled him, as it was “diverse from all the others” (Dan 7:19). Daniel knew the vision was not for his time, he kept it to himself; there are times to keep the pearl to ourselves. So, didn’t he write it down? Yes, but he kept the teaching and vision to himself in his time.

This diverse Beast had Ten horns, the little horn came from the first, thus the little horn is the Beast of the Earth, the one with the mouth. The little horn couldn’t be the Woman, since it came from the world, not the sand of the sea. The connection of the authority between the Beast of the Sea and the Beast of the Earth show this little horn as the Wicked. The little horn can’t be a Gentile king either, since the world is run by Gog in the end, not the little horn.

Hosea tells us God knew Israel when she was in the wilderness, but He doesn’t know her when she enters the latter days, because she doesn’t know Him (Hosea 13:5). They filled their hearts with Comfort, as they exalted themselves (Hosea 13:5). Jesus said, this was being lukewarm, or the product of the love of many waxing cold.

This is also reflected in our times, we wonder if the devil knows our name, but we better wonder if our name is written in the Book of Life. God still promises to save the Remnant, all Israel will be saved, but not all who use the title Israel are of Israel, just as not all who use the title Christian are Christ Like (Hosea 13:14-16 & Rom 9:6).

God warns both Israel, and us of the dangers of missing the Grace in the Day, as He said, “and you say in your heart, My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth, but you shall remember the Lord your God: for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore unto your fathers, as it is this day” (Deut 8:17-18). Chasing the blessing, without holding to Him who blesses is error regardless of the Season. In the end the False Prophet will say the hand of the Woman provided the wealth, then she will consider herself a queen, calling herself the I Am.

Isaiah also says, those who are dead shall not live and they shall not rise, and those who make it to heaven will have no memory of the dead (Isa 26:14). Those in heaven will see the lake of fire, as a lake of fire, rather than the souls of the lost, but the souls of the lost will have the memory of “what could have been” forever. It’s a sad note, but nonetheless true, the false will know they were close to making it, except they elevated the self, rather then deny it (Ps 69:26-28). Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord, but they should have done it while they lived in the flesh, not when they are up to their ears in flames. The entire premise of “Today” means just that, while it is yet Today we consider our ways, as we refuse to harden our hearts (Heb 3:7-4:7).

Malachi tells us about the latter days by saying, “an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, for Judah has profaned the holiness of the Lord which He loved, and has married the daughter of a strange god” (Mal 2:11). Here we find the House of Judah, not the Tents; this reference to Judah points to the sons of perdition, since Judah has profaned, how can it be? The Wicked were in the Body, not past of us, but they were associated to the Lion of the tribe Of Judah. We tend to blame the Pharisees for rejecting Jesus, but here we find the Body produces more Pharisees than Israel. We also see both Israel and Jerusalem, thus we find the prophet speaking to the people of his time, as well as a time yet to come.

Malachi writes, “all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightful land, saith the Lord of hosts” (Mal 3:12). This speaks of the Time Of Comfort before the Eighth brings the abomination. Then they marry a daughter of a strange god, and Jesus said the children of Jezebel end in the bed of adultery (Rev 2:22-23). Israel will receive the blessing promised her fathers, but the priests will speak stout words against God as they say, “it is vain to serve God” (Mal 3:13-14). They will have the riches in hand, seeing no reason to serve the Lord, thus the only reason they served was for the wealth. The House of Jacob will set up wickedness and tempt God (Mal 3:15). How do they tempt God? It’s the same old challenge, “God won’t harm me, regardless of what I do”. They “shall burn as an oven”, all the proud will do wickedly, they shall be as stubble; in that day they will burn in the fire (Mal 4:1).

They are told “remember the Law of Moses” (Mal 4:3-4); this is a warning to those who would change the Law, but it’s only applicable to those subject to it, excluding those who are subject to the Law of the Spirit. We have a completely different Witness, our Witness is based on the Report, the Father (Mercy, Water), the Word (Blood, Grace), and the Holy Ghost (Spirit, Born Again – I Jn 5:7-8). The Remnant will have the Two Witnesses of the Law and Prophets (Rev 11:2-13). This is a clear separation between those who are subject to the Law of Moses, and those who have entered the Law of the Spirit. In all this it would be easy to say, “crazy Jews”, but John shows the Beast of the Earth is the one who causes all the problems, yet they came from us, it sounds like we should say “crazy Wicked ones” (I Jn 2:18-19).

Those in the Night will be under the Law of Moses, subject to “pray the day doesn’t fall on the sabbath”. Since they are under the Law, the Tithe under the Law would be proper for them, thus causing the Windows to open, but the open window will also close the Door (Mal 3:10-11 & Rev 20:1-2).

Although they begin by spreading the knowledge of the Lord, the world will still be joined to the Beast of the Sea by holding to it’s idols. There will be a famine of the Rhema,  in the land. The Two Witnesses are of the Olive Tree, meaning they are centered on Mercy, not Grace. After the Rapture, since the Oil and Wine combined are gone, thus we can also see how Joel 2:24 is divided from Joel 2:25. Joel 2:24 talks about the Oil and Wine, but 2:25 about the restoration of the land. Toward the end of the restoration we know the Woman will sit on the Seven Mountains (nations) rejecting her foundation (Zion or Moon). Then another type of rain comes as it begins to rain brimstone upon the earth. They still have choice, it they repent the Comfort will return, but rather than repent they blaspheme (Rev 13:6 et al).

When the 1,000 years are finished the plagues begin, Jesus said When the day comes those on the house tops are to come down and take nothing (Matt 24:17). The things on the house are idols; Isaiah said, They will worship Nebo and Medeba on the tops of the houses (Isa 15:2-3). Zephaniah says, “I will cut off the Remnant of Baal from this place and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; and them who worship the host of heaven upon the house tops; and them who worship and swear by the Lord, and also swear by Malcham” (Zeph 1:4-5). All this must be, for God has seen it, then He told us what He saw through the His prophets (Isa 14:24-27).

These things have previews and examples, but we have yet to see Israel rule the world, or possess all her land to the river Euphrates. Nor have we seen the earth as it was in the time of Noah. Nor have we seen the sons of perdition worshipping at the feet of the Sixth church. Nor have we seen the earth destroyed by fire, more important we’re still here, as well as there are still wars and rumors of war. Therefore, the time is still here for us to be filled with the Spirit of Christ, so we can become the Power of His Christ on this earth (I Cor 11:1-17 & Rev 12:11-12).

The judgment doesn’t come because Israel sought God, or because they were rejected, but because, “She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God; her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow; her prophets are light and treacherous persons; her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the Law” (Zeph 3:2-4). The Woman rejected the written words of the Prophets, for the foolish words of the False Prophet.

The False Prophet appears with flattery, or Great Swelling words, promoting the flesh, or mankind. God said, “O priests, who despise My name and say, wherein have we despised Your name? You offer polluted bread upon My altar and you say, Wherein have we polluted You?” (Mal 1:7). Paul said we are the Bread, and the Bread is Mercy based, the Blood Grace based; therefore, polluted bread is a product of the vessels of dishonor (Rom 9:21-23 & I Cor 10:17).

After the Rapture there will be a thousand vines, and a thousand silverlings, yet the result will be briars and thorns as the curse falls (Isa 7:23). Paul told Timothy about two men teaching how the Resurrection had passed (II Tim 2:17-18). What Resurrection? People were still dying, the people didn’t have resurrected bodies, the judgment had not happened, what Resurrection was in question? We are partakers in the First Resurrection, which we call the Rapture, or as Paul called it the Catching Away. The Rapture is not an independent Resurrection, it completes the First, thus the same Spirit who raised Jesus will raise us. If the Resurrection has passed, or was complete in Jesus, then there is no Rapture, but Paul called the teaching of no catching away error (II Tim 2:16-18). Our Hope is being partakers of the First Resurrection, our faith reaches to the very Promise. The error would put us into the Night, or make us subject to the wrath of God, yet we are not appointed to the wrath of God, we are children of the Day, not the Night (I Thess 5:9 & 5:5).

The Time Of Comfort will have an earthly Peace like the world has not known since the days of Noah, but it will not be Justification or Salvation. Yet, the peace will include the lion eating straw, the child living to be hundred years old, yet man will still hold his sins. Isaiah shows a child won’t die until a hundred years, yet the mere use of the word die shows us this is not heaven, for there is no death in heaven, neither is there sin (Isa 65:20). In the days of Noah a hundred years of age was a common age for a child, yet they died in the flood. The thoughts of the people in the Days of Noah, except for Noah and his family were violence toward God, the word Violence means Unrighteousness. The people refused to believe God would judge them, they did as they pleased, and feared not God. Jude tells us the wicked lack a fear of God as well (Jude 12), among other traits (Jude 8-13).

Since Jesus said the end times will be like the days of Noah, Salvation will not be presented or Jesus would have said, “like these Days”. During the days of Noah the people mocked the righteous preacher Noah, Ezekiel says Israel will fall into a multitude of riches (Ezek 27:33), and give forth to usury (Ezek 22:12). Isaiah says woe unto them who cast away the Law (Isa 5:24). We have not cast away the Law of Moses, we were lifted above it by Jesus into the Law of the Spirit. The Wicked reject the Law of the Spirit now, they will cause the Law of Moses to be cast down in the Night.

During the 1,000 years Israel will spread the knowledge of Jehovah God, the world and earth will listen, yet they will still hold the tare of the pride of life (Isa 2:8). John told us the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life were of the world. John also said the dragon gave power, authority and a seat to the Beast of the Sea, we find the lust of the eye has a power, the lust of the flesh has an authority, and the pride of life seeks the seat of Satan (I Jn 2:16-17 & Rev 13:1). Amos writes about the End saying: “Therefore thus I will do unto you, O Israel: and because I will do this unto you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel” (Amos 4:12), this is obviously directed to Israel, thus it includes the City.

Isaiah shows the curse is lifted, all the elements of the curse are held back for 1,000 years (however long it may be) as they live in peace (Isa 65:22). At the end we find the full force of the curse coming upon the earth because, “of the wickedness of your doings, whereby you have forsaken Me” (Deut 28:20), and “because you serve not the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart for the abundance of all things” (Deut 28:47). We also see, “your heaven over your head shall be brass, and the earth that is under you shall be iron” (Deut 28:23). Iron and clay point to bondage, clay for the flesh, iron for the bondage of idol worship.

John explained how the Lord brings the plagues, as our prayers are mixed with the fire (coals) of God, then poured out by the angels prior to the devil being loosed from the pit. This is the result of the actions of the False Prophet, thus the False Prophet Causes the fire to fall by the use of his false words, he doesn’t call it down. Placing this with Isaiah, we see during the 1,000 years there will be no sickness (Isa 65:20), nor war or violence (Isa 65:25).

In the end at the Judgment the Remnant will continue to call on the Name of the Lord, then He will hear them, explaining how they are able to follow the Lamb.

God delivered Israel when the cries of their bondage reached His ears (Isa 65:24). The cries of those who are truly Israel in the latter days from Jerusalem will cause the time to be shortened, the Lord will place the mark of God on them (Ezek 9:4). The Lord shows heaven is His throne, but the Earth His footstool. The enemies of the Lord are of the Earth, which pertains to those who took the granted Mercy then bartered it off for the authority of the Beast of the Sea (Isa 66:1 & Heb 1:13).

The enemies of God are not the Beast of the Sea, in fact, it’s not the Woman, rather it’s the Beast of the Earth, but when the Woman and Beast of the Sea join to the Beast of the Earth, they also become the enemies of Jesus. This is the same context as the people using the things God hates to the point one can’t the person from the horrid things (Prov 6:16, 8:7, 11:1, 11:20, 12:22, 15:8, 15:9, 15:26, 16:5 & 21:7).

Idol worship will be the activity of the day for the Ten toes, but the activity will venture into Israel, then into the City, they begin to sacrifice unto idols in the Temple (Isa 66:3). The temple will be rebuilt in the City, making it the “king David”, or the desire of David seen as the Temple established in the same place it was in the days of Solomon. Regardless of how many synagogues are in the various nations, it’s the Temple in the City pointing to the Season of the Night. Then comes the abomination causing the desolation (Isa 66:3 & Dan 9:7), then it changes from Comfort to Torment.

God has a timing intersecting the time of man for many things, all of which were determined before the foundation of the world (Isa 66:7-8). No man can change the times and Seasons, rather man changes his position in the times and Seasons. Isaiah tells us the process will not be overnight, rather as time moves on the praise will no longer be toward God, but turn toward idols (Isa 66:3). The love of many will grow cold, they will forget the commandments to love the Lord, or love their neighbor (Matt 24:12). Mercy and Love are sisters, when love ceases, mercy ceases as well.

The abomination is the Image of Jealousy, the word Abomination means Disgust, yet the seeds are already in the hearts of the people before the actual image is set up. Ezekiel sees the Image of Jealousy in the midst of the temple (Ezek 8:3), the Law of Moses says, “they provoked Him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they Him to anger. They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not” (Deut 32:16-17). Early Israel worshipped idols of Baal, but they never placed one in the temple. They did their idol worship on hill tops, but trusted in the “purity” of the temple to save them; however, they found they were bringing their idol worship into the temple in the corners of their minds. They were the abomination, in the latter days the abomination will be an image, but it will be based on the abomination in the minds of the people.

Zephaniah told us Babylon will have a voice, saying, “I Am and there is none beside me” (Zeph 2:15). God said, “I Am the Lord and there is none else, there is no god beside Me” (Isa 45:5). Lucifer as a man says, he is God, then says in his heart how he will sit on the mount of the congregation (Isa 14:13 & II Thess 2:4). In order to sit on the Mount of the congregation, someone must let him in. The phrase “sit on the Mount” is a direct reference to the Seat of Satan taking over the Congregation of Zion, as the tail becomes the head (authority).

Jeremiah said, a righteous Branch and a King shall execute judgment and justice in the earth, in His days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely, and this is His name, The LORD Our Righteousness (Jere 23:5-6). In those days the purpose will be judgment and justice, not Salvation and Grace. When Israel dwells safely, the tents of Judah (the Church) will Be Saved (past tense) sitting in heaven with their white robes (Zech 12:7 & Rev 7:14). Further in Jeremiah we read, “but they set their abominations in the house, which is called by My name to defile it” (Jere 32:34). This is when the Seventh  church is invaded by the Eighth, not when the Sixth is bringing God’s justice to the people (Ps 82:1-8). Jesus will still rule with the 144,000 through the Law and Prophets, but He doesn’t need to be on earth to do it. He rules now through the Body of Christ, yet we know, “Jesus on the Right Hand side of Majesty”, thus Jesus doesn’t have to sit on the earth to rule it. He rules from His Throne, like a King should.

When the abomination is set up, the Woman changes the concept of The Branch, and proclaims herself as the “lord our righteousness” (Jere 33:15-16). She proclaims herself as the I Am by saying in her heart “I sit a queen and am no widow and shall see no sorrow” (Rev 18:7). Malachi says, the sons of Jacob will have stout words against God (Mal 3:13-14). The sons of Jacob are the tribes, thus we find the 144,000 are taken from the thousands, rather than added to them. The Church is ten thousand times ten thousand, the Remnant are 144,000 taken from the thousands, two flocks, one small.

God said, “This is the rejoicing city who dwells carelessly, saying in her heart, I Am and there is none beside Me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in.” (Zeph 2:15). The Woman, the sons of Jacob, and the Wicked all join together in the bed of adultery, all thinking God won’t dare punish them. They presume they are the Blessed of the Lord, they have the riches in hand to prove it. They will be Assertive, but the word Assertive means A declaration stated positively, but in this case it’s with no support or proof, thus they will say, they are of God, yet they will be wicked and evil with no evidence to prove they are of God. Assertion is not Faith, as Faith is not opinion. Faith is a Confidence in things Hoped for, Evidenced by things not seen. The word Evidenced is the same Greek word Paul used in II Timothy 3:16 for Reproof, yet Reproof without the evidence of the Spirit ends in condemnation. It’s one thing to be Positive, another to be Assertive. The evil Beasts are in the world with the False Prophet; the False Prophets will divine for money, the priests will teach for hire, becoming fountains of bitter water, they will say, “Is not the Lord among us?”, or “no evil can come upon us” (Micah 3:11). This is being Assertive, they assume the blessing means they are in the will of God, but the only reason they received the blessing was based on the promise to the fathers.

When “his branch” (fig tree) is yet tender (soft hearted) the season is about to change, then the time of the doors will be upon us (Matt 24:32-33). The tenderness of the fig tree begins the Time Of Comfort, it won’t end it. If one needs a sign, look for the nation Israel to become soft hearted toward all.

Jeremiah said Babylon was broken, and cut off by the Lord (Jere 51:54-58). Habakkuk, and the other prophets said the Lord wounded the head of the wicked house (nation –  Hab 3:13, Dan 2:38 &  Micah 5:6). Habakkuk wrote his vision for a time to come, at first the knowledge of the Lord will be over the waters (people – Hab 2:2-4 & 2:14). Then the graven image, with the maker thereof will cause the end (Hab 2:18-20).

Zephaniah said the Remnant shall do no iniquity, nor speak lies (Zeph 3:13). John said the 144,000 are virgins, or not associated with the Woman in the bed of adultery (Rev 14:4). The Remnant follow the Lamb, yet the Lamb is in heaven. The Lamb of God is a sign of the Son of man, thus the Remnant will not know Jesus is the Son of God until they look upon Him. We are told to deny the self, pick up our Cross and follow Jesus the Son of God, to become sons of God. The Wicked enter to become “sons of men”, but they never reach the position of being a “son of God”, because they fail at being sons of men.

God said, “And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that I will cut off your horses out of the midst of you and I will destroy your chariots, and I will cut off thy cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds, and I will cut off witchcraft out of your hand, and you shall have no more soothsayers, your graven images also will I cut off and your standing images out of the midst of you, and you shall no more worship the work of your hands and I will pluck up your groves out of the midst of you, so will I destroy the cities and I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard” (Micah 5:10-15). This is the Judgment, there are no idols in hell, or green trees. Joel added, the noise of the chariots on the “tops of the mountains” will be like a flame of fire devouring the stubble, their faces will have much pain and gather blackness (Joel 2:5-9). The Beasts are one of the Sea (Gentile), and one of the Earth (sons of perdition), but the rebellious Jacob has sons, they are found joined to the Woman (Jerusalem), but the Remnant are Israel with the evidence of mercy to prove it. God shows they can avoid this by repenting, but John shows they will blaspheme God. It ends with the sickle bringing forth the judgment, because of their wickedness (Joel 2:12 & 3:13).

When the Sixth church receives the blessing, the house is filled with the brightness of the Lord’s glory, but the house is not the one on earth; rather we are the Glory of the Lord. We will fill heaven while the Remnant have their Time Of Comfort, in the end there is no Temple in heaven, rather God will Tabernacle with us (Ezek 10:4). John sees this, then reports how the temple was filled with smoke, and no man can enter till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled (Rev 15:8). The temple is a symbol of Judgment, thus we find the Temple of the Tabernacle in heaven until the end, thus when the Judgment is complete there is no more Temple in heaven, yet the Tabernacle is with men, as God will tabernacle with them.

Ezekiel sees the prayers being carried by the cherubims, then he sees the prayers, but John sees where those prayers come from. When the 1,000 years ends, our prayers of mercy, faith, hope and love are all mixed with the vengeance of God’s fire. The Lord said, Vengeance is His, He will repay. This doesn’t mean our prayers are evil, rather they are so holy, they turn the evil back on the people.

The Lord said through Jeremiah, “The priests said not, Where is the Lord? They who handle the Law knew Me not: the pastors also transgressed against Me and the prophets prophesied by Baal and walked after things that do not profit” (Jere 2:8). This was directed to the time of Jeremiah, but prophetically we can see how it points to the Night. The prophets who prophesied by Baal, points to the false prophet, the priests of course to the priests, the pastors to those who were supposed to watch over the people, which would point to the Laodiceans. Jesus said, the Laodiceans thought they were rich but they were poor and blind (Rev 3:14-17). Isaiah wrote, “Your nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, your shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet you as a man” (Son of man – Isa 47:3).Then, “you have said in your heart, I Am and none else beside me” (Isa 47:10). All this falls on them because their words will be stout against the Lord (Mal 3:13). Daniel says the little horn is more stout than his fellows (Dan 7:20). After the Seventh church follows the lies of the Eighth (Beast of the Earth), God will say, “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore, has the curse devoured the earth, they who dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned and few men left” (Isa 24:5-6). The few men are those who pass the fire, then hear Come Up Hither.

Zechariah said; “come forth and flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord, for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the Lord. Deliver yourself, O Zion who dwells with the daughter of Babylon” (Zech 2:6-7). God tells the Laodiceans, “Come out of her, My people, so you be not partakers of her sins, that you receive not of her plagues” (Rev 18:4).

God told Moses, “You have seen what I did unto the Egyptians and how I bare you on eagle’s wings and brought you unto Myself” (Ex 19:4). The eagle with wings is Michael, the Woman was sent into the wilderness during our season protected by the same eagle (Rev 12:6). Jesus told us in the last day the eagles will be gathered (Luke 17:37); the eagles are the angels of God sent forth to pour out the plagues. In our Season we are the angels of God sent to those who shall be heirs of Salvation, in the latter days the seven angels go forth to bring the Judgment.

After the prayers of the saints are poured out, the devil and his demons are turned loose on the earth as the fifth angel opens the pit. All those without the protection of the mark of God will be possessed by demons, yet those with the protection will be blamed for the torment, then killed. Then the Sun turns to blackness, and the Light of the Moon is taken away. The Seven Mountains run as mighty men to take the wall, they will fall on the sword, yet they shall not be wounded (Joel 2:6-8). John said they shall seek death, and not find it (Rev 9:6). To them death would end the torment, but they will find death is only the beginning of the torment.

In the days of Noah we find the mighty men as the “sons of God”, who joined to the daughters of men (Gen 6:4). The sons of God are the descendants of Seth, indicating someone who worships God. The daughters of men doesn’t mean female, rather it refers to those who engage in idol worship. The division before the flood saw the influence of those who worshipped God, and those who worship idols joining together; the End shall be as it was in the Days of Noah.

In the latter days we find the Eighth joining to the Seventh bringing idol worship into the place it should not be. When the mighty men run toward the wall, the Great Trump will be blown on Zion, announcing the end (Joel 2:1-2). Isaiah shows, the House of David will say, “I am the Lord’s and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob” (Isa 44:5). God asks the Seventh to leave the House (sons) of Jacob, and join the House of David (Isa 48:1, Rev 3:7 & Zech 13:1). This is a perfect example of God telling us to change positions to avoid what is already determined to happen.

Ezekiel says, “For thus saith the Lord God, How much more when I send My four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword and the famine and noisome Beast and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and Beast? Yet, behold, therein shall be left a Remnant who shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters” (Ezek 14:21-22). This shows the Remnant is not all male, or female, just as the son of perdition is a position, not merely one person.

Jeremiah added, “Your bruise is incurable and your wound is grievous. There is none to plead your cause, you may be bound up, you have no healing medicines” (Jere 30:12-13). When the devil is bound, so is the curse for the 1,000 years. The devil would remain bound, except when man begins to act more like the devil, than the devil. During the Time of Comfort there will be no sickness or disease, no need for doctor’s, accordingly there will be no need for medicines or cures; therefore the people will believe the lie assuming they are living in Paradise, but the purpose is to test their love for God. In our season the wars are without, the danger within, in their season it will be Peace without, and danger working its way in.

Isaiah said in the last days the Lord will bring a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters (Isa 28:2). The flood of water destroyed the earth in the days of Noah, the flood of people from all tongues and nations will cause the earth to be destroyed in the latter days (Rev 12:15 & 17:15). Isaiah says, Lucifer destroyed the cities of the world and destroyed his own land (Isa 14:17 & 14:20). God won’t destroy the world, man will; it’s appointed unto all men once to die, then comes the judgment.

John called the great battle, Armageddon (Rev 16:16). Zechariah said, “In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem and as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon” (Zech 12:11). Ezekiel says, a sixth part of Gog will be left before the finish of the battle; then Gog will turn and go after those in peace, then God will bring them upon the mountains of Israel (Ezek 39:2). Gog is not a nation, but a leader, he will be left with a sixth part of his army. God will put hooks in his jaw and bring him back to the battle again (Ezek 38:4). They will come like a cloud or like the smoke from the pit attempting to overtake the whore (Ezek 38:9 & Rev 17:16). This is the great company with many horses of battle, they will come against the City by climbing the walls, but then Israel will have all her land to the river Euphrates. The Euphrates will be the place of protection, until the angels of the river allow the world to invade. The Lord will bring a great pestilence and blood and rain upon the people with hailstones, fire and brimstone to shorten the time (Ezek 38:21-22). Zechariah says, only a third will pass the fire of God (books and Book of Life); two thirds will be consumed by the fire (Zech 13:8).

This shows the evidence of the last days is truly contained in the Testimony of the Law and Prophets, they won’t need the Book of Revelation to know Rebellion is still Rebellion, and Repentance is still Repentance. The Book of Revelation speaks against the Bad Fish in our Season, but it gives the Good Fish incentive to endure by the Faith of Jesus, and endure we will, until we are called to meet Jesus in the Air. We know this is the Day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Now we can go on to the Good News, it’s going to be the Best News we could hope for.

By Rev. G. E. Newmyer – s.b.i. les9rev 11/©2003